The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ezekiel 46:4-5,
"The burnt offering the prince brings to the Lord on the Sabbath day is to be six male lambs and a ram, all without defect. The grain offering given with the ram is to be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs is to be as much as he pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah."
Ezekiel received instructions for the worship at the temple he has been shown in his vision. The prince of Israel was to bring offerings and sacrifices to the priests. Specific instructions are given as to how many lambs, rams, bulls, how much grain and oil. The grain that accompanied the bull was to be one ephah (3/5 of a bushel) and likewise with the ram. But with the lambs he is to give as much as he wants, as much as he pleases.
So, how much would he? How would he decide that? If he has opportunity in this one aspect of the temple worship to give what he wanted, what he pleased, what would that amount he offered express? It is an interesting question even given that the grain is somewhat insignificant. If he gave a lot would it indicate he worshipped the Lord a lot? If he gave little would it indicate little regard, little love, little worship, and little devotion for the Lord? That he could give whatever he wanted with the lambs probably meant the amount was not as important as with the other items offered, but, as I say, it does raise an interesting thought.
I suspect anyone who has freedom of choice in their worship of the Lord by the gifts he brings, whether treasure, time or talent, any kind of sacrifice indicates how dear he holds the Lord in his heart by what the cost is to him, how much of a sacrifice it is for him to give. That amount, whether money, time, acts of love and kindness, faithfulness in ministry, etc. though different for each one, does matter. What I gave last week says more about my true worship of the Lord and just how I esteem him than what I may "feel" today. What I have done speaks a truer word about my heart than what I seem to think or feel. Just ask James - it is a major theme in his letter.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7. As I think of it this morning, my thought is our God is worthy of all I have. A specified amount is easy: an ephah was a required amount. A tithe is a required amount. Neither really expresses the level of passion of what is in a man's heart. But the offering that is to be determined by the worshipper… now here is an expression of what is in one's heart. How much, relatively speaking, indicates how much passion one has for the Lord. And as I think of the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave it all for us, his passion for us is on full display!
Ezekiel received instructions for the worship at the temple he has been shown in his vision. The prince of Israel was to bring offerings and sacrifices to the priests. Specific instructions are given as to how many lambs, rams, bulls, how much grain and oil. The grain that accompanied the bull was to be one ephah (3/5 of a bushel) and likewise with the ram. But with the lambs he is to give as much as he wants, as much as he pleases.
So, how much would he? How would he decide that? If he has opportunity in this one aspect of the temple worship to give what he wanted, what he pleased, what would that amount he offered express? It is an interesting question even given that the grain is somewhat insignificant. If he gave a lot would it indicate he worshipped the Lord a lot? If he gave little would it indicate little regard, little love, little worship, and little devotion for the Lord? That he could give whatever he wanted with the lambs probably meant the amount was not as important as with the other items offered, but, as I say, it does raise an interesting thought.
I suspect anyone who has freedom of choice in their worship of the Lord by the gifts he brings, whether treasure, time or talent, any kind of sacrifice indicates how dear he holds the Lord in his heart by what the cost is to him, how much of a sacrifice it is for him to give. That amount, whether money, time, acts of love and kindness, faithfulness in ministry, etc. though different for each one, does matter. What I gave last week says more about my true worship of the Lord and just how I esteem him than what I may "feel" today. What I have done speaks a truer word about my heart than what I seem to think or feel. Just ask James - it is a major theme in his letter.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7. As I think of it this morning, my thought is our God is worthy of all I have. A specified amount is easy: an ephah was a required amount. A tithe is a required amount. Neither really expresses the level of passion of what is in a man's heart. But the offering that is to be determined by the worshipper… now here is an expression of what is in one's heart. How much, relatively speaking, indicates how much passion one has for the Lord. And as I think of the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave it all for us, his passion for us is on full display!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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