Monday, May 11, 2015

PREPARING THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: OFFERING AND SACRIFICE (Part 2)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 Ephesians 5.1-2

As you know, the offering that we present to God, represents WHO we are before Him. When the bible talks about a fragrant offering, it is not talkng about money but rather, the Lord Jesús. It says that he gave himself up AS a fragrant offering. In other words, he did not give an offering, but HE was the offering. And not only an offering, but the bible specifies a fragrant one. What does this tell us? There is a specific type of offering that pleases God.

Maybe you say, I have presented my life as an offering to God, but the question is, what kind of offering have you presented to Him? Let's examine the difference between an offering and a fragrant offering:

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4.2-7

 Abel and Cain were brothers. Abel was in charge of the flocks and Cain with the soil. They both went and presented an offering before the Lord. Not because they had to, but because they both wanted to. God acceped with favor, Abel's offering but was displeased with Cain's. Why? God is a God of details. Abel presented not only an offering, but a fragrant offering by presenting the firsborn of his flock. In other words, the best. Cain, on the other hand, presented an offering, but as the verse says it was just ¨some of the fruits of the soil¨. Nothing special. Just any other fruit that he could bring.

Abel presented the firtborn of the flock, in other words, the tithe of the flock. The tithe, as I have learned, is something holy. It is the portion that belongs to God and that we are not supposed to touch. So, if we use our intelligance and we know that the offering represents the ONE who is giving the offering, what did Abel's offering say about him? His offering demonstrated that he was seperated for God, his life was pleasing to Him. He followed God's example, just as God presented His first and only Son, Abel presented the firstborn of the flock. He was God's dearly loved child. And as a pastor once said, when we present our tithe, the firstfruits to God, we are doing two things. We are acknowledging that God is first in our lives and also, that we are faithful to him. And this is exactly what Abel was demonstrating through his offering. Maybe you have presented yourself as an offering, but what kind of offering have you been?


SELF CHECK:
 At home, are you an offering or a fragrant offering? At school, are you an offering or fragrant offering? At church are you an offering or a fragrant one? When no one is looking, when it is just you and God, are you an offering or a fragrant offering? In your attitude, the way you treat others, your words, in the things that you do, are you an offering or a fragrant offering? Have your intentions been a fragrant offering to please God or to prove yourself before your pastor or people?



           If we want to be acknowledged by God as His dearly loved children, sealed with His Spirit, we need to be a sacrifice to Him and a fragrant offering. Let's take advantage of these last days before this great event. So, that when we present ourselves before God, we will receive His Holy Spirit.


Until tomorrow, God Bless!
















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