It is great you are reading your Bible. The Word of God is complete. If someone claims to be a prophet who has received a new communiqué from the Lord, be sure of this: their claim is false. Nothing new is being added and no new thing ‘outside’ of the Bible is being revealed to anyone by the Lord today.

As you read from cover to cover, have you ever skipped the third book in your Bible?

Why do some of us skip reading the third book?  Does it shock you that some Christians strike gold in Leviticus? Some get to the end of first chapter and they’re thrilled. They go over each verse and prayerfully consider each word. They bow their heads and worship Christ.

Try it:

The LORD called Moses .saying, “.When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.”If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. .Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. .the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering.with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

(Leviticus 1:1-13)

What do you think? Did it give you the boost you needed today or is it irrelevant to your life as a believer in 2010?

Here’s the problem:  we’re busy and we want spiritual food at God’s drive-thru. We want to gobble down something on-the-run and feel full. Often times the Lord graciously gives us just that – a relevant verse to chew on for the day.

But what we desperately need is rarely available at the drive-thru. Without being rushed, you need to sit at the table with your open Bible and with your head bowed – accompanied by your study tools. With a little study and meditation you will see Christ Himself as the ultimate burnt offering.

Think about Christ being blemish and spot free – perfect inside and out.  The body parts of the animal could give you some precious thoughts of Christ. The head – the thought life of Christ. Never a devious or dirty or damaging thought in His holy mind. The legs – the perfect walk of Christ. He never stumbled into sin. He always walked in God’s path. Think of the entrails or the internal organs. Christ had no dark selfish inner motives. The purposes and desires of His heart were 100% pleasing to His Father. As for the fat – well, it may speak of His energy for God or everything else in His life as being totally for the delight of His Father.

The fact that ‘all’ of the animal was to be placed on the altar (unlike other sacrifices in Leviticus) reminds us that every single aspect of the life of Jesus was ultimately for the pleasure of God. You and I are supposed to be too, but we fail miserably. That’s why it is so awesome to focus on Christ.

This is only a miniscule portion of the typical teaching of  just one of the offerings in Leviticus. They all point us to the beauties of our Saviour but then, as you study them, you can apply them to your own life as a believer. The point is – all of this is rich in meaning. But you will miss it, if you skip or speed-read Leviticus.

Think of all the things you spend your money on. When have you last purchased a good spiritual book? Think about investing in a $14 classic book (from the1800’s) on the offerings by Andrew Jukes .

Or visit Truth and Tidings online and read eight excellent articles on the Levitical offerings by Dr. A.J. Higgins written for believers in 2010. (In the Search Location enter: the offerings Higgins).

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com

Translate