Were the Old Testament sacrifices to the Lord more for the peoples’ benefit, or did the Lord really need them? We don’t really know for sure. But to be certain, God has more emotion and feeling than we realize. Perhaps he loves the scent of the love that we offer up to him in our sacrifice as we would enjoy the aroma of a sumptuous meal prepared in a home where love, affection and kindness reign. It is quite likely that God takes greater pleasure in our love for him than we realize. So on this day, remember that you can deeply please him through the love offering of your whole life for his pleasure.
The Journey // Focus: Leviticus 3:16
This sacrifice is a special gift of food, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Were the Old Testament sacrifices to the Lord more for the peoples’ benefit, or did the Lord really need them? When food was offered on the altar to the Lord and it was said to be pleasing to him, was it because he was hungry? Why was the aroma of the sacrifice important to God?
We don’t really know for sure. To be certain, the act of sacrifice, done in God’s way from a heart of love and obedience was indeed good for God’s people—a way to remind them of their gracious God and an act of obedience that built faith in their hearts. And for sure, sacrifice was pleasing to God when it represented a loving and obedient act of faith.
But perhaps there is more. Perhaps this God has more emotion and feeling than we realize. Perhaps he loves the scent of the love that we offer up to him as we would enjoy the aroma of a sumptuous meal prepared in a home where love, affection and kindness reign. Who knows, but it is more likely than it isn’t that God takes greater pleasure in us than we realize.
May God give you a heart that gets it—a heart that so desires to please him through the pure offering of your whole life for his pleasure. After all, he truly deserves it!
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