Leviticus 6:8-30
Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out. – Leviticus 6:13
To read the full passage, click on the link below: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lev+6%3A8-30&version=ESV
Over the past three weeks, we’ve journeyed through five types of offerings: the burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. Perhaps you’ve grown weary of the repeated content and complex details. Let us ask the Lord to continue giving us patience and teachable hearts, because this week’s focus is still on sacrifices, but not on the rituals themselves. Instead, the spotlight shifts to the priests who are responsible for carrying them out.
Have you ever thought about what it was like for these priests, called by the LORD, performing the same tasks before the altar day after day? Burning the burnt offerings, presenting the grain offerings, handling the blood and meat of the sin offerings? Could they have grown numb from the routine, losing its sense of meaning? What did God’s requirements mean to them? Today, we’ll take a different approach. Let us step into the shoes of the priests who prepared the sacrifices, and in doing so, reflect on our spiritual condition.
Every morning at dawn, I come to the altar and clear the ashes left from the night’s fire, adding fresh wood, because the LORD has commanded: “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not go out.” This is not only the LORD’s requirement for my work. It is also His requirement for my life. As I carry out the daily rituals from morning to night, I often ask myself: Is the fire in my heart still burning like the altar fire? Or has it already gone out? Has my passion for ministry been worn down by the demands of daily routine? Has my worship and prayer become mechanical? Lord, please ignite the fire in my heart once again. Let me offer myself to You like a burnt offering, fully surrendered, loving and serving You with all my heart, soul, and strength.
When I handle the grain offering, I must be careful not to include yeast (v.17), because yeast represents sin and hypocrisy. As a priest, I must eat the remainder of the grain offering in a holy place (v.16). Likewise, my life is to be set apart just like the offering, fully dedicated to the LORD. Today, do I truly see myself as someone set apart by the LORD, wholly belonging to Him? Let me not just appear to be a “priest” in the holy place while secretly living like an ordinary person who follows his own desires. Lord, please search me, are there any hidden “yeast” in my life?
As I deal with the sin offering, sometimes the blood splashes onto my robe. According to the law, I must immediately wash it off (v.27). This unexpected defilement causes me to pause and ask: when I point out the sins of others, have I first examined myself? When I teach the people to confess and repent, have I first experienced God’s forgiveness and cleansing in my life? Lord, forgive my hypocrisy, being strict with others yet being lenient with myself.
Now I understand, God has established these sacrificial laws not only for the forgiveness of the people’s sins, but also to shape my life. Every sacrifice I offer is also a refining of my spirit.
Today, we are all priests of the new covenant, called to be a bridge and a witness between God and the world. May the responsibilities of the Old Testament priests remind us to keep the fire in our hearts burning, to live out our holy calling, and to walk in repentance and holiness.
Prayer:
Holy Lord, You have called me to be part of Your royal priesthood and a holy nation. Please ignite the fire of love in my heart, so that I do not forget who I am in You. Let me draw others to You through Your steadfast love in me. In the name of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.
To read the full passage, click on the link below: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lev+6%3A8-30&version=ESV
Over the past three weeks, we’ve journeyed through five types of offerings: the burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. Perhaps you’ve grown weary of the repeated content and complex details. Let us ask the Lord to continue giving us patience and teachable hearts, because this week’s focus is still on sacrifices, but not on the rituals themselves. Instead, the spotlight shifts to the priests who are responsible for carrying them out.
Have you ever thought about what it was like for these priests, called by the LORD, performing the same tasks before the altar day after day? Burning the burnt offerings, presenting the grain offerings, handling the blood and meat of the sin offerings? Could they have grown numb from the routine, losing its sense of meaning? What did God’s requirements mean to them? Today, we’ll take a different approach. Let us step into the shoes of the priests who prepared the sacrifices, and in doing so, reflect on our spiritual condition.
Every morning at dawn, I come to the altar and clear the ashes left from the night’s fire, adding fresh wood, because the LORD has commanded: “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not go out.” This is not only the LORD’s requirement for my work. It is also His requirement for my life. As I carry out the daily rituals from morning to night, I often ask myself: Is the fire in my heart still burning like the altar fire? Or has it already gone out? Has my passion for ministry been worn down by the demands of daily routine? Has my worship and prayer become mechanical? Lord, please ignite the fire in my heart once again. Let me offer myself to You like a burnt offering, fully surrendered, loving and serving You with all my heart, soul, and strength.
When I handle the grain offering, I must be careful not to include yeast (v.17), because yeast represents sin and hypocrisy. As a priest, I must eat the remainder of the grain offering in a holy place (v.16). Likewise, my life is to be set apart just like the offering, fully dedicated to the LORD. Today, do I truly see myself as someone set apart by the LORD, wholly belonging to Him? Let me not just appear to be a “priest” in the holy place while secretly living like an ordinary person who follows his own desires. Lord, please search me, are there any hidden “yeast” in my life?
As I deal with the sin offering, sometimes the blood splashes onto my robe. According to the law, I must immediately wash it off (v.27). This unexpected defilement causes me to pause and ask: when I point out the sins of others, have I first examined myself? When I teach the people to confess and repent, have I first experienced God’s forgiveness and cleansing in my life? Lord, forgive my hypocrisy, being strict with others yet being lenient with myself.
Now I understand, God has established these sacrificial laws not only for the forgiveness of the people’s sins, but also to shape my life. Every sacrifice I offer is also a refining of my spirit.
Today, we are all priests of the new covenant, called to be a bridge and a witness between God and the world. May the responsibilities of the Old Testament priests remind us to keep the fire in our hearts burning, to live out our holy calling, and to walk in repentance and holiness.
Prayer:
Holy Lord, You have called me to be part of Your royal priesthood and a holy nation. Please ignite the fire of love in my heart, so that I do not forget who I am in You. Let me draw others to You through Your steadfast love in me. In the name of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.