I am part of a small group of area pastors planning to have a Christmas party this December. We have agreed that when we meet we will likely provide our hostess with a gift. That is the polite thing to do – to give a gift in appreciation of the kindness of allowing us all to gather and receive hospitality.
God gave commands in Leviticus on how to provide Him with offerings, expressions of appreciation. What command is given in this passage from Leviticus?
God provided for the Israelites under Moses by working against Pharaoh so that the Israelites would be set free from their bondage in Egypt. Once freed, God had promised to lead them to the Promised Land, a place prepared for them so that they might prosper and live out a good and blessed life.
In return for these great acts of compassion God set out certain rules and requests of the faithful. Once they had settled, planted and harvested their crop they were to return to the Lord a portion of the plenty they would receive. God asked for a sheaf of grain, a small token of gratitude for the abundance they would enjoy.
God did not need this grain for sustenance. He would not be eating this offering. It was simply meant to acknowledge God and what He had done for the people. The point was that in all that they did the Israelites were to keep God foremost in their thoughts.
Before sitting back and enjoying the fullness of life they needed to give God a small gift of appreciation.
While we may not be expected to bring a handful of grain to our altars, or bring in a bucket of vegetables from our gardens, or even a fistful of money from our paycheck, we are to remember God’s goodness in what we do. As we enter into the season of harvest and the season of Christmas, indeed in all seasons, we are to present God with our own offerings, our own gifts of gratitude for what He has done. The “Wave Offering” is a reminder that we should honor God first, putting God above all else in our lives.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you remember to put God first in your life?
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