Sermon Reflections from Offering to God | Alex Hardt | March 8, 2026
Every time I venture into the book of Leviticus, it is with fear and trepidation. There seems to be so much that is out of my scope of understand from an ancient culture. However, I know that God did not include it in the Bible without reason. One of my former BSF teaching leaders always reminded us that “God put it there for a reason to teach us something”. So, I need to look for what HE is teaching me as I read these passages.
Pastor Alex started us out with the lesson from God about how offerings were a way to connect and draw near to God. Sinful man cannot approach God so there had to be a system since God wanted a relationship with us. The offering of animals allows them to place their hands on the head of the animal and symbolically transfer their sin to the animal. The animal’s death then is a substitute for their required death due to sin. God instructs us in Hebrews 9:22, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” In the Old Testament times, the only blood that could act as an atonement was animal blood given during the sacrifices. However, in the New Testament we are told that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and atoned for our sins once for all. We don’t have to sacrifice animals anymore, Jesus paid the price for our sins. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What we deserve is death for our sins, but thanks be to God, we can be redeemed by the blood of the lamb, through our faith in Jesus. Hebrews 10:10 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Thanks be to Jesus!!
The second lesson Pastor Alex brought out was the heart of God desires a relationship with you and me. He does not want us to worship Him out of obligation but out of love. Last week Stephanie brought us to Matthew 22: 37-38 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.” God wants us to love Him and then show love to others. God was motivated by His love for us to send Jesus, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” He loved us that much!
Lastly, as we look at the various offerings and sacrifices. Some were for sin atonement and some for thanksgiving for all God had done and continued to do in their lives. That is really solid theology from the Old Testament. We need to seek God’s forgiveness for our sins, repent and turn away from sin. You can’t just ask forgiveness and then go right on sinning. If that is the case then, I’d say you did not truly repent. Repentance is turning away from sin and seeking a new way to walk with God.
In addition to forgiveness for sin, we need to seek God in order to give thanks for all He has done. This is evident in the grain and wave offering and the feasts and remembrances. Scripture is filled with reminders to give thanks. 1 Chronicles 16:8 from David, “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 7:17 “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High”. In Daniel 2:23, he thanked God for what he has done for him, “To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.” Jesus gave thanks before feeding the 5,000, in John 6:11, “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.”
Thanksgiving was and is to be continual, Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” and the Apostle Paul reminds us 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Just as in the Old Testament, it is Jesus’ will for us to be thankful also.
Look for the lessons and truths that God is trying to show you as you read Leviticus this week. He instructed the Israelites of old and seeks to instruct you too. There is new truth for you and me in these words. I guarantee it!
Linda
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Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
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