Overflow Daily...ish: The Significance of the Offering


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. 
Leviticus 1:2 

If I were to ask you to guess what percentage of Americans have read the Bible at least one time in their life, how much would you say? 40%? 30%? Well, a 2017 survey conducted by Lifeway Research asked that very question, in addition to several other questions, and found that only 20% of Americans surveyed had read it at least one time. This number is even more startling considering that approximately 47% of Americans consider themselves to be Christian. If you include other world religions and cults who use the Bible as one of their main texts, such as Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, that number jumps up to 70.6%. It is amazing that in a nation where nearly 3/4th of the people claims to revere the Word of God, barely 1 out of 5 have read the Bible a single time.

I do not mention those statistics to discourage or dissuade any of you from continuing on in your Bible study. I bring it up mainly because it is around this time when most folks begin to struggle in their annual reading. Leviticus is considered one of the "difficult" books of the Bible and yet, it is such a beautiful book. Leviticus can truly be divided into two parts. The first half (chapters 1-16) providing instructions on how it is that we must prepare ourselves to approach God. The second half (chapters 17-26) teaching us the demands for walking with God in holiness.

As you read through the offerings that God called the people to bring, reflect on the significance of each offering and how they find their fulfillment in Christ. The soon to be nation of Israel  had the privilege of having God dwell among them, but they were required to offer the sacrifices because of the sin they committed as individuals and as a nation. We have the privilege of having God dwell within us and enjoy His presence because of the offering of the perfect lamb of God. The burnt offering in chapter 1 is significant because it represented the covering of sins and the consecration of the people unto God. We, likewise, have had our sins covered and are consecrated to Him.

Perhaps already you have started to waver a bit in your annual reading. I want to rally you to continue reading and to devote yourself to studying God's Word. I want to encourage you to possibly reframe how you even read. In reading your Bible, you are learning more about who the God of all creation is and what He is like. You are learning what He requires of us and what is your purpose in life. We are nearly 2 months into our new year, that is 1/6th of the way complete, and my hope is that you will continue to enjoy God's very words for you. If you are slipping, I encourage you to press on with joy for the revelation of Himself God delivers in His word. Rally on, God's word is good, all the time!

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alex

Sources: 
Lifeway Research
Pew Research on Christians in America

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