LORD, YOU HAVE MY KIDNEYS!
Opening Prayer
Lord God, inspire me as I read Scripture today. Give me new insight. Help me to not simply read its words, but to apply the truths you offer me.
Read LEVITICUS 3
The Fellowship Offering
3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb, you are to present it before the Lord, 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.
12 “‘If your offering is a goat, you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Quiet yourself and use these words to center yourself in God’s love and acceptance: ‘Jesus has brought me to his house and God is rejoicing over my arrival’ (see Luke 15:6).After the sin (atonement, 1:4) and grain offerings (2:1), we now read about the ‘fellowship’ or ‘peace’ offering. There are similarities with the other sacrifices of chapters 1 and 2, but also several differences. Leviticus 7:11 tells us, for example, that these offerings were optional, not mandatory.
Do you wonder why the fat and kidneys were singled out as an offering to God (vv. 3, 4, 9, 10, 14, 15)? In the Old Testament ‘the fat’ is a way of saying ‘the best’ (e.g., Genesis 45:18). The thought is: single out your best and yield it to God. The kidneys were viewed as the seat of a person’s emotions and the place where their deepest thoughts were hidden (much like we think today of the heart). Offering the offal was saying to God: ‘Have all of me, the deepest part of me: the part that others do not see but which is open to you alone.’
Our best and our very lives (our ‘fat and blood,’ v. 17) belong to God. They are not ours to use as we will, but must always be yielded to him
Apply
What might be your ‘best’ possession, your ‘best’ relationship, your ‘best’ ability? Is your ‘best’ offered to God? What might you do if you feel you are holding anything back in using them for him?
Closing prayer
Father in heaven, you have given me your best in your Son. Thank you! And thank you for the many blessings you have given me. Help me to use them to bring you glory and show who you are to others who need you.
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