Offer the best to God!

 Please click this link for the video version of today's blog :

 https://youtu.be/heCWlk-I-WE?si=5fAQesHwFBiclkEA

 Key passages: 

      It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.     Leviticus 1:17

      When someone brings a grain offering to the Lord, his offering is to be of fine flour and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.  Leviticus 2:1-2

      The topic I received today from Jesus is: Offer the best to God!

       

      No matter what people offered, whether a cow, a sheep, a goat , a dove or a young pigeon, the result was the same as recorded in v. 9, 13 and 17, "an aroma pleasing to the Lord." God did not show favor on a more expensive offering. He cared about whether His people followed His detailed instruction on how to do it. 

       What I received today is how we can offer what we can afford according to the ways He shows us. To make an offering with an aroma pleasing to the Lord requires our "listen and obey" intimate relationship with Him.

       If we can offer what we have in terms of time, gifts, money and other things to God, then those offerings will become an aroma pleasing to the Lord. It reminds me of what Paul says:

       "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 2 Corinthians 2: 14

       What kind of aroma have you received lately?

       Then in Leviticus 2, God challenges us a deeper level to love Him. Do you know why God commanded the Israelites to offer animals without defect (Lev. 1: 3,10) and fine flour for the grain offering? Fine flour means the finest wheat flour. It was beaten to a fine grain so that it had no lumps or imperfection. God teaches His people to offer the best to Him for He is God! 

      

      If we do not know and are not willing to offer the best to God, what would God feel?

      Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me to be willing to offer the best to you so that the aroma will be pleasing to you and your Name be glorified.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Reflect on these questions:     

1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

    2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do?

    

    Family Corner:

   Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

    

    Time with Abba (Psalm 26:1-12, Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Proverbs 9:13-18)

    Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.    

   For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結):

    https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningchinese.blogspot.com

     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     If you would like to follow my "Subject shifting Devotion Method" from the "Time with Abba, Praising Singing", you are welcome to follow the direction below and then go back to the top of this blog to read today's key passage and my listening and sharing:

        Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

      2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

     Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise the Lord

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method) 

https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

 My first blog "Devotion on Fire"  was written in English only  (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html

My second blog "Discipler 123"  was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html

and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024): 

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html