Exodus 23 :15 -“No one shall appear before me empty handed but you shall bring sacrificial offerings.”
These words we read in Exodus 23 while Israelites were preparing themselves for Spring festival of unraised bread . Here God emphasizes on not coming empty -handed in front of Him .This was spoken by God the father in the Old Testament to Israelites. As we know that God never changes. He is same yesterday ,today and forever. He still expects us to bring some sacrifice to Him when we come to meet Him ,that is ,when we come to pray to Him.
During the Old Testament days ,we had five types of sacrifices which people would offer to God that is Burnt offering, Grain offering, Fellowship offering, Sin offering and Guilt offering but now we have only three offerings that are-
1)Burnt offering-
Now what is burnt offering ? Burnt offering is giving up our sinful nature ,grudges, bitterness ,our pride , anger. This includes all our fleshly nature and we have to die for all these weaknesses that we have in our flesh .
2) Sin Offering –
We very well know how many sins we commit everyday knowingly or unknowingly and so many sins have been committed by our forefathers after Adam and Eve . The word of God tells us that we really need to repent for our sins. If we believe in Jesus we know that He has already taken our sins on the cross and died for our sins.
So we really need to be careful in our daily walk with Christ and try to keep ourselves away from committing any sins and live a holy life.
Paul says in Roman 4: 6 that “Justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ by His atoning power.” We have to die for our flesh. we have to die for sins.
3) Fellowship offering-
This tells us of having Fellowship with God. We can use our talents, all blessings ,that is ,family, sources ,money etc.,we can come out of our comfort zone and love others, live for other people, forgive others, sacrifice things for others.
Roman 6: 5 tells us ” for if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His.” means we will be filled with that Glory. We have to die for ourselves and do righteous things.
Ephesians 5:2 tells us ,”And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us ,a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God .” So to walk in love with all is nothing but Fellowship offering. We need to give such sacrifices to remain under God’s blessings and protection.
Prayer
Father help each one of us to give the best sacrifice in our lives to please You and to honour You .
Sol.Richa Jain