How can we ensure our spiritual offerings are "without defect" as instructed here? The Pattern: What “without defect” Meant in the Temple • “He is to present an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats, that it may be accepted on your behalf; it must be without defect.” (Leviticus 22:19–20) • Defect-free animals pictured God’s holiness and pointed ahead to Christ, “the Lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19). • Today the physical altar is gone, but the principle endures: God deserves our purest, not our leftovers. Our New-Covenant Offering: Ourselves • “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1) • The Lord now receives our whole life—heart, mind, body, time, talents, treasure—as the “animal” we place on the altar. How to Keep That Offering Free from Defect 1. Examine Yourself Honestly • “Let a man examine himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:28) • Invite the Spirit to expose hidden sin (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Confess and Forsake Sin Quickly • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” (1 John 1:9) • Unconfessed sin is a blemish; repentance removes it. 3. Keep Motives Pure • “When you give… do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3-4) • God weighs motives, not merely actions (Proverbs 16:2). 4. Offer the First and the Best • “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” (Proverbs 3:9) • Scheduling devotion time first, writing the tithe check first—all say He is first. 5. Serve with Excellence • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23) • Slipshod service mirrors a blemished lamb. 6. Maintain Reconciled Relationships • “First be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:24) • Bitterness stains the sacrifice. 7. Rely on the Spirit’s Power, Not Fleshly Effort • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • His fruit—love, joy, peace, etc.—is defect-free. 8. Let the Word Fine-Tune You • “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:9) • Daily Scripture recalibrates our offering to God’s standard. 9. Abide in Christ Continually • “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) • The more we draw life from the Vine, the healthier the fruit we lay before Him. Christ, the Guarantee Behind Every Faultless Offering • “By one sacrifice He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) • Our best still falls short; His perfection clothes our worship, making it forever acceptable. Practical Check-Up for This Week • Inventory time, money, and energy spent—does God truly get the first and finest? • Identify one hidden sin to confess and one broken relationship to pursue. • Schedule intentional, unhurried time in God’s Word and prayer to keep the heart aligned. |
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