In what ways can we offer "whole burnt offerings" in our daily lives? Whole Burnt Offerings in Scripture Leviticus 1:9: “The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” The worshiper surrendered the entire animal—nothing held back. The smoke rose heavenward, symbolizing total devotion. Christ—Our Perfect Burnt Offering Ephesians 5:2: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” Jesus fulfilled the burnt offering once for all, displaying complete obedience and love. Because we are united with Him, our lives can echo His total surrender. Becoming a Living Burnt Offering Romans 12:1: “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—your spiritual service of worship.” Daily whole burnt offerings no longer involve fire and altars; they involve: • Whole-hearted surrender of every area of life • Ongoing, moment-by-moment yielding to the Spirit • A lifestyle that continually points upward, like the rising smoke of the ancient sacrifice Practical Areas to Lay on the Altar • Time: set apart the first and best portions of each day for Scripture and prayer (Psalm 5:3) • Speech: let every word be “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) • Relationships: forgive quickly, love sacrificially (Ephesians 4:32) • Possessions: hold resources loosely, give generously (2 Corinthians 9:7) • Mind: reject worldly patterns, renew thinking in the Word (Romans 12:2) • Body: pursue purity, health, and honorable conduct (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) • Work: labor “as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) • Suffering: accept trials as opportunities to magnify Christ (Philippians 1:20) Motivation and Power for Total Surrender • God’s mercies (Romans 12:1)—remember what He has done, and grateful obedience will follow. • The indwelling Spirit (Galatians 5:16)—He empowers what He commands. • The coming reward (2 Corinthians 5:10)—the LORD never overlooks a single act of devotion. Encouragement from Scripture Hebrews 13:15-16: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Living as a whole burnt offering means gladly placing every aspect of life on God’s altar—holding nothing back—and trusting Him to make it a pleasing aroma for His glory. |
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