How can we apply the concept of offerings in our daily worship today? Setting the Scene: Ezekiel’s Vision of Renewed Worship Ezekiel 43 describes the return of the LORD’s glory to a restored temple. In verse 24 we read: “You are to present them before the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the LORD.” The verse highlights three elements—presentation, purification (salt), and total dedication (burnt offering). These principles guide our daily worship today. Timeless Principles Drawn from the Text • Present what you bring consciously “before the LORD,” acknowledging His holy presence. • Include “salt” —symbolizing purity, preservation, and covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 2:13). • Offer the whole sacrifice; nothing held back. The burnt offering was entirely consumed, signifying complete surrender. Living Sacrificially: New Testament Echoes • Romans 12:1—“present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your reasonable service.” • Hebrews 13:15-16—“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise… and do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” • Philippians 4:18—gifts given to support gospel work are “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” Practical Ways to Present Offerings Today Time • Start and end the day consciously before the LORD, dedicating specific moments to Scripture and prayer. • Schedule ministry and service the same way you’d schedule an appointment with someone important—because He is. Talents • Use skills at work or home “sprinkled with salt”—with integrity, excellence, and a clear witness to Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). • Offer creative gifts—music, writing, craftsmanship—as acts of praise (Exodus 35:30-35). Resources • Treat giving as worship, not mere philanthropy (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Budget firstfruits, demonstrating God’s priority in your finances (Proverbs 3:9-10). Praise • Speak words that preserve and bless, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). • Sing and declare His works throughout the day (Psalm 34:1). Obedience • Daily choose holiness: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Let private conduct match public confession; integrity is a fragrant offering (Psalm 15). Staying Salted: Preserving Devotion • Matthew 5:13 reminds us to remain “the salt of the earth.” Guard against compromise that can dull witness and worship. • Regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) keeps the offering pure. Confess and forsake sin quickly (1 John 1:9). Whole-Burnt Living: Holding Nothing Back • Each day, place every area—relationships, ambitions, possessions—on the altar. • Trust that what is wholly given is never lost; God receives it and returns eternal reward (Mark 10:29-30). Ezekiel’s salted offerings invite us to live lives of continual, wholehearted worship: purified by grace, preserved in truth, and presented entirely to the LORD. |
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