Acceptance
Leviticus 19:5, “Now when you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.”
A lot of times we assume that any offering we bring before God is acceptable to Him, but God is very clear about the offerings He requires. My dad used to have a saying about what happens when we assume things, but since this is a G-Rated blog I will refrain from saying it, but I’m sure you might know the saying.
God reguires certain things from us before our offferings are accepted. Our offerings mean very little to God if our hearts are not in them. Listen to the words that God spoke to the Israelites through the prophet Amos, Amos 5:21, “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22″Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23″Take away from Me the noise of your songs ; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Those are some pretty strong words about what God requires. He wants justice and righteousness; God requires us to be fair with one another before we can be right with Him.
Jesus also said in Matthew 5:23, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,24leave your offering there before the altar and go ; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” If our hearts are not right with each other then they cannot be right with God!
I John 4:20 tells us, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar ; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Our offerings before God will not be accepted by Him if we have hate in our hearts for others!
________________________
Father, I thank You for showing me what love is by the sacrifice of Your Son, and I ask that You would help me to show that love to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen
_______________________
The image above can be found at: http://loveoikos.blogspot.com/2009/07/gods-love-for-us.html
Yes, You Can Ministry 