“And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD” (Leviticus 1:17).
TEXT — Leviticus 1:10-17
The story of Eric Liddell, often captioned by some as “Sacrificing Fame for Faith”, is both intriguing and instructive. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France, Eric Liddell, known as the“Flying Scotsman,” was favoured to win the 100-meter race. However, he refused to compete because the race was scheduled on a Sunday, a day he dedicated to worship God. He considered the sacredness of that holy day. He decided to forgo the anticipated glamour and fame that would have been ascribed to him and instead, he competed in the 400-meter race, which was not his specialty. Unexpectedly and to the surprise of everyone, he won gold in the new race.
Many have come to agree that Liddell’s decision to honour God over personal glory was largely responsible for the feat which illustrates the key element in our text. The passage underlines the need to offer to God the best of our talent and treasures as exemplified in the story of Liddell who exalted the honour of God over earthly achievements, thus illustrating the demand for holistic consecration required in acceptable sacrifices. The children of Israel were instructed at that time to comply with divine instructions enshrined in the ceremonial laws on acceptable instruments and articles for sacrifice and burnt offerings. Both the priests and the offerers were expected to observe and comply with these laws and practices, lest they incur divine displeasure.
Today, God still expects His children to offer consecrated sacrifice,holy and wholesome dedication, and acceptable service unto Him. Paul the apostle drives this message home very succinctly in Romans 12verse 1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service. What type of service are you offering to the Lord? Does it cost you anything? Will it attract divine commendation or condemnation?
Thought for the day
The quality of your service to God reflects the quality of your love for Him.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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