Human Response 168: Voluntarily Bring an Offering

Leviticus 1:2-3 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.

In one sense, the first response to God is to fear, love, and trust Him above all things. The believer expresses his response by bringing an offering of burnt sacrifice to the Lord. This may be regarded as the ultimate response, for the significance of the whole burnt sacrifice is giving oneself totally to the Lord.

And this sacrifice is voluntary, offered out of one’s own free will. It is not forced or coerced, but willing, as is obedience to all The Commandments. Living a holy life is not slavery nor forced labor nor taxation, but freely offered because He first loved us, for love compels us. Offering and sacrifice is the outward expression of inward love and faith. Love and trust is invisible, but it is seen in good works. Faith works.

In Leviticus, God describes in detail how the various offerings were to be done. All of it points to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all sins of all people for all time. Jesus voluntarily sacrificed Himself out of love for sinners like us. A consequent result of Christ’s offering for us is our willing offering to lay down our lives for others. We give our time, money, effort, service, and help for other people; we even give up our right to live life our way for the good of others. We die to self. That is our sacrificial response to the sacrifice of Christ. We do not sacrifice so that God will favor us; we sacrifice because He already has.