SCRIPTURE:
'“ ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord.'
Leviticus 1:3
OBSERVATION:
As God commands Moses on the giving of offerings He basically is making a single directive…ONLY THE BEST.
He says it time and time again, “no defect…”, “finest…”, “first fruits…”. Not in a selfish way, but in a way for us to remember that without Him we’d have nothing.
APPLICATION:
I used to feel that I always brought my best. I give a full effort in all I do. But, I’ve got another confession to make: do I really my best in all things? Does my offering, whatever it is, come without defect? Is it always the finest that I have? Or does my offering at times come blemished with the finest fruits gone to other efforts and the current action left dry and bare? I can readily identify a number of areas that I need to step it up on:
- Being a present father: are Jillian and Eden getting the very best dad on a Sunday afternoon when I’m tired and worn and the Sunday Night game is on? Do they get the same attention to detail and focus that I bring to lesser important things in my life?
- Being a more attentive husband: Same applies here. Does Jana receive the best of me, the love without defect and the finest moments of my time?
- Shepherding the flock: do I give the same attention to those on the fringe of commitment and skill that I do to those who serve faithfully and excellently? Am I giving each and everyone, the 99 and the 1, my very best effort each and every time, or do I dumb it down to lead when I feel the 1 isn’t following?
- Prayer and Devotion: Again, is my effort reward based or relationship based. I’m a looking for the cleanly checked off scorecard or the cleanly cleansed heart?
I’ve too long misinterpreted my performance in a singular area of my life as the main theme and anthem. But when I really look at it, I often fail when it comes to giving God my best. Any for me any effort done is done unto the Lord.
But there’s hope! There’s a God before me who’s time and time again exampled His very best of love, of grace, of attention. of care, of all of the above. I only need to recalibrate and refocus and keep the main thing the main thing. Can every effort, every encounter and everybody get my very best? Absolutely. I only need to surrender to the will of my Savior, follow His lead and let the Holy Spirit do His thing in my life.
PRAYER:
Lord, I need help. Yes, a very vague request but it sums it all up. I’m a failure in need of your saving once again. I understand that I’m your child and I look to You for guidance and direction. Please guide me as I strive to better myself in these 4 areas. Only after I do can I truly say that I’m offering you my best. Amen
