The last time I cooked cinnamon rolls for my mom she sternly admonished me, “Do not burn them.” No burnt offerings for mom. They are out of cinnamon rolls at my grocery store. Still. I have decided to make muffins on Sunday mornings until the cinnamon roll people solve their supply chain/employee loss dilemma. Last week I made cinnamon streusel muffins; this week orange-cranberry muffins. They are my offering to my beloved wife who so often cooks for me and always puts up with me. Just between us, I think she likes the muffins better than the rolls.
Leviticus lays down the rules for the offerings Israel was to make to the Lord. Today in chapters 1-4 we read about burnt offerings, grain offerings, fellowship offerings and sin offerings. What do we learn from this. Focus on the words, “first-fruits,” “without yeast,” “without blemish,” and “finest.” Only the best was good enough for God. Malachi would later take the Israelites to task for bringing God the leftovers of their crops and herds. We could make the same mistake. It turns out that worship is not a quid pro quo with God. It is not about us getting what we want, but about giving God our very best.
We are talking about reinstituting the offering plates at Tallowood. People have given generously in their absence, to be sure. Passing the plates symbolizes something, though. Can we really worship without offering God something from our lives? Are we giving God the “first-fruits” of our time or does he get what is left at the end of the day? How about our talents? Our treasures? Paul told the church in Rome that the true and proper worship happened when they offered their lives to God as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him.” Next time you see an offering plate, you may wonder what to give. Just get in. God will take care of the rest. He deserves our best!
