Offering
Originally scheduled for July 28
The
preacher began his sermon that morning not expecting anything
unusual to happen. He was surprised by the audience reaction about a
third of the way through. He made the remark in passing, saying “of
course, sex outside of marriage is wrong.” There was an audible gasp
from the congregation — they could not imagine that the man could be
so old-fashioned.
It might
be suggested that the Lord God Almighty has a different standard
than the congregation had. As an example, we might examine this from
the Old Testament Levitical law:
"You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into
the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of
these are an abomination to the LORD your God.
(Deuteronomy 23:18 NASB)
The
language is a little bit old and perhaps deserve some clarification
in these days. The phrase, “hire of a harlot” refers to the wages of
a prostitute (equals “harlot”.) The word specifically refers to a
female prostitute, or as they are known today “sex worker.” The
phrase, “wages of a dog” is even more controversial today. In the
original, it means the wages of a male prostitute performing
homosexual services — some of the older translations use the word
“sodomite” (which references Sodom and Gomorrah.) As many of the
translators of the most popular new translations are homosexuals, a
variety of phrases now appear in this verse to blur the original
meaning.
God
standard for sacrificial offering seems to be quite strict; he
insists that it be, in that old phrase, “without blemish.” The
phrase is mentioned eleven places in the Old Testament in reference
to sacrifices.
The
atonement by Christ which purchased our salvation is the prime
example of this. It is the sacrifice which takes away the sins of
the world (Hebrews 9:26); it is the only such sacrifice, and
therefore you can see that it must be completely in accordance with
God’s rules. So we find the Christ is an acceptable sacrifice
because he is sinless (Hebrews 4:15). Likewise, the sacrifice is one
made in a physical body — not a ghostly illusion (Hebrews 10:5). God
would not be satisfied with a charade. In response to this, he asks
us to give him the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
As we
celebrate communion this morning, we celebrate the sacrifice which
makes it possible — the atonement of Christ. The bread and the cup
represent the physical body and blood of Jesus, the Christ. He
became flesh so that he might be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
So in taking communion we acknowledge the atonement, and we
acknowledge the physical nature of the sacrifice. Also, we
acknowledge the perfect, sinless nature of Christ as the only
fitting sacrifice for our atonement. We are therefore counseled to
examine ourselves carefully before taking; this is extremely
serious.
But when
you leave, carry with you the thought that you make a sacrifice in
return — the sacrifice of praise. Do not take communion on Sunday
morning and fail to even mention Christ Monday through Saturday.
Rather, make your life one which is a life of praise to the Savior
who loves you so much.
