A Pleasing Aroma!
Pastor Jim Kilby • July 26, 2023
Sins separate us from God. The Bible clearly says that of all men, from the first man, to the last, only Jesus was born free of sin. It sometimes takes a little knowledge of the Scriptures to understand, but because Jesus was sin free, only He could be offered as an atonement (literally at-one-ment) for our sins. His atonement thereby returns those who confess their sins and embraced Jesus to a status of "at-one-ment" with God. There is no other way, and there is no other sacrifice that will make anyone "one" with God. From the beginning of the Old Testament Law the need for atonement for sin was explained to men. First, it was explained and demonstrated through the act of bringing an "atonement animal" to the Tent of Meeting (place where God met Moses), having the sinner place his/her hand on the animal's head, thereby acknowledging their sin and the need for a blood sacrifice, by sacrificing the "atonement animal" and then burning it on the altar of God. This was only a shadow of things to come, and it needed to be repeated nearly every day! Later, Jesus shed His blood and descended into hell, as a payment for all sins, for all time. Have you acknowledged your sinfulness and trusted in Him alone to make you "at one" with God.
"... he [the sinner] is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the young bull [or sheep, or goat] before the Lord, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides... Then Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces... and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord." Leviticus 1:3-9
And why was it an "aroma pleasing to the Lord?" Because He wants to be "at one" with us. He wants it so much, he sacrificed His Only Son.
Pastor Jim Kilby
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What parent would take joy in watching their offspring treat others cruelly or severely? I believe that even parents of little skill try to teach their children to share and to give freely to those in need. What's interesting is that often when a church leader even so much as mentions giving, the majority of people simply close their ears (and their pocketbooks). I've heard from many a pastor or priest that the hate mail flows freely toward them in the days immediately following a message on giving. This is quite an indictment on the church since Jesus commanded us to "freely give." Like a loving parent, I believe our Heavenly Father withholds blessings from us because of our hard hearts toward those with less material wealth than us. How could He bless us if we refuse to open our hands and our hearts to give? Doing so would only make us harder and even less useful to the kingdom. "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.'" 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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