Peace Offerings

When it came to the laws of Moses, peace offerings are different than normal burnt offerings in that people could eat what has been offered also. And not only was specific animals involved but also unleavened cakes and wafers. Many people think that every offering to God was an animal but peace offerings were a combination of cakes, wafers, and animals. It was given to the Lord as an expression of thanks. Speaking of this offering, the Lord God said, “and this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the Lord. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.” (Leviticus 7:11-13) We will learn what happened to these offerings as we read next.

The Lord God continued and said, “and of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten.” (Leviticus 7:14-16) Although the cakes and wafers were also given as an offering to the Lord, it seems as if here that the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offerings were eaten and not the cakes or wafers. No matter, the purpose here is that offerings were given to the Lord in thanksgiving. We should also do this for God. Not a burnt offering but a life to serve the Lord in our full capacity. Give God thanks. Amen.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will help me and other Christians live a life that pleases You. May my life live in a way that it is an offering of thanks to You. In words do I tell others that I love You, but I pray that these words will continue to be found in my daily living for You also. I can declare how good You are to every person I know, and it might sound amazing on paper, but if I am not living each day for You then I don’t really love You with my whole heart. Therefore, take my life now and conform it daily in Your will. Help me to live each day in more abundant faith than the last. As I open my mouth and share the gospel message of the cross and resurrection with others, fill me with the Holy Spirit. Allow those words to flow like it is coming from Your mouth and not mine. If I am on my own, I know that my actions won’t do anything good. But with Your presence round about me, everyone who has an ear to hear will be impacted for Your good. I love You, Lord. I trust in You. Amen.