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| "Communion with the Lord" |
“Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be without defect.” (Num 28:31, NASB).
In this verse, the expression “without defect” comes from the Hebrew word “tamiym”, which means “entire (literally, figuratively or morally); without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole. Also (as a noun) integrity, truth:” (Strongs).
There were two types of offerings required by God in this chapter – burnt offerings and sin offerings. Both types of offerings had to be without defect. The sin offering is, of course, a type of Christ, who was to become a sin offering for us. As the Scripture says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Co 5:21, NIV). The expression "sin for us" is “peri hamartias” in the Greek, which is the way the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) translates "sin offering." He was without defect, without blemish, without spot, undefiled, upright, complete, and perfect.
Likewise, the burnt offering is typical of us as followers of Christ, as we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1-2, NASB).
Matthew Henry said that “…burnt-offerings were purely for the honour of God, were confessions of his dominion…” According to the Law, these burnt offerings had to be offered daily in the morning and evening. They were called “continual burnt offerings” (Num 28:31), which meant that they were daily and perpetual. These were a pleasing aroma to the Lord, just as our lives are a pleasing aroma to Him when we offer them up to Him continually in holiness on the altar, consumed by His holy fire.
We are holy first of all because God has reconciled us by Christ’s body. Paul said, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Col 1:22, NIV). We also must pursue holiness, without which no man will see God (Heb 12:14). Then as we present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, they are holy and acceptable to Him.
Then we can say with the apostle Paul, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” (2 Cor 4:10-11, NIV). Being a continual burnt offering will require that we carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that His life may be revealed in others whose lives we touch for Christ.
This kind of sacrifice requires the holy fire of His love. “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor 5:14-15). In this way, we no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and was raised again.
Those who would like to be united with Him in his resurrection and eternal life must also be united with Him in His death (Rom 6:5).
All of this is only possible through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15). And as the Scripture also says, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Th 5:16-18). This is the kind of sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted. "Communion with the Lord" illustration by my sixteen-year old daughter, C.V. Lacroix. You can find more of her lovely artwork at A Brush with Life.
Author's note: Also see my daughter's poem called A Pleasing Sacrifice. If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy Holy Fire Baptism, The Burning Ones, Aim for Perfection, The Highest Form of Slavery, Holy Living in a Perverted World, Ask for the Ancient Paths, The Knowledge of the Holy, Restored Truth , and The Sacrifices of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
