There are important spiritual messages to be
learned from every part of Ezekiel's detailed description of a temple that has
never been built, lessons that are vital for every Christian today. These are
the focus of the current series of devotionals: LESSONS FROM EZEKIEL'S TEMPLE.
If you have missed any parts of this series, you can read previously published
lessons on-line at
www.scripturalnuggets.org/folder6/lessons_from_ezekiels_temple.htm
Lessons From Ezekiel's Temple, Part 12: The
Sacrifices, Part A:
Why Sacrifices are Still Important
Last week, in Lessons from Ezekiel's Temple, Part 11,
we discovered that the presence of the Lord in our hearts should be our
number one priority, and in order to ensure that He comes and stays, we need
to do everything in our power to invite Him in, to make sure that there is
room for Him in the "structure" of our hearts.
Today's lesson takes a look at the meaning and importance of the sacrifices:
"But the priests, who are Levites and descendants of Zadok and who
faithfully carried out the duties of my sanctuary when the Israelites went
astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand
before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign Lord.
They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table
to minister before me and perform my service." (Ezek 44:15-16 NIV)
As you read through the description of Ezekiel's
temple, it soon becomes apparent that all of the human activity centering on
the entire structure is for one purpose: Sacrifice. You find the special
sacrificial rooms, the sacrificial tables, the tools and hooks for preparing
and hanging the sacrifices (see Lessons From Ezekiel's Temple, Part 10B),
the caldrons for cooking the sacrificial meat, and of course, the altar for
bringing the sacrifices to God.
But we don't do animal sacrifices anymore. These were done away with at the
cross when Jesus became our ultimate sacrifice: "There is no difference,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his
blood." (Rom 3:22-25 NIV). So what, possibly, could all of this
emphasis on sacrifices have to do with us today?
In the book of Philippians, Paul says: "But even if
I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service
coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you
too should be glad and rejoice with me." (Phil 2:17-18 NIV)
What this verse is saying is that one result of our faith is sacrifice! In
other words, when we belong to Christ, we WILL sacrifice! The type of
sacrifice and the reason for sacrificing may have changed when Jesus died on
the cross, but the idea of sacrificing did not, and this is the reason
behind all of the emphasis on sacrifice in Ezekiel's temple.
And just what types of sacrifices are we to give?
The Israelites gave of their wealth (flocks and herds). We are to do the
same. Animals are not counted as wealth in our day and age, but money is,
and we are to give of what we have.
But the idea of sacrifice is not limited to money.
Hebrews tells us to: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer
to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."
(Heb 13:15-16 NIV). This verse intimates that we are to continually offer
God the sacrifice of our praise. We are even told that when one belongs to
Jesus, the praise that flows from the lips is nothing other than a natural
result of confessing His name!
The Apostle Paul speaks of a different form of sacrifice: "Not that I am
looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your
account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied,
now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God."
(Phil 4:17-19 NIV);
Friends, when we give unselfishly of what we have to others, it is a
sacrifice, and God calls it a "fragrant offering, an acceptable
sacrifice, well pleasing to God"!
There are numerous other examples in the New Testament
of people sacrificing their time (See Acts 9), their land (See Acts 4,5),
their clothing (Remember Dorcas? See Acts 9:36-39), their homes and food
(numerous references to this throughout the book of Acts), even their very
lives (Peter, Paul, John, Barnabas, to name a few). Basically it comes down
to this: When our hearts are open to the workings of God's Spirit, we will
see the need around us, and we will be drawn to respond with whatever
sacrifice is necessary at the moment.
But what if everything that we have is needed by us and by our families, and
we truly have nothing to give?
This is the beautiful part, friends! When Paul commended the people of
Philippi for their gifts (see Phil 4:17-18, above), he knew they were often
giving what they needed for themselves, and this is why he concluded his
statement by saying, "And my God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:19 NIV)
Basically, we don't have to worry about not having enough for ourselves when
we give to others, for when we worry about the needs of others, God worries
about our own needs! He will provide!
Enough to ponder, but do ponder this: The reason there is so much emphasis
on sacrifices in the descriptions of Ezekiel's temple is because sacrifice
is still vitally important for us today! The types of sacrifice have
changed, yes, but the concept of giving has not. Let's remember Ezekiel's
temple and remember to sacrifice lovingly and freely!
There are many other important lessons to be learned from the references to
sacrifices in Ezekiel. Join us next week for another important lesson from
Ezekiel's temple: Lessons from Ezekiel's Temple, Part 12b: The Purification
for Sacrifice
God bless each of you as you seek to draw closer to Him!
In His love, Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .