Celebrate! May 31, 2025 Devotional
May 31, 2025
LEVITICUS 6:1-2, 6-7 | 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “When any of you sin and commit a trespass against the Lord by deceiving a neighbor in a matter of a deposit or a pledge or by robbery or if you have defrauded a neighbor.
6 And you shall bring to the priest, as your guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. 7 The priest shall make atonement on your behalf before the Lord, and you shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and incur guilt thereby.”
What does the word sacrifice signify to you? Do you think of chess, the giving up of a piece to set up a move or save a more valuable piece? Perhaps you imagine a situation where someone forfeits an opportunity, or gives up something precious to advance another’s interest—say a spouse moves from family to advance their partner’s career.
When an Israelite thought of sacrifice, they thought about the holiness of God and their own inadequate life. Sacrifice invoked guilt, shame, and need. It provoked self-scrutiny and conjured up images of rituals on altars in the Temple which punishment was transferred to innocent animals and blood was spilled.
Do you have a daily practice of honest review and confession?
Gracious God,
Help me live, and encourage others to live, in ways that honor life and not death.
Amen.
