Prepare these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect. – Numbers 28:31

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 21, 2012): Numbers 28

Last weekend the church I attend had their “last kick of summer” party. We have done this for the past few years, giving away free food and school supplies to the people of the community – a lot of whom do not even attend our church. We do it because we are convinced that God loves the people who would never dare enter into the church building (and that is also the reason that we hold the major portions of the event outside.) So, even though the event is directed at the community, it is also our sacrifice to God. And as our sacrifice to God, that means that God has specific requirements about what it is that we offer.

At the same time, I have to admit that I am not sure that I like biblical language of this passage. With respect to animals, the Bible says clearly that the sacrifice that needs to be offered is to be without defect. But that leaves us with the impression that the sacrifice needed to be perfect. So does that mean that our sacrifice of service (we just do not offer very many animal sacrifices anymore) also needs to be perfect? Some have picked up on exactly that message - that we also need to be perfect in the actions that we offer to God. But the reality of my world is that perfection is exceedingly rare.

But perfection was just as rare in the animals of ancient times. All the worshipper could do was to look at the outside of the animal and evaluate it. And the intention of the law was that the sacrifice would be of the best quality possible. It was the animal that would be worth the most to the farmer. God’s intent was that he would not be honored by our leftovers.

I know there is no way that I can offer God perfection. As the team met immediately following our party we discussed all of the things we needed to change to the event so that we could do a better job next year. But I am also convinced that the sacrifice that we gave this year was our best – we gave God all that was within us to give. But my hope is that next year we can be even more loving and charitable – and even more like Christ as we give the best of what we have to the community as our sacrifice to him.

    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 29