Manna Moments

⏱️3 min read

A Sacrifice of Devotion

“An outward observance without any real inward meaning is just a ceremony. A rite which has a present spiritual meaning is a symbol; if it…also points to a future reality, conveying at the same time…the blessing that is yet to appear, it is a type” (A. Edersheim, 1874).

According to Hebrews 10:1, even the sacrifices were a type and shadow that point to Christ.

Every morning and every evening a voluntary whole burnt offering was offered to the Lord. This offering was also called “the sacrifice of devotion.” There are two Hebrew words that are used together when speaking of the whole burnt offering: “olah,” which means “to go up” or “ascend.” The second word is “kalil,” which means “whole” or “entire.” The whole sacrifice was to be offered to the Lord and burned - unlike other blood sacrifices where the priest would eat of the meat.

It’s amazing, if we think about it, how we so eagerly offer our devotion to the Lord when we are overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and zeal - whether we are surrounded with like-minded worshippers on Sunday or stirred by sounds of praise streaming through our favorite playlists. Surely the Lord is pleased with those moments. Yet what happens when the week presses in reminding us of heavier burdens - the wayward child, the looming diagnosis, the strained marriage, the empty bank account, the ache of loneliness that may come from a newly empty nest or the single person longing for a help mate? Why do we find it so hard to lay those weights upon the altar, surrendering them fully as a sacrifice?

God wants it all! He wants the whole burnt offering, the “kalil,” - nothing held back. We are that offering of devotion that we lay down to the Lord at the beginning and ending of each day. This voluntary laying down of self includes our plans, our will, our trust, our faults, our children, our family, our jobs, our ministry - everything offered in utter devotion to the Alpha and Omega of our days. In Him is our beginning and in Him is our ending. As we place ourselves on His altar, we remember that the consuming fire of the sacrifice was not one of judgement but of acceptance as “a sweet aroma of Christ”(2 Cor.2:15). And it is in this daily surrender of devotion that He assures us: “I will meet you to speak with you” (Exodus 29:42).