PJP2 PROLOG 160213 PROLOG Focus Leviticus 1:9 & Romans 12:1-2....

Psalm 56:10 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."In God, Whose Word I Praise, In The Lord, Whose Word I Praise"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160213 - Leviticus 1:9 (NIV/emphasis added/jaj)...."You are to Wash the internal organs and the legs with water, And the priest is to burn all of it on The Altar. It is a Burnt Offering, a Food Offering, An Aroma Pleasing To The Lord."....

The Holy Spirit, through the annual Daily Reading Plan has Guided me into Leviticus.  I will be the first to share that there was a time when I avoided the Old Testament.  I just could not grasp how our Lord was employing all the sacrifices, battles, lawlessness and sinfulness one reads through His Story of the ancients.  I mean even His Chosen (for example King David), goodness, David had his share of issues and challenges.  BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth), Praise God that He Places folks in our lives who He Has Plans to Help us through our own lack of understanding of His Way.  My Thanks to several Pastors and Teachers of His Word and Way who God's Employed to Open the Eyes of my Heart and spirit.

Oh, by no means do I want to give the impression that I have this nailed down, or completely figured out.  Which brings us to today's PROLOG POST 160213.  Starting into Leviticus, I have been asking The Holy Spirit what His Guidance is for us via 2016's PJP2 Postings.  He pinged me with two concepts out of the Leviticus Chapters 1-3 readings, connected to His Passage Of the Word Select (POWS) from Romans 12:1-2.....Here we go.....

Though not specifically mentioned in Leviticus 1:9, what I am grasping with the introduction of the five major offerings (Burnt; Grain; Fellowship; Sin; Guilt Offerings) - YAHWEH was Providing His children a means NOT to 'earn their way' into His Grace, BUT to Reflect their understanding of His Love and Mercy, furthering their Relationship with Him via Atonement for their straying.  At least seven times in Leviticus 1-3 the phrase, "An Aroma Pleasing To The Lord" is used - For me, that gives me a mental image of God The Father 'At One' with us as we come to Him in Worship and Praise, Offering Him our First-fruits.

That brings me to the Second Concept The Spirit Laid out to me today....Romans 12:1-2 (NIV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, In View of God’s Mercy, To Offer your bodies As A Living Sacrifice/Offering, Holy And Pleasing to God—This Is your True And Proper Worship. Do Not conform to the pattern of this world, BUT Be Transformed By The Renewing of your Mind. Then you Will Be Able to Test And Approve What God’s Will Is—His Good, Pleasing And Perfect Will."....

Romans 12:1-2 brings a new understanding to God's Purpose of our Offerings to Him - He uses our Offerings, and Primarily our Offering of ourselves, to Transform us into That Person He Has Always Intended us to Become.  Through our Offering/Sacrifice of our selfish nature, Through His Mercy and Grace, we are Atoned and Become to Connect to His Perfect Will.

Now THAT is Encouraging!

Thus my Prayer for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Ultimate/Once For All Sacrifice.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Raise Up our Offering/Sacrifice of ourselves to You.  Father God, Thank You for Your Mercy.  Transform us. Renew our Minds. Guide us Lord Jesus that we May Become Your Reflection, Drawing those who do not Know You to Your Saving Love and Light.  In Your Holy Name we Pray....Amen/Amen....jaj

Blessings/jaj