Friday, June 19, 2026
Scripture Readings
- Primary Reading: Leviticus 1-2
Key Verse
Leviticus 1:17 — “And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.”
Devotional Thought
What does it mean to bring God something of your own, voluntarily, and lay it before Him? That is the question Leviticus 1–2 puts to us this June morning. The book opens not with thunder from Sinai but with a voice from the tabernacle: “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation.” The God who delivered Israel out of Egypt now dwells among them and teaches them how to draw near. The burnt offering was not extracted under threat; it was brought “of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle.” The worshipper placed his hand on the animal’s head, identifying himself with the sacrifice, and it was “accepted for him to make atonement for him.” Blood was sprinkled, the offering was cut in pieces, washed, and laid in order on the altar—an offering made by fire, “of a sweet savour unto the LORD.”
Notice the tenderness of God’s provision. A man of great means brought a bullock from the herd; a poorer man brought a sheep or a goat; the poorest brought turtledoves or young pigeons. The same fire, the same altar, the same sweet savour. God did not grade the offerings by size but received each one offered in faith. In the meat offering of chapter 2, the worshipper brought fine flour, oil, and frankincense—no leaven, which speaks of corruption, and no honey, which can ferment, but salt, “the salt of the covenant of thy God.” A handful was burned as a memorial, and the rest belonged to Aaron and his sons, “a thing most holy.”
We live in June, in the long green season after Pentecost, when the church’s calendar quiets down and ordinary days stretch out. It is easy to let our giving to God become routine or grudging. But Leviticus reminds us that the ordinary stuff of life—flour, oil, salt, a lamb, a pigeon—can be brought to God and become a sweet savour. The details matter: the fire laid in order, the inwards washed, the salt never lacking. Our worship is not vague sentiment; it is concrete obedience offered by our own willing hearts.
And all of it points forward. Every blemish-free male, every drop of sprinkled blood, every memorial burned on the altar whispers the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish, who offered Himself once for all. When we bring our small offerings now—our time, our work, our quiet obedience—we bring them in His name, and they rise as a sweet savour to the Father.
Reflection
- What “offering of your own voluntary will” is God asking you to bring Him in this ordinary season—and are you holding back the best of it while giving Him only what costs you nothing?
- The worshipper laid his hand on the sacrifice and it was accepted for him. Do you rest in Christ’s once-for-all offering, or are you still trying to make atonement for yourself by your own efforts?
Prayer
Lord God, who called to Moses from the tabernacle and taught Your people how to draw near, teach us also to come to You with willing hearts. We thank You that You did not leave us to earn our acceptance, but provided a Lamb without blemish, Your own Son, whose blood speaks better things than that of bulls and goats. Receive the small offerings of our days—our work, our words, our quiet obedience—and let them rise as a sweet savour before You. Season our lives with the salt of Your covenant, purge out the leaven of hypocrisy, and keep us near the altar where Your fire never goes out. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.