Offering Part 2

offering noun
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of·fer·ing | \ ˈȯ-f(ə-)riŋ , ˈä- \
Definition of offering
1a: the act of one who offers
b: something offered
especially : a sacrifice ceremonially offered as a part of worship
c: a contribution to the support of a church

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offering

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.1.NLT

The way to truly worship God is to give my body to Him. After all He’s done so much for me starting with the giving of His own Son. And the grace He shows me each day prepares me for a better way.

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
Philippians 1:4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.1.4.NLT

Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Philippians 2:16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.16.NLT

Pray joyfully for my precious brethren and cling firmly to this ageless faith.

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
1 Peter 2:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.5.NLT

I am a living stone, His holy priest. Through the mediation of Christ, I’m free to offer spiritual sacrifices to my Holy God above.

Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
1 Corinthians 16:1‭-‬2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.16.1-2.NLT

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.9.6-7.NLT

In regards to my giving (this applies everywhere not just at church on Sunday) I’m to give of my talent, time, and resources cheerfully. Not reluctantly or under pressure as the New Living Translation puts it. Must work on this. I let myself worry at times about how much money is in my bank account. Do I have enough to give and be generous? Yes, I do. More than enough. I have 2 good paying jobs that God has provided for me. So stop worrying. And trust God. He’s got this, girl.

And news flash: it is not my money. It is His and I am steward of it. So watch how I spend. And give with a generous heart.

Offering Part 1

The word offering appears numerous times in Numbers chapter 7 starting in verse 12. Each day a leader from each tribe of the Israelites made offerings to the Lord for twelve days.

Offering

(n.) That which is offered, esp. in divine service; that which is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering.

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Romans 8:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.3.NLT

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.2.NLT

He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
1 Timothy 2:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.2.6.NLT

God gave His Son as a sacrifice for my sins. Jesus offered Himself a sacrifice for me. He gave His life to purchase freedom for me.

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.1.3.NLT

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 9:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.9.14.NLT

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Hebrews 10:10‭, ‬14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.10-14.NLT

He has cleansed me from my sins, purified my conscience from sinful deeds, made me holy and perfect. He is the perfect sacrifice for my sins.

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
1 John 2:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.2.2.NLT

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
1 John 4:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.4.10.NLT

His sacrifice atones for the sins of the whole world. God loved me and sent His Son as a sacrifice for my sins. Part 2 tomorrow.

To Be Separate

I just finished reading Leviticus and the various laws may sound weird to the average reader but there was a reason for them. To keep the nation of Israel separate from pagan nations around them. In other words they were to live holy lives.

No unclean animals were to be consumed (Leviticus 11), purification was required after childbirth (12), cleansing was required for skin diseases, contaminated clothing, contaminated houses and bodily discharges (13-15).

And it is the same with us. We are to be separate from the world. To live holy lives.

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. ”
2 Corinthians 6:17‭-‬18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.6.17-18.NLT

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
James 4:4‭-‬5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.4-5.NLT

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.2.15-17.NLT

Let the above Scriptures speak for themselves.