Leviticus 19

"And if you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Jehovah, you shall offer it of your own free will."

The Bible says we were made in the image of God. Does that mean we look like Him? I believe it means a few things. First of all, our God is a God of love. 1 John tells us that God is love. I believe that we are made in God's image in that, we, like no other creation, have this potential to love and desire to be loved. A Christian band called the Kry once said, "You can do what you want to do...that is the law of love." The first commandment concerning offerings is given in Exodus 25:2 which tells us, "Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring Me an offering. You shall take an offering from every man that gives it willingly with his heart." The Law was focused upon willingness because the law is focused around love.

God loves us. The problem is, just as God is love, He is also holy (set apart). What does this mean? Why is God holy? God is infinite. He is the Beginning and the End. In fact, He describes Himself as the great, "I AM." God is the sustainer of life. He is in whom we live, move, and have our being. Sin is the result of turning away from the life giver, and its byproduct is death. Think about this; God is "I AM" (Present Tense). To turn away from that which is present tense is to turn away from life. You cannot live out tomorrow now. You cannot live out yesterday. I am entirely surrendered to the now. God is the life giver of this present moment. The reason God is Holy is because He has life to give and we only create death with every sin we do. Life cannot mix with death.

God shows Israel the path to holiness through the laws given. The key is that we give unto Him willingly. God could not mix with sin because He is holy. He could love. He could love us to the point that He willingly offered His Son for us. Have you ever had someone do something for you out of obligation and not willingness? Have you ever done that to someone else? That is not love. Just because you do something someone wants you to do does not mean you are loving them. However, to give willingly is an entirely different story. Jesus gave, willingly, His own life, that we might be considered Sons of Life and not death. Remember Life is in the blood, and now the Blood, covers us. We no longer are unholy because we have that very "I AM" life covering our sins (death).

To show your gratefulness, sing a willing song of love to your savior this evening. With the Christmas season here, let us truly be thankful and offer willing worship to the Lord in everything we do. Do not feel obligated to be a Christian. Instead, think about whom saved you, and consider the blessing. Allow Him to work in your heart that you become a very willing bondslave to the Lord.