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- Apr 25, 2006
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No Tube Steak
Scripture Reading — Leviticus 3:1-6; Romans 12:1-2
“If your offering is a fellowship offering . . . you are to present .
. . an animal without defect.”
— Leviticus 3:1
When I was growing up, our family would often grill meat for our meals
in the summer. My parents enjoyed grilled steak, but it didn’t seem
sensible to use choice meat for four young kids who didn’t appreciate
a sirloin. So instead they put “tube steak” on the barbecue just for
us. We were satisfied until we learned that tube steaks were just hot
dogs!
It's one thing to use a lesser kind of meat when feeding a large
family, but it’s quite another to try to pass off less than our best
to God. In Leviticus 3 God spells out the requirements for fellowship
offerings. These sound similar to the rules for burnt offerings
(Leviticus 1), but the fellowship offering illustrated the joy of
living in a peaceful relationship with God. God’s desire was to draw
his people into relationship with himself. So, as the holy and true
God, he called for receiving animals without blemish or defect. In
addition, with these offerings the people had to separate and offer
all of the fat portions to the Lord. Why? Because the fat was
considered the choicest part of the animal, and that was to be
dedicated to God.
Romans 12 expands on this idea, noting that our response to God’s
mercy is to offer the best that we have: our very selves! Do we offer
God our very best? When we give of our time, talents, and treasure, do
we give God our best, or the leftovers? In view of God’s mercy, let’s
offer God the very best of all we have!
O Lord, you have made us your sons and daughters! May we honor you by
joyfully giving our best to you! In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Rob Toornstra
Rob Toornstra has served as the pastor of Sunnyslope Christian
Reformed Church in Salem, Oregon, since 2005. In addition to his
pastoral responsibilities, he serves with International Theological
Education Ministries, teaching pastors around the globe how to be
effective preachers. He and his wife, Amy, have three children, and
they enjoy all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Scripture Reading — Leviticus 3:1-6; Romans 12:1-2
“If your offering is a fellowship offering . . . you are to present .
. . an animal without defect.”
— Leviticus 3:1
When I was growing up, our family would often grill meat for our meals
in the summer. My parents enjoyed grilled steak, but it didn’t seem
sensible to use choice meat for four young kids who didn’t appreciate
a sirloin. So instead they put “tube steak” on the barbecue just for
us. We were satisfied until we learned that tube steaks were just hot
dogs!
It's one thing to use a lesser kind of meat when feeding a large
family, but it’s quite another to try to pass off less than our best
to God. In Leviticus 3 God spells out the requirements for fellowship
offerings. These sound similar to the rules for burnt offerings
(Leviticus 1), but the fellowship offering illustrated the joy of
living in a peaceful relationship with God. God’s desire was to draw
his people into relationship with himself. So, as the holy and true
God, he called for receiving animals without blemish or defect. In
addition, with these offerings the people had to separate and offer
all of the fat portions to the Lord. Why? Because the fat was
considered the choicest part of the animal, and that was to be
dedicated to God.
Romans 12 expands on this idea, noting that our response to God’s
mercy is to offer the best that we have: our very selves! Do we offer
God our very best? When we give of our time, talents, and treasure, do
we give God our best, or the leftovers? In view of God’s mercy, let’s
offer God the very best of all we have!
O Lord, you have made us your sons and daughters! May we honor you by
joyfully giving our best to you! In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Rob Toornstra
Rob Toornstra has served as the pastor of Sunnyslope Christian
Reformed Church in Salem, Oregon, since 2005. In addition to his
pastoral responsibilities, he serves with International Theological
Education Ministries, teaching pastors around the globe how to be
effective preachers. He and his wife, Amy, have three children, and
they enjoy all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
