It has to cost me...

Numbers 28 talks again of God's instructions concerning offerings. After much of an entire chapter (Leviticus) on offerings, one wonders why the need to repeat the same material in Numbers 28. Why this emphasis?

Offerings were a central part of the Israelites relationship with God. It was a foreshadow of Christ that was to come.

For offerings, the Israelites had to sacrifice healthy animals with no defects or choice flour with olive oil. In other words, an offering had to be of tangible value. There had to be some real cost to the person giving the offering . In the same way, when Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross, the cost to God was real and tangible. God suffered for it. He gave up His first fruit for us.

What does this mean for me then? It means that when I offer myself to God, it has to cost me too. When I give up my time, money, effort etc. to Him, it shouldn't be whatever leftovers remaining that don't require any real sacrifice from me. In order for my offering to be meaningful, it has to have some real tangible value.