Offerings and Atonements to God

Children of Israel had different offerings to God. What can we offer now?

In Leviticus 1 – 7, God gave HIS people detailed instructions on how to worship HIM. Different offerings help people do thanksgiving and atonements properly. Nowadays, the practices change but the essence remains the same.

Offerings in the past:

1)      The burnt offering

2)      The grain offering

3)      The peace offering

4)      The sin offering

5)      The trespass offering

6)      Offerings with restitution

Each offering had its own laws to be observed firmly by the priest and the non-priest, for example, what to offer, how to prepare it, the location, the procedures and the forbidden acts. Failure to exactitude offends God and that person would be punished.

What time or circumstance to offer which offering? God proclaimed the commands that could direct people to cleanse themselves, an act of loving-kindness to free them from being guilty and so they could continue walking in HIS way uprightly.

Characteristics of the offerings:

1)      Criteria and steps are given by God for people’s strict observance.

2)      One’s free will is required.

3)      The sacrifice must be free from blemish.

4)      Atonements help people please the LORD and reconcile with HIM.

5)      The priest plays an important role in handling the offerings, which are made holy, to make atonement for people.

6)      Forgiveness is granted to the sinners after the priest made atonement for them.

People are still guilty for their unintentional sin and need forgiveness through proper atonement. In the modern days, we are not required to perform the same steps but this doesn’t exempt us from atonements that are necessary for our reconciliation with the LORD.

Nowadays, we still need to keep God’s commandments exactly. Don’t let lousy execution happen to hinder us from being saved by Jesus Christ. The Bible and the church tell us what we should do to worship God effectively. We can make offerings to the LORD by the following means.

1)      Pray to God always.

2)      Read the Bible daily.

3)      Devote time to meditate on God’s word.

4)      Have Reconciliation of Individual Penitents at least once a year. Do it in a monthly basis will be more desirable.

5)      Attend Sunday mass. It is highly recommended attending the weekday ones as well.

6)      Have communion.

7)      Donate money to support the living of the priest and the operation of the church, the poor and the needy.

8)      Join in a group of the church to increase the opportunity of serving God.

9)      Do volunteer work.

10)  Offer almsgiving.

The aforementioned list does not cover all the offerings we can submit to God. Look for more opportunities and devote our time, money and other resources to offer thanksgiving and atonement to God, and reconcile with HIM.

Let’s pray to God:

Heavenly Father, thanks for Your forever love to us. Please give us the wisdom to understand the importance of offerings and atonements, and do them wholeheartedly and exactly according to Your commands. Amen.