Leviticus 1:3-17 - Homiletics

The burnt offering.

It was wholly consumed by the fire of God's altar; nothing was left for the after consumption either of the offerer or even of God's ministers, as in the other sacrifices.

I. IT TYPIFIES THE ENTIRE SELF - SURRENDER OF CHRIST TO GOD .

1. In his eternal resolve to redeem by becoming man.

2. In the humility of his birth on earth.

3. In the silence in which his youth was spent.

4. In the narrow limits within which he confined his ministry.

5. In the victory won over his human will in the Garden of Gethsemane.

6. In his yielding his life to his Father on the cross.

II. EXAMPLE HEREIN TO US .

1. We must surrender what is evil—

Bad habits, e.g. sloth, drunkenness.

Bad affections, e.g. love of money, bodily indulgence.

Bad passions, e.g. ill temper, pride.

2. We must surrender what God does not think fit to give us, though not in itself evil, such as—

Health—

Domestic happiness,

Worldly success.

III. THE CHRISTIAN TEMPER RESULTING FROM SELF - SURRENDER .

1. Acquiescence in God's will.

2. Cheerfulness in rendering that acquiescence.

3. Spiritual peace and happiness arising from the consciousness of having yielded our wilt to our Father's will.

4. Love to the brethren. Cf. Ephesians 5:2 : "Walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour."