In the times of the Old Covenant, the thank offering was a sacrificial meal shared between God, the priests, and the offerer. The fat portions were burned on the altar as God’s share, while the priests received specific parts like the breast and right thigh. The remainder was eaten by the offerer and their family on the same day (Leviticus 7:11-34). It was a gift given to God that also blessed the giver.
Today, we no longer offer animal sacrifices, but our expressions of thanks to the Lord still serve as offerings. When I give thanks to the Lord, I recognize it as a gift I am presenting to God, a heartfelt acknowledgment of the marvelous blessing of my relationship with Him, of His ongoing goodness, boundless grace, faithful provision, and perpetual protection.
I do so expecting nothing in return, just as it is when I give a gift to another person. I am not giving thanks so that I can be blessed. It is an offering to the One who has already blessed me beyond my comprehension, and certainly beyond what I deserve. Yet, I am also aware that the Lord wants to share His blessing with me. So, my thanks to Him becomes a spiritual meal, enriching my faith and nourishing my soul—sometimes in more discernible ways and other times more subtly, but always from Him.
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