The Offering of Fellowship

The Offering of Fellowship

Way back when, they came with goats, bulls, and pigeons.

Now, we come with our song, contribution, and service.

But has it ever been about the object of sacrifice, really?

Or is it about obedience? Wills aligned with God’s?

Isn’t it really about our hearts? Hearts that commune with His.

We come to worship—to bless our God—out of love and gratitude.

We come to Him—anytime, anywhere—to fellowship with our Lord and Maker.

And yet, aren’t we the ones that seem to be blessed for it?

The newly redeemed Hebrew nation was instructed in the way of worship. And the Levitical Law specified the means of a fellowship offering.

A fellowship offering was offered To . The . Lord .

But do you know who got to enjoy it?

The priests making the sacrifice!

Doesn’t sound like much of a sacrifice, now does it?


“When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD,
sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.
It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day;”
[Lv 19:5-6a {see also Lv 3:1ff}]


The fellowship offering was given in worship by those at peace with God. By those in a right relationship with God (because of His mercy and grace in making a way to right that relationship). The offering was made to God for that fellowship. The priests were then able to enjoy the offering in communion with God.

God shared the meal offered to Him with the worshiper.

Isn’t that indicative of our generous God?

When He asks that we bring an offering of worship, so often we are the ones truly blessed. And when we offer a sacrifice to Him, we are the ones rewarded (hardly qualifying as a sacrifice at all).

Jesus may have changed the practice of the fellowship offering, but don’t we still have cause to celebrate the peace and fellowship with God that He came to fulfill?

And didn’t He proclaim the practice of a shared “meal” in communion with Him and fellowship with one another because of the mercy and grace of God in making a way for our peace?

The offering for the Christian today is to bring our hearts in worship to the One that secured our peace with God, Jesus Christ. We come celebrating our abiding fellowship with Him—in love, thanksgiving, and praise. And we share that offering—as did God—in fellowship with His people.

Now and then, the mechanics may have changed—but doesn’t the heart of the matter remain ever the same?

Prayer:
We come, Lord, offering our hearts, exalting You in the absolute splendor of Your infinite holiness.