"The Offering." - Too

 "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer." (Hebrews 8:3 KJV)

  "Imitate God, therefore in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT)

 Okay, so this just got real! For starters, I had to check the verse in my Bible, because I usually use the Blue Letter Bible for almost all the verses that I am blobbing on, but they have so many errors, I have to edit the verse that I have typed, (like I should talk!). The issue was the word, "man", and the reason for that word to not be capitalized. It is absolutely the same, because it is a very complex: "this (person, as objective of verb or preposition): - him, the same, that, this." 

 Without getting completely over the top, there is something of a relationship between this being Christ, who is the character that this is being focused upon, and those of us that are believers. In other words, we are to be and do everything according to Christ when it comes to submission and having somewhat to offer! It is not about works, because there is nothing we can do gain our own righteousness; our righteousness is filthy rages to God, He sees us righteous by the blood of His Son! 

 In other words, our love for others and serving the Lord are not works, as if we are trying to earn anything, because we have already been given all that we need. But our works are offerings, given as worship and obedience to the One we love! Like children tend to grow up like their parents, we must be growing to be like Christ! 

 In other words, you are okay to place your name into that verse, in place of, this man...

"Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace." (Romans 6:12-14 NLT)