DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 17 April 2025: Irreversible Consecration
KEY VERSE: “And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.” – (Leviticus 27:9).
TEXT: Leviticus 27:1-13 (KJV)
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your valuation, 3 if your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels; 5 and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels; 6 and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver; 7 and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
8 ‘But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.
9 ‘If it is an animal that men may bring as an offering to the Lord, all that anyone gives to the Lord shall be holy. 10 He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy. 11 If it is an unclean animal which they do not offer as a sacrifice to the Lord, then he shall present the animal before the priest; 12 and the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be. 13 But if he wants at all to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth to your valuation.
In our relationship with the Lord, we reach points where our zeal challenges us to go the extra mile to appreciate His immeasurable love. We have such touching stories in the Bible. King David had the opportunity to save a fortune by picking free materials to sacrifice to the Lord. He turned down the offer, saying, he would not give to God what would cost him nothing. Hannah had been desperate to have a child. But when the male child came, she did not hesitate to release him to the Lord as she vowed. Peter and the other apostles left all to follow the Lord.
So it was with the children of Israel in the wilderness as they headed for the Promised Land. Although they complied with the law that demanded their regular tithes and offerings in cash or materials, they still placed themselves under a vow to express their consecration. They gave God their children, fields, cattle, houses, etc. The priests estimated their value to ensure they were fit for sanctuary use.
Our zeal and commitment as New Testament believers must go beyond the superficial routine of church attendance and ministerial functions. We must acknowledge God’s matchless goodness that we count on nothing, including our family, property, time, skills, and money, as He may require them when needed. And we must not attempt to take back what we give Him; He is the Owner of all that is ours. Our commitment and giving of ourselves and substances to God must dwarf the redeemable vows of the Old Testament believers. He left His glory above to pay the supreme price for our redemption, and we should be willing to lay all on the altar for His glory and service.
The churches in Macedonia demonstrated this virtue, “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:5) Let us give our all to the Lord who first gave His all unto us, and we shall have no cause for regrets here and hereafter.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: We must go from just giving, to giving our best…to giving our all to the Lord.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Acts 20-21
Daily Manna 17 April 2025
