Faith and worship are connected and recognized as ways of communicating with God. They have their origin in the Old Testament. These two aspects are demanded from human beings for various reasons. They present a Christian with spiritual food to walk through the journey of life in fulfillment. It is through these forms of communication with God that He gives crucial messages and answers prayers.
The basis of sacrifice as a form of worshiping God is found in the Old Testament. This is in line with the belief that God is almighty and His dictates must be followed. In traditional communities, priests led faithful because they held a privileged position. Each sacrifice had its purpose depending on what the community or individuals wanted from God.
Burnt sacrifices were offered to God as the first offspring of a flock or maiden harvest. People observed the direction of the smoke to know if God had accepted their sacrifice. If it went to the skies, they were satisfied that He was pleased with them. Any other direction demanded soul searching to establish where they had made a mistake. Other inclusions on the altar were tithes, cereals, fruits and drinks.
Making such an offering signified what God meant to His people. The quality of offering given by each person showed the regard with which he held God. Offering the best or the first harvest indicated absolute devotion to the will of God. It is an acceptance that everything came from Him through his Grace. Everything was burnt without even the priests having a share of it.
Sacrifices were also made to seek remission from sin by communities or individuals. The approach was different in this case because the priests were at liberty to have a share what was offered at the altar. As representatives of God, they would burn part of it and share the rest as personal gain. The main aim of such offering was to cleanse the person of sin or the community in order to avert a calamity.
The desire for peace drove people to make offerings at individual level. This was in fulfillment of vows, in thanks giving or other personal reasons. What one offered remained at his discretion because it was he who knew the reason. It was agreed that anything being offered should bear no blemish. One was allowed to invite other people to share in the offering as a feast.
The philosophy of worshiping has not changed regardless of the changes in form. Sacrifices are offered in form of commodities, cash and assets. Prayer and fasting are the other ways that Christians engage in thanks giving or seek absolution of sins. These activities are an indication of a community that believes that God is the leader of their lives.
The greatest form of faith and worship is living a righteous life in obedience to the commandments of God. Good deeds like generosity or charity rise up the skies like the smoke of the sacrifices made in the Old Testament. There is an element of cost in worshiping which shows sacrifice or surrender. This is the essence of fasting.
The basis of sacrifice as a form of worshiping God is found in the Old Testament. This is in line with the belief that God is almighty and His dictates must be followed. In traditional communities, priests led faithful because they held a privileged position. Each sacrifice had its purpose depending on what the community or individuals wanted from God.
Burnt sacrifices were offered to God as the first offspring of a flock or maiden harvest. People observed the direction of the smoke to know if God had accepted their sacrifice. If it went to the skies, they were satisfied that He was pleased with them. Any other direction demanded soul searching to establish where they had made a mistake. Other inclusions on the altar were tithes, cereals, fruits and drinks.
Making such an offering signified what God meant to His people. The quality of offering given by each person showed the regard with which he held God. Offering the best or the first harvest indicated absolute devotion to the will of God. It is an acceptance that everything came from Him through his Grace. Everything was burnt without even the priests having a share of it.
Sacrifices were also made to seek remission from sin by communities or individuals. The approach was different in this case because the priests were at liberty to have a share what was offered at the altar. As representatives of God, they would burn part of it and share the rest as personal gain. The main aim of such offering was to cleanse the person of sin or the community in order to avert a calamity.
The desire for peace drove people to make offerings at individual level. This was in fulfillment of vows, in thanks giving or other personal reasons. What one offered remained at his discretion because it was he who knew the reason. It was agreed that anything being offered should bear no blemish. One was allowed to invite other people to share in the offering as a feast.
The philosophy of worshiping has not changed regardless of the changes in form. Sacrifices are offered in form of commodities, cash and assets. Prayer and fasting are the other ways that Christians engage in thanks giving or seek absolution of sins. These activities are an indication of a community that believes that God is the leader of their lives.
The greatest form of faith and worship is living a righteous life in obedience to the commandments of God. Good deeds like generosity or charity rise up the skies like the smoke of the sacrifices made in the Old Testament. There is an element of cost in worshiping which shows sacrifice or surrender. This is the essence of fasting.
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