Joel M Bradshaw

16And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD’s.–Leviticus 3

This was a time when eating meat was a special treat, and so God demanded to be not only invited to the cookout, but even provided the grill at His house.

 If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to the LORD, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD. (Leviticus 17:3-5)

Imagine a weekend BBQ where the food had to be eaten by a certain time! I like to joke that this would have been a moment where cousin Joel was invited over just to keep filling his plate.

 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 7:18)

The peace or fellowship offering was a special BBQ party that celebrated the relationship with God. It was a special ‘I love you, just because’ moment. In a world that seems regulated, joy and spontaneity are also valued. So how about the events of your life? Does God get just your church time, or is He invited to your cookouts? Do you celebrate the theological peace you have because of Jesus?–JMB