“Sweet Smell Unto the Lord” (Lev 1:14-17)

 “And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: And he shall split it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD.” (Le 1:14-17 AKJV)

The poor are accepted by God: you and I don’t have to be rich, great, or STRONG in faith. As weak as we are, we shall be received. Small faith has the same love, just in smaller portions, and it has the same faith, just not as much.  Mary and Joseph were TOO POOR to bring a lamb, so they brought what God commanded, only the LEAST of faith and the LEAST of reasons to be accepted, but they were received - “And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he has committed two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering”. Scripture says of Mary and Joseph, “And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought [Jesus] to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord… And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Lev 5:7; Luke 2:23-24). The poor in faith and the RICH in faith are blessed the same; the strong and poor believer are EQUALLY received, though we might not have equal enjoyment, but God DOESN’T despise faith: He doesn’t say, “You have FAITH, but you need more”. Instead, He blesses ALL faith that He sees, growing us, until we’re able to see more clearly that small faith doesn‘t hinder us, so we REALLY believe. No, He doesn’t despise small faith, small believers, or WEAK churches; He stands to receive us all, and the more we know this, the more I can bring a lamb, rather than a dove, but I’m equally accepted and loved either way.

Don’t feel that believers are better than you before God; you and I are either accepted in the Beloved, or we’re not; Christ EITHER mediates, or He doesn’t.  But, if He does, then don’t let who you are stop you from believing for one second how full God is to you. Be your faith small, it will save - “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, wherefore did you doubt” (Matt 14:31)?  Be your assurance tiny, it will promote good works.  A man isn’t judged by the size of faith, but by FAITH alone: not great faith, huge faith, mature faith, or anything other than FAITH connecting us to the sacrifice and person of God’s Son.  Thus, with trembling hand and many doubts be FULLY assured of your acceptance in Christ.