Humble and Faithful

“If a woman cannot afford to bring a lamb, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for the burnt offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will sacrifice them to purify her, and she will be ceremonially clean.” Leviticus 12:8 NLT

A woman was required to bring a sacrifice to the Lord for purification from the bleeding associated with childbirth. The normal offering was "a year-old lamb for a whole burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a purification offering" (Leviticus 12:6). But in the case of poorer families who could not afford a lamb they were allowed to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead.

The Gospel of Luke portrays the devotedness of Jesus' parents, Joseph and Mary, to the law of the Lord. One glimpse into their devout lives concerns their obedience to the above law of purification. "Then it was time for the purification offering as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord....So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord--'either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons'" (Luke 2:22, 24). In this testimony we see not only the faithful devotion of Joseph and Mary but also their poverty. Mary gave birth to the Lamb of God but she could not afford a lamb for the purification offering.

What we possess in our bank accounts matters little to God. What we possess in our hearts means everything to Him. God finds pleasure in those who are humble and faithful.

Father, help me to value the heart above possessions as You do and to live a humble and faithful life before You today and always.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark