by Rebekah Johnson
"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God. If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, ...you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones."
- Deuteronomy 17:1-3, 5b
God's requirements for sacrifice were clear. The Israelites were to only choose perfect animals to offer up to God. They had to be pure, clean, and without any defects whatsoever. He demanded their best just as He demands our best in our offerings of service and worship to Him. Our God is a jealous God -- He forbid the Israelites to "transgress his covenant" by serving and worshiping other Gods. The punishment for idolatry is pretty fierce, don't you think? God views idolatry very very seriously. We would do well to guard our hearts and minds and daily examine whether we are placing any thing, any person above or in place of God.
He demands our exclusive worship.
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