Drawing Near to God
Text: Leviticus 1:1–9
Introduction:
We live in a world that celebrates access. You can book a flight, order a meal, or schedule a meeting all from your phone. Technology has given us convenience—but sometimes, that convenience causes us to forget the weight and wonder of access to truly important things.
Think about this: If you were invited to the White House to meet the President, you wouldn’t treat it like any other day. You would plan your schedule, choose your outfit carefully, and think twice about how you’d carry yourself. If you were summoned into a courtroom or invited to a royal palace, you wouldn’t arrive unprepared or disheveled.
Now consider this: How much more should we consider the weight of entering into the presence of Almighty God? The King above all kings. The One who is holy, holy, holy.
And yet, let’s be honest. In our spiritual routines, we sometimes treat access to God casually. We rush into worship, we multitask through prayer, and we skim the Word. But Scripture reminds us: God is holy, and He is not approached on human terms. He invites us—but He also instructs us.
That’s why the book of Leviticus matters. While it may seem foreign at first glance—full of offerings, rituals, and priestly procedures—it actually teaches us something deeply profound: a holy God desires relationship with us, but that relationship is not entered into lightly. It must be approached with reverence, sacrifice, and wholehearted devotion.
Leviticus 1 opens with a call—not from Mount Sinai, as in Exodus, but from the Tent of Meeting. Verse 1 says, “The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD…’”
God was initiating the conversation. He was opening the door. But notice—He gives very clear instruction for how that access must take place. In the chapters that follow, we find five kinds of offerings. Today, we focus on the first: the burnt offering. It’s foundational because it sets the tone for every other kind of worship.
Through the burnt offering, we learn this central truth: God not only desires relationship with His people—He makes a way for it. But we must come on His terms.
1. Come to God with Reverence, Not Assumption
Verse 3 says, “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.”
God didn’t say, “Bring whatever you have lying around.” He said, “Bring your best.”
This was no casual offering. The worshiper had to select an unblemished animal, bring it to the tent of meeting, place their hands upon it, and then kill it. This was personal. Intentional. Weighty.
Why? Because sin is serious. And God is holy.
We live in a culture of convenience. We like worship that fits our preferences. We want sermons that are short, music that matches our taste, and a God who fits our schedule. But God is not interested in being squeezed into our lives. He is Lord. He deserves our reverence.
Have you ever tried giving a half-used gift to someone? Imagine re-wrapping a candle you’ve already burned, or giving a shirt with the tags cut off. That would be insulting, not honoring. Yet, how often do we give God leftovers?
Application: Let’s bring our best—our best time, our best attention, our best hearts. Let’s approach Him with awe, not apathy.
But reverence isn’t the only requirement. True worship doesn’t just acknowledge God’s worth—it offers something costly in response. Let’s look at the second aspect of this passage.
2. Offer What Costs You Something
Verse 4 continues, “You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you.”
This wasn’t symbolic only—it was substitutionary. The animal bore the cost. Worship required something from the worshiper.
David once said in 2 Samuel 24:24, “I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
The burnt offering was completely consumed. Nothing was held back. It symbolized total devotion.
When we come to God, we don’t come bargaining. We come yielding. Offering ourselves completely.
When you go all in on something—whether it’s a business, a relationship, a dream—you don’t hold back. You invest. You sacrifice. That’s what worship is meant to look like.
Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, went all in for us. He gave everything. So, what should our response be?
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Worship that is reverent and costly must also be personal. God’s instructions in Leviticus involve the worshiper directly. And that brings us to our third point.
3. Let Worship Be Personal and Participatory
Verse 5 says, “You are to slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”
This was not a spectator experience. The worshiper was involved in bringing, identifying with, and initiating the offering. The priests handled the rest—but the beginning was in the hands of the worshiper.
Worship today must also be personal. It cannot be outsourced. Church is not a show. Worship is not a performance.
Imagine attending a wedding but not really knowing the bride or groom. You might enjoy the food and the music, but you wouldn’t be emotionally invested. That’s the difference between being present and participating.
Application: Let’s lean into worship. Let’s engage. Let’s come not just to observe but to offer ourselves to God.
Conclusion:
Leviticus begins with a call: “Come near.” This divine invitation was not random or generic—it was rooted in God’s holy character and His deep desire to dwell with His people. And through the burnt offering, God provided a specific, sacred way for that to happen. He made the path clear, but it had to be followed with reverence, with sacrifice, and with personal involvement.
The good news for us today is that God still calls. The One who spoke from the tent of meeting now speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19–22 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
Jesus is our perfect sacrifice. Through Him, the veil has been torn, and the way has been opened. We don’t need to bring bulls or goats—we come by grace. But that grace is not cheap. We still come on His terms—with awe, with humility, with wholehearted devotion.
Let’s not settle for casual Christianity. Let’s not drift through worship with distracted minds and halfhearted hearts. God deserves more. He invites us to draw near—but never flippantly. Always faithfully.
Prayer:
Lord, teach us to worship You rightly. To bring not just our songs but our lives. Not just our words but our obedience. Let our approach reflect Your worth. Let our reverence match Your holiness. And let our hearts remain tender to the voice that still calls us to draw near. In Jesus’ name, amen.