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February 13th
Our Bible reading for today is in Leviticus chapters 1,2,3,4.
The text starts out with instructions concerning the sacrificial system to be followed by the Israelites...
In particular the burnt offering.
The worshiper brings the offering to the entrance of the court of the tabernacle. It is there that a priest checks the offering for acceptance.
Note, it’s not the worshiper that is checked for acceptance at the entrance. It’s the “offering” that is checked to see if it is blemish-free. If it is not, then the worshiper is turned away until he brings a worthy sacrifice.
Wow...what a foreshadowing of Our Perfect Sacrifice...“Jesus”....not turned away at the gate, but accepted by God to the altar of the cross to make perfect atonement for my sin and yours....right there!
Lord, we worship You today. Thank You for being our offering without blemish.
Friends, the evil one continues to tell us lies. He tells us we can't come to God in worship. He tells us that we are not worthy.
May we boldly and forcefully tell him to get out of the way. We are not here to worship on the merit of our own worthiness. We’re here because of The Perfect Sacrifice’s worthiness. Jesus has checked through the gate and we are with Him!!! Isn't that awesome?!
Fellow followers of Christ, I believe that there is yet another picture in this God story.
Israel’s worship was to be a consecration of their whole lives to God.
Consider the illustration...
The whole “life” of the offering on the altar was consumed by the fire. No part of “the life” of the offering was given to something besides the fire.
So it was to be for the life of an Israelite. And so it must be for us...” all in”...lives consumed by God!
The apostle Paul, 1500 years after this recorded part of scripture, used similar terms...not to describe God’s offering for our salvation...but to describe our discipleship with Jesus.
Listen: “I beseech you, therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”
Paul was “all in”...and he exhorted Roman believers to be the same...even unto death.
One more thing about the burnt offering, Friends. It was an experience not soon forgotten by the worshipper. His animal offering was accepted at the gate of the tabernacle. Then with some bridle, the worshipper led the animal to the altar...killed the animal...and put it on the altar one-piece piled upon another.
Who put the animal on the altar at the Tabernacle? The worshipper in need of forgiveness. Who put our offering on the altar of the Cross? We did...sinners in need of forgiveness...in need of eternal salvation!
Jesus, You were and are our offering for atonement...I'm afraid that Your Cross has become to easily forgotten by Your worshippers. We’re sorry Lord...forgive us.
Friends...let us not forget Jesus today... let's praise Him and go “all in” as His disciples.
Have a great day
