Tag: Jesus

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Take the Deal

Daily Reading

Leviticus 19-21

Daily Thought

Question: Why don’t Christians today obey all the laws and instructions of the Old Testament?

The short answer is, we did. That needs to be explained, doesn’t it?

Israel is the nation ruled by God, and “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). You shall be different than those other nations around you that are not the nation ruled by God. You shall be a nation set apart to me. Count how many times Leviticus 19 reminds Israel, “I am the LORD your God.” This long list of instructions tell the Israelites how to do “I am the LORD your God.” The chapter closes simply and straightforward: “Do them” (Leviticus 19:37).

Jesus did them.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). He fulfilled all righteousness, then offered the most incredibly, ridiculously wonderful trade of all time: his righteousness for our sin.”For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2Corinthians 5:21).” Take the deal! We obeyed the Law when Jesus obeyed the Law, and we are righteous because he is righteous; his righteousness became ours.

This does not mean that the Law goes away. “You shall be holy, for I am holy” is in the New Testament, too (Matthew 5:48; 1Peter 1:16). Significant is a verse right in the middle of Leviticus 19, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v 18). Jesus, who is holy, says loving your neighbor goes right along with loving God and this sums up everything, that all the Law and the Prophets hang on two commandments (Matthew 22:40). Jesus fulfilled all the Law so we can focus fully on its heart, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:40). 

Daily Prayer

God, You so loved the world that You sent Your one and only Son. Anyone believing in Him will receive eternal life. In Your grace, You did not send Your Son to condemn me. In Your holiness, You would have been justified to do so, but Your Son became condemnation so I might receive justification in His Name.

The Name of Jesus is the Name above all names. May I never mix it with any others. May I always hold it high. May I walk in Your ways, increasing Your reputation in this world. May I humble myself and direct all glory to You.

Amen

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As Far As East Is from the West

Daily Reading

Leviticus 16-18

Daily Thought

There were two goats used on the Day of Atonement. One was slaughtered and its blood was carried into the Holy of Holies by the high priest. That was the blood that covered the guilt of the people in the sight of God. Now their conscience was purified and they could serve the living God.

The other goat was held at the entrance of the tabernacle until the high priest came out and laid his hands on its head. Acting on behalf of all the people of Israel, the high priest confessed the sins of the people and transferred their sins to this animal. This second goat is the “scapegoat.”  Nowadays, that is what we call someone who takes the blame for everyone’s mistake. This goat not only received the blame but also took the guilt, carrying it far away into the wilderness–as far as east is from the west.  

Together these two goats picture the redemptive work of Jesus. His blood has covered our sins in the sight of God, just as the blood of the first goat did once each year, but now, in Jesus, once for all time. And Jesus became the scapegoat for all his people. Jesus our Savior was loaded with all our sins and carried them far, far away–as far as east is from west. That’s how much he loves us.

My children would tell me how much they loved me by stretching out their arms as far as they could and shouting, “This much …and more.” So did Jesus. As far as east is from the west …and more.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west, 
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
~Psalm 103:11-12

Daily Prayer

God, thank You doing all the work. You were innocent of sin and yet you died for mine.   I sin a lot. But more than that, you keep walking with me. You keep shaping me into the person you created me to be. I’m free from the guilt of sin because of you, but you keep working on me, freeing me day by day from the presence of sin. Help me to hate my sin as much as you do. I know that happens as my love for you continues to grow, this much and more. Jesus, I love you. 

Amen

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Jars of Clay

Daily Reading

Leviticus 14-15

Daily Thought

The ritual begins with two birds. One is killed and placed in an “an earthenware vessel over fresh water” (Leviticus 14:50), but birds don’t belong in clay bowls, they belong in the heavens. In this we see Jesus, who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7). He belongs in the heavens, yet he became as one of us–a “treasure in jars of clay” (2Corinthians 4:7).  

The other bird is dipped in the blood of the first, then turned loose to fly. In this we see ourself, as we find our “redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). When the bird flew into the skies, Israel knew it was made pure and set free. “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom” (Revelation 1:5). 

It is in these rituals, these sacrifices, that Israel is being made ready for her Savior.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, eternal God.  You knew how You were going to save me long before I sinned. My sin is terrible, and reminders of it are terrible and bloody, but I need those reminders. I so easily think of my sins as common, and forget that I was not made for sin, but for Your glory.  

Teach me to hate sin and love salvation. Remind me of the death sin brings, if only to make my desire grow for Your goodness and glory and grace. May I set my mind always on things above, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  

Amen