Walk the Line....
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Well, hello Leviticus.
I love God's Word. However, you, my dear Leviticus, are not my favorite. [no offense]
How's it going out there? Are you still with me? [please say yes]
I have to drink two cups of coffee so that I can concentrate on what I am reading in this chapter. However, because it is in God's Word, it is important. So, we trudge through. Law by ever-lovin' law. [did I just say that out loud?]
This chapter reminds me just how blessed we are on this side of the Cross. These laws, rules, regulations, and sacrifices are incredibly daunting.
Can you imagine having to do all of these things in order to speak to God? Oh my heavens. I would have never made it. I would have ended up just like Aaron's sons. They were killed on the spot for lighting the wrong incense. Yep, that sounds just like something my goofy blonde head would do.
God is teaching us through these chapters something huge though, girls. He is teaching us about His Holiness.
Do you see it? These rules, these laws, these ordinances....they were in place because they had nothing good to offer God. They had to walk a very narrow line in order to even approach the tabernacle of God.
Praise Jesus, we cannot relate this side of the Cross. Jesus' death on the cross tore down that law. It bridged the gap between us and God. His death was our sin offering paid in full. For eternity.
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:4
Can I get a big fat amen?
Sometimes though we get confused. We think we have to follow a long set of rules to impress God or for Him to love us.
This is a lie.
We get all out of whack when we feel like we haven't been good enough, or holy enough, or prayed enough, or spent 2 hours the Bible. We think we have to clean ourselves up real good before approaching God.
It is in fact the opposite.
In our brokenness, He is able to make us whole.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says this, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
The enemy wants to tell us that we will never be enough. We will never be pure enough. Good enough. Holy enough. Kind enough. Gentle enough. Humble enough.
Oh, but that's where we tell that old lying enemy this scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:21...
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Wait, what?
We are the righteousness of God?
Me? In my sin, in my mess, in my filthiness, in my brokenness?
Yes.
And, we don't have to do anything to earn this?
No.
No amount of rules and legalism can make us holy.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
So, as we turn the pages in Leviticus, let's rejoice in our freedom. The freedom that came through Christ.
It is finished. Once and for all.
We just get to be swallowed up in His Grace, Mercy, and unfailing Love.
I think this awesome reminder will sail us right through Leviticus.
down with the law,
jill
New to SHINE? Go here.
Well, hello Leviticus.
I love God's Word. However, you, my dear Leviticus, are not my favorite. [no offense]
How's it going out there? Are you still with me? [please say yes]
I have to drink two cups of coffee so that I can concentrate on what I am reading in this chapter. However, because it is in God's Word, it is important. So, we trudge through. Law by ever-lovin' law. [did I just say that out loud?]
This chapter reminds me just how blessed we are on this side of the Cross. These laws, rules, regulations, and sacrifices are incredibly daunting.
Can you imagine having to do all of these things in order to speak to God? Oh my heavens. I would have never made it. I would have ended up just like Aaron's sons. They were killed on the spot for lighting the wrong incense. Yep, that sounds just like something my goofy blonde head would do.
God is teaching us through these chapters something huge though, girls. He is teaching us about His Holiness.
Do you see it? These rules, these laws, these ordinances....they were in place because they had nothing good to offer God. They had to walk a very narrow line in order to even approach the tabernacle of God.
Praise Jesus, we cannot relate this side of the Cross. Jesus' death on the cross tore down that law. It bridged the gap between us and God. His death was our sin offering paid in full. For eternity.
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:4
Can I get a big fat amen?
Sometimes though we get confused. We think we have to follow a long set of rules to impress God or for Him to love us.
This is a lie.
We get all out of whack when we feel like we haven't been good enough, or holy enough, or prayed enough, or spent 2 hours the Bible. We think we have to clean ourselves up real good before approaching God.
It is in fact the opposite.
In our brokenness, He is able to make us whole.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says this, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
The enemy wants to tell us that we will never be enough. We will never be pure enough. Good enough. Holy enough. Kind enough. Gentle enough. Humble enough.
Oh, but that's where we tell that old lying enemy this scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:21...
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Wait, what?
We are the righteousness of God?
Me? In my sin, in my mess, in my filthiness, in my brokenness?
Yes.
And, we don't have to do anything to earn this?
No.
No amount of rules and legalism can make us holy.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
So, as we turn the pages in Leviticus, let's rejoice in our freedom. The freedom that came through Christ.
It is finished. Once and for all.
We just get to be swallowed up in His Grace, Mercy, and unfailing Love.
I think this awesome reminder will sail us right through Leviticus.
down with the law,
jill
