"Acceptable Sacrifice" January 29 Readings: Leviticus 8-11

  

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings:  Leviticus 8-11

Background:  

These chapters deal primarily with the role of the priest, setting a higher standard of morality and character for priests than for the average Israelite. 

It is a mistake to see the word "priest" and think "preacher." Remember that the New Testament says that we are a kingdom of priests - all of us, clergy and laity alike. We have direct access to God and are responsible for bringing others to him. Every person who has been redeemed by Christ is a priest. 

Each of us is held to this higher priestly standard!

Daily Devotional: Acceptable Sacrifice 

The Law specified the intricate and complicated system of sacrifices. We've been reading through these over the last two days, and if you are honest, you might admit it's not the most riveting reading the Bible offers. Still, it is important. God gave these sacrifices to Moses in great detail. Then God set apart the priests to administer the sacrifices, consecrated them, and put them to work. Under the leadership of Aaron, they performed the offerings just as God dictated. These sacrifices and priestly procedures were God-ordained for God-designed purposes.

Then, in Leviticus 9:23-24, an amazing thing happened.

Moses and Aaron then entered the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell facedown.

Moses and Aaron, having offered the sacrifices God demanded, entered the tent of meeting to commune with God. They came out and delivered the blessing of God on obedient Israel. That is when it happened - two wonderful events. The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. God's presence and power were evident - in a tangible way. God was present among his people. But the second happening was even more glorious. Then, fire came out of heaven and consumed the sacrifice. The people, having seen this, shouted and fell down to the ground before God. 

Fire came and consumed the offering! God had accepted the sacrifice made. 

I've got some good news for you today. There was another sacrifice made on your behalf - not by Aaronic priests but by God the Father and by our Great High Priest himself. Jesus offered not a bull or a goat, but his own body as a sacrifice for our sins. And just as the fire signified the acceptance of Aaron's sacrifice, we know that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as the payment for our sins - all of them!  

It is finished, Jesus said. Payment in full was made and fully accepted by God. 

My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul. 

Jesus paid it all.

All to Him I owe. 

My sin left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow. 

Today, give thanks. Give thanks that sacrifice for your sins has been made - once for all. Give thanks that God has accepted the sacrifice Jesus made and you are accepted in heaven because of Christ. As I worship today, I will not have to offer a series of sacrifices, but simply thank God that once for all his Son offered himself to pay for all the sins of all the world. Praise God!

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for the Blood shed, for the forgiveness won, for the life received, for the future sealed, for the destiny settled. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

Consider God's Word:

Thank God today that the sacrifice Christ made for your sins was acceptable in the eyes of God.