Just Like Dad

Lev. 20: 26 "You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."

Leviticus is a book full of laws.  The Israelites were on their way to the promised land and God wants to make sure they know who they are what they are to do.  He gives them all of these laws so that they will be holy, like he is holy.

God wants us to be like him.  He created us unique but in terms of character he wants us like him.  Just like a good dad wants his kids to behave and act like him.  Now some dads take things too far and put too much pressure on their kids to be great at something that dad wants them to be great at-think over zealous t-ball dads.  But good dads want their kids to be like them because they are his and they want what's best for them.  The same is true for our God.  He wants us to be holy, like he is holy, because he is our Abba dad.  And as a dad, I know nothing pleases me more than when my kid does something I would have done. 

Dear Jesus, help me be more like you each day.  Amen.

Big Important Deal

Lev. 16: 21 "He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites-all their sins-and put them on the goats head.  He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task."

Lev. 16 describes the Day of Atonement, a day when the high priest would make atonement for the sins of the entire community.  One goat would be sacrificed and another, the scapegoat would symbolically carry all of the sins outside of the camp into the desert.  It was a big important deal!

I love how a "man appointed for the task" is required to lead the scapegoat into the wilderness.  That job would suck.  He had to take the goat with all of the sins of the whole nation on it and walk for miles into the wilderness.  Then he had to ceremonially clean himself before he could come back into town!  And you have to ask, why the scapegoat?  Was that really necessary?  Wasn't this a bit of overkill?  The scapegoat showed that not only were sins forgiven, but they were taken away never to be seen again.  Jesus became the final scapegoat.  Jesus has forgiven and removed my sin, so it is never to be seen again! And that is a big important deal!

Dear Jesus, thank you for your awesome sacrifice!  Amen.

Silent Moments

Lev. 10: 3 "Moses then said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke of when he said, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored."' Aaron remained silent."

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord as an offering and God had them burned up as punishment.  Moses quotes the Lord words to Aaron to explain and justify God's response yet Aaron remained silent.

Aaron, the one chosen to be the spokesman for Moses, who probably was never at a loss for words, here finds himself at a loss for words.  Yeah he probably knew and understood God's rule, but he didn't want to hear it right now. He was left confused and speechless.  His boys had just been burned up right in front of him.  I imagine he was heartbroken, upset, sad, horrified, and depressed all at once.  He simply had no words.  The speech giver was left speechless.  I can identify with this at times.  Sometimes, it just seems there are no words and we just remain speechless.  God help us during these times.

Dear Jesus, sometimes we don't have words.  Give us your grace during these silent moments.  Amen.

Oops, My Bad

Lev. 4:27 "If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, he is guilty."

God is giving the law to Moses and gives several commands regarding unintentional sin.  If the priests, leaders, or members of the community sin unintentionally, they are to make sacrifices for their sins.  These sacrifices involve bringing an animal to the Tent of Meeting and slaughtering it right there for everyone to see.

God takes sin seriously.  Even unintentional sin.  It would be easy for God to "let us off the hook" for the things we don't realize we do, but he doesn't.  Even this sin matters to God.  And while Jesus' sacrifice atones for all of my sin, even the unintentional sin (which is awesome and I'll save for another time), I must be diligent to discover the hidden, unintentional sin in my life and come clean before God.  I must examine my heart extensively each day.  I do this not out of legalism, guilt, or fear, but because it matters dearly to the heart of God and pleases him. 

Dear Jesus, help me look deeply at myself and be honest with you each day.  Amen.