THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 4-7
“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” (Leviticus 6:13)
God wants His people to know the seriousness of sin, and the need for mercy.
As I read it, when wouldn’t I be offering sacrifices like this, for sin and guilt.
But the ONE continuous offering is the fellowship offering, or ‘burnt offering’.
This represents our ongoing fellowship with God despite our sin and guilt.
These sacrifices are NOT intended to keep the people feeling guilty and unworthy.
They are intended to show the people that God always forgives and welcome to come to Him.
Yes, this is humbling but it also inspires hope for those who feel guilty.
Do we see our fellowship as a constant reality, a fire that does not go out?
Or do we think that every time sin, God rejects us and does not welcome us.
As awful as I find these sacrifices (I wouldn’t have the stomach to be a priest), they do give me hope.
Jesus has replaced these sacrifices once for all (Hebrews 9:12), so we don’t have to perform them.
As a result, we can experience the fire of fellowship that burns continuously, it will not go out.
I still sin, I still have guilt, and I need to humbly admit this.
But when I sin, or sense guilt in my life, I come to God with Jesus my sacrifice.
And He welcomes me as loved, forgiven, assured that nothing can separate me from His love.
For the fire of His love and mercy will never go out!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your once-for-all sacrifice, and my once-for-all restoration. May I sense the undying fire of Yourm love me, and may the fire of my love become more and more like Yours!