SCRIPTURE: Exodus 29
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’ [John 14:23] If you are like me, you found Exodus 29 hard to read. So much blood, ceremony, fire and sacrifice. Knowing how sensitive I am to blood and killing animals, I could never be a priest.
It seems that the whole point of the chapter moves to the end, where God says these are the steps necessary so that God can dwell among His people. Somehow, their sin needs to be dealt with. The curse of sin is death. The animals are intended to show that, to show the people how serious sin is.
Reading about the death of Jesus, which the gospels also present in great and gory detail, leaves us feeling how serious sin is. But with the death of Jesus, something new has come. Whereas the old covenant priests had to repeat their sacrifices daily, regularly, annually, Jesus death is once for all. No more sacrifices or ceremonies required [Hebrews 7:27].
Compare what we read in Exodus 29 with what we read in John 14:23. Love God, obey Him, and He and Jesus will make their home in us, with us. What a huge difference! To me it shows that God is not interested in blood or death or suffering, He wants fellowship with us. God wants to love us and be loved by us. God wants us to experience the fullness of life and joy by living in, with and for Him.
I am so thankful that Jesus has come and fulfilled the old covenant symbols, ceremonies and sacrifices. No doubt there was good reason why God did things the way He did. But for me, personally, I find the new covenant in Jesus so much easier to live in than the old covenant. It’s not that my relationship with God is any less serious – by no means! Jesus had to suffer and die for me, a horrible death and separation from God.
The focus for me is on being loved by God, and loving God. The focus is on relationship, not ritual. It’s not about religious ceremonies or sacrifices, it’s about offering my heart, my life, to Him Who gave His life for me.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice and the new relationship I can have with You and God. My heart is Your home!
Thank You LORD for Your great and unfailing, unconditional, unending love! Thank You LORD that You created us to be in realtionship with You! Thank You LORD that You took away all the excuses – Jesus died to bring us into direct relationship with You.
Thank You LORD that although not in the physical, visual sense that Adam and Eve enjoyed, we too can walk hand in hand each day with You through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Thank You LORD for allowing me the privilege of walking and talking with You personally each day. Thank You LORD that I do not have to go through rituals to commune with You.
LORD, forgive me for the times when I have taken my relationship with You for granted. Thank You LORD for always being ready to pick up where I have left off when I get distracted.
Thank You LORD for the renewal in my heart these past few months and for drawing me back to Your heart to walk in close fellowship with You. I love You LORD! You are my all in all. Knowing You, loving You, serving You, being with You – there is no greater thing! Thank You for bringing me back to the heart of worship! I surrender all…..
We too are priests. The main thrust of the passage was that God desires to dwell among His people and at the Tent of the Meeting, that’s where He would speak with them. Emmanuel – God with us. As the priest gave their lives in total service, so I too need to serve my God in all I say and do.
We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord
We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord
And we offer up to You the sacrifices of thanksgiving
And we offer up to You the sacrifices of joy