Just recently I have started a Bible reading program that will allow me to read the entire Bible in 90 days. It's been great to be reading it cover to cover again! I miss a day here and there, so it won't happen in exactly 90 days, but I'm plugging along!
Over the past few days, I've been in Exodus and Leviticus. It's good stuff, but it can be hard to understand, especially all of the different types of sacrifices in Leviticus (sin, grain, peace offerings, etc) and the types of food that can be eaten and what can't. Maybe this post will help a bit, but that's not really the purpose of writing today.
I am just struck by the cost of sin. In order for the people of Israel to be made right with God, there had to be bloodshed. There had to be restitution. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." - Heb 9:22
As I read...man...there's a LOT of bloodshed! Many people can look at this in many different ways. One of the most common is that God loves killing and death. He's a "mean" God. This just doesn't jive with the rest of Scripture. He is a loving God! However, he is a JUST God. Sin HAS to be punished.
The cost of sin is high. Leviticus shows that sin is a SERIOUS thing to God. It separates us from a relationship with him. It separates us from relationship with each other. The wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23) Death is the ultimate separation from God...requiring the ultimate sacrifice to remedy it!
This brings me to the cross. That is where the blood of an innocent Lamb was shed for me. For you. God sacrificed his Son to give me life. What a thought...the Son of God giving his life for mine. I'm just not worth that...at least in the eyes of this human. But God is different. God is bigger. God is love. God saw my need...and met it.
Sin costs a lot. What should that mean for the life I live? The choices I make? It should change me...and it has and does a lot. But I have a long way to go. I praise God for this sacrifice that he gave for me. I would have no hope otherwise. It's an amazing thing, this salvation we have been given. We have a hope that must be shared.
Sin costs a lot...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
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