By The Blood
Jesus made atonement for all people that through His blood each person would have peace with good and live a life pleasing to Him.
“ If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect...Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar...All the fat is the Lord’s...This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’ ”
Leviticus 3:1, 13, 16-17
The priests performed the sacrificial practices of making atonement for the sins of the people. It was life for life. An animal's blood to pay the penalty for the price that the person owed. The animal cost the owner and the price that was paid was meant to turn the person from the sin towards the Lord.
How much do you think about atonement? Do you think about the debt you owe and the cost of sin? The Bible says all fall short of the glory of God. All owe a debt. There is a price that had to be paid by each of us. Today, have you considered the debt owed and the price that Jesus paid for you?
“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.”
Psalms 93:4-5
One truth that David sings out is that the Lord God is Holy. Holiness adorns the house of the Lord. There is no sin where God dwells. This does not mean that you have to be perfect before you approach God. In fact, there is nothing that you can do to make yourself right with God in your own strength. Jesus sacrificed Himself to make you holy. To allow each of us to come before the Lord without blemish so that we could dwell with Him all the days of our lives on Earth and in Heaven.
How does the pursuit of holiness and truth about God's holiness help you grow? How does it change how you live?
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."
Ecclesiastes 11:5
Questions are good. You might have many questions about God. Wisdom says you cannot understand the work of God. There will be questions that are not answered on this side of heaven.
Wisdom says that what can help you is to focus on what you do know to be true. You know it is good to work and plant seeds. You know that watching the wind does not produce a harvest. What is the next right thing you know to do? Is there anything you know you should do that you have not done?
“With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it...So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ They prophesy lies"
Jeremiah 27:5, 9-10
God contrasts truth and lies. God is the giver of life. God is spirit and truth. God is love. There are many voices that will try to lie or deceive you about God and His intentions. As much as you can, ask yourself if the thoughts in your head or the way that you feel is true? Is it from God?
“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people...We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins...Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
Acts 5:12, 15-16, 28-32, 38-42
What was the good news that the apostles shared? Jesus is the Messiah. He is the atonement. It is by His blood that we are all forgiven, found, and set free. Yes, the religious leaders were guilty of Jesus death, but they did not understand that Jesus chose the cross. He could have stopped them with just a word, but He didn't.
An atonement needed by be made then and now. A life for a life. His life for your life. He paid a debt you could not pay because you mean that much to Him. The cross was a declaration of value. Your value. Your identity is not sinner, lost, or unworthy. Your value is what Jesus was willing to pay for you. Your identity is chosen, wanted, loved, redeemed, child of God, risen anew, sinless because of the Savior, God's masterpiece prepared in advance to do His will and dwell with Him.
How will you respond to such great love? How will your give back to God from the new life you have been given?