As I came to an end of the book of Exodus, I was amazed and in awe of how much we as humans really owe to God, and what would be required of us if Jesus Christ hadn't been sent to us as our mediator between God. Every sin had to be made up for with blood and sacrifice, and men were not even worthy of touching the holy things God required the Israelites to build in His name. Every little detail God described had to be followed, if not then God would not accept their worship.
Everything in this world belongs to God, so God didn't ask for these sacrifices because He needed them. He required this of the Israelites to test their obedience, and to more importantly require them to have a repentant and sacrificial heart. He wanted to remind them how unworthy they were of what they had, and how they owed God everything.
Jesus' blood washed our sins clean, and ripped the curtains in the place of worship that divided the people from God. Only the priest was able to speak to God directly, and even then sometimes they were struck dead in his presence. Because Jesus gave us the ultimate sacrifice, we are not longer required to give sacrifices in order to come before God, and we no longer have to go through a priest to speak with Him.
We do, however, still owe him sacrifices in a different sense. Because He saved us, we owe him the sacrifice of our own lives. Anything God asks of us, we must give to Him even if it seems it is impossible. In turn God will bless us for this sacrifice. My fellow congregation member, I ask that we all pray for ourselves and each other that God will reveal what it is that He wants us to sacrifice before Him so that we may receive His blessing. As God slowly reveals Himself to me, I am starting to realize what a selfish person I am, and how I am only willing to give what is easy to give. I pray that God will put a test before me and require me to give something I am not prepared to give, so that I may enter in the next step of my Christian Walk.
I also pray a fellow brother/sister in Christ will get something from what God has revealed to me.
Written by: Chris Choi [chris.choi.28@gmail.com]
Date/Time:
|
.JPG)
