The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 4:3,
"If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed."
Wow! Look at the responsibility the priest carried on his shoulders! When he sinned in some way, even unknowingly, he brought guilt on the people!
The purpose of this offering was to atone for sins committed unknowingly and later recognized. I try to picture myself in the position of carrying out responsibilities while realizing if I did anything the Lord considered a sin it would bring guilt on everybody.
Think about that... others might suffer because of my sin, my shortcomings!
As I think about it, I am reminded that each of us believers are priests, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
While I am certainly not saying that as members of God's priesthood for today that we bear any responsibility for the guilt of others when we might sin, we nonetheless do carry real and important responsibilities for others.
What if I choose not to share my faith with others? Will I be held responsible for refusing to help others find Jesus Christ? What if I choose to not study my Bible to be prepared in every way to be useful to God in the lives of others? Will I be held responsible for that?
Today I am reminded of the responsibility I carry toward others in Peter's words, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15. Also, Paul's words to Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed."
Wow! Look at the responsibility the priest carried on his shoulders! When he sinned in some way, even unknowingly, he brought guilt on the people!
The purpose of this offering was to atone for sins committed unknowingly and later recognized. I try to picture myself in the position of carrying out responsibilities while realizing if I did anything the Lord considered a sin it would bring guilt on everybody.
Think about that... others might suffer because of my sin, my shortcomings!
As I think about it, I am reminded that each of us believers are priests, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
While I am certainly not saying that as members of God's priesthood for today that we bear any responsibility for the guilt of others when we might sin, we nonetheless do carry real and important responsibilities for others.
What if I choose not to share my faith with others? Will I be held responsible for refusing to help others find Jesus Christ? What if I choose to not study my Bible to be prepared in every way to be useful to God in the lives of others? Will I be held responsible for that?
Today I am reminded of the responsibility I carry toward others in Peter's words, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15. Also, Paul's words to Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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