S. " '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.4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the Lord.5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and carry it into the Tent of Meeting.6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the Lord, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting. The rest of the bull's blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys—10 just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the inner parts and offal—12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it in a wood fire on the ash heap." (Leviticus 4: 3-12, NIV)
O. I don't normally use a scripture this long, but I was so taken by the procedure for offering a sacrifice for individual sin. There are so many steps and some much blood and guts. The first thing that came to my mind was the length of time it would take. I can image that the priest was either "doing his duty" or offering prayers for the sin for which he is making atonement. Each step has significance…and was essential for the sacrifice to be acceptable. I also thought about how gruesome the act of sacrifice is to complete. I for one would not like all the blood! But there was an innocent life taken to make restitution for sin.
Reading this made me think of the sacrifice that Jesus made for me. It made me think of how brutal Jesus' death was and how he was the innocent life that was broken for me. It made me realize how much I appreciate the sacrifice the Jesus made for me! Wow! He was broken for me. And then it hit me…how many times do I not take the time to think about Jesus' sacrifice? How many times does my sin just slip away and I never come to the place where I realize the price that was paid for my life…for my forgiveness…for my healing! Oh God, for forgive me when I take for granted the sacrifice you made through your Son Jesus for me.
A. Today, I am just filled with awe and wonder at all that Jesus did for me. I will life my life today in the shadow of the cross and be filled with love and gratitude to Jesus for his indescribable gift to me.
P. Lord Jesus, you gave your life for me…I offer my life to you today. Thank you for the sacrifice of your life…I came in humble gratitude for the forgivness that you offer me today. Amen.
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