Sacrificed for Me! February 17 Readings: Leviticus 5-6, Matthew 27:45–66, Psalms 25:1–5, Proverbs 5:1–3

Links to February 17 Readings: Leviticus 5-6, Matthew 27:45–66, Psalms25:1–5, Proverbs 5:1–3

Burnt offerings. Grain offerings. Fellowship offerings. Sin offerings. Restitution offerings. Let's be honest. The first few chapters of Leviticus are not exactly Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 13 or Psalm 23. The details about the offerings are confusing and application to our lives today does not exactly jump off the page.

But all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for our spiritual edification, so there are some important points to remember in Leviticus 1-7 in which these offerings and sacrifices are commanded and explained.

First, and most importantly, sin requires an offering. God is not a jolly grandfather in the sky who thinks our sin is cute. He is not like us - he is perfect and holy. Because of his holiness, sin must be atoned for. Forgiveness of sin requires the shedding of blood. The OT illustrated this, but the NT states it clearly. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." The sin of the Israelites required blood offerings. Your sin and mine also require an offering - one God provided by the blood of his Son.

Second, atonement could only be made God's way. Israelites could not decide how they wanted to atone for their sins. Sacrifices were not voluntary or subjective. If you wished to be right with God and seek his forgiveness, you were required to come to God in the way God prescribed. There was only one way to God. To the dismay of many today, salvation is still restricted to the one way God prescribed. There are not many paths to God, there is one - Jesus Christ our once-for-all sacrifice for sins.

Finally, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament is simply an illustration, a foreshadowing of the great sacrifice that Jesus would bring. In the days of Leviticus, the imperfect sacrificial system foreshadowed the one perfect sacrifice Jesus would bring for our sins. But the sacrificial system, though it could never completely atone for sins, reminded us that an atonement must be made.

No, Leviticus is not always the most riveting reading. But the truths it presents are fundamental to our salvation.

Father, you not only provided a sacrifice for my sins, but you provided your Son's life as that sacrifice. Jesus bore my sin, my guilt and completely atoned for it. I thank you for the Levitical system of offerings that reminded me of just how great your love is; giving your Son to pay for my sins. I can never say thank you enough!