READING: Leviticus 16-18
I look around the world today, and I see bad news. Wars continue in more than one locale. Refugees wander the globe. Poverty and hunger still exist. Airplanes crash. Terrorists attack. Stock markets struggle. Politics become circus shows. Families break up, often wounding children. People die, both naturally and at the hands of others. If I were to determine my happiness based on the happenings around me and around the world, I would be a miserable man. I would be desperately in need of some good news.
Today’s Scripture reading is a foreshadowing of the greatest news ever — the coming of a Redeemer to atone for our sins through His death. As the priests sacrificed one animal and sent another as a scapegoat into the wilderness, God granted cleansing. Indeed, here’s the text that most lights up my world today: “Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (Lev. 16:30). Though the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement could only point toward the sacrifice that would ultimately save us (Jesus), they also pointed toward the forgiveness God gives us today.
“You will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” Those words are more than words; they are freedom to the guilty, grace to the ashamed, and life to the dying. All my lust, pride, anger, independence, etc., etc., etc., etc. — I’ve been cleansed from all that and so much more. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus, I am clean before God.
That’s good news.
No, that’s great news.
ACTION STEPS: Consider these steps today:
- Study a Bible dictionary article to learn more about the Day of Atonement .
- Yesterday, you read Matthew’s account of the death of Jesus. Read Mark 15 today and compare the accounts.
- Continue confessing your sin as soon as it happens.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for making me clean. You’re an amazing God with an amazing plan.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Leviticus 19-21
