Daily Devotional
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:10-11
In Jewish history, Leviticus was the very first book taught to children. Wow! I suspect it is the very last Bible book we would teach our children today. Let’s be honest. Leviticus is really a tough book to read. All those details (in Chapters 1-7) regarding sacrifices (i.e., burnt, grain, peace, sin and guilt offerings), all those laws related to the Priesthood (in Chapters 8-10), all those discussions regarding uncleanness (in Chapters 11-16) and all those rules about holiness in everyday life (in Chapters 17-24). Details. Details. Details.
And yet, Colossians 2:17 reminds us that all these details were a “mere shadow” of what Jesus Christ came to do for us as our High Priest and as the Lamb of God who takes away our sin (John 1:19). We find more specifics regarding Jesus, our Perfect Atoning Sacrifice, in the New Testament Book of Hebrews (Chapter 9:11-12; 10:1, 10; cf. Christ as the Propitiation in 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
We especially learn from the Book of Leviticus that God is holy, hates our sin and calls us to be holy. The apostle Peter repeats that age-old call of God on all of our lives. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 he quotes the Book of Leviticus: “…like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written (i.e., in Leviticus 19:2; 20:26), “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What do we learn from the Book of Leviticus? Holy God is near. Holy God loves details. Holy God has high expectations. Holy God hates our sin. Holy God provided atonement for those sins. Holy God calls us to be holy in all our behavior. Perhaps the lessons from the Book of Leviticus should be the first thing we teach our children!
And yet, Colossians 2:17 reminds us that all these details were a “mere shadow” of what Jesus Christ came to do for us as our High Priest and as the Lamb of God who takes away our sin (John 1:19). We find more specifics regarding Jesus, our Perfect Atoning Sacrifice, in the New Testament Book of Hebrews (Chapter 9:11-12; 10:1, 10; cf. Christ as the Propitiation in 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
We especially learn from the Book of Leviticus that God is holy, hates our sin and calls us to be holy. The apostle Peter repeats that age-old call of God on all of our lives. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 he quotes the Book of Leviticus: “…like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written (i.e., in Leviticus 19:2; 20:26), “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What do we learn from the Book of Leviticus? Holy God is near. Holy God loves details. Holy God has high expectations. Holy God hates our sin. Holy God provided atonement for those sins. Holy God calls us to be holy in all our behavior. Perhaps the lessons from the Book of Leviticus should be the first thing we teach our children!
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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