Readings:
Exodus 29, 30
Mark 6
Proverbs 5
Exodus 29:13-14 NLT
Take all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, and burn it all on the altar. [14] Then take the rest of the bull, including its hide, meat, and dung, and burn it outside the camp as a sin offering.
https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.29.13-14.NLT
I love considering what the various things symbolize. It is curious to me how the bull and ram sacrifices differ. The bull is a larger animal than the ram & only it’s insides were burned on the altar as an aroma to God. Everything visible was burned outside the camp as a sin offering. This reminds me how it isn’t the outwardly visible acts that are what is pleasing to God, but He wants a humble and surrendered heart.
I’m also reminded of the “Micah Mandate”:
Micah 6:8 NLT
[8] No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
https://bible.com/bible/116/mic.6.8.NLT
- Act justly: Do what is right and fair, not just what is popular.
- Love mercy: Show loyalty and faithfulness to God’s love by loving others.
- Walk humbly: Be mindful of how you live before God, without arrogance.
We should look to the example of Christ in his humility and lay aside our own interests for the interests of others. Christ is our “well of goodness and hope and justice and mercy” in us, and we share that with our neighbors.
You know, I don’t have anything worthy to bring to the God of all creation. There is nothing that God needs from little old me or you, and isn’t it obvious that there is nothing we could do to earn a truly righteous and holy God’s favor. We’ve all made mistakes. In fact, we’ve all done things intentionally that we knew were bad, that hurt others, that hurt ourselves, that weren’t good, honest or just.
So no matter how far we’ve fallen our strayed from where we know we should be — it really isn’t about how good or bad we have been. If it was about how good or bad we’ve been, one person would say “but God made me this way” as an excuse for their wickedness — and another person would say “look how much better I am than those sinners” — and neither would know God or understand anything about Him (no matter their choice of religion or tradition).
But God offers an invitation through Jesus Christ to come as you are, to give yourself away, with a promise that He will do the work in and through you — that His grace and mercy and love will be sufficient to endure you through to the end. What a miraculous and very different thing than all of the false religions and checklist laws of mere men! A God who says and proves that He can and will change hearts and lives from the inside out!
I sang this worship song last night that reminds me: https://www.smule.com/sing-recording/369168369_5021686997
This is a worship medley with some impromptu free worship that I encourage you to listen to and join us in from wherever you are — consider the call of the lyrics, look to Jesus personally, and see for yourself that He is good.
Love you, my friends!
Harold J. Ballinger 