“Do not misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or
the writings of the prophets. No, I came
to accomplish their purpose.”
-
Matthew
5:17
In reading through Leviticus over the past few weeks I was
reminded of all the things that could deem a person unclean. One morning I sat and pondered the fact that
we no longer have to offer a sacrifice for all the things that could make us
unclean, yet sometimes we feel as if we have to do something to earn our righteousness,
right? Looking at the Old Testament and
the New Testament side by side, it almost seems as if they don’t match up, but
the truth is, they do! Look at the words of Jesus above. He did not come to change the Old Testament
law, but to fulfill it. He came to be
our once and for all sacrifice. Let
those words soak in for a minute it…ONCE…and FOR ALL.
He was our sacrifice for all the things we have ever done or
experienced to make us unclean, and He died for all of us. There is a story in Acts about a time that
God called Peter to visit a Roman soldier named Cornelius to share the Good
News with him and his family. As Peter
visited with them he said, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to
enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me
that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)
I love how God showed Peter in Acts 10 that the Law was fulfilled
through Jesus. Jesus made clean all that
was once considered unclean by the Law of Moses. That goes for you too.
Jesus paid in full on the cross for you to be clean. He has washed you white as snow and wrapped
you in His robe of righteousness. All
you have to do is accept the gift Jesus gave you with His arms stretched wide
on the cross. Once you have accepted
that gift of salvation, you are clean.
If you are still dragging around your baggage from the past and wearing
a sign that says unclean, now is the time to ditch it. Stop right there: drop that baggage right
where you are, lose the label you have been carrying with you, lift your chin
and walk victoriously. For the voice has
spoken again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (Acts 10:15)
Lord Jesus,
thank you for being the sacrifice for me, once and for all. My human mind does not have the capacity to
fully comprehend what you have done for me, but my need for you is magnified as
I read the Law. Without you I am unclean
and unworthy, but you considered me worthy enough that you gave your life for
me. Thank you! I pray that I never lose
awe in what you have done for me. I will
never be able to pay you back or say thank you enough, but I will live my life
as a sacrifice to you. I am determined
to stop carrying around my baggage from the past and to stop calling unclean
what you have made clean. Right here, right
now I am choosing to look at myself in the mirror and see myself as spotless
and robed in your righteousness, for you did not die in vain, Lord Jesus. Thank you.
I love you! Amen.
