We All Mess Up, But We Don't Have To Dwell There

 

And the priest shall make

    atonement for them,

and they shall be forgiven.

           Leviticus 4. 20

(This same sentence is repeated

seven times in chapters 4 & 5,

underlined as it were,

   in case we don't get it

               first time through.

This is the gospel.

The book of Leviticus shows us

       our need for Jesus.

God provided the means

   to be reconciled with Him,

whether we sin intentionally

       or didn't mean to.

The sacrifice in the Old Testament

was not required to earn His love,

but an expression of repentance,

not just saying "sorry,"

    or even "I messed up,"               

              but "I want You."

Jesus came to make our atonement

   (think "at-one-ment").

We are loved.

We are forgiven.

Forgiveness is the

   deepest expression of love.

God reveals His heart to us.)

O LORD,

You came to earth to

    set our hearts right with You.

Thank You that You love us

           that much.

   Even now.

   Even in how we mess up.

Thank You

    that we are forgiven.

Please help us

           to live differently

    because we are forgiven

--- to forgive others

   as we have been forgiven,

to love others

   as You have loved us.

O LORD,

    align our hearts with Yours.

And let that show

   in how we respond today.