Today's readings are Leviticus 9.1-24 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lev.+9.1-24 ) and Luke 9.18-36 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+9.18-36 ).
Look how in Leviticus God gives commands for sacrifice. Aaron and the other people of Israel can follow God's commands, giving the animal without blemish, according to the command of God, not according to their own wisdom or commands. The Lord has commanded it. His command is trustworthy.
As we look at Luke's Gospel, we see that Jesus is making commands to those who would follow him. These commands are serious. Our Lord and Savior has made the commands and we are obligated to follow them.
See the heavy demands of the Law given by our Master.
1) Deny yourself.
2) Voluntarily take up an instrument of torture and death.
3) Leave your comfort and even life to follow God's command.
4) Lose your life counter to your own reason in order to save it.
5) Endure shame and condemnation on this earth.
If we do not do these things, we have no hope. We are not able to follow Christ, there is no redemption. The wisdom of God goes counter to our wisdom. The will of God goes counter to our volition. We are called to do the very things we avoid by nature. And even when we try, we will fail.
What hope then do we have? Trust in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has become the perfect sacrifice for our sins, according to the good will and decree of his Father. See how Jesus has lived this life that he commands us to do. See how he has given his life for our salvation. He has both lived the life we are to live and has died the death that we deserve. Jesus has fulfilled his law and has taken away the condemnation.
What shall we do then? In hope, love and trust we should throw ourselves on the mercy of our Lord and Savior. Let us trust in his word. His commands were good and right, so good and right that he followed them when we could not. Let us strive to follow his commands and rejoice that he has done what we cannot do.
No comments:
Post a Comment