3 May Daily Manna
Text: Leviticus 16:20-34
KEY VERSE: “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” – (Leviticus 16:30)
Sin is man’s greatest challenge on earth, It separates man from God. Sin enslaves and no one can on his own free himself from it. The more man attempts to pull himself out of sin, the more he sinks into the abyss of helplessness. To be free from sin therefore, would require the intervention of superior power; the One who created man, who alone knows how to disentangle him from the tyranny of evil and wickedness.
God took the initiative with the children of Israel when He appointed Aaron to be the high priest. His job was essentially to make atonement for their sins. To do this, a day was set aside each year for him to enter into the most holy place in the temple, make animal sacrifices to cleanse his own sin and the sin of the people.
The animal sacrifices only covered sins for a short period but could not cleanse it indefinitely. So, every year, the entire nation stood still to allow the high priest repeat this ritual of atonement under very strict rules. Without doubt, this old system of atonement or covering sins, was grossly limited and did not provide a permanent solution to man’s sin problem.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
Whilst Aaron’s animal sacrifices only succeeded in temporarily covering the sins of the people, Christ’s sacrifice of Himself brought total cleansing from sin, once and for all. While Aaron made long preparations before appearing before God, we can now come boldly to His throne to obtain mercy and grace in time of need. Of course, now, we do not just prepare our body but our hearts as we approach God in prayer of faith through Christ.
As many as are willing can have their sins forgiven and their guilt removed as they confess and forsake their sins; accept Christ as Lord and Saviour and place their trust in the spotless Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: In Jesus is found the only route to God.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 5-7
