Permission to Eavesdrop

I don't/won't do this often since my devotional time with the Lord is a pretty private thing I enjoy without feeling any need or desire to share, but something tells me that God's going to tell me something that I can let you eavesdrop on.

I've just set my Bible down, having completed a reading of Exodus 40 and the first ten chapters of Leviticus. I noticed something in this reading on which I want to meditate, so I want to get down some of my thoughts about it. I'm going to let you in on the process. This is going on right now, my devotional thoughts streaming live to you.

Father, here's what I notice in your Word to me this morning. In Exodus 40:34-38 you tell me about the tent of meeting--symbollic of the place where You dwell, which I know You say in Hebrews is ultimately Heaven--the True Tent of Meeting. I read here of Your glory filling the tent and then abiding withYour people.

Thank you Father for dwelling with us in this life and then allowing us to dwell with You forever in Your everlasting Home. And thank you for glory, Your glory, Your majesty and power and majestic sweetness with which You fill our hearts and lives. Thank You for times when I just know that I know that I know that You are God and that you are great and that you are good.

Now Lord, I notice something in my reading. Leviticus 1:1, 2 are not just the very next words in the Bible--after Exodus 40. When I read them I sense that they are the very next words in the storyline of the Bible. I mean, the last paragraph of Exodus and the first words of Leviticus connect. Exodus concludes with this description of the tent of meeting and the glory that fills it, and then--and this is the thing that grabs my heart--Leviticus begins with Your voice coming from the tent of meeting telling Your people the way (and the only way) to come near that tent.

And for ten long blood-saturated, death-filled chapters You lay out laws about sacrifices and priests. Put differently: You tell Your people that as much as they might want to approach You and Your tent, they'd better do it in the right way (with a sacrifice to cover their sins), or they will not be able to do it at all. In fact, Levitcus 10:1-7 reveals that if people approach wrongly, they die.

The way you say to come is one filled with blood and death. You command sacrifices and blood--daily offered and ceaselessy atoning. I see that you require payment for all sins--even those I do unintentionally. I see that the God of glory cannot be approached by sinners without a sacrifice--an atoning, God's-wrath-appeasing sacrifice offered in death. Sin must be paid for before God may be approached.

Here's what I hear you saying my Lord: "Tim, you and all sinners have offended me by your sins. I am holy, and you, Tim, are not. If you want to come near to Me and see My glory, your sin must be covered. If your really want to enjoy My presence, you have to draw near with a sacrifice that says that you know you're a sinner and you know that your sins deserve death. If you come without a sacrifice offered in death, you will not be able to see My glory."

I see it Father. You are reminding me of Jesus here, and the sacrifice He has offered for my sins so I can enter Your presence and see Your glory. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses me from all sin. Thank you Father and Son for providing the one sacrifice that covers my sins once and for all.

Thank You that the payment has been made and the way is open. Thank You that I can now approach You, anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances, because no matter where I am or what is happening I have a High Priest in the True Tent of Meeting (Heaven, which is Yor House) whose nail-scarred hands and feet remind You of the sacrifice once given for me. I'm never barred from Your presence because I'm always covered by His blood.

And thank you that I do not have to do Leviticus 1-10 any more. Well, I guess I really do. I still can only come if my sins are atoned for. Only I get to do it every day by pleading Jesus, not by carrying an animal, slicing its neck, and bloodying my hands.

Thank You that Your hands were bloodied for me.
I love you Lord. I love You Jesus for making the way.
Amen.


Friends, I've interrupted our conversation about shift and change to let you eavesdrop on my time with God, and to be reminded of at least one thing that wonderfully, doesn't ever change; the work of Christ. Now I'm going to go sing.