I’ve been reading the book of Leviticus lately, working my way slowly through this book that we know of as a serious and blunt book of the LAW. I’ve told you many times that I enjoy reading a chapter or two from the Bible from multiple sections of the Bible. Currently my readings come out of Old Testament books of Leviticus, 2 Samuel, Jeremiah, Hosea… the New Testament Luke, Romans, and Titus… then finish it off with a Psalm. The reason I share this with you is that when I take the time to read the whole scope of the story in one setting, it shows the how God is willing to deal with me and my depravity.
Let me explain more:
My reading starts with Leviticus. It is often a book in the Bible that most people will just pass over and move on to something more positive. Leviticus is a blunt book of God’s Law for God’s people. Leviticus doesn’t hold anything back when it lays out the Holiness of God and the call for God’s people to live in that holiness. It’s blunt. It’s direct. It doesn’t leave ‘wiggle room’ for behavior that is to reflect the Holy God that God’s Covenant people are to live up to. Then following this reading, I just spent time in 2 Samuel and the great King David’s complete and utter failure in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Then I spent time with both Jeremiah and Hosea and those prophets’ blunt message of failure that God’s people fell into when they chose an “adulterous” relationship with idolatry. Then I spent time in Luke and Jesus’ message to us about the holiness of God and our foolish alliance with ‘false gods’ (Luke 12:13-21). Then Romans 2 and that blunt message, and finally Titus. Then I ended it all with Psalm 69 and the opening words there, “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck! I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing” (69:1)
What’s my point? No one of us can get this on our own behavior and even with maybe our deepest commitment. We are hopeless and helpless even with our best efforts.
This Sunday I will focus our attention on one of the most unbelievable theological and practical words from God… GRACE! If we grasp the depth of our despair, then we might be able to get a glimpse of the Amazing Grace that is offered to us. But if we just casually begin to think that we just deserve better from God and He hands out grace like we hand out candy to trick or treaters at Halloween, then we completely miss the meaning of grace.
In order to get ready for Sunday I ask you to spend time reading and contemplating on Ephesians 2:8-9 which is one of the great memory verses in the Bible that all believers need to know and live with.
See you Sunday.
