Devotional (The Wonder Section) by Charles Stanley (From intouch.org)
Gather:
How do the laws of our society help us?
Do the laws ever fall short of societies needs?
Hear:
Hebrews 10:1-4
10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Pause:
Sit quietly and meditate. What is the author of Hebrews saying? What is God saying to you through these verses?
Wonder:
Have you ever read about sacrifice in the Old Testament and wondered what it was for? The only payment for sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and the Lord graciously allowed animals to be offered as a substitute for human lives. So people regularly brought sacrifices to God as atonement. However, it was only a temporary solution and had to be repeated often.
In order for mankind to be eternally freed from the guilt of sin, God required that the once-for-all sacrifice had to be completely pure (Lev. 22:20). What’s more, it could not be an animal. After all, the guilt belonged to man; therefore, the world was in need of a perfect and sinless person to be offered.
What an impossible situation: Man was responsible to pay the price, but God alone was capable of sinlessness. The only possible solution was for Jesus Christ—who was wholly God and wholly man—to offer His life on our behalf. Unlike the blood of bulls and lambs, Christ’s blood was a fully sufficient one-time payment for all sin.
This is why we say that we’re saved by the blood of Christ. Jesus did what we could not—He set us free from our sins. Consider the immensity of the sacrifice He made on your behalf. Have you thanked Him lately?
Bless:
Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice. Even if you never did another thing for us, you have already done everything we need so we can have a relationship with you. Thank you that even though you have already done enough, you still intercede in our daily lives. Help us to see what you are doing in the world around us and bless us as we share the Good News of your great sacrifice with others.
Amen.