saved by His mercy...

The reading through of Leviticus has me considering His mercy... and the magnitude of His grace through Jesus... and the provision of blood for atonement... for forgiveness...

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

All the blood in the tabernacle... a foreshadowing of what was to come... the perfect sacrifice... to end all sacrifices...

God presented [Christ Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement,

through faith in his blood.

Romans 3:25

Each of us... in Christ... should greatly identify with Isaac... and his trek up the hill with his father Abraham...

Isaac carried the means for offering a sacrifice... the wood... the fire... the only thing missing... the offering...

"...but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Genesis 22:7 ESV

Abraham... the father of the faithful... told his son whom he had been commanded to sacrifice... "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering..."

Yet... Isaac found himself bound to the wood... a knife to his throat... about to die at the hand of his father... when a voice said...

"Abraham, Abraham!... Do not lay your hand on the boy..."

Genesis 22:11-12 ESV

Imagine Isaac's relief... his joy... his wonder... at the ram in the bushes... provided for his salvation...

We too... should recognize the provision God made for us... saving us from judgment... and the shedding of our own blood... for our own sins...

We too... should breathe a sigh of relief... a grateful prayer... and offer an obedient heart... to the One who took our place... who saved us by grace...

Jesus... the ultimate Lamb of God... the final sacrifice... the One who came to take away the sins of the world... because of His mercy...

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...

Titus 3:4-5 ESV

Saved... by... His... mercy...

Do you see it...?

Do you know it...?

Are you grateful for it...?

Father God... help me to more fully comprehend... 

Your mercy that saves... and the provision You've made... 

so I may live my life... in grateful obedience... for Your glory...

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                      Leviticus 20

Tuesday                      Leviticus 21-22

Wednesday                 Leviticus 23

Thursday                     Leviticus 24:1 - 25:22

Friday                         Leviticus 25:23-55