All Access - April 17 - Day 2

READ: Leviticus 16:1-17

Atonement is a concept that can seem strange to us. It means, “to make reconciliation.” Someone once described it to me this way: to atone means to become at one with God. 

Under Israel’s sacrificial system, the high priest – in this instance Aaron – went through an elaborate ceremony to reconcile the wayward children of Israel to God. First, he took a sacred bath. Then he dressed in the priestly garments. He had to bring animals with him, too: a bull, a ram and two goats.

These animals were sacrificed following specific, sacred instructions. Three animals were slaughtered; one was taken into the wilderness and released. The blood of the slaughtered animals was sprinkled on different sacred objects in the tabernacle. It was all highly structured and rigidly applied.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is so incredible because it put an end to all of that. We no longer have to bring animals with us when we come to worship God. We don’t have to go through a priest to connect with our heavenly Father. We can come directly to God because Jesus’ sacrifice gave us an all-access pass.

Hebrews 10:22 says, “For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” We don’t need the blood of bulls or rams or goats to make a way for us to come to God.

Jesus’ blood is all we need.

All Access - April 16 - Day 1

READ: Exodus 33

This is an inspirational story. Imagine having an intimacy with God such that, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” (verse 11) That kind of intimacy doesn’t happen by accident. Moses cultivated his relationship with God. Moses made three requests of God:

1. Teach me your ways.  (verse 13) Moses wanted to know God’s ways so he could know God. Too often we study to know about God, but we don’t really know God. Moses understood that finding favor with God comes from a vibrant, growing relationship with the King of the Universe. 
2. If you’re not with us, don’t send us. (verse 15) The Israelites had a great battle-filled journey in front of them. Moses didn’t ask for victory over his enemies. He didn’t ask for enough to eat and drink on their journey. He didn’t ask for safety from the elements or for the sojourners to all get along. He asked for God’s presence. That was what he wanted more than anything else.
3. Show me your glory. (verse 18) This is an incredibly bold statement. It’s not even phrased as a request, really. Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And God did! 

What amazing things are you and I missing because we ask too little from God? An All-Access pass to the Father means that we can “boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.”

God’s presence in your life is the key. Being with God enables you to know him, experience his goodness and see him glorified. 

That’s what Jesus did for us when he gave us an all-access pass to the Father. So use that all-access pass to get to know God, and to ask BIG THINGS of your heavenly Father!