They had to make atonement for the Holy Place? Atonement also had to be made for the altar as well as the Tent of Meeting!” (Leviticus 16:15-20) The idea was that even the place was defiled due to the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:16).
What a surprise! We’ve known that atonement (forgiveness of sins) was necessary for people of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus has become the perfect sacrifice for our sins and we don’t need to repeat the animal sacrifices. But atonement for the place itself?
I’m not advocating a return to the sacrificial system. For that would violate the value of Jesus’ sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 10). Nor do I want to put people in bondage with a guilt ridden message.
I believe we must come to grips with our sinfulness and constant “leaning” in that direction. Never take the cross of Jesus for granted. Always have a soft broken attitude regarding our sinfulness. But at the same time, be firm in your faith and confidence in the finished work of Jesus and confidence in the finished work of Jesus for our redemption – our atonement.
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Of course not. It’s about Jesus. He’s the perfect example of love lived out. Many of us talk it. He lived it and continues to live it.
The rest of the verses in that chapter highlight the primacy of love amidst many things we value. The purity and excellency of love is elegantly inserted right in the middle

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast ; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

It makes us long for it. Yet it seems so far out of reach. But we’re moving in that direction of Jesus as the ultimate expression of love.
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Actually, there really isn’t such a thing as big or small sins. In the garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve not to eat fruit from a particular tree in the middle of the garden. They had the rest of the trees in the garden to eat from.
Sin was a matter of disobedience. Disobedience to God’s command and deviance from the pattern he has set. For God, there isn’t any big or small sins. They are all sins.
When I begin to think of myself better than others because I don’t engage in the “big” sins like others, I’m on dangerous ground. this is because I am as guilty as those “big” sinners.
But we have this hope: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
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Maybe it was just something you heard. You thought it was a good idea. Thinking, reading, and conversing with others made it come alive. Finally it grips your heart and you must move in that direction.
Then there are those convictions within. They’re untouched for a long time. Maybe due to a lack of opportunities. But these originate from the heart. Finally, your mind picks it up and begins to process those inner convictions. Then you realize you can’t do anything else.
Both involve the heart and head. Just the origination is different. Yet the deciding factor will be your feet. Will you take the first step? Or will it remain in your head or heart? When it gets to the feet and it moves you, then it becomes a movement.
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Why go through the trouble if it’s good enough? Why bother tweaking something that is already working? It seems so many people think it’s satisfactory.
Some are driven to do things better than good enough. They’re not satisfied with keeping things as they are. They’re always looking for ways to improve what’s already working.
Why?

• Because you can
• Because you care
• Because others who follow you will benefit
• Because the world will become a better place

Better than good enough is for people with hope for a better future.
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Jesus said “you have revealed this to little ones . . . Jesus said regarding the disciples driving out demons (Matt 11:25).
If you need healing, there are healing specialists who would pray and heal. If deliverance is required, there are other specialists who drive out demons. For each of these various needs, there are specialists.
After seventy two disciples were sent out to do the same works Jesus did, they came back to Jesus having accomplished the tasks they were assigned to do. They did all the works of Jesus.
“At that time Jesus, full of Joy through the Holy Spirit said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Luke 10:21).
The supernatural is now open to all of God’s children. It was Jesus’ idea to bypass the specialists.
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When are we most pious, quiet, and clearly aware of God’s presence? For many, it is during the Communion service, sometimes called the Lord’s Table or Eucharist. That one event seems to stand out as a special time of contemplation and experiencing God’s presence.
Some even believe that the very presence of God dwells there with the elements of the Eucharist. Others believe that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ. Thus we show the utmost honor and respect for the presence of God.
Now, the Bible clearly states that the Holy Spirit of God literally dwells in our bodies (1 Cor 6:19).
Really? That means wherever I am present, God is present. I must show respect and honor for God’s presence wherever I am present.
There is significance in the Eucharist and all the other sacraments of the church. We are to value every gathering of God’s people. But I don’t believe there should be a hierarchy of honoring God’s presence during a particular event. He is with his people all the time. Honor him now.
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It seems odd that most of the “messengers” in the Bible were broken people in some area of their lives. This pattern seems to be unique and maybe even a bit suspicious.
The postal service (remember those?) or some form of electronic messaging system like email just deliver words. And they do a pretty good job at that.
But God prefers to use messengers who live out the message. People who experience various levels of brokenness are often used by God to express his love, mercy, and kindness. They’re able to communicate the message with passion, reality, and genuineness.
It’s ok. Don’t try to look perfect, act perfect or present such an image of yourself. First of all, we all know it’s not true. Second, it’s important to know that God speaks best through our brokenness. Be real. Be honest. Allow God’s message of love to flow through your brokenness to others.
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In a society where women and children were not valued, God took a step and showed concern. In such communities, their needs for rest and care would be ignored.
But God weaved into their religious system the necessary care and rest for women and children. In Leviticus 12, the text deals with purification after childbirth. They had seven days of being unclean, then 33 days (for a boy child) and 60 days (for a girl child) of purification.
These days of “purification” were a form of maternity leave for them. Even today in Israel there’s 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.
Without these ceremonial and religious laws, ancient women may be required to return to work quickly after childbirth. This was God’s provision for care and rest.
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