Isn’t it amazing that God would put His Tabernacle dead center in the Israelite camp? The presence of a Holy God amid an unclean people! That’s a head-scratcher! How can that work? In today’s reading, we see the camp of Israel being called to purity- both outwardly and inwardly. God is calling them to be holy! God is calling them into closeness, fellowship, and a blessing. Today’s reading ends with…
‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” (Numbers 6:24–27, NLT)
This same goodness of God toward Israel is also for us who believe, for God calls us to purity and blessing, too! Yet, we know how easy it is to defile ourselves with sin, guilt, and shame. As believers, God has put Himself dead center inside of us…yet we sin…a head-scratcher indeed! How can this work? Well, here is where the blessing comes in: we have Jesus!
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1 John 2:1–2, NLT)
Wow, God is good! So, how does this cleansing work in our lives?
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9, NLT)
What does all of this mean? It means you and I can live in purity and blessing as believers! When we sin, we can go to the One we offended and ask for forgiveness, and forgiveness will be given! Why? Because God accepts the sacrifice of Jesus- every time!
So, don’t be robbed of your joy in God! Don’t let guilt, shame, or thoughts that you are a chronic failure prevent you from living a pure and blessed life! Don’t let the devil win over your mind; let the triumph of Jesus’ sacrifice cleanse you, and live in that victory!
Today’s reading: Numbers 5-6 | Tomorrow’s reading: Numbers 7
Praise the Lord!