by David Brenneman
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God. For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb, or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the Lord who sanctifies them.'" Leviticus 21:16-23.
"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
In what we read in Leviticus, someone like myself, wouldn't have been able to approach the Lord.
Yet because of the finished work of God through Jesus on the cross, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.
In Christ, because of Jesus, I can approach the Lord Jesus Christ.
People like me, or others out there in this world, who have defects physically, have none spiritually...all because of Jesus.
Being accepted by people has always been an issue with me. My Savior indeed saved me in 1974, however, and in His name and because of His love, I was made perfect before Him...His love for me never to diminish nor fade with time. However, the world was never and has never been so kind.
My life in public schools was, mostly, torturous. To say the least, I do have a very intense hatred for bullies. Just putting that out there because it's true about me. I will defend those who aren't able to themselves, but for deeper reasons than just to do what's necessary and right.
Even throughout my life, my childhood colored my views of people. Was watching a small video clip of Dr. Charles Stanley this morning. He said he had had a conversation once with someone and this person was giving a different perspective on God than what he knew. They had went into great detail. He said that it had the potential to color his views about God. You don't listen to wrong things and not be impacted by them. The video clip was too short but I wonder if he went on to talk about how Paul wouldn't even listen to such people even for an hour.
We may or may not have heard of the saying "garbage in garbage out".
What you take in becomes a part of who you are. Paul had also wrote about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. We live in a world, in a society, that loves to spend time thinking that they aren't thinking...some refer to it as veging out. Becoming a couch potato. Immersed in fiction or even what might to some be harmless activity such as sports...watching for hours. Regardless of what you believe...hours spent doing something have a positive or negative impact on your walk with Jesus.
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."...for the reason of our relationship with Jesus and God our Father.
In my life I have physical limitations. In my salvation in Christ Jesus...I have none. In my physical world I wouldn't have been able to approach the Lord Jesus Christ as it said in Leviticus. In the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus I can.
You too might be thinking that you're too far gone to be of any earthly good to Jesus.
You might be dwelling on physical infirmities that limit your life...that you can't see how Jesus could use someone like you.
Jesus said "“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
In my anxiety in my early years as a Believer...I would say that I wish then that I had the understanding of that passage as I do now.
In this world, I might not be accepted by people, in my true home in Heaven, I am fully accepted by my Savior Jesus Christ because He said so. As some say "God said it, I believe it, that settles it".
This message today is certainly for someone out there. I woke up in the early hours of today when I really don't need to be up this early and I couldn't let go of this.
My Dear Reader, you ARE accepted fully in Christ Jesus as long as you have come to Christ for salvation and have received His free gift thereof.
You don't need, I don't need, the acceptance of people to be valued by my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus cannot love you any more nor any less than what He gave for you by being nailed to the cross in your place.
It's why I love the song Charley Pride had out decades ago called "He Took My Place".
He took my place, He took your place. He made those such as you and I right before God because of the resurrection power through Jesus Christ. For the Believer, the Father looks at us and only sees Jesus. His true and perfect Son.
Find peace in the truth that a life in Christ Jesus allows all to come boldly to the throne of grace.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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