ATONING SACRIFICE

Thinking of Jesus as our sacrifice always reminds me of two important stories to our Christian faith.

The first is of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham to take his son – his ONLY son – and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah. In Genesis 22, Isaac asked his father, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham replied, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Just as Abraham took the knife to slay his son, the Angel of the LORD stopped him. Abraham turned and saw a ram caught in the thicket. God provided the sacrifice.

The second story involves God’s protection of the Israelites during the final plague against Egypt – the death of all firstborn sons. God told Moses to have the people take a year old lamb without defect, slaughter it, spread its blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes, and eat the meat as a Passover meal. When the Lord went through Egypt bringing  judgment on them, He passed over every house displaying the blood. God provided through the sacrifice of a lamb.

When Jesus appeared on the scene in John 1, John the Baptist declared, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Approximately three years later, Jesus became the perfect, unblemished atoning sacrifice for all mankind when He willingly gave His life on a cross. God’s only Son died more than 2000 years ago to provide a way for you and me to obtain salvation. Praise the Lord, that is not the end of the story because He rose from the grave and lives today.

God provided for you and me!

JESUS CHRIST, the LAMB OF GOD,  took our place.

As we prepare to celebrate our Risen Savior soon, let’s take time this week to praise Jesus as our Atoning Sacrifice, our sacrificial Lamb of God. Take time each day to recall the price He paid for us when He became our sacrifice.

Sunday Supplication

Lord Jesus, words can’t accurately convey the depth of our gratitude for what You’ve done. Thank You for providing a path of salvation for us. We praise you this week as our Atoning Sacrifice and our only way to God. As we worship You this week, remind us of the tremendous cost You paid for our redemption from sin. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. AMEN! SO BE IT!

Monday Manna

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

Tuesday Treasure

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews 9:24-26

Wednesday Wisdom

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Thursday Truth

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2

Friday Fact

Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:11-14

Saturday Song