Today's Passage: Leviticus 22
Have you ever gotten yourself into a mess you couldn't get yourself out of? I have. Several times. The first that comes to mind happened at youth camp the summer after my senior year in high school. We went to an encampment in the mountains of Colorado called Silver Cliff Ranch...and one day I slid down that silver cliff on my face. We'd gone hiking and the group was staying on a grassy, slowly inclining trail. This, of course, was not quite exciting enough for me and so I slowly began my veer away from the grassy, gradual trail to the steep, rocky cliff. Because I am no hiker (or climber, for that matter), I got stuck on the cliff. After I slid down half of it on my elbows, knees, face, and tummy, I decided it was time to ask for somebody to help me down. Nothing hurt worse than my pride. Obviously I made it down okay, although I do still have some scars and the 14-hour bus ride home was not so much fun.
Today's passage makes me think of scenarios like this. God knew that his people were notorious for getting themselves into messes. This was why they needed all of the rules and guidelines, for their own protection. In today's passage, however, we see that the rules and guidelines are not what made them clean or holy. In the midst of giving instructions for the treatment of sacred offerings, God says, "I am the LORD, who makes them/you holy." Did you catch that? God is what made them holy. Although He gave explicit directions for ceremonial cleansing, the proper garments, and the avoidance of certain things, God is what made them holy. God had given them lists of things which made them unclean, but only ONE thing could make them clean--HIM! They had gotten themselves into all kinds of messes, but only God could clean them up.
What a great reminder that there is absolutely nothing we can do to earn holiness. We are only made holy through the blood of Christ; we simply accept this gift. Is there a mess that you need God's help with? Do you feel stuck and your own attempts to free yourself have only caused more pain and scars? Whatever the situation may be, God is ready, able, and willing to help. Just ask.
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