by David Brenneman
"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 21:18-23.
In the Bible we read that by what Christ Jesus did on the cross of calvary, we can stand justified before God.
Some have come to refer to this as "just as if I hadn't sinned".
To look at this passage, in my present case and condition, regardless of how much I would want to serve the Lord, I would be disqualified from serving in the Temple.
By the grace of God, by this salvation in Christ Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins that I have in Christ, I am not seen for me before God, but the very righteousness of God is seen in my place.
My favorite song, believe it or not, isn't a hymn. Many hymns come in right behind it but my favorite is a song called "He Took My Place" by Charlie Pride.
This is what it is for you, for me, before the Holy God. We come to Christ for salvation and He indeed casts our sins as far as the east is from the west, remembering them no more.
My life in Christ is replete with example after example of times where and when my Savior was with me and no Earthly explanation can explain away what I went through. None.
So much so that when I look back at and remember my doubts and fears, I am ashamed. I had no reason to be that way.
Remembering your journey with Jesus and you is incredibly important.
I do keep a personal journal. Many times I look back over the last days anniversary of the last 7 years to see what I wrote. Then I am spurred on to remember where and what Jesus got me through.
His promises kept.
I will admit that I can be just as much a whiner before my Savior as Moses was.
Moses. One who kept trying to point out to Jesus why he wasn't the man that Jesus needed to use to save the Children of Israel. The man who later on would spend so much time with Jesus that he had to wear a veil to cover his face afterwards until the holiness faded.
We all can disqualify ourselves by way of personal failings or physical defects before a Holy God that Jesus Christ is.
We come to Christ for salvation, none of those things matter where what is now seen by God is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
But those, aren't those things weaknesses? Aren't they going to make me unhappy or unable to serve God?
Paul had many weaknesses. Some inflicted by a messenger of Satan.
Before anyone wants to say it was something physical and other things...consider that this is the same as what happened to Job. Messengers of Satan inflicted what physically happened to Job.
In part, I think because it's not written, that whatever this was, it was ensuring that Paul stayed focused on a few things.
Chief of which was the grace of God. He was specifically told that "My grace is sufficient. For power is perfected in weakness". Secondly, and this is my personal opinion and understanding, Paul would abide by this same passage we read and would no longer be able to go to his kinsman in any Temple. He would finish his race, as he so aptly wrote, being the Apostle to the Gentiles.
You, my Dear Reader, are not disqualified from serving the Lord Jesus Christ if indeed He is your Savior.
You, my Dear Reader, have a purpose under Heaven that's been prepared just for you.
Do you not want to show your love for Jesus by obeying in His calling for you?
In the parable of the talents...are you going to be that one who buried what you were given by Jesus and not share it with the world out of fear or anything else?
Do you not want to hear "Well done!" by Jesus?
Pray about what it is that He's called you to be doing. It may not be glamorous. May not be something on a stage. May not be something to be noticed by men.
But it will be something...and don't miss this...your something was thought about, considered, and established...when the foundations of this world were formed.
Jesus knew before you were born just what potential impact you would have for His Kingdom on this Earth.
How awesome is that?
I know that I know that I know that my God has me doing something special with my writing skills and abilities. He deserves all the honor and praise for where it's going and has gone. His instructions to me 5 and half years ago were simple. Meet Him when He says and write what He says. I can do that. Sometimes in those years it was several times in a day.
Jesus has a job for you that's meant for you to be doing.
Honestly, do you really want to let fear keep you from hearing that well done? Do you want to let whatever is keeping you from serving Him be a problem?
In Christ all Believers are seen for the righteousness of God imputed to us. The Father looks at us n sees Jesus.
Love God, love people. Got it.
What do you want me to do?
Simple enough prayer.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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