Prayer for Tuesday: Great God and Eternal Healer, you know my weakness and failings, and that without your help I can accomplish nothing for the good of souls, my own and others'. Grant me, therefore, the help of your grace, according to my particular needs this day. Enable me to see the tasks you will set before me in the daily routine of my life, and let me set my hand to these tasks with the vigor and joy of one with whom you abide. And if I should face trials, suffering or failure, I pray that your hand will lift me up, and I may be refreshed. In the name of Christ, I pray, amen.
Scripture Reflection for Tuesday: Today's journey "Through the Bible" visits Exodus 29-30.
In Exodus 29, we are invited to ask: How does God make sinners like us into priests? From the chapter we learn that priests must be washed, clothed, and anointed (vv. 4–7). These three ideas appear in three sacrifices. The bull of sin offering (vv. 10–14) took the sinner’s guilt and punishment so that he would be forgiven (Lev. 4). The ram of burnt offering (vv. 15–18), while making propitiation, also presented God with total self-dedication so that God would be pleased with the sinner (Lev. 1). The blood of the ram of consecration (vv. 19–34) was put on the ear, thumb, and toe like the cleansing of the healed leper (Lev. 14:7, 14, 25), and its meat was eaten like a peace offering as a sign of fellowship with God (Lev. 7:11, 15–21). Therefore, God makes sinners into priests by washing away their guilt, clothing them with imputed righteousness, and anointing them for holy fellowship with Him—all by sacrifice.
In Exodus 30, we see that the fragrances of the incense were a sign of God’s delightful presence meeting with His people (25:22; 29:42–43; 30:6, 36). Limiting this fragrance to the holy things showed that one can enjoy God’s presence only through a mediator and the means He appointed. To unbelievers, the gospel is only the stench of death in its revelations of divine justice, but to believers, it is the fragrance of life in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 2:15–16).
Spiritual Meditation for Tuesday:
Now all glory to you, mighty God, who is able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into your glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to you who alone are God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time, amen.
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
