Good Question!

This morning, the entire family was sitting in the living room, reading their Bibles, and my 9-year-old suddenly asked “Dad, why do the priests in Leviticus need to make sacrifices when Noah could make them by himself?” We told him what a great question it was, and this led us to discuss how Noah was, essentially, the oldest of the remaining humans (about 8 in all), and the nature of sacrifice (the penalty of sin is death, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins), what a priests role was (to intercede with God on man’s behalf) and how, by making the final, perfect sacrifice, Jesus became our High priest, and how we are priests under Him, being living sacrifices to glorify the Father.

Are you exploring God’s word and asking difficult questions? Are you discussing them with your family, fellow members of Christ’s Church, and seeking to grow closer to Jesus in the process? Are you being a living sacrifice, and priest who intercedes for the lost before God? I pray you are, and if you’re not, that you will! There’s work to be done and questions to be asked and answered. The fields are ripe with harvest; let’s get to the field.

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.