Practical and Specific

I've been doing a lot of reading in Exodus and Leviticus this week.  Before you start groaning and rolling your eyes, hang in with me for a few minutes!!  It really has been an interesting refresher on the structure and furnishings of the tabernacle (Exodus) and the system of offerings (Leviticus).  I have to say that reading Leviticus always makes me thankful for the ultimate sacrifice made at Calvary.  I'm so thankful not to live under the Old Covenant.....I don't think I could ever keep up or remember what to offer for what!!!

Back in the tabernacle days, there was only one way in (the gateway of the court) and then the first thing that was encountered was the brazen altar.  You can read about some of the offerings on the brazen altar in the first chapter of Leviticus.  But you might also want to read a passage in the New Testament to go along with that.....Hebrews 10:4-12.

In the tabernacle, once you were past the brazen altar you would have encountered the bronze laver where priests washed their hands after making the sacrifices and before going any further into the tabernacle.  This hand washing was very serious business, as evidenced by Exodus 30:20.  You can read some other passages about cleansing in Psalm 24, Ephesians 5:25-26, and 1 John 1:9.

So what does that have to do with you and me and worship?  Let's go to Romans to think about that.  In the first eleven chapters of the book of Romans, Paul lays out the gospel message.....a really profound explanation of the death and resurrection of Jesus, why it took place, and the implications for our lives.  Then, in chapter 12 we get to the inevitable conclusion.......therefore........since everything in chapters 1-11 is true, what are we going to do about it? 

Paul's conclusion is that because all this is true, we are called to make a commitment,  and to present our "bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1 NASB).

Your challenge - and mine - today is to spend some time thinking about that and what it means in our individual lives.  Maybe go back and re-read those first eleven chapters of Romans and spend some time with God as we reflect on all that has been done for us, all that is ours in Christ Jesus.  And then answer that question:  what are we going to do about it?  Or, to put it another way, how are we going to be practical and specific about applying that verse today?

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:1-2 NASB)