Scripture Union Daily Guide 4 July 2024 (Thursday) Devotional Message
TOPIC: Abstain From Blood!
OPENING PRAYER: Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
SCRIPTURE: LEVITICUS 17:1-16
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q3: Is there any command for me to obey?
* Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 4 July 2024 Outline:
God established specific times and places for sacrifice. As a holy God, He requires holiness from His people. Offering sacrifice outside the designated area and time would bring in compromise and risk of idol worship which God detests. In the same vein, everybody cannot exercise priestly function. The Priest is God’s representative (v.5).
Twice before (Leviticus 3:17; 7:26), God had forbidden the eating of blood. See also Genesis 9:4. The prohibition is made binding, not only on the house of Israel, but on the strangers who lived among them (v.10). Why will God not allow His people to eat or drink blood (v.11, cf. Hebrews 9:22)? Blood is also a means of transmission of diseases, so God wanted His people to live healthily.
The blood of animals and blood of birds was given for the atonement of sins. When offered in the right way and with the right attitude, the sacrifice of blood shed from animals and birds made the forgiveness of sins possible. The blood represented the sinners’ life being poured out and the innocent life being sacrificed to redeem the sinner’s life. The animal or bird dies in the place of the sinner, thereby bringing forgiveness to the sinner. In the same way, Jesus’ body was broken, and His blood poured out for the atonement of our sins. What do we learn from 1 Corinthians 11:26-29?
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, for giving us your son Jesus as a sacrifice for our transgressions.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 127:3
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 186 – 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24