““Speak to Aaron, saying: ‘No man of your descendants in succeeding generations, who has any defect, may approach to offer the bread of his God. For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long, a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab, or is a eunuch. No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He may eat the bread of his God, both the most holy and the holy; only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the Lord sanctify them.’ ””
Leviticus 21:17-23 NKJV
“Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.”
Matthew 15:29-31 NKJV
Room for the broken
Oh what Jesus has done! He has made room for the broken, the forsaken to draw near to God!
As I read Leviticus 21 this morning, a passage I have read so many times, I was awe struck by the overwhelming gift we have in Jesus. Those who had defects, or anything unhealthy could not enter in to the Holy of Holies, for they were profane to a most holy God. That priesthood, initiated by Aaron, was limited to the whole, those perfect in appearance and health.
In Jesus, the veil is rent to all people, who are made whole in Christ and sanctified by the Lord. He made a way for the broken, the sick, the lame, the addicted, sexually broken, the traumatized and every other person destroyed by sin that has corrupted all of creation.
By faith we are saved, accepted in the Beloved, and made priests. Our spiritual flaws are erased and we are made perfect in Jesus.
Five days a week, I go before the Lord, a defective, sickened old man, broken to the nth degree, entering past the veil by way of Jesus. I do not enter in by my own accord, but by the redeeming power of Jesus.
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
Brothers and sisters let us rejoice!
God has made room for the broken, for in Jesus, those who are saved by faith have access to God. Let us be faithful to go and tell all of this Jesus, who can heal the sick, bring sight to the blind, and raise the dead.
So many people are broken in the world today, and so many more feel as though they can never approach the Lord. There is a point when those lost in sin give up, and reject the wooing of the Holy Spirit , because they have been deceived by modern day Pharisees, who have kept them far from God.
I remember the twenty seven years I spent in the wilderness, feeling so dirty and unloveable that I thought I could never be saved…
But Jesus!
He drew me, wooed me and made me His own. Jesus is seeking the broken, desiring to save, to heal, and to transform. You might be one like I was, feeling so sinful, but know this: Jesus saves.
When He walked the earth, Jesus sought the sinners, those the most sick, for they were in need of a physician. Those who were in religious authority at the time, mocked and ridiculed Him, for they did everything they could to keep those who truly needed God, as far away as possible.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””
Matthew 9:9-13 NKJV
I sit in the prayer chair, a priest of the King, a broken one of no repute, made holy by Jesus who went to the cross to pay my sin debt. It is only because of Him that I may approach the throne of God.
Jesus has justified me, making me whole in the eyes of the Lord, having covered my brokenness. In Him, I am strong, only by His grace, not lame, without defect, and made Holy. The Holy Spirit is working in me day after day, as I am being made even more whole, that I may more adequately serve my King.
Let us be faithful to go and tell!
THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!
Musings from an idle mind 
Indeed!
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