Repent | Daily Devotion
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
In the Old Testament, God’s Shekinah glory dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, and a veil separated the people from Him. God’s people could not go directly into His presence, only the high priest could. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, God called His people to get serious about their sins, to confess them and repent of them. On this day, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and offer the blood sacrifices for the sins of the people, so that they would be forgiven. Sin was taken away temporarily, so the high priest would do this once every year – Leviticus 16.
God cannot tolerate sin. Sin cannot enter God’s majestic presence. As a holy God, He must judge sin. The Bible says, “wages of sin is death” – Romans 6:23 NKJV, and “the soul who sins shall die” – Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV. Leviticus 17:11 tells us that only blood can make atonement for our souls. Atonement means “to ransom, or to remove by paying a price.” So in order for us to live, someone had to die in our place for our sins. Salvation from sin requires the shedding of blood. God hates sin, for sin destroys His people.
If we think about it, God has given us His 10 commandments. 10 Do nots. If we look at each of the 10 commandments, if they are broken the outcome is destruction on an individual’s soul, spirit, and physical life, which then negatively impacts all those around them in a negative domino effect. There is a reason why God calls us to obey the 10 commandments and a reason why they encompass love.
When we love our neighbors as ourselves, obeying the 10 commandments, we do not deplete from or destroy their life and blessings, but uphold the goodness of the Lord. When we obey the 10 commandments, we refuse to cause problems for other people, and choose to reinforce all of the good God has blessed them with in their life.
Love is not destructive. Love pillars. Love safeguards.
So we know God hates sin, as it destroys His people and seeks to destroy His church. But God loves sinners; so in His love, He provided a way for us to be forgiven and able to stand fearlessly in His sight.
Jesus’ sole purpose for coming to this earth and being born of a virgin in a manger was to die on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins upon Himself, shed His blood and satisfied God’s holy righteous anger against us. Jesus rescued us from the penalty of our sins once and for all. God in His grace, “paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” – 1 Peter 1:19 NLT. When Jesus died on the cross, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” – Matthew 27:51 NKJV, opening our access to God.
Therefore, because of Jesus Christ and His one perfect offering, and our faith in Him, we can now enter God’s presence fearlessly, assured of His glad welcome – Ephesians 3:12.
Will you pray with me?
Abba, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, making a way for us to enter Your presence fearlessly, assured of Your glad welcome. May we all come boldly to Your throne of grace, receiving Your mercy and finding Your grace to help us when we need it the most. In Jesus’ name, Amen.