March 30, Reading 1 – Leviticus 6:8-7:10

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The guilt offering was food for the priests – every meal was a sacramental meal. From this chapter comes the New Testament understanding of our Communion Service. We, as a holy priesthood, eat the guilt offering of Christ – we eat and drink in remembrance of Him! Take and eat; this is my body! Matthew 26:26.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, please show us what You want us to know from Your word today.

“Whatever touches them shall become holy.”

What does it take to become holy?

Here we read of the offerings and how holiness (being set apart) was transferred on touch.

We read that the grain offering was a thing most holy, just as were the sin and guilt offerings.

We know these offerings, these sacrifices, could never deal with sin (Hebrews ch 11).

And yet here we read of them being holy, being able to impart holiness, and to be eaten by the priests in a holy place.

God says to us, “… And be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus ch 11).

Holiness is being set apart from the world, exercising our obedience to God, fleeing from evil and embracing what is good, doing what He tells us to do (and rejecting what the world beckons us to do).

The tabernacle (tent of meeting) was a holy place.

The offering that was itself holy was to be consumed in a holy place.

And the offering imparted holiness.

If we are little tabernacles, vessels for the Holy Spirit abiding in us, then we are each a holy place.

Jesus was the once-for-all offering, the sacrificial lamb slain to atone – to deal with sin.

And through His work we are born again, dead hearts made alive, able to walk in obedience. To be holy.

He is the offering that imparts holiness to us! His continual work, death at Calvary, resurrection from the grave, ascension and intercession that is happening right now.

Hallelujah, because of Jesus we can be holy!

* Father God,

Please make us more like Jesus today. May we be holy as You are holy.

Amen.

March 30, Reading 2 – Psalm 106

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

It is distressing to realise that we can’t help ourselves. It is also instructive and a severe mercy from the Lord. It is at this point that we turn to Him and simply cling to His cross! Consider the request in verse 47 and the subsequent lifting of the heart in praise.

SJA Notes

* Immortal God, thank You for remembering us and showing favour to us through the once-for-all sacrifice of Yourself.

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.”

This is a psalm of history and exhortation both, to remember!

We see Moses pointing us to Jesus,

“Therefore he said he would destroy them – had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.”

This points us to Jesus – Who stood in the breach, turning away the full extent of God’s wrath from us (onto Himself)!

In Phineas we see another Christ-type,

“Then Phineas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed.”

This is what God did in sending Himself, He intervened and the plague of sin and death was dealt with once for all.

We read of the good news for both Jew and Gentile alike, because now God’s people are all those in Christ,

“Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations,”

Praise God that we have been gathered in from among many nations. Praise Him that He stood in the gap, God in the Person of the Son, in the breach – That He intervened for us.

What a good reminder for us as we experience Easter time.

“And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the LORD!”

* God of steadfast love and abounding mercy,

Thank You for intervening for us, giving us what we do not deserve.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

March 30, Reading 3 – Mark 1:1-20

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Mark’s Gospel can be read in about 1/2 hours. It was written for believers and inquirers in the Roman Empire. Mark begins his Gospel with God’s action in sending His Son. Jesus begins His ministry immediately He is baptised/anointed by God’s prophet John and the Spirit as Messiah. (Just as Saul and David)

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please show us Jesus today from Your word.

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

The preaching of John caused a revival in a land that had been silent for many long years.

His message was the same message we read throughout God’s word.

And what happened?

“And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”

How amazing is this – Praise God for His salvation come to us!

John speaks of the true reality, that he was only a pointer to a Saviour like no other,

“I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This is what matters. That we are reborn into Christ with the washing and anointing of the Holy Spirit!

May we continue in repentance and belief today and onwards.

* Father God,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who works within us Your people.

Please wash the muck and grime of our daily sin from us Lord God.

Please refresh our bodies, minds and souls for whatever You have in store for us.

Amen.