Thoughts which pull me toward Jesus, and to His cross!

“Tell the people this: ‘If any citizen of Israel or foreigner living with you offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 that person must take his sacrifice to the entrance of the Meeting Tent to offer it to the LORD. If he does not do this, he must be cut off from the people.  Leviticus 17:8-9 NCV

Oh Holy Ghost! Thy grace impart,
Thy people give one mind and heart;
Stand by us in our final strife,
And bring us safe from death to life.

One who can say “Father” to the Lord of the Universe has a firm foundation for his confidence. The future belongs to him. Why should it not be possible for us to experience, even in our own day, the infectious power of this confidence?

Tucked away in the book of Leviticus, I found an incredible statement that I need to process.

The “foreigner” living in the midst of Israel, probably servants, were able to offer a sacrifice at the tabernacle. The blood that was shed would cover their sin, as well as those who were part of the “family” of God. The implications of this are staggering – for it talks of God finding them as part of the “people”, even if they were not genetically part of the family. They shared the same risk for disobedience, but that means they also shared the same blessings offered–for they are part of the covenant community.

I think about that as I read Martin Luther’s hymn, that God was wanting them included in the group that would have one mind and heart. That He would stand by them, and us, in the midst of strife. That they would know the promise of the resurrection. They are welcomed in that group of people who are able to call God “Father”, they should have the confidence this brings.

This should be noted today as well – there should be no outsiders at church – no “foreigners” – all should be welcomed to come in, and receive the blessings of God. It doesn’t matter where one comes from, it matters where one will be going, and welcoming people into that hope – that is our role. It always has been – even back to the days of Moses.

This is our hope and joy–as we welcome others, as we know we are welcome–we aren’t the outsiders, even if we think we are. No one is, who is willing to depend on God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is excluded, we are all are made part of the family, and our sacrifice ( see Romans 12:1-15) are acceptable to God, for Jesus’s sacrifice!

Martin Luther and John Hunt, The Spiritual Songs of Martin Luther: From the German, trans. Thomas Clark (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1853), 63.

Joseph Ratzinger, Co-Workers of the Truth: Meditations for Every Day of the Year, ed. Irene Grassl, trans. Mary Frances McCarthy and Lothar Krauth (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1992), 10.