October 29, 2008
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The ease of it
As a result of a slow and arduous reading of Leviticus this past week, I woke up the other morning thinking about what a privilege/honor/blessing it is that we don’t have to follow all these rituals just to have relationship with God. When we want to pray, we don’t have to go to all the trouble of actually, physically going to the place of the tabernacle or temple. We don’t have to offer the best of our bull, goat or sheep. We don’t have to slit its throat and collect the blood nor skin it (how messy, bloody and gross was it to have to make a sacrifice!). I can just wake up in the morning and pray — right there in my PJs in my bed, with messy hair and morning breath and all! Amazing. And perhaps the ease of it has led me to taking it for granted at times. Perhaps I forget sometimes to stand in awe of God. Perhaps that’s why it’s important to read Leviticus and the gospels and remember what it cost God in order to provide me with this ease. And in the remembering, I better respond with awe and amazement, gratitude and thankfulness. In remembering the cost, may I come before the Lord in great humility.
