Daily PresenceSample

In high school football, we used to have something called "hell week." Six days of practice twice a day, filled with 100-yard sprints, pushing the sled, and burpees in full pads. The goal? To get as many people as possible to quit!

When God decided to include the book of Leviticus in the Bible, I'm fairly certain He had "hell week" in mind. "Let's see how many people I can get to quit their devotional plans during Leviticus week."

Long heralded as the reading plan killer, the book of Leviticus lands right after two power-packed books ranging from creation, the flood, Abraham and God's promises, Joseph and God's provision, to Moses, the Exodus, and freedom for God's people. A fair question at face value is, "What on earth does Leviticus have to do with me?"

Let's go back to hell week for a moment. Twenty-five years removed from bear crawls and hill sprints, I can see how those moments didn't make sense at the time. But in reflection, some of the defining principles in my life, such as discipline and hard work, came from those weeks.

The same is true for our spiritual life and the book of Leviticus. Don't read Leviticus trying to discern which lamb you should offer. Look at the action and find the application. Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. The Lamb of God fulfilled our sacrificial obligation, but there are principles within the system that can add great value to our walk with God.

I love how the book of Leviticus begins. In verses 3-4, God instructs, "If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord. Lay your hand on the animal's head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him."

Are you swinging by the local 4H to buy a lamb? No. But did God give you an offering with no defects, to take your place, to purify you, and make you right with Him? Yes! Can that inform your Spirit today and remind you of how God has always longed to reconcile you, to Himself, in purity and right standing? Of course!

Embrace "Leviticus Week." God wants to take you deeper.