Contrite Sacrifice

Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings
What We Bring to God

The Lord's Day

Leviticus 16:29-34  The Message

^29-31 “This is standard practice for you, a perpetual ordinance. On the tenth day of the seventh month, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. In the presence of God you will be made clean of all your sins. It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths. You must fast. It is a perpetual ordinance.

³² “The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father is to make the atonement:
He puts on the sacred linen garments;
³³ He purges the Holy of Hollies by making atonement;
He purges the Tent of Meeting and the Altar by making atonement;
He makes atonement for the priests and all the congregation.
³⁴ “This is a perpetual ordinance for you: Once a year atonement is to be made for all the sins of the People of Israel.”
And Aaron did it, just as God commanded Moses.

For Reflection 

When I was  much younger I thought ritual was a waste of time.  It was a rote practice; mechanical, done with little thought, therefore, inauthentic.  Since those days I have begun to realize the importance of ritual.  Whether done in a corporate worship setting or alone, adherence to ritual sets aside a time for you to become closer to God.  It is a time for you to remember in a systematic way that you are (or should be) about your Father's business.

Pray

that you will strengthen your relationship with God by remembering that you are about your Father's business.  Pray that you will in all things reflect God's intention for human kind.  Pray that you will remain in humble service to your creator.