The altar in the Tabernacle allows worshippers to be accepted in God's presence through animal sacrifices. The blood of the animals covers the worshippers' sins, restoring their relationship with God. The second section of the Tabernacle is the bronze water laver or basin (Exodus 30:17-21) (see the bronze laver or basin of the Tabernacle). The priests had to wash their hands and feet at the bronze water laver or basin right outside of the Holy Place so that they could enter the Holy Place. When the priests finished sacrificing animals on the altar, they had to change their garments and wash their hands and feet to enter the Holy Place to take care of the lampstand, the table of shewbread, and the altar of incense. The washing of hands and feet is what allows the priests to enter the Holy Place. We do not have to wash our hands and feet to enter God's presence because our Lord Jesus Christ made us holy and acceptable through His righteousness in us. Our Lord Jesus did not only wash our sins by His own blood on the cross, but He also imputed or put His righteousness in us so that we could have His righteousness before our Heavenly Father; thus, we become acceptable not because of our good works, but it is solely from the righteousness of our Lord Jesus.
Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." So, how do we become righteous before God if our obedience to God's law does not make us righteous? In Philippians 3:9, the Apostle Paul answered this question, "and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Being a good person does not make us acceptable to the presence of God, but we can only be acceptable to the presence of God by the righteousness that our Lord Jesus has put in us because we believe in Him. The priests could only enter the Holy Place by the washing of hands and feet at the water basin. Similarly, there is only one way for us to enter the Holy Place of God, and it is through the righteousness of our Lord Jesus, a truth that fills us with gratitude and humility.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Let us be thankful for what our Lord Jesus has done for us. He loves us so much that He enables us to enter in the presence of our Heavenly Father so that we can worship Him and give our cares and concerns to Him.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What did Jesus give us when we believe in Him so that we can be acceptable to our Heavenly Father's presence? Is being good enough to be acceptable by our Heavenly Father? What is the important lesson that God showed me in today's devotion?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, I am righteous before you not because of the good things that I have done but because my Lord Jesus put His righteousness in me by believing in Him. As a result, I can always enter God's presence in prayer because I will always be acceptable to His presence. Thank you, Father, for the righteousness of Christ in me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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