Passage Read: Exodus 39 - Leviticus 2
Meditation Verse: Leviticus 1:9
Thought
There are times when the Lord is angry with His people, and the Scriptures record it. Usually, that's when the whole nation or a large portion of them have sinned greatly against Him. But tucked away in all these instructions about sacrifices is that they all provide a soothing aroma to the Lord, whether animal or grain sacrifice. Not just a fragrant aroma, but a soothing aroma, as if God uses these sacrifices to calm Himself. The shedding of blood makes atonement, but both kinds of sacrifices offer to God a soothing aroma. It makes me think that we don't really understand what it means that we are "objects of wrath." We don't appreciate how much we provoke the Lord to anger and how often He needs to back off from destroying us. This isn't His ideal solution, that we offer sacrifice over and over and over again. They're just a temporary covering of sin. What He wants is that His people live in righteousness, never provoke Him to wrath, and only enjoy spending time with Him and Him with us!
Application
That's the change that the Gospel brings, that Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection bring. Our sins are paid for, but not so that we can sin with abandon, without fear of provoking God to wrath again. He is still provoked by our sin, and Jesus' blood covers us who believe, but when we truly believe the Gospel, we are changed to become people who walk in God's ways, no longer regularly provoking Him, but walking in step with Him, becoming people who delight in His ways so that we enjoy His company and He ours. God no longer needs soothing aromas because our new way of life and our changed behavior don't merely bring Him comfort but joy. My life as a Christian should be one that brings Him joy because I chose, I prefer, I discipline myself to do what brings Him joy, I live to please Him, I do what He has always desired of His people, from the very beginning. Everything I do and say today should be to please and honor Him and bring Him great joy. He should be able to look on me and all I do with pride, not grief.