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Daily Devotions

The Blood of Atonement

By February 8, 2015No Comments

Read Leviticus 17 – 19

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11 KJV

This is a key verse in Leviticus. The life of the flesh is in the blood. It is important to our understanding of the atonement. The Israelites were to regard blood as sacred. God gave it to them for the purpose of making atonement for their sins. To atone is to bring satisfaction. The penalty of sin was death, the shedding of blood. God allowed the Israelites to use animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. The blood of the animal was shed instead of theirs. For that reason they were not to eat the blood of any animal. They were to understand the significance of the blood and regard it as holy. The principle continues today. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. But today we do not look to the blood of animals for atonement. Today we look to Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate and final atonement for sin. The shedding of His blood paid the price for our sin once and for all. It is applied to us when we realize its value and trust Jesus as Savior.

Lord, how grateful I am You have provided an atonement for my sin. Although I am not faced with the daily sacrifice of animals as the Israelites were, I am confronted with the truth that Jesus shed His blood for me. If the blood of animals was to be held in high regard, how much more the value of Christ’s shed blood should be viewed by me. Help me never take it for granted.