Leviticus 23:27, 29-30 (ESV)

Originally published 06/25/2015

The Day of Atonement was the time when sacrifices were given for all of the people's sins for the past year. It was a very serious and demanding day. "It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD...For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people" Leviticus 23:27, 29-30 (ESV). To afflict themselves was to fast and pray, actions of self-denial. We celebrate Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection at Easter and every Sunday, but they are not days of self-denial, fasting and prayer, rather times of self-indulgence and pleasure for most church people. Lord, you demanded the death penalty for those who did not practice self-denial prayer, so we know this is important to you. How can I acknowledge how important your forgiveness is to me? Every day I want to live a life of self-denial, taking up my cross and living like you lived. Guide me to do this.

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