WEDNESDAY, JULY 7

Scripture: Leviticus 16:6-10

If we ask ourselves, how was our Kingly identity stolen, perhaps a good answer comes in Leviticus 16:6-10.  It says, “’Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.”  What spiritual truth have we heard emphasized over our lifetime?  What have we heard in the pulpits and what has been the primary message?  The primary message of the church has presented Jesus as Savior and author of atonement for sin.  Our message has been forgiveness, our message has been mercy, and our message has been salvation.  We have only preached the  pre-resurrection Christ.  We have not presented the post-resurrection, ascended, seated at the right hand of God, Judge of all the Earth.  All pastoral training emphasizes Jesus the Savior and has been silent about Jesus the King and Judge.  That silence has resulted in an identity theft that now has to be recovered.  Will God do it?  You can bank on it!  Until we can represent Jesus as both Savior and Judge, we are not ready for the level of persecution that confronts the end-time church.