TODAY IS THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Leviticus 16: 29-30 established the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar. In Hebrew, “Yom Kippur.”

“This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the alien who resides among you. Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”

Early on I learned the simple definition of atonement: to be made “at-one” with God. The work of becoming at one with God is beyond us. It is not within out ability to make ourselves one. We are completely reliant upon the Lord. He provided the ultimate sacrifice for our atonement when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross. He died so that we might be “at-one” with the Father. He came to reconcile us, to make things right between us since we were enemies against God.

So today we, as Christians, also celebrate our atonement. We remember when we were lost and without hope. We remember when the Lord revealed Himself to us and called us to salvation. We remember when we surrendered to Him as Savior and Lord. We celebrate our atonement!

Even more than that, we boldly proclaim that today can be someone else’s Day of Atonement. Today can be the day they hear the gospel and respond to the the goodness of God. Today can be the day they bend the knee to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Today is the day of salvation.

Let’s always remember to give thanks for God’s work in our lives and to share what He wants to do in the lives of so many others.