Boldly I Approach

I am currently reading the OT books of the law. Reading the law there hundreds of ways that we can sin willingly and unwillingly.  According to the law, even unintentional contact with something unclean (sinful) means that you are sinful and would need to go to the Temple and make a sacrifice to cleanse you from that sin.  

This Easter season I have been struck in a new way the separation between Israel and His presence in the OT.  Only the High Priest was able to directly be in His of the Most High and atone for the sins of the people.  There was literally a physical divide between His presence in the Tabernacle and the rest of Israel.  People could not directly atone for their sins, but needed the priest to do it on their behalf.  If someone besides the High Priest were to enter the Holy of Holies, they would be struck to death for daring to experience the holiness of His presence.

This separation no longer exists, hallelujah!!! Because of His sacrifice on the Cross the veil has been torn and anyone can enter His presence at any time.  We no longer need a proxy to atone for our sin, but can directly repent. His grace has allowed us to commune with Him at any times.  What a blessed miracle.

I love the lyrics of the Rend Collective song “Boldly I Approach” because it elegantly encompasses the beauty of the Cross.

Boldly I approach your throne

Blameless now I’m coming home

By Your blood I come

Welcomed as Your Own

Into Your arms of majesty

What a blessing that we can boldly approach Him at any time!

Mixed Emotions

While I have been in California talking with different groups of people about my cross-cultural work, I have frequently been asked how I process my experiences interacting with the women I visit.  Honestly, each time I visit with the women I feel a wide range of emotions.  I am saddened by the injustice of the situation.  I can feel angry when hearing their stories of past hurts and exploitation.  I am in awe of these women and their strength. They are able to survive in horrible situations and somehow maintain a decently positive outlook on life.  I greatly admire their strength and courage.  I respect them and their desire to provide for their families.  I am overwhelmed with the knowledge that this problem is systemic and cannot be easily fixed.  Often times I am joyful because we had a great conversation with the women.  I am thankful that I can speak truth into their lives.  I am thankful that He has provided me the opportunity to love on these women.  I am grateful for everything that I learned from them.  Most importantly, I am hopeful.  These women are loved by the Creator of the universe.  He has a plan for them and is pursuing them.  I get to be apart of their stories and long for the day when they can know Him personally. I am thankful that He loves these women much more than I do and that His is and will be faithful to them!