Leviticus 9:1-24 - Apparently I chose to read this at the wrong time: breakfast. This section has some pretty graphic details, at least if you're like me and have only received food far removed from the process. My gut reaction is to be grossed out and wonder why they were so "backward" but perhaps the issue is with my experience and not the sacrificial system. After all, God established these sacrifices in order to show the seriousness of sin and to remedy it, and also to point forward to the gruesome sacrifice of Jesus. Looking at the chapter just before this, we realize that this is Aaron's first go at offering the sacrifices as the high priest. I would imagine he felt a lot of pressure, and so would we if the solution for sin was a matter in our hands. Thanks be to God that the gruesomeness and the sacrifice has been done once for all.
Luke 9:18-36 - What does it look like to deny yourself and follow Jesus? Giving a ten point list will not suffice, and Jesus never comes close to saying anything like this. I think one key is to focus on the "following Jesus" before the "denying yourself". Don't get me wrong I think these are impossible to separate, but very often we start with the "deny yourself" and get ourselves into all kinds of self-righteous trouble. Anyone can deny himself in such a way that it's all about himself. But Jesus calls us to follow him, to look to him and the needs of others rather than to self. This is a challenge for us.
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