February 22, 2010

The Leviticus passage seemed strange and irrelevant until I looked at it from a spiritual standpoint.  Then it reminded me of our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is working to make His Bride pure and holy and without spot or blemish.

I think it's pretty normal to notice every little blemish or wrinkle, pimple or rash, wonder what it is and want to get rid of it.  This is true in the natural, and in the spiritual too.  We are built to want perfection, aren't we? 

I used to get so frustrated with my imperfections, when I was younger-- so much so that I became anorexic trying to "control" my body.  But the more we try to control things and fix our imperfections, the worse they seem to get.  For one thing, we often can't even tell what are actually imperfections, as many of us don't accept ourselves the way God made us.  This goes for our physical bodies as well as our psychological and spiritual make up. 

Often we can't discern whether something is a serious problem, or just something that will go away on its own.  We tend to run to an expert for a diagnosis to assuage our worries.   I was also a very anxious hypochondriac as a young woman, until I learned to go to Jesus for a diagnosis.   This was very necessary for me, as I was always having one problem or another, and it was very expensive and embarrassing to go to the doctor and find out nothing was wrong with me-- except nerves!!  I got a LOT of practice listening to the Lord, and getting His reassurance that I wasn't going to die that day!

I think we have the same issue with sin-- and I'm talking about "missing the mark", not just something obvious spelled-out in Scripture.  Whether we have an overbearing conscience and always think we're doing something wrong, or we have a blurry concept of right and wrong which allows us a lot of "sloppy grace", we tend to run to people to get their opinions on whether we are OK or not.  This can really get us into trouble, depending on whose opinions we are seeking!  There are lots of sources for false guilt, and well as many opportunities to feel justified when we are not.

Sure, we should be able to receive correction if we need it, and know how to get help when we are struggling, but as we grow, we should be finding it easier to be corrected by the Scriptures and by the nudges the Holy Spirit is constantly giving us.  The best pastor or counselor is the one who teaches people to seek and hear the Lord for themselves.

What it comes down to is that Jesus, our faithful High Priest, who can scrutinize us closely without violating us in any way, is the only One who is authorized to decide if we are OK or not, including ourselves!  We may hear something from another person through which the Holy Spirit may point out an issue and give help towards healing, but it's the Lord and the Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel that will speak to us.  When we are His, we will know His voice.  When we go to Him with something that's bothering us, He will show us what the problem is and what to do about it.  That is part of intimacy.

Once we get used to the idea that Jesus sees everything about us, and stills loves us and accepts us, we will be quicker to go to Him and let His light reveal all.  Sometimes He'll reveal that the thing we don't like about ourselves is something He created and will use.  But if He reveals a problem or blemish, He will have the clear discernment of  what it is and what is to be done about it, and He will treat us with love.

We can't fix ourselves or the rest of the Church, and make a Bride worthy of Him.  But we can proclaim His purposes and His goodness and lead the way in pursuing His revealing truth.  We will be brought into  perfectly-pleasing-ness  if we remain in Him.