Accepted in the Beloved
“And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.”Leviticus 22:21 (KJV)
In Leviticus, an offering had to meet a high bar: “it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.” A flawed sacrifice was turned away.
That standard hasn’t changed. What has changed is who meets it. Paul says God has made us “accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” We are accepted because we are in the one who is perfect.
At Jesus’ baptism the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Beloved is Jesus. And everyone who is in him is accepted with the same acceptance.
You may never feel perfect enough to be accepted by God. You don’t have to be. The perfect offering has already been made, and God is well pleased with him. Rest in being accepted in the Beloved.
Count it yourself
“my beloved Son” appears 9 times in the New Testament.
Do you live like someone who is accepted, or like someone still trying to pass the inspection?
Father, thank you that I am accepted in your beloved Son. Help me rest in that today. Amen.