October 9

What Sanctifies Our Offerings?

The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. — Lev 4:7 BSB

The altar of incense is the place where saints present their prayers and praises. It’s a comforting thought that this altar is sprinkled with the blood of the great sacrifice. It’s the blood that makes all our worship acceptable to God. He sees the blood of His own Son and, because of it, accepts our offerings.

It is good for us to keep our eyes on the blood of the one offering for sin. Even our holiest acts are stained by sin, and our best repentance, faith, prayers, and thanksgivings could never be accepted by God without the merit of Jesus’ sacrifice. Many people sneer at “the blood,” but for us, it is the foundation of our hope and comfort. The blood on the horns of the altar is meant to be prominently in view when we draw near to God. It gives strength to our prayers, and that’s why it’s on the altar’s horns. It is “before the Lord,” and so it should be before us. The blood is on the altar before we bring our incense of prayer—it’s there to sanctify our offerings.

Come, let us pray with confidence, for the sacrifice has been offered, the merit has been pleaded, the blood is before the Lord, and the prayers of believers will be sweet to Him.