August 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Do you know the story of the curtain that was hanging in the temple'?

The curtain was very heavy and very beautiful. It was hanging there to separate God from the people. It's true that the temple was also a meet­ing place for God and people. Here they could offer their gifts; here they had communion with God. And here they found forgiveness and new strength. Yet there was always that curtain. The curtain did not sug­gest "communion." It suggested "separation." The curtain was one big No Admission sign. The holy God was telling common people that they had to keep their distance.

Only the holiest man in Israel could approach God's own presence—once a year. The high priest would come, washed and dressed in spotless white, carrying blood. He would sprinkle the blood on the ark to cover the sins of the people and his own sins. Then the heavy curtain would be closed again.

But one day the curtain was torn by the finger of God from top to bottom. It happened on a Friday, Good Friday, just when Jesus died on a hill outside of Jerusalem. When the loving heart of Jesus broke, the temple veil was torn in two.

The closed curtain said "No admission." The torn curtain said "Admission for all those who believe in Jesus Christ."

Now we have "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus." Even the least significant persons may go straight into the holiest place—as long as they believe in Jesus. If they believe, they are washed and dressed in spotless white.

Now we may come to God with boldness. And God comes to us in grace. We may go into the sanctuary, and God comes out of the holy place, making us a holy place. The two-way traffic goes through the torn curtain. Christ is the torn curtain.

REFLECTIONS

The torn curtain allows you to come into God's holy presence. Bow before him and give thanks.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.