Grace doesn't sweat

 Don’t sweat it!

 

 

Let’s talk sweat!

 

Ezekiel 44:17-18 (NIV) 17 “‘When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. 18 They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.”

 

Hmm.  This is interesting.   In the book of Ezekiel, the previous commands regarding priestly attire are re-emphasized.   (You can read about the original command in Ex 28,29). But noteworthy for us right now is—don’t sweat it! 

 

In thinking about sweat, I am reminded of Adam and Eve’s goof and the result:

Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV) 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil, you will eat food from it

all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

And you will eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your brow

You will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.”

 

This is how this reads. Prior to Adam’s sin, he worked but didn’t sweat.  I think this means he loved his work and enjoyed it, but it didn’t wear him out or make him sweat.

 

Sweat equals effort.  Sweat is a sign of your work, your efforts, and pains!

 

Ezekiel, ‘Don’t wear warm stuff into the temple area lest you sweat because what you are doing there is not YOUR work, YOUR effort or YOUR pain!’

Wow!  Then the question needs to be asked, “Whose work was it?”  Well, it was God’s work!  God was making atonement for the people's sins through acts of worship and sacrifice.  The priests were doing God’s business, which required no personal input; it required God’s grace and mercy.  

 

It is like God is saying: ‘Don’t sweat it!  I’ve got this!’

Isn’t that amazing?  It is like grace! Wow!  It’s like Amazing Grace!

 

Bring your nothingness and receive God’s grace!

 

Amazing Grace

How sweet the Sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost,

But now am found.

Was blind, but now I see!

 

 

Don’t sweat it!