Open Me Up!

Open Me Up!
By JK Woodall, Ph.D. 

In Leviticus, the sacrifice was "opened up"—its innermost parts exposed—symbolizing the need for purification and complete surrender to God. The offering was laid bare, revealing what was inside, to show that nothing could be hidden from God's gaze. This sacrificial process demonstrated that to be in the presence of the Holy God, the sacrifice had to be fully exposed and cleansed. “He shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord, and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar” (Leviticus 1:11, NKJV).

In the same way, Jesus was fully opened up for us on the cross. His body was broken, His soul was poured out, and His spirit was fully surrendered to the Father. In His vulnerability, Jesus took upon Himself our sins and exposed them to the light of God's judgment, offering us a path to redemption. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV). Because He was opened up for us, we are called to open ourselves to God, revealing our hearts and minds for His correction. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV).

When we allow God to open us up, we are offering ourselves as living sacrifices, laid bare before Him. This exposure is not for condemnation, but for healing and transformation. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, NKJV).

As we surrender and allow God to work, we align ourselves with His purpose, trusting that His correction leads to life. “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12, NKJV). "Open me up," we cry, for in this vulnerability, God can make us whole.

Personal Reflection:
As I reflect on this message, I am reminded of the times when I’ve tried to keep parts of my life hidden from God, thinking I could handle them on my own. But when I finally surrendered those areas, allowing God to open me up, I experienced His healing in ways I never expected. Just like the sacrifice in Leviticus, those hidden places in my heart needed to be exposed for God's purification, and it was only through that exposure that I truly experienced freedom and transformation. It’s not easy to be vulnerable, but I’ve learned that it’s in that vulnerability with God that true restoration happens. "Open me up," I pray, and I trust that God’s correction and love will make me whole.

— By JK Woodall