Please read Leviticus 7 and 8, and come on back.  Anything stand out to you today as you read?  I’d love to hear it!

I like reading names like Moses and Aaron in the midst of all of these laws . It makes it seem a little more personal somehow, like they are friends of ours.

“Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons….. ‘Be sure to do what God requires, lest you die. This is what I have been commanded.’ Aaron and his sons did everything that God had commanded by Moses” (Leviticus 8:35-36 MSG)

I know it sounds extreme to us today to mention death in connection with disobedience… Is it really all that serious?  Friend, it is that serious – God knows so much more than we do, and He loves us so much! Let His love for you motivate obedience from you.

See you tomorrow!

Please read Leviticus 4, 5 and 6.  How about trying to find some laws that are still good advice for healthy living today?  I know we are now under the Blood of Jesus, but if you have something to look for, maybe we won’t “skim” 🙂 Come on back when you are done reading!

Here’s a few:

If you sin by not stepping up and offering yourself as a witness to something you’ve heard or seen in cases of wrongdoing, you’ll be held responsible (5:1 MSG)

When you are guilty, immediately confess the sin that you’ve committed (5:5 MSG)

When anyone sins by betraying trust with God by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating or threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit—when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he stole or extorted, restore what was entrusted to him, return the lost thing he found (6:1 MSG)

So thankful that Jesus made the final and complete sacrifice for our sins!  However, it is not to be taken for granted or taken lightly. We must confess our sins and ask for forgiveness right away! Thank You Jesus for the Blood!

Please read Numbers 8, Numbers 9:1-14, and Leviticus chapters 1, 2 and 3.  I know that Leviticus and Numbers can seem tedious, but there’s lots here!  Fight the urge to “skim” – let’s get all we can!  Come on back and let’s visit!

 Moses said, “Give me some time; I’ll find out what God says in your circumstances” (Numbers 9:8 MSG)

Numbers 9:8 says that Moses sought the Lord, to see what He wanted. (In this case, some of the people become unclean before the Passover, and they wanted to find out if they could still bring their offering to the Lord).  In His kindness, the Lord provided instruction so the people could still participate and bring their offering.  I am struck that the people sought out ways to give to the Lord (wouldn’t this have served as a great excuse?).

It strikes me this morning that Moses never allowed his relationship with God to become “common” – it was never “we always did it this way” or “we’ll just decide what to do”. Every detail was brought to the Lord, every motive and every action. I want to keep my relationship with the Lord fresh and growing – and a big part of that is not taking Him for granted and not allowing my spiritual disciplines to become rote routines.

Please read Numbers 7 (before you get too excited, it’s a pretty long chapter, LOL!).  Come on back and let’s talk.  I’d love to hear what stood out to you in today’s reading!   

God is all about details and specifics – He desires intimacy with us today. Let’s not use grace as an excuse to become spiritually “lazy” – Father, help me get busy about details in my own life and relationships!

This morning, please read Exodus 39:32-43, Exodus 40, and Numbers 9:15-23.  Lots going on!  Let’s visit!

“Moses did everything God commanded. He did it all” (40:16 MSG)

Do you see a theme developing?  Moses is obedient! Moses did it ALL, and completed the work – even to arranging the furniture.  Sometimes we get weary at the end of a project and we lose steam on “little details”, but Moses finished strong – that’s an example!  

Of course, it isn’t time to stop – the cloud and fire come on the day the Dwelling was set up:

“Moses finished the work. The Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Moses couldn’t enter the Tent of Meeting because the Cloud was upon it, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling.

Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on their travels, but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn’t set out until it did lift. The Cloud of God was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels” (Numbers 9:15-16 MSG)

One job finishes, another begins. We have to keep moving forward with the Lord!

Please read Exodus 37, 38, and 39:1-31. 

“The people of Israel did what God had commanded Moses. They did it all” (39:32 MSG)

Obedience, obeying EVERYTHING God commands is so important – let’s not leave anything undone!  I was talking with a friend not too long ago, about a crossroads decision.  To me, either option sounded positive, but wisely my friend was still overing the decision in prayer.  He said something that I remembered: “I don’ t have room for anything except obedience”. Amen!  It’s vital that we do what God God commands us!

“The Israelites completed all the work, just as God had commanded. Moses saw that they had done all the work and done it exactly as God had commanded. Moses blessed them” (39:42-43 MSG)

There will always be a blessing in obedience.

Please read Exodus 35- and Exodus 36. Come on back and let’s visit – what is the Lord speaking to you today from His word?

Moses begins work on the Tabernacle – this is a big project, and it’s all hands on deck!

“Gather from among you an offering for God” (35:5 MSG)

Everyone has a gift to bring – just like in our own lives.  We have a responsibility to give what we can to support furthering the kingdom of God within our sphere of influence. Look at what happened shortly after Moses’ command that they all participate:

All the artisans who were at work making everything involved in constructing the Sanctuary came, one after another, to Moses, saying, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing this work that God has commanded us to do!”

So Moses sent out orders through the camp: “Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!

The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough.” (36:4-7 MSG)

Can you imagine being told not to give anymore because so much had come in toward the building of the sanctuary? How encouraging that must have been!  Of course, that would happen if we all did what we could, wouldn’t it?

p.s. Say a quick prayer for your church and pastor this morning, for enough and more than enough!

Please read Exodus chapters 32, 33, and 34.  What a sweet day today is!  Come on back and let’s chat!

It’s so incredible the intimacy with Moses and the Lord, speaking face to face as friends.

“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (33:11 NKJV)

We can do that too! I am also inspired by Moses’ refusals to more forward without God’s presence, even though God offered an angel.  

Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?”

God said to Moses: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.” (33:15-17 MSG)

Remember back in Exodus 23? Moses knew that the angel could execute judgement but not forgive sin – scary. Judgement without mercy. God is so kind and generous – as he was to Moses, he is to us today. God never changes and that is a comfort!

He’s speaking these words to us today, too – God knows you well and you are special to Him! He knows your name. ❤

Please read Exodus 29, Exodus 30 and Exodus 31 and let’s visit! 

Everyone had their place and their specific giftings. God never leaves anyone out – He makes provision for all.

“Everyone included among those who are numbered” (30:14 MSG)

p.s. aren’t you glad that all these rules were replaced by Jesus’ one final sacrifice?  Though there is value in the Law, we have freedom and we are grateful to God for it!

Please read Exodus 25, 26, 27, and 28, and head on back! 

HIGH emphasis on purity, that’s important today as well. All of these preparations, all of these people with different skills and giftings, all came down to one thing:

“let them build Me a sanctuary SO I CAN COME AND LIVE IN THEIR MIDST” (Ex 25:8, emphasis mine)

God’s heart was always to be in relationship with us, redeem us, restore us. We should be no less specific and purposeful in doing our part to stay close to our Father – thankful for grace, while still understanding that I have to work to grow my relationship with God every day. I’m glad He wants to be in relationship with me too!