Please read Leviticus 25:24-55 and Leviticus 26.  Even in the laws, we have been able to find something valuable for life today, haven’t we?  Let’s keep going strong!

Restoration, redemption, remembrance, reconciliation – God’s character is always the same toward us.  

“I am your God who brought you out” (25:38 MSG)

“I am God, your personal God who rescued you” (26:13 MSG)

The blessings of obedience are just that: they are contingent on our obedience to God. The blessings of obedience are not rights which we are entitled to.  

“But if you refuse to obey me and won’t observe my commandments, despising my decrees and holding my laws in contempt by your disobedience, making a shambles of my covenant, I’ll step in” (26:14-16 MSG)

Thank You, Lord, for being so kind and so generous to us always!

Please read Leviticus 23, Leviticus 24, and Leviticus 25:1-23.  Let’s visit for a minute – what do you see in the Bible today?

I took a break from the Message this morning.  In my old faithful New King James, I counted 31 times that God says, “I am the Lord” in the laws.  31 times that the Lord gave a new law or piece of direction, and then followed the new law with the statement: “I am the Lord”. 

“you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God” (25:17 NKJV)

Why is this significant?  In the absence of understanding (because maybe the people, either then or today, may not have fully understood all the laws or reasons), we have to trust that GOD IS GOD and His intentions toward us are always good.  Do you understand His commandments? Great! Follow them! You don’t understand His commandments? Great! Follow them anyway because He is your God! Never fall into the trap of exchanging God’s wisdom for your own.

We’re reading Leviticus chapters 20, 21, and 22.  Let’s chat a little bit!

“Do what I tell you. Live what I tell you” 22:31 MSG 

The Word of God requires change and action on our part! DO the Word – LIVE the Word!

Please read Leviticus 17, 18, and 19. Come on back – let’s visit!

God’s commandments are timeless!

“Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy” (19:2 MSG)

“Every one of you must respect his mother and father (19:3 MSG)

“Keep my Sabbaths. I am God, your God” (19:3 MSG)

“Don’t steal.

“Don’t lie.

“Don’t deceive anyone.

“Don’t swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.

“Don’t exploit your friend or rob him.

“Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.

“Don’t curse the deaf; don’t put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.

“Don’t pervert justice. Don’t show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.

“Don’t spread gossip and rumors.

“Don’t just stand by when your neighbor’s life is in danger. I am God.

“Don’t secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.

“Don’t seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people.

“Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God” (19:11-18 MSG)

Lots of stuff we can use – don’t “skim!”! 🙂

 

Please read Leviticus 14:33-57, Leviticus 15, Leviticus 16. 

I don’t have a comment about bodily discharges. However, I am thankful for the atoning power of the Blood of Jesus!

Moses set a great example of obedience for his brother:

“And Aaron did it, just as God commanded Moses” (16:34 MSG)

Good morning, friend! Please read Leviticus 12, 13, and 14:1-32, and let’s visit!

God made allowances for everyone, so regardless of their financial status everyone could make the necessary offerings (like “If she can’t afford a lamb, she can bring two doves or two pigeons” 12:8 MSG). He is so kind to us, patient with all. Do you see how He is always making a way for us? 

Sidenote: I find it a little funny that the priest could quarantine someone for up to 14 days, and then decide it was just a harmless rash after all!

Please read Leviticus chapters 9, 10 and 11 this morning. I keep referencing morning because that’s when I like to get into the Bible, but that doesn’t make it the best time or even the correct time (just the best time for me!).  What’s the best time for you?  Come on back – here’s what I am thinking today:

In these chapters, holiness is definitely a theme.

“Distinguish between the holy and the common” (10:10 MSG)

 “Make yourselves holy for I am holy” (11:44 MSG)

“you have to distinguish between the unclean and the clean” (11:47 MSG)

Whoever you are, that’ll preach!

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.