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Scripture reading for February 5th: Matthew 5:1-16, Matthew 24:3-14, Luke 21:10-19.  Jesus encouraged His disciples about the trouble that they would face in following Him.  In the end, great reward would come from being faithful.  They were like salt and light in the darkness of this world!

Come prepared today for missions emphasis and Holy Communion as we begin a new month of following Jesus!

In His Love, Pastor John

Scripture reading for February 4th: Leviticus 8-10

Preacher’s kids are sometimes a mess! (Not mine of course!)  In today’s reading the sons of Aaron and nephews of Moses committed a “deadly” sin!  They had experienced the miraculous deliverance of the plagues and seen God act in power at the Red Sea when the Egyptian army was drowned.  They had witnessed the miraculous events of the journey, eaten the “manna” and heard God’s voice on the mountain.  They were dressed, instructed, and anointed for ministry along with their father and other brothers.  They were sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice.  (Leviticus 8)  But sometimes, those in ministry or close to it, become complacent.  Worse yet, they behaved disrespectfully towards God in front of others who were looking to them for spiritual leadership!

Nadab and Abihu had witnessed Moses and Aaron going into the Tent of Meeting and the visible Glory of the Lord appearing to the people. (Leviticus 9:23-24.)  Fire came from the Lord and consumed the sacrifice.  All the people shouted for joy and fell face down.  Evidently, Nadab and Abihu were fascinated with the Tent of Meeting.  They decided to go in there themselves and experience God.  They took “strange” fire with them and God took their lives right on the spot.

It appears that these boys might have been drunk.  In Leviticus 10:8-11, Aaron warns his other sons not to drink wine or any other fermented drink when they went into the Tent of Meeting!  Paul the Apostle also gives the same warning to believers: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, instead be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) God is not mocked and holds those with more responsibility accountable for their conduct!  We must be wise and respectful in our handling of the “holy things” or when approaching God in worship!  We can bring judgment on ourselves! (1st Corinthians 11:27-34) In Corinth, some were sick and others died because of improper conduct during the Lord’s supper!

Alcohol is not for those in the church!   Alcohol has caused many to stumble and has destroyed many families and believer’s testimonies.  We have the Holy Spirit and He lives in us!  Please meditate on these Scriptures today and allow the Lord to lead you in your conduct and worship!  Confess and repent quickly!  God doesn’t want you to die! (2nd Peter 3:9)

Scripture Reading for February 3rd: Leviticus 4-7

God hates sin and cannot tolerate sin in His presence.  Satan, one of his closest angels, was cast from heaven because of the sin of pride.  God wanted His people to understand and know His holiness as He lived in their midst after their deliverance from Egypt.

God’s people were given the law of God in the Ten Commandments.  These chapters of Leviticus included specific sacrifices to be offered by individuals or the whole community who had broken these laws through a lack of understanding or neglect.  God’s people were held to a higher standard because of the presence of God in their midst.  To whom much was given, much would be required.  When a person defiantly broke a law of God, no sacrifice was left for him.  This will be dealt with later in another post.

God has made his basic laws known to all men through the conscience.  Every person has a conscience that alerts them when they are about to break a law of God.  (Romans 2:12-16)   The conscience can be seared by repeated sin so that it does not let you know that you are doing wrong any more.   (1st Timothy 4:2)  We are to keep a “clear” conscience by walking in love towards others. (1st Peter 3:16)

God was instructing His children, the Israelites, by these prescribed sacrifices in these chapters of Leviticus.   Each time they offered an innocent animal for a sin of ignorance, they had a visual aid helping them to change their behavior and their consciences were strengthened!  (Leviticus 4:29)  Their godly sorrow brought them to confess their sin and offer the sacrifice of blood.  (Leviticus 5:5,6)  These prescribed sacrifices could only be offered for sins that were not intentional.

The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin to prompt us to willingly confess and repent. (John 16:8)   “If we confess our sins, , he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1st John 1:9)  Our priest, Jesus Christ, has already made the blood sacrifice for us.  He offered his own blood as atonement (covering) for our sins and bore them on the Cross!  We can “intentionally” be made clean from our “unintentional sins”!  Praise the Lord!   God in His grace has provided everything we need for salvation and cleansing of guilt from sins done in ignorance.

Scripture reading for February 2nd: Leviticus 1-3

Yuk!  Leviticus!  What can we possibly learn from all this sacrificing of animals?  Why all the blood and death?  Why the burning of offerings?  Why all the rules for priests and people about what and how they are to bring these sacrifices?  Isn’t all of this a bit bizarre?  How can we worship a God who would demand this from His people?

This might be your reaction to this book of Scripture.  But after careful reflection, it starts to add up:  sin causes death.  (Genesis 2:16-17)  Death spread to all men by Adam’s sin. (Romans 5:12-14)  God provided the first blood sacrifice for Adam and Eve after they sinned.  Their own idea was fig leaves, but God clothed them with bloody skins of animals.  (Genesis 3:21)  He was showing them the effects of sin each time they put their new “clothes” on.

Now in these laws in Leviticus, God was again visually helping His people to see how sin affected their lives.  The Law makes us aware of sin and the death that results. (Romans 3:19-20)  Sacrifices offered according to God’s instructions in Leviticus, allowed those coming to worship God to live and have their sins covered.  (Leviticus 1:9,17; 2:9)  God was pleased because those who obeyed were using their faith in His Word!

Today, thankfully, we enjoy the final sacrifice for sin that was made for us 2000 years ago.  Jesus Christ shed his precious blood on the cross of Calvary and declared: “It is finished!” (John 19:30)  When we approach this same Holy God, we can come boldly before His throne any time day or night for prayer, fellowship, or forgiveness. (Hebrews 4:14-16)  What a blessing to be free from the laws and sacrifices of Leviticus!  We now have a much better way made by God Himself!  Take time today to thank Him for providing the sacrifice and the High Priest we needed!

“But now He (Christ) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” Hebrews 9:26-28

Scripture reading for February 1st: Exodus 35-40

I love to have fun!  When I am visiting someone in the hospital and find a room full of people, I sometimes say, ” When I see this many people, the first thing I think of is taking an offering!”  I’m sure this helps clear out the room–I’m usually left alone before long!  In our reading in Exodus today, Moses was responding to the Lord’s earlier instructions (Exodus 25:1-2).  The Lord told Moses to have the Israelites bring Him an offering.

Jesus taught that our giving was a prerequisite for determining God’s measure back to us.  “Give and it shall be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)  When we are stingy with our giving, we set limits on how much God can give back to us.  We open God’s hand when we open our hand and pocketbook.  These people in Exodus willingly gave a huge amount of gold, silver, bronze, oil and cloth.  They also freely gave of their time and talents to make what was needed for God’s house!  They gave so willingly and freely that Moses had to tell them to stop! (Exodus 36:6-7)

I would love to stand up on Sunday morning and beg the people to put away their offerings and not give that day!  However, when we understand that God our Father is a great giver and that He is blessed when we give Him an offering, why would I as your pastor want to hinder God’s blessing and measure back to you by telling you to hold back?  Giving is the one place in Scripture that God says you can test Him!  Malachi 3:8-12 instructs us to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, and God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing you cannot contain.  May the Lord open the windows of heaven on you as you “bring him an offering”!

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound to every good work.” 2nd Corinthians 9:7-8

Scripture reading for January 31: Exodus 32-34

The nation of Israel quickly turned away from their commitment to obey God.  Moses was on the mountain in the cloud and fire for 40 days.  He was receiving the tablets with the 10 Words from the Lord.  The people came to Aaron and asked for gods who would lead them.  Aaron gave in and asked for gold earrings and ornaments.  The people gave and soon Aaron had fashioned an idol of a golden calf.   They bowed down to the calf-god  made by Aaron and had a lewd party around the idol.  God’s jealousy was aroused!

God spoke to Moses about the idolatry and told him to leave Him alone so He could destroy them.  (Exodus 32:8-10)  God’s verdict–“They are a stiff-necked people.” God is jealous!  (Exodus 34:14)  God had just written two commands that demanded that His people have no gods and make no idols.  (Exodus 20:3-6)

Moses smashed the tablets in holy anger indicating the breaking of God’s Word by the very people who had sworn to obey!  (Exodus 32:19; Exodus 24:3)   Moses, however, did pray and intercede, asking God to spare the people.  God listened but judgment still fell on those who sinned.

Moses called for those on the Lord’s side and the Levites stepped up.  They had to strap on swords and execute those who participated in the idolatry, even if it was their brother, friend or neighbor!   (Exodus 33:27-2)  Three thousand were executed that day.

The lessons for us today are plain.  This loving and compassionate God (Exodus 34:6-7) will not tolerate idolatry or sexual immorality. Lying goes with them, too. Note Aaron’s response about just throwing the gold into the fire and an idol coming out!  We are all born into idolatry and it is a work of the flesh.  (Galatians 6:19-20)  The sword of the Spirit brings conviction which can lead us to repent and forsake idolatry!  We must walk by the Spirit and allow His fruit to grow in our lives.

Let’s not be ’stiff-necked!’  Bow your neck today in reverence and prayer to the merciful and compassionate Lord who paid to free us from the sin of idolatry.   Jesus is interceding for us like Moses of old.  Instead of smashing the tablets, He kept them fully for us!  Through faith in His life and death, we have hope!

Scripture reading for January 30th: Exodus 28-31

A priest’s job is to mediate between men and God.  Men who are dealing with God must be holy and proper.  If those assigned and prepared for this job were not obedient, death would result and did on occasion!  (Leviticus 10:1-6)  God gave great detail about the dress of men who would serve in His house!

The High priest was to wear a breastpiece with two stones, the urim and thummin, over his heart.  (Exodus 28:30) These stones were to enable Aaron to make godly decisions.  These stones’ names mean “lights” and “perfections”.  They have to do with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden only in God.

The turban for Aaron’s head was made of fine linen.  It had a special gold plate with “Holy to the Lord” engraved on it.  Aaron was to wear that plate on the front of his turban whenever he ministered. (Exodus 28:36-39)

So it is that Jesus Christ is our High Priest forever living to make intercession for us!  (Hebrews 7:23-25)  He carries our names on his breastpiece like precious stones and we are over His heart!  In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3) He stands as the only mediator between God and man, a mixture of earthly (He is a man) and heavenly (He is God). (1st Timothy 2:5-6) Jesus is dressed to meet with God on our behalf and He is better than Aaron or his line because he lives forever.  He is now seated because his work is finished for our redemption.  What a Savior!

Are you dressed to meet with God?  It is not so much a matter of clothes as it is of our heart.  Do we go in faith in His sacrifice?  Are we going humbly?  Are we seeking the proper attire of holiness?  Examine yourself today and get dressed to meet with God!

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Scripture reading for January 28: Exodus 25-27

Do you like to follow directions?  Men are particularly prone to trying to put something together from trial and error.    We often feel that instructions are unnecessary.  This attitude usually gets us into trouble and we either get lost or end up with left over parts from the project!

God gave Moses specific instructions as to how His “dwelling place” was to be constructed.  He told them numbers, lengths, weights and the type of materials for each part.  God left nothing to chance. Four times in our reading today God re-emphasizes the need to make everything after the pattern shown on the mountain.  (Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 27:9) It may be that God knew Moses was a typical man!

The instructions for this Tabernacle started with the Ark of the Covenant!   It was a chest of acacia wood about 4 feet long.  It was to be coated with pure gold.  Two gold cherubim were to be beaten out one sheet of gold and they were to face  each other on the lid of this box.  The box was to have two rings on each side where poles of acacia wood would be used to transport it. Everything was coated with pure gold.   The tablets of Testimony, the ten commands, were to be placed inside of this box.  Later a jar of manna was placed there as well as Aaron’s rod that had budded and sprouted in God’s presence.  (Hebrews 9:1-5)

This ark of the Covenant is a type of Jesus Christ.  John 1:14-15 tells us that Jesus came and “pitched his tent” (tabernacled) among us.  We beheld His glory!  Jesus kept the law of God written on the tablets of Testimony.  He was the only man who has ever lived who fully obeyed the Law and was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15-16) He was the living bread (manna) come down from heaven, that if any man eat of this bread, he would never die!  (John 6:47-50)  He was the one chosen by God to have all authority in heaven and on earth! (Aaron’s rod!) (Matthew 28:18)  He was attended by angels at His birth and ascension!

We who are saved and in relationship with Jesus have his glory in our earthen “tents”.   We are nourished by the heavenly manna, the word of God.  We have authority through the name of Jesus!  Our righteousness comes from His perfect obedience!  What a plan God has laid out!

Scripture reading for Sunday January 29th: Matthew 5:1-16, Mark 7:1-8, 14-23, Isaiah 6:1-7

Salvation is more than just saying a ’sinner’s prayer’ and joining a church.  God wants to transform us inside.  The Gospel message brings inner transformation and new birth.  We have a new heart and new ability to see God and know Him!  God loves to bless His children and bring them into a new realm of Kingdom life!  Let’s gather together and enjoy His life through worship and prayer this Sunday!  God wants to show Himself to each of  His children!  In His Love, Pastor John

Scripture reading for January 27th: Exodus 21-24

Is there any such thing as a “harmless sin”?  We sometimes laugh when our young children defiantly disobey.  When our adopted daughters were first released from the orphanage to come with us, they were so cute!  Both my wife and I and the girls had a short time of mutual admiration.  But on one of our first outings, we were waiting to cross the street and cars were speeding by.  One of them (name withheld to protect the innocent!) stuck her foot out towards the street and looked up mischievously  to see what we might do!  Mary and I had a good laugh but realized that we had a job ahead of us and a late start!

Sin entered mankind through Eve’s deception and through the disobedience of Adam.  Sin had consequences.  We can choose to sin, but we get the consequences for free!  The law that God gave Moses on the mountain included Exodus 21-24.  These were practical explanations of the ten commands that helped God’s people understand how these laws would play out in the community of Israel.  A holy God lived in their midst who demanded that they be holy too. (1st Peter 1:15-16)

Some of the laws and their consequences remind us of the “deadliness” of sin!  In Exodus 21:15 and 17, the penalty for attacking father or mother or cursing them was death.  If a man owned a bull that was known to gore others and he did not restrain this animal and a person was killed, the bull and the owner would die! (Exodus 21:28-29)  A sorceress must be put to death!  (Exodus 22:18)  Anyone having sexual relations with an animal must die!  (Exodus 22:19)  One who took advantage of an orphan or a widow would die if that orphan or widow cried out to the Lord!  God gets angry when we mess with those who are hurting!  (Exodus 22:26-27)

God is compassionate and loves us enough to confront sin.  We need to be serious when it comes to sin.  As parents, we need to love our children enough to discipline them and teach them that sin is nothing to mess with.  May the Lord continue to love us enough to discipline us so that sin is not our downfall!

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good that we might share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10