Leviticus 11-13 = Today's thoughts

Today’s Thoughts Come from Leviticus 11-13

 

Today is one of those days where I more fully appreciate not being under the old covenant,  No pork (surely that can’t mean Barbeque) , no shrimp, no crawfish;  no wonder the Pharisees were so hard to get along with. (Ha-haa)  You look at the regulations and for the most part they are completely understandable, they actually make good community health policy.  Isolate the infected, don’t eat scavengers from the land or from the sea, avoid birds of prey and those that consume the dead.  All of these things have the potential to cause great community harm and illness, God obviously knowing this, is likely one of the reasons these restrictions were in place.  Once again however access to the relationship is dictated by right action rather than right heart. And there has to be more to it than just community health protection.  Because if that was the major reason for the restrictions, why remove this ever, even when Christ came back and fulfilled the law there was no great advancement in medical care, disease prevention and long term food storage. So why make the unclean clean and why let these detestable items become fine for consumption.   While I don’t claim to know the full answer I think the partial answer is this.  Sure it was good for community health to do these things, but that wasn’t what the underling goal of the rule. The goal of the rule was to create a pathway for relationship and Community health was just a tag along benefit.  When Christ fulfilled the law it didn’t change the fact that leaving these foods alone or not isolating the diseased was still a good idea, it just no longer had a bearing on whether or not you could be in a right relationship with the creator.  Before Christ, keeping the law was required for relationship, after Christ, it is simply a set of rules, some beneficial for secondary reasons but rules and not divinely instituted requirement for a relationship with the creator of the Universe.  Thank goodness,  because while I agree that carrying around dead animal carcasses will make me unclean, and most likely prevent me from being allowed in my own home, not being able to eat Barbeque with friends and family well that would just be ridiculous.  Regardless of secondary results, we must always be aware that God is working towards a relationship with us, that is His objective that we would all know Him, Love Him and want to spend our eternity with Him.  Everything else is secondary and most likely only a priority to us.  Don’t be consumed with law and miss the reason for it. 

Have a great day

Rob

 

Leviticus 8-10 = Today's Thought

Today’s Thoughts from Leviticus 8-10

 

My father in law (Jim) is one of the people who get my daily thoughts and he shared a comment with me yesterday that I would like to pass on to you. Jim wrote “I think all of these laws, rules, for sin of all types are recorded for us in the post resurrection era to see that it is impossible to please God by being “good” and following all the rules.  It just can’t be done.” This statement Jim made yesterday is given even greater support in today’s reading.  As Chapter 10 opens we see the destruction of two of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu.  Why? Nadab and Abihu made an error in their offerings.  There were very specific measures that were to be taken when making offerings to the Lord, The fire that they offered was unauthorized and their punishment was death, not by man but by the very God they were serving.  Under the old law the law was final and failure to abide in the law often had immediate and very dire consequence.  If the very men who were being consecrated to serve as the keepers of the Law and intercede for the people as an emissary before the Lord, didn’t understand the law and miss followed its application, how would the general public ever have the opportunity to have close relationship with their God. As we look at this section of scripture Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy there is a lot to digest, rule after rule, ceremony after ceremony, and so many restrictions and guidelines.  It is not hard to understand why people look at religion and see it as some legalistic checklist of do’s and don’ts, that is after all how the relationship is defined at this point in history. Not how it was intended but how it was at the time of Moses and Aaron.  But it changed; it became more about relationship than about the rules.  Again be thankful that you live under the New Covenant with immediate and personal access to the Father.  Thank Him today.

 

Rob

 

Leviticus 1-7 : Today's Thought

Today’s thought from Leviticus 1-7

 

If you ever thought it would have been fun to live under the old covenant then I am guessing you never read the first seven chapters of Leviticus. Outlined in these chapters are the things that must be done in the event of intentional and unintentional sin and when making an offering to the Lord.  These chapters cover the law of the burnt offering the grain offering the sin offering the guilt offering the ordination offering and peace offering.  I read this just moments ago and I don’t understand it.  I don’t know what I would do if my eternity was based on the proper satisfaction of these offerings.  Think about it.  The relationship that we have access to today is because of the incredible sacrifice paid by Christ, so we could receive the eternal gift of life with the father, the son and the spirit.  How often do we take that for granted?  When I realize my sin, am repentant of my sin and turn to the Father for forgiveness it is me with him in a quite conversation of confession and repentance.  No slaughtering, no step 1,2,3 just me with the Lord.  What a great and wonderful father.  For those who choose to be in relationship with Him, access is easy.   Because access is unlimited, it is easy to avoid accessing with Him at all.  Make your relationship a priority and spend some time with Him today, nothing is more important.

 

In Christ,

Rob

 

 

Exodus 39-40 Today's Thought

Today's Thought is from Exodus 39-40

 

From the priestly Garments to the hanging of the curtain on the tabernacle there was great care in making sure it was done just as God had instructed.   In Chapter 39:42-43it says, “the Israelites had done all the work just as the lord had commanded Moses.  Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the lord had commanded.  So Moses blessed them.”  Just a few chapters ago God was willing to blot out these people.  Their failures and rejection of God nearly cost them their existence.  Moses however interceded for them.  He pleaded with the Lord and the Lord granted Moses request.  Moses then rebuked the people, and got them back on the path to relationship with the Lord.  And in an effort to build on that relationship the tabernacle was built. From outcast to protected family the story of the Israelites plays over and over. God’s patience, the peoples punishment then repentance, their willingness to be molded and their demonstrations of admiration and worship along with many other things brought relationship back in to place.  Restoration of relationships is often a long and complicated process, challenging everyone to higher standards, more commitment, patience and commitment.  This is clearly evidenced here.  As a result of all these and I am sure many more things. God and the Israelites were reconciled back to one another. God’s presence (pillar of smoke and of fire) would visibly stand before the nation of Israel. Leading them and assuring them.

 

(What do you think the global warming people would have said about that pillar of smoke and pillar of fire ha-ha)

 

Have a great day

Rob

 

 

Exodus 37-38 Today's Thoughts

Today’s Thoughts from Exodus 37-338

 

To me this is a strange section of scripture.  There is an awful lot of detail about a tabernacle that was used for a relatively short period of time in relation to how long this text has lasted.  Chapter after chapter we discover in these books is given to detail out the Tabernacle, the sacrifice the way to live, etc… a couple things come to mind.  First, I am oh so very thankful to live under the covenant I live under today.  I can’t even begin to imagine what society would look like today if this were the model we were still following after.  We think our buildings for worship are opulent and over the top today.  These chapters outline a TENT for all practical purposes that isn’t overlaid or plated in precious metals but is literally made from tons of precious metals used in the construction and the decorations.  Just the gold alone used in these two chapter in today’s market, that gold was worth almost 29 million dollars, add the silver to that, and you are well over thirty million dollars. Imagine it’s worth thousands of years ago.  Secondly, the covenant we live under today is filled with choice, our buildings our designed the way we want them, our worship is by our design, our sacrifice is our decision, our talents are used the way we determine.  On second thought this may be harder.  Under the old law there was not option, you fulfilled the law to be in relationship with the Lord.  Today you are in relationship with the Lord by choice, by action, by lifestyle, by personal commitment.  I really don’t know which is harder.  Today is easier, because you can fool yourself into believing you have a deep relationship with the Lord when rarely do you talk to him, you can convince yourself you are dedicated to his Kingdom, and yet never spend time reading the scriptures, you can be proud of yourself with all that you do for the kingdom and yet how often do we sit still and listen for direction.  Sometimes, I think the detailed commitment would have been easier, do this, don’t do this, and your relationship was secured,  But today even more so it comes down to us pursing that relationship,  God is always right there with us, we just have to open ourselves up to his invitation and his gift. And we very often do not.  Look back at the Tabernacle, look at the detail and worth that place had, the purpose of that place was to come before God.  Today, God makes that opportunity to us where we stand, we don’t need a tabernacle we don’t need an earthly priest to go to God for us.  The valuable, incredibly adorned tabernacle is now our lives. 

 

Don’t miss out on the incredible investment God has made in creating you as a place of Worship.

Rob

 

Exodus 34-36 Today's Thoughts

Today’s Thoughts are from Exodus 34-36

 

The people of Israel have just been punished by God for their quick dismissal of Gods sovereignty in their life and their turning to Idol worship.  All while Moses was on the Mountain with God, receiving the Ten Commandments for the first time.  Had it not been for the faithfulness of Moses and the relationship he had with God, God would have wiped out the people of Israel for their transgression.  But Moses pleaded before the Lord and the people were spared.  But God was at a separation point with Israel and Moses had to convince God to continue to go before and lead the people.  As a result of all this Moses puts into action the building of the Tabernacle.  Moses launches the first capital campaign for church building.  The people respond beyond expectation and Moses has to stop the giving because the gifts far exceed the requirements for the Tabernacle.  Bezalel, Oholiab and their crew of craftsmen begin the endeavor of building the Tabernacle.  It is noted multiple more times in chapter 36 that God gave them their ability to do the task he had laid out for them.  There are so many interesting things here in. 

 

The people fall away very easily, even while in the very presence of God on the Mountain, (hard to understand)

God’s patience is pushed to a breaking point

God refers to himself as a Jealous God

The people try and restore their relationship through giving (apparently)

Their response is overwhelming

God continues to go with the people

Their gifts from God are retained.

 

All in all it goes to show how benevolent God is even when we are terribly at fault.  It clearly shows that God has boundary points, but it also shows that Gods love and relationship with one of his children can affect the lives and future of all his children.  A rather sobering point.

 

Which will you be?  One of the masses or the one close to the heart of God?

 

Have a great day.

Rob

Today's thoughts

Today's Thought from Exodus 31-33

 

Chapter 31 should be an encouragement for anyone who has ever felt a call to serve God.  It is worth reading this now,  The Lord said to Moses, "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men bability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and dthe ark of the testimony, and ethe mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and gthe pure lampstand with all its utensils, and hthe altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant mincense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do."

 

God prepared these men and gifted them with the ability to do what He had called on them to accomplish.  Even in our own limitations when we are called by God to accomplish his tasks He provides the means and the ways for the tasks to be accomplished.  And furthermore there is an implied ability here that was otherwise unattainable without God's assistance.  And how often have we seen that evidenced in the places where we know God is calling us.  Volunteers able to accomplish more than we would expect, projects exceeding the expectations of those we are serving. 

 

If we are committed to the calling that God has called us too, I truly believe that he will lead and direct our paths to great accomplishment for the Kingdom.  This illustration isn't limited to the lives of Bezalel and Oholiab, they are simply the illustration that demonstrates what God provides for those whom he calls.

 

If you are serving where you are called, expect God to do great things with your life and your service.

 

There is a lot more in these three chapters but this was definitely worth pondering.  Your on your own for the other two chapters today.

Rob

 

---

^b ch. 28:3; 35:10, 35; 36:1

^d See ch. 37:1–5

^e See ch. 37:6–9

^g See ch. 37:17–24

^h See ch. 37:25–28

^m ch. 30:7, 34

Today's Thought

Today’s Thoughts from Exodus 28-30

 

Under the old covenant, there were so many ritualistic requirements for maintaining a right relationship with God, especially for those that were chosen as priests.  And to compound the nature of their complexity, failure in maintaining them or completing them appropriately could leave you excommunicated or even mean instant death.  While God desperately wanted relationship with his people there were many rules by which they had to prepare themselves for that relationship.

 

Think back to before the fall.  There were no restrictions on communication with God, Man and God walked together in the garden.  Free to converse at will.  Then sin separated man from God and for thousands of years we have struggled to restore that relationship.  The struggle is on mans part not God’s.  God has made possible the communication with him.  Now it isn’t without restriction and consequence because we are all sinful and therefore separated from God. But even under the new Covenant where we have direct access the father through the leading of spirit and the intercessory nature of the Son we still find ourselves outside this relationship looking in and wondering how to access the Father.  When all the time access for the believer is readily available.  We have the word, the spirit’s guidance, prayer, listening, and many other venues which can help in our ability to communicate effectively  with the father.  Discipline is the modern pitfall.  Whatever separated the people of Israel from God in the past I believe discipline separates us today.  The discipline to be a good communicator with the father is a daily responsibility that only the individual can fulfill.  Where rule and ritual were stumbling blocks in the past. Time and commitment seem to be our hurdle today.  I like the saying “if you are too busy to spend time with God, then you are just to busy” is a profoundly true and all to often dismissed sentiment. 

 

Where do you fall on the busyness vs. good God communicator line?  After all, look at your requirements to enter into Gods presence vs. what Aaron and so many after him had to endure.  Jesus paid the price to make this communication as accessible as possible in our fallen state. I think we often miss out because it seems simple and convenient, and put it of to never.

 

Don’t be so busy you don’t spend time with God today.

Rob

 

Daily Thought

Today’s Thought is from Exodus 25-27

 

 

Didn’t know that God was one of the original interior designers did you.  This seems to be such an odd thing for God to be involved in, and an even odder thing to be recorded for all time.  Until you think about it, and realize that God is a God of the details, he wants to be involved in everything, and he has a plan, a very specific one for family.  These verses describe how much thought and planning God put into a temporary portable dwelling place where he could meet with his people.  Look at the valuables that were involved, look at the workmanship that was going to be required, and all this for a temporary portable location. 

Now realize that today he resides in us, we are the temple.  Is there any doubt that his plan for us is any less elaborate, any less valuable?  No of course not.  But we are the workman that required to prepare the temple.  Are we willing to do the work that the Spirit guides us to do.  God has a plan for us, and you can be assured it is significant and valuable.  Only you can decide to be a part of it.

 

Have a great day

Rob