Strive To Be Holy

Leviticus 21:21 - 23 - No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.  He may eat the bread of his God, both the most holy and the holy;  only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the Lord sanctify them.’”

In Moses day…the priest who came into the Holy of Holies had to be without blemish…just like the sacrifices he offered on God’s altar.  His body was considered holy…sanctified...anointed before God to do his work. The one chosen to minister behind the veil was the most blameless…perfect man they had to offer.  They knew they had chosen well…because the priest sent in returned alive.

This is one statute of God that changed when God tore the veil that protected his holy place.  He opened up a way when Jesus paid for all sin for anyone to approach him and be his child.  God can take the most deformed….imperfect man…and give him the hope of eternal life. God takes our imperfect bodies and lives and breathes his life and love into them….making us all priests able to share the faith …power ….and love of Jesus Christ…who became our high priest when he died for our sins.

I needed the reminder that God wants me to strive to be holy.  I can still profane his name… when I fail to be obedient to his will.  I need to remember to follow the advice found in 1 Peter 1:13-16 …which says… “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Father...thank you for the reminder to strive to be holy before you. Forgive me for the many times I fail you…and let the former lusts of my life take root for a time.  Help me to do daily weeding and pruning of all that you have taught me…so that I can keep these lusts under control with your power and love.  Amen.

God Hates Sin...But Loves The Sinner

Leviticus 20:22-24 -  ‘You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out.  And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them.  But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

God repeated many of the statutes he had already given Moses….but this time he added the penalties for breaking any of them.  The repeated list of ‘do nots’ included correct treatment of our parents…sacrificing of our children to another god… and the many sexual practices that were routine in other nations.  God was clear…honoring our parents…revering the gift of a child….and keeping the marriage bed pure…were of the utmost importance on our lives.

The reason they were so important is listed right here as well.  God calls his people to be separate from the rest of the world.  In obeying his statutes…we place his name on our actions…and take one more step toward total faith in his power over sin in our lives.  God hates sin… but loves the sinner so much that he wants to strip sin of its power to control any part of our heart.

I admit that it is very hard to find the fine line between hating the sin…and loving the sinner.  After all…we are all sinners….saved only by the grace and blood of Jesus Christ. The key is in the way Jesus himself modeled for us how to love all people.  His whole life was driven by the mission his father had sent him to do.  He healed the sick…and loved on anyone that came to him for help. He turned no one away.

When Jesus returned to his father…he gave the task of loving on sinners to those who believe in and accept his love. If our focus is still on the world and what it has to offer…then we might miss someone that needs to be told about God’ love.  We must become more like Jesus…focused on God…and how he wants us to tell others about him. As the old hymn …Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus says…’then the things of this world grow strangely dim…in the light of his glory and love’….

Father…thank you for the reminder that you love me more that the sin that manages to creep into my life. Forgive me for the times that I allow that sin to focus me more on the world around me instead of the task that you sent me here to do. Help me to turn my eyes completely on you…so that you can empower me to do all that you sent me here for. Amen.

Value Others...Share All That God Has Given

Leviticus 19:9-10 -  ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

God continued to speak to Moses…much of this chapter a recap of all he has already told him. But squeezed between reminders to treat our parents with honor and respect…keep the Sabbath day holy…treat others as we would ourselves… and be fair in all our dealings with people…is a statute that tells one way we can provide for the poor.  They were to always leave the corners of their fields ungleaned…. and always leave a few grapes on the vines when harvesting the wine crops.

It is just another reminder to me that I do not own anything that God has allowed me to have in my possession. Everything I have is his … and his directive to treat others as I would myself means I am to share all of it with anyone who might need it.  God has blessed me with much more than I need… and if I listen to his still small voice close enough…he tells me ways to share much of it with others.

Be sure that God gave us more than material possessions to share.  He gave us time... love…skills …and talents.  They all belong to God…and he has many ways for us to use them for his glory.  We should always be ready to passionately share these intangible things with others that need it. Using our time to prepare a meal for someone who is sick…mowing the lawn of someone that isn’t able to mow it themselves….or just sharing a hug with someone that might be lonely spreads God’s love just as much …if not more….than a tangible offering or gift.

Father…thank you for the reminder that everything you allow me to possess on this earth still belongs to you.  Forgive me for the times that I get going too fast …or allow the noise around me to keep me from hearing how you want me to share it with others. Help me to shed the last shred of my selfish desires …and truly embrace Philippians 2:3 which says… “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves..” Amen.

The Strongest Weapon Against Defilement

Leviticus 18:24-26 -  ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.  For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.  You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you.

God gave Moses a warning about following any of the routines and customs of where they came from…Egypt….and where they were going to…Canaan. The peoples in these lands worshiped many gods… and participated in many customs that God considered abominations.  Being intimate with a relative…sacrificing your children … intimate relationships with the same sex…. and bestiality…were just a few that he described in detail.

When you read the list…and compare it to the daily news…it is clear that our nation has become just as defiled as the nations the children of Israel were warned about. I shudder to think of the judgment that God must be planning for those who have not kept these statutes as he said…for all eternity. I also struggle daily with how to best love on these people so they can know the truth…so it can set them free. I know in my heart that continuing to love on all people…no matter what they believe or practice…is the best way to show them the truth of God’s love.

I Corinthians 13:4-6 says … Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  If I ponder the fullest meaning of these verses…. I can’t help but believe that the love Jesus showed mankind when he sacrificed himself…will eventually cleanse even the most defiled of nations. And I must do my part to love on everyone that he allows me to come into contact with….no matter what. 

Father…thank you for the reminder that your love is the strongest weapon I have against any form of evil.  Forgive me for the unbelief I have shown at times… that has kept me from showing the love you gave me to others. Help me to understand and apply the love you have shown to me to all that I come into contact with….so they will see you in everything I do and say. Amen. 

Sell Out To God...Make the Best Use Of The Blood Jesus Shed For Us

Leviticus 17:11 -  For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 

God gave Moses specific laws for man to follow when any animal was killed. If possible the blood of the animal was to be brought to the door of the tabernacle and sprinkled around the altar. If outside of camp …and too far away…they would need to drain all the blood and cover the blood they drained with dust. They were never to eat blood…and if they ate any animal flesh that died naturally or was killed by a beast…they must wash their clothes and bathe and be unclean till evening.

Blood is the life giving force of our existence.  We simply cannot live without it pumping through our body. It carries needed things to all our cells and gets rid of the toxins that build up in many bodily processes. For these children of God…it made atonement for the sin in their life.  It could have no other meaning or purpose…it was holy.

Jesus fulfilled this law for all eternity many years ago. There are many scriptures that tell the complete story…but I like the way Ephesians sums it up in chapter 1…verse 7.  It says….  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence…”Jesus shed his blood to be the last sacrifice ever needed again to atone for sin.

Perhaps because this is Easter weekend…my mind has been reflecting more often about the cost for Jesus of this priceless gift to me….and everyone else that believes. This would have been the day after his crucifixion…. sitting at the right hand of God in Heaven….along with that criminal that accepted him on the cross next to him…hearing the proud words of his father for completing his purpose in life.

Jesus was sold out to his father…completely. He let his father’s spirit rule his every thought and action.  He became the most humble of men …so he could become the most righteous of all men. It is a great reminder to me that I need to be more like him…ready to be sold out to God instead of swayed so much by the worldly things around me.

Father…thank you for the reminder of your great love for me.  Thank you for shedding your precious blood…and using your father’s strength and vison to make a way for me to join you someday in Heaven.  Forgive me for the many times I let life distract me form the purpose you sent me here for.  Help me to be more focused and sold out to only you…so I can help you spread the story of how only you can save us from an eternity of death.  Amen.

Interrupted Routines...God is Still There

Leviticus 16:8-10 - Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.   And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

God reminded Moses that the Holy Place was a very special place.  It was shielded from the rest of the tabernacle by a veil that stretched from floor to ceiling. Only the priest could go in at special times to offer fire before the Lord….any other time is was not allowed and would bring sudden death…just as the two sons of Aaron found out.

One of these special times was the yearly sacrifices of atonement for the people of Israel.  Two goats were brought to the tabernacle… one was offered up as a sacrifice to God… but the other…by casting of lots…was set loose as a scapegoat. Someone was chosen each year to take the goat out of the camp and set it loose in the wilderness.

It been one of those special days when by my own disorganization skills I did not allow enough time to visit with God this morning and write.  Perhaps it was God’s plan all along to make sure I wrote at night for this scripture. I was busy most of the day…helping my mom and dad with a trip to the doctors… and visiting with family from out of town.  I managed to deliver some goodies to our local hospital as a mission effort for my Sunday School class….and even had time to shop a bit for some things to make another project for a retreat coming up.

As darkness is upon me…the clouds covering the light from the moon…I am reminded that it is the anniversary of the Friday when Jesus would have struggled to walk the long road to Golgotha.  His day was busy too. Waking to beatings and mocking …faltering from the weight of that heavy cross…enduring the horrid pain of those nails in his hands and feet…and dying so that he could become the scapegoat for all to be given life for eternity.  His walk toward that role of scapegoat was not assigned by lot…but requested of him by his father. His wilderness was to experience the disconnect with God just long enough to make atonement for all of our sins…and allow God the pleasure of tearing that veil from top to bottom …giving all of access to God 24/7.

The difference in his day and mine…I am sure that he did not stop visiting with his father every minute of the day.  I got a lesson from my mom ..as she whispered several times a verbal request for travel mercies… and a thank you for good reports from the doctor to God. A tear filled prayer of thanks as most of our family gathered around the dinner table …so grateful to be enjoying it with the company of dad…at home….and gaining strength every day.

Perhaps the lesson is that shouldn’t beat myself up if my routine is interrupted.  Even days when our normal way of visiting with God is changed…he finds other ways to connect with us and remind us that he is here.  I am thankful that I can connect with him…anytime I want too…and I know that God will use every opportunity to connect with me if I forget to do it first.

Father...thank you for the reminder that you allowed your son to be the last scapegoat ever needed to atone for sin. Forgive me for the times that I let life and busy schedules put my thoughts of you on pause.  Help me to be so in tune with you…that even in my craziness I see and hear the whispers you send to remind me that you are still here.  Amen.

Sin Makes Us Unclean...Christ's Blood Washes Us Clean

Leviticus 15:31 -   ‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.

God gave Moses even more rules for dealing with the discharges that would make the children of Israel unclean….and cause death if they did not cleanse themselves before entering the tabernacle of God. Men and women alike who had discharges…especially those that contained blood or semen…were unclean and had to follow the set rules for cleansing themselves before God. And anyone who touched them or touched anything they had touched while they were unclean were also unclean. They had to wash their clothes...bathe themselves…and wait for evening to join the others.

How blessed I feel that Christ fulfilled these rules that must have burdened so many during the Old Testament times. No wonder the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years sought out Jesus for healing.  She risked breaking all these rules…so she could get close enough to Jesus…her faith so strong that she knew he alone could cleanse her in a way none of the old rules could ever have done.

Sin rears itself constantly in our lives…. and only Christ…who sacrificed his own blood to atone for all sin can use its power to wash us clean of it. If I fail to repent of the sin that creeps into my heart…then I risk the same death these unclean Israelites did. It may not be immediate…or happen when I enter whatever church I worship in…but it will bring eternal death when my earthly body dies.

Father…thank you for the reminder that sin makes me unclean…and separates me from your love.  Forgive me for the times that I fail you…and let sin remain in my heart and make me unclean. Help me to see the need to repent of all sin… so your love can cleanse me each morning to a new start.  Make my faith as strong as that woman who was unclean for 12 hears…. not afraid to risk seeking you out no matter what the cost. Amen.

Christ's Blood Provides Freedom From Sin

Leviticus 14:5-7 -  And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.  As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.  And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field. 

In the case that a leper was healed of this horrible disease… God gave Moses very detailed instructions for how to let the camp now he was now clean. The full instructions included shaving all their hair…even the eyebrows…7 days of living right outside their tent door…and a full list of sacrifices at the tabernacle altar.  But the beginning of the process required this curious ritual with two birds.

I couldn’t help but see a parallel to how God cleanses us from our sin and sets us free from the way it holds us captive in this ceremony. One bird was killed over running water…and the blood was sprinkled with the living bird …some hyssop…a piece of cedar…and some scarlet on the one who was healed from his leprosy. The living bird was then set free in the field where the ceremony took place.

God does the same thing when he cleanses us from our sin.  Jesus died to provide the blood…and we are washed in that precious blood. Its power is used to take all our sin away….and we are then set free. We are free from all the chains…all the power that sin once held over us.  We are free to praise God and begin a new life that testifies of the love he has for everyone else who has never realized this awesome power to give us freedom.

This is the very week that Jesus fulfilled his calling to provide that blood. This sacrifice was killed on two crossed beams of cedar….fed vinegar on a branch of hyssop…after he had been stripped of the scarlet robe they placed on his back to mock him. It would have been stained with the blood that oozed from the wounds on his back… even before they hung him on the cross.

It brings tears to my eyes to think of what he went through so I could be set free in the world where he gave me life. You can’t dismiss the sacrifice he made….you can’t deny the pain he must have suffered to provide a way for me to be free. It brings all the times to my heart and mind that I have taken this great act of love for granted.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you sent your son to endure death…a painful scourging … and the mocking and hatred of unbelievers….to provide a way for me to have complete freedom from sin and its chains of captivity.  Forgive me for the times that I don’t thank you… and raise you for the love you have shown me.  Help me to spread the word about this great act of love to others in a more passionate way. Let my freedom provide freedom for other that are still trapped in their sin.  Amen.

Jesus...Share His Wonderful Saving Touch

Leviticus 13:1-2 - And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:  “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.

God gave Moses an extensive list of rules to deal with leprosy.  Its sores spread by contact and made a person so unclean that they must be isolated for the rest of their life. It did not kill a person’s body…but slowly ate away at it… eating away the skin and nerves. This incurable disease was one of the worst things to be declared of a person.  

It still exists today…renamed Hanson’s disease in 1873…but it is easily treatable now. It affects mostly third world countries… a quick google search said about 6,500 cases worldwide.  It is rare in the United States…our ability to treat it with heavy duty antibiotics keeping statistics here low.

It must have been horrible to hear those words from the priest back then…to be declared leprous…to have to leave your family and live in isolation outside of camp. No wonder they sought out Jesus for healing when news of his powers began to circulate.  They risked so much just getting close enough to him to even shout their uncleanliness.

Jesus touch of healing did more for them than cure them of the disease.  It showed them how much he loved them. Jesus’ touch brought restoration to their whole lives…and reconnected them with their families and friends. What joy they must have felt as they ran to the priests of their towns to be declared clean.

I know that feeling of joy…even though I have never been healed of anything so life altering. The day God came into my heart and took up residence…he cleaned house. My heart is kinda like my house…cobwebs trying to form in the high corners and ceilings everyday.  But if stay connected to him…and listen to him tell me when the dust and cobwebs are forming… he can help me clean them right back out of my life.

Father…thank you for the reminder that sin threatens to eat away at the joy you gave me when we met.  Forgive me for the times that I have let my heart get dusty and dirty. Help me to do regular housecleaning with prayer and Bible study...so I can keep my heart healthy and clean for you to live in. Use me to touch others with the love that will teach them about your wonderful saving joy.  Amen.

Christ's Blood Washes Us Clean For Eternity

Leviticus 12:6-7 -   ‘When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  Then he shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.

The laws of purification included some strict guidelines for women who had borne a child.  The gender of child you had borne determined how long you were considered unclean and had to stay in isolation. Males had to be circumcised on the 8^th day after birth…so a woman’s time was shorter for them.

It was the presence of blood during this process that made them unclean…and gave them reason to isolate themselves for a period. And when their time was finished…it was important for them to offer both a burnt offering and a sin offering as a sacrifice. These two things would complete the purification and allow her to share her joy of a child with the rest of the family.

Times sure have changed since these days of Old Testament law. Jesus’ great sacrifice on the cross did away with the need to purify ourselves from each small issue that was considered unclean. We enjoy a great bond of family with the birth of children…some even getting to witness the event.

Perhaps the reminder is to thank God for the fulfilling of his law…so that we can concentrate more on how to share it with others. Blood no longer makes us unclean…but simple belief in the blood that Christ shed purifies our soul for all eternity. It washes all the sin from our heart and makes room for what God needs to put there.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you shed your precious blood for all so that we no longer have to sacrifice animals to cleanse our souls.  Forgive me for the times that I take that for granted.  Help me to ponder the cost to you of the freedom I enjoy… and let that drive a passion in my heart to share you with others. Amen. 

What To Eat.... Keep Our Temples Healthy

Leviticus 11:46 - 47 -‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’”

One of the first tests of obedience God gave the Children of Israel was a list of living animals that could not be eaten. God gave them quite the list of things that were considered unclean. He said that eating these things would defile them…and make them unclean. If they even came into contact with any of them they had to wash and separate themselves until evening. Eating one of them could cause death.

Today…one must consider whether these rules are still in play.  If you read Acts 10…God told Peter that everything he made was now considered good. But research is showing that many of the animals on God’s no eat list could have dangerous consequences and make our body unhealthy in the long run. If we consider 1 Corinthians 6:19…we are living in God’s holy temple…and need to keep it as healthy as possible.

Personally…that means I must do my part to keep my diabetes in check so my eyes and kidneys can work their best.  I also have to be careful so that my blood pressure and cholesterol don’t cause my body to go into a stroke or heart attack. It would be different if God had not revealed these conditions to me…but since he did…it is my responsibility to eat healthy….which means salt … sugar ...and fatty foods are limited in my diet.

I think there is a deeper meaning here than just whether to eat or not eat all things.  Matthew Henry pointed out that this test of their obedience helped to keep them distinct…help teach them the value of holiness…and how contact with something unclean could defile their faith. It was all about keeping God first…and showing him you understood that to be holy…you had to obey all his rules.

It is just another reminder to me that my faith is strengthened when I am obedient. God still wants me to be distinct from those that do not believe. He still wants me to value the power of his holiness.  He wants me to realize that many things I will come into contact with in this earth are not of him and will weaken who he wants me to be.

Father…thank you for the reminder that my body is a temple where you live.  Forgive me for the times that I don’t care properly for your residence…and damage it with my choices.  Help me to think of the deeper meaning of how I care for my body and the way caring for it properly could deepen my relationship to you and teach me more about how to be holy like you.  Amen.

No Excuses...Obedience Is Key

Leviticus 10:1-3 - Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.  So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’” So Aaron held his peace.

They had just finished their time of consecration to the Lord. These two sons of Aaron made a huge mistake that cost them their very life. All we know is that they did not follow God’s commands… somehow letting their own thoughts dictate how to use one of the holy instruments that God had given them to use in worship.

The commentaries I read gave lots of theories… perhaps they were drunk…perhaps they thought it was what they were supposed to do…or perhaps they thought their consecration gave them the right. For whatever reason…God let them know very quickly they had violated his instructions…and the same fire that had come to consume the offerings and show His pleasure…came and consumed these two men who had not glorified God with their actions to show His judgment.

It is a huge reminder for me that God’s way is the only way. Any time I deviate from his will…I am taking a huge risk in my life. If I allow my own emotions to rule what I do…I do not always glorify God with my actions.  Only when I come in complete obedience to his word and will do I glorify God. David Guzik’s commentary put it this way.  “We are able to come as we are – but in the way God prescribed.

Obedience is not always the easy path.  Hebrews 5:8 reminds that even Christ learned true obedience through suffering.  It says… “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Even Jesus reminded the crowd in Matthew 19:24 … “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

I admit quickly that I needed this reminder today. This post is a day late.  I woke up and hit the dismiss button instead of the snooze button…and found myself struggling to get to the sub position I had committed to on time.  I had plenty of time last night to write when I got home…but chose to veg out on the couch …first taking a long nap…then watching TV.  I was feeling guilty all along…but now I feel the need to ask God to strengthen me and help me be more committed to my promise to put his word first.  I used to be excited about waking early enough to meet with God and write…and nothing seemed to stop me from opening that Bible to read at night before I closed my eyes. Excuses are coming way too easy these days.

Father…Thank you for the reminder that nothing is more important in my life than my time with you. Forgive me for allowing the craziness of life…and the simplicity of retirement to lull me into a routine that even thinks of making excuses to you.  Help me to be more obedient by rekindling the passion to draw nearer to you through your word and mediation through writing.  Amen.

Draw near To God And He Will Draw Near To You

Leviticus 9:22-24 -  Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

The Tabernacle was complete. It had been anointed…with everything that was in it. The Priests were washed…dressed and anointed to serve God in this new capacity. And the people gathered to allow Aaron to offer the first sacrifices before God.  The sacrifice for him and the people brought so much pleasure from God that he sent down fire from Heaven to consume what had been offered on the altar. The people were so moved by the sight that they fell on their faces and shouted when they saw it.

It is a great reminder to me that God draws near to those that draw nigh to him. James 4:8 recorded this truth.  It says… “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. The Psalmist put it this way in Psalms 145:18… “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Drawing near to God can be done in many mays…prayer…Bible study…. worship…. repenting of sin in our lives …and trusting in his promises …to name a few. If we do these things…then God begins to control our hearts…and gives us his great peace that surpasses all known understanding of this world. Just like it says in Philippians 4:6-7 … “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Father…thank you for the reminder that you will draw as near to me as I will to you.  Forgive me for the times that I have taken this promise for granted…and settled for less than what you want to give me. help me to truly seek you in all that I do and say…so that you can continue to give me a sweet peace about the days to come.  Amen.

Daily Consecrate Yourself To God

Leviticus 8:1-3 - And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

It was time for all the work that had been done to complete the Tabernacle to be anointed for service to the Lord.  The tabernacle…everything made to go inside it… Aaron and his sons who had been chosen to serve as priests …and the garments that God had instructed them to wear when ministering to the people had to be consecrated before God.

They were washed at the tabernacle door….dressed in their priestly garments…anointed with oil and then offered 3 different sacrifices. The bull was a sin offering.  One of the rams was a burnt offering…and the second ram was an offering of consecration. Each offering followed the commands of God…with Moses acting as high priest until Aaron was anointed to take his place.

That word consecrate sticks in my head. Its dictionary meaning is simply to make or declare something to be holy.  The process involved killing an animal and using the blood it shed as a substitute for the person that was offering it. They were washed and made pure from unclean things and set apart for service to God.

John 17:19 says… “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” It is a reminder that only God can consecrate us to his service. The great commission tells us that all of us are called to do something for God…we just had to seek his will and repent of any sin so that we can stay clean before him.

I needed the reminder to take my calling as serious as possible. I don’t know what God is going to do from moment to moment….but I know he will use it for the good of those that love the Lord. He will also use whatever he tells me to do to win more people to believe in his son.

Father…thank you for the reminder that I was called to be your servant and need to daily consecrate myself to your service.  Forgive me for the times that I allow life to dictate my agenda instead of you.  Help me to seek ways to clean sin out of my life so that you can use me in the most effective way.  Amen.

We All Need To Clean Up Our heart

Leviticus 7:19 20 -  ‘The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people.

God continued to give Moses the instructions for offering sacrifices to him. Every detail of how they offered each offering was important to him. Even the state they came to offer it in should be pure and clean. One could become unclean easily in those days… the touching of any dead thing…or coming into contact with blood caused them to follow even more rules to cleanse themselves before they came to the Tabernacle to offer any sacrifice of offering to God.

Jesus might have fulfilled the law …doing away with the need to go through these rituals of cleansing…. but our hearts can still become tainted with sin. The need to cleanse ourselves in a spiritual sense is just as important now as it was then.  Sin separates us from the fellowship of God… and weakens our testimony of him to others.  As soon as sin is brought to our attention…it needs to be removed from our life … and we need to repent and ask forgiveness. 

I cherish the daily reminders God gives me to search for the hidden sin that is making me weaker in my faith than God wants me to be. God wants to cleanse me of all that sin with the precious blood that his son shed to save me. 1 John 1:8-10 makes it clear.  It says… “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Father…thank you for the reminder that you provided a way to purify and cleanse me from every sin I could ever commit. Forgive me for the times that I have allowed the life events of my day to trick me into becoming complacent with unknown sins I need to repent and ask forgiveness for.  Help me to use my time with you to get serious about ridding my life of all the sin that keeps me from being all that you want me to be.  Amen.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers....And The Merciful

Leviticus 6:2-4 -  “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor,  or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins:  then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found”

God gets really detailed about how to deal with trespasses. In all cases…they are to be restored…plus an extra amount on top of the restoration.  The restoration was for the person that suffered because of the trespass.  The guilty still had to make atonement for his sin with an offering to God as well.

I sat a while this morning…thinking about what that meant for me…and eventually God put in my spirit a step six…of the Eight principles… of the Celebrate recovery program I work with. It says.  Evaluate all my relationships.  Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.

This principle is based on Matthew 5:7 and 9 from the beatitudes.  The Bible says… “Blessed are the merciful” ….and “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Mercy and peace…two things we need to thrive in a world that has crazy surprises to keep us down every day. We sure don’t need any extra weight on our shoulders...the more we can tap into God’s power to give us peace through forgiveness and making amends…the lighter our heart becomes as we deal with all the people around us.

Most trespasses are hidden from our heart.  We forget that we ever did anything to hurt anyone. I for one get a lesson most weeks from people around me. Most seem to have forgiven when they recall the time that I messed up and did something to cause them hurt… but that doesn’t stop my heart from feeling bad that I never made amends for it. I have to let God help me stay in the humble lane… so he can help me think of ways to try and make it right.

Father…thank you for the reminder that trespasses cause hurt o those around me and keep me from being an effective witness.  Forgive me for the times that I have trespassed against anyone…knowing or unknowing.  Help me to listen to you tell me how to make amends for any of these times my mind and heart have hidden from my brain. Amen.

Search Your heart For Trespasses That Are Hindering Your Ability To Share God's Love

Leviticus 5:5-6 - ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing;  and he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.’

God gave Moses instructions for bringing a trespass offering.  It covered the sins of withholding the knowledge of an oath you heard… swearing or speaking thoughtlessly… and touching unclean things. A lamb…kid of a goat…tow turtle doves or two pigeons were brought to the altar… in much the same way as other sacrifices to atone for these sins.

Meriam Webster defines a trespass as… a violation of moral or social ethics : an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another. This kind of sin doesn’t just affect our heart…but causes worry or hurt to another. The sin we committed hurts others than just us. Think about the fact that when others hurt us…our heart is affected from what we perceived as a sin to us.

As I began to listen to God this morning he brought to my spirit that phrase from the Lord’s prayer… forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that have trespassed against us. In their day…atonement had to be made to forgive sin…but in our day…Jesus already shed the blood needed for that atonement. That leaves us with the need to accept that gift of atonement and forgive others the way God forgave us.

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools of restoration to God and others. It cleanses our soul and heart from the hurt we feel and allows us to move past the trespass that froze us in hate …bitterness or anger for so long.  The sooner we allow God to heal those hurts…the quicker he can use us to share the love he has to give to others around us. 

I needed the reminder to search my heart daily for trespasses that might be hindering my ability to share God’s love with others. Matthew Henry’s commentary put it this way… “True Christians plead daily for sin and seek forgiveness through the blood of Christ.”

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to plead every day for you to remove all sin that has hidden itself in my heart…making more room for you to fill it with your love and instructions for sharing it with others.  Forgive me for the times that I have failed to forgive as you have forgiven me.  Help me to always be willing to forgive others so that hate…or bitterness…or anger can be quickly purged from my heart.  Amen.

When Sin Plays Hide And Seek..God Can Help Us Find It

Leviticus 4: 27 – 28 –   “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. “

God gave Moses the directions for the sin offering in this chapter.  The offering had to be an animal with no blemish…but this offering was offered differently than the others.  The person who realized his sin still held the animal while it was killed…but the blood was sprinkles in from of the veil to the sanctuary…and the meaty portion of the offering was burnt outside the camp.

We no longer have to sacrifice animals and sprinkle blood…but we do have to constantly examine ourselves for sin that we may have done without realizing it. As soon as that sin comes to our knowledge we need to admit our part…repent and allow God to restore the break that sin made in our relationship with him.

Every morning I am reminded of some way to draw closer to God… but some mornings God uses his word to identify some sin in me that satan has convinced me is nothing to worry about…and I have convinced myself that God and I are as close as ever. Some mornings the epiphany is so strong and convicting..  it brings mixed tears of sadness and joy as I ask God to use that precious blood that Jesus shed to cleanse and restore me back to his will.

Father…thank you for the reminder that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Forgive me for the times that I have hidden sin in my heart instead of your word…or been content to let sin harbor inside me without admitting the damage it was doing to my relationship with you.  Help me to listen close to every word you have allowed to teach us from your word…so that I can continue to cleanse sin from my life with the precious blood that Jesus sacrificed for me on the cross.  Amen. 

Give Back...Share What God Has Given You

Leviticus 3:9-11 -  ‘Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord, its fat and the whole fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone. And the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,  the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove;  and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

Moses spent an entire chapter sharing God’s directions for a peace offering. I had to study a bit…and the best way to summarize what I read from several commentaries is that this offering was a free-will offering to God that simply gave thanks to God for some mercy….or was an offering they added as a way to let God know their true heart in a petition of prayer. The offering could be male or female with no blemishes…and was offered to God on the altar in much the same way as others.

The neatest thing about this offering to me was how it was shared not just with the priests…but a portion was given back to the worshiper to share with family and friends. God got what was considered to be the best of the animal…the inside organs…the blood and the fat. The worshiper gave some of them eat to the priest and took some home to share with anyone he chose.

Perhaps the Lord’s supper was God’s way of keeping this mindset going after Jesus fulfilled the law.  He became the last sacrifice needed…but as he tried to explain to his disciples just what was about to take place…he emphasized how important it was for us to remember him….how he allowed his body to be broken for us…and how his blood was shed to make atonement for our sins.

God still wants us to fellowship with him and other people. We don’t have to kill an animal on an altar and sprinkle blood …or give portions to him…but we can still share what we have with others.  Sometimes that sharing gives support to a family that just buried a loved one.  Sometimes that sharing creates a way to fellowship and get to know others.  Sometimes that sharing simply provides for someone we know is having a rough time making ends meet.

I needed the reminder that God does not want me to stock pile and store more than I need.  He provides more than some of us need so we can continue to spread his love when we share it with others. I can testify that when I listen to God telling me to share what I have with someone…the blessing I get back is so much more than what I gave away. The blessing is hardly ever a tangible thing….but a infilling of contentment and peace. It was called a peace offering.

Perhaps that is what Hannah felt as she gave Samuel back to God that day at the temple. Her peace offering included 3 animals and some grain. She was so at peace with her decision for Samuel to be raised in the temple that she wanted God to know how thankful she was to have spent his first few years teaching him about the God that had given him to her.

Father…thank you for the reminder that one way to feel more of your sweet peace…is to make sure my  heart is willing to give back all that you have given me. After all…it all belongs to you anyway. Forgive me for the times that I have not listened to you…and selfishly kept something that you could have used to help someone else.  Help me to listen more intently to the still small voice you place inside me…so I can know when and what you have placed in my hands to help someone else. Amen.

What God Has Given Really Belongs To Him

Leviticus 2:1-3 - When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.  He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.  The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire.

The tabernacle was finished so God began to give them instructions for how to worship in it.  The second way he explained to them was how to bring a free will offering of grain. Since they would have only had what they brought with them…a grain offering was an act of unselfish love...and expensive gift to God …to show him just how much they truly loved him.  God only took a small portion of this gift for himself….he used most of this unselfish gift to sustain the men he had called to the priesthood.

What a great reminder to me that what God has given us really belongs to him.  I should be ready and excited about what I can give back to him to use to help others. Whether it be the simplest thing that I don’t even use any more…or the most treasured thing I perceive in my heart…my heart should never hesitate to place it at the feet of Jesus. 

I admit that some things are harder to give up than others. But God measures our love by our willingness to focus on his will for us.  Even Jesus struggled with this concept...but modeled for us in gethsemane….how to let go of our own will and complete God’s will for our lives.  God will use our sacrifice for something good…just like he used his son’s.

Father...thank you for the reminder that everything I have is yours…given to me out of your love for me to use to help you love on others. Forgive me for the times that I have let my selfish will keep something that you could have used to help others.  Show me how to pray the unselfish prayer of Jesus with new meaning and purpose…so I can learn to stay in your will all of the time.  Amen.

Thank God For His Most Precious Gift

Leviticus 1:1-2 - Now the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying,  “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock—of the herd and of the flock.

The first recorded conversation Moses had with God after the tabernacle was completed … gave the people detailed instructions on any free-will offerings they wanted to make. They were to give of their flocks… a male with no blemish…or if they had no flocks a turtle dove or young pigeon would be acceptable. It was to be sacrificed and burnt upon the new altar as an atonement for the person who offered it.

The instructions that God gave ensured that each person that gave…did it with the right heart. It was an act of humility….and obedience…done because they loved God and realized the penalty for refusing to crucify their flesh before God. The blood that was shed made atonement for the sin in their life and purified them once again to worship and enter the courtyard to pray.

This was a temporary fix that God used until he could set the stage to send his own son.  The first man to live with no sin took this law and fulfilled it forever by shedding his own blood as a sacrifice for all sin that had ever been committed…and would ever be committed. He gave of his own life... that had no blemishes…as a free-will offering that would offer atonement for all that believe in his name and sacrifice.

It is a reminder to me of just how precious Jesus’ gift was to me. I am guilty of taking it for granted on many a day… not stopping to thank him for allowing me a simpler way to know him personally.  I needed the reminder to wake each morning with a thankful heart ….and to always take time to thank God for this precious gift of love that changed how I view the world around me.

Father…thank you for the gift of your son.  No other person has ever loved me more. Forgive me for the times that I have taken this precious gift for granted…and not stopped to thank you for how it gave me the opportunity to know you as Moses did. Help me to walk as only you can help me walk… in humility and bold discipleship that spreads the good news of your gift to the world.  Amen.

God's Presence Is All Around Us

Exodus 40:4-35 -  Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

One year after they left Egypt…the tabernacle was finished.  Moses had followed the exact instructions God had given him…even to the order of assembly. So God wasted no time keeping his promise to Moses to go with him….and settled the cloud that contained his presence over the tent of meeting within its court. At night the people could still see that god was there with them…for the cloud became a fire at night.

Part of me wanted to spend time wondering what that awesome visual would have looked like…but then my heart told me it was more important to capture the feeling of contentment and wonder that must have filled each person as they gazed upon the curious cloud that changed form at night. It was …by Moses own words…too powerful for even Moses to enter when it was there.

We live in a different time and place…void of the need to build a tabernacle and keep an ark behind a veil to protect us from God’s glory.  Jesus died to open a way for all to experience his presence...the veil of separation torn from top to bottom when he gave up his perfect life as a sacrifice for all sin. Jesus promised in Matthew 28: 20 to be with us always.

God manifests his presence in more than clouds that turn to fire at night. He sends friends to comfort when we are troubled.  He fills our heart with gladness and contentment when we search for him with all that we are.  God sends his love and presence in all different forms through those that love him. John says it best for me in 1 John 4:12-13 … “ No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.   By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 

God knew those Israelites loved him and wanted to get it right because they followed his instructions for building that tabernacle.  God knows we love him and want to get it right when we drop our own agendas and seek his will for our life. We know when we are on the right path because we sense him inside of us …that spirit that he promised living in us and telling us what to do.

I don’t ever want to forget that God is with me…even when I can’t see him.  I see him in the tiny buds on my trees as they wake up from a winter nap.  I hear him in the sweet song the birds sing to me each morning and evening.  I feel him in the soft breezes that wash across my face when I sit on my back porch.  I taste him in the food I eat each day.  I smell him in the wonderful aroma of the flowers that are starting to bloom all around me…even though my allergies make that particularly dangerous to my health….lol.

Father...thank you for the reminder that you are with me … constantly presenting who you are to me through the world you created.  Forgive me for the times that take for granted the many ways you try to reveal yourself to me.  Help me to be more aware of the things around me and use them to help me take the right journey through life….the one you mapped out for me before I was born.  Amen.

Dress To Reflect God's Holiness

Exodus 39:30-31 - Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.   And they tied to it a blue cord, to fasten it above on the turban, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The priest was a very important part of the working of the tabernacle. He was chosen by God to minister to the people…to make sure that every sacrifice was given fully to God.  They had to dress in a very specific robe…ephod …breast-plate….and turban in order to work inside the tabernacle. Everything about the garment reflected the holiness of God.

I can’t help but wonder if I reflect the same holiness in my appearance each day. The need to wear an outer garment was dissolved when God tore the veil covering that holy of holies. We each come to God in our own power and choice…becoming our own priest. We have the great privilege of knowing God just like Moses did…and serving him every day…but knowing God and reflecting his holiness are two different things.

We show our holiness much differently than these priests.  It has nothing to do with our outer garment…and everything to do with the state of our heart and mind. 1 Peter 1:13-16 says… “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

To be holy we must constantly strive to stay fixed on God’s will… allowing his power to help us overcome the temptations of the flesh.  It is a daily struggle to wake each day…fix our eyes on God…and allow his will to be the focus of our day. The battle is with our carnality…the flesh inside us that wants to keep us selfishly fixed on our own needs instead of the needs of others. Ephesians 6: 11-12 says…. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to dress each day to reflect your holiness to others. Forgive me for the times that I have selfishly dressed to please the world and my own needs.  help me to wake each day to ask you what to wear to show and reflect your love the strongest to others that need you.  Amen.

What Did God Give Me To Use For Him?

Exodus 38:6-8 -  And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.  Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to bear it. He made the altar hollow with boards. He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

Moses continued to record the work of Bezalel …as he continued to complete each part of the tabernacle. But this time Moses was careful to record that the bronze that was used was given by the many women that came each day to serve at the door to the tabernacle of meeting.

They would have brought these one piece bronze mirrors from Egypt with them…most likely as part of the plunder when they left. They would have been very precious to these women…yet they all together decided to give them to Moses as an offering for the tabernacle.  It wasn’t the fact that it was a mirror…or even that it was made of bronze that made God happy with these women.  It was the fact that they searched their heart for what God could use and gave it willingly and passionately to him.

It reminds me each day to search my own heart for what God may have already placed in my hands so I could give it back to him to use.  Moses gave back the rod he used as a shepherd. Bezalel gave back the talents and skills God had given him to create each piece of the tabernacle.  The women gave up their expensive and treasured mirrors. When all these things were used by God they became a place for God to reside with them while they traveled to the promised land.

Father…thank you for the reminder that what you have given to me on this earth is really yours.  Forgive me for the times that I forget that all that I have can be used to help you minister and lead others to know you and have a deeper relationship with you.  Help me to wake each day thanking you for all I have ..and asking you how you want me to use it to serve you.  Amen.  

No More Shortcuts... Get Every Detail Right

Exodus 37:1-2 - Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.  He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it. 

Moses is very careful to record that Bezalel…the man God had anointed to oversee all the work of the tabernacle… followed the blueprint God had given Moses exactly. The Ark…the Mercy Seat…the table with all its serving pieces… the lampstand and all its accessories…even the oil and incense were made carefully following the dimensions … ingredients and exact details for each article.

It seems at first glance that another chapter that simply repeated the same details as before is unneeded…but if you think about it a bit….it shows the dedication and proves that what God wanted was actually carried out through this anointed man. Moses…by recording each article as it was made…showed that the commandment of God was fulfilled.

I couldn’t help but think of one of my biggest problems.  I love to take short cuts…to find the easiest…fastest way to put what I am working on together. If there is a way to make something easier…a way to cut corners and still get a decent product…I am the woman you want for the job. But perhaps that is not the best way to think about things when God has given me the directive.

Perhaps…when following God’s will in our lives…we need to slow down and be careful with each detail. Perhaps…when seeking his guidance and wisdom in the Bible…we need to spend more time researching and studying each part of the scripture we read. Perhaps …when seeking wisdom and comfort in prayer….we need to fall on our knees more often in serious petition and praise.  Perhaps…when considering the job God gave us to do here on Earth…we need to be sure of all the details.

Father…thank you for the reminder that every detail of what you lead us to do is important to the fulfillment of your perfect will. Forgive me for the times that I have tried to take shortcuts with my time…prayers…and Bible study. Help me to be more like Bezalel…ready to give as much attention to the first detail as the last. Amen.

The Heart With Which I Give...Is More Important Than the Gift I Bring

Exodus 36:6 – 7 -  So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing,  for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.

Once these people’s hearts were stirred…they just couldn’t help themselves.  Every morning they would rise from their sleep and think of one more thing they could give as an offering. The people were so stirred to give what they had that more than what they needed was collected…and as the artists and craftsmen realized this…they asked Moses what to do. Moses had to give them a commandment to stop…proclaiming that they not bring any more offerings.

I sure can’t remember a time in my life that I was so moved to give that God had to tell me to stop. I can think of a few Bible characters that must have experienced this same passion to give all they had.  There was that widow...who gave her last coins to the offering box. ..and there was that sweet woman who poured the most expensive perfume on Jesus feet. (Full stories in Mark 12 and Matthew 26 if you don’t know them.)

These stories and the people who modeled for us how to give completely without selfish thoughts… are vivid reminders to me that when our heart belongs completely to God…there is no limit to what he can do with us. I found this quote in a David Guzik commentary. I don’t know who Morgan is…but here is what he said.  “ When the heart is truly stirred, and the spirit makes willing, giving is robbed of all meanness; indeed, it ceases to be calculating.  Nothing is too precious to be given, no amount too great.”

Father… thank you for the reminder that the heart with which I give… is more important than the physical gift I bring to you.  Forgive me for the times that I have gotten that backwards. Help me to develop the unselfish attitude of these stirred Israelites…the sweet widow…and the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume… so that you can truly use all you gave me to use for you.  Amen.

Has Your Heart Been Stirred?

Exodus 35:21-22 - Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.  They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord. 

Moses began to tell the people all that God had told him on the mountain… how he had given him the blueprint and detailed building instructions for a place to worship him.  Each person…who had a willing heart…. was to begin by bringing the personal articles they possessed that were needed to begin the process of building it and offer it to God as an offering.  As they left Moses…the ones who were willing began to feel God stir their heart…and it prompted the first gifts of gold to begin the process.

That phrase…willing heart…is very important to God. He knew as soon as the people began to leave for their home… which ones were thinking about all they might give to God. They were excited about having a personal vestment in the building that would become God’s house…their place of worship.  God took that seed of excitement…and stirred it even stronger…..and they gave…and gave…and gave.

They did not just give ‘things.’ Some gave of their time.  Some spent hours of labor making curtains…. sewing garments….shaping wood and metal into tables and altars and lampstands.  Some rolled up their sleeves and did the hard work of assembly.  From rich to poor…each one that wanted too…had a part in helping God make the first Tabernacle.

Great things happen when God’s people shed the world’s cloak of selfishness. God starts to stir their heart…open their eyes to what he can do with a simple piece of gold….a single thread of scarlet … the wood from a tree… or the heart of one who gives it away to God. An ark is built to save the human race.  A rams is provided to replace the sacrifice of a son. Tabernacles are built by common ordinary people. Ministries are birthed to increase God’s kingdom.

Father…thank you for the reminder that whatever you have placed in my hand can be magnified into what you need to accomplish your perfect will on this earth.  Forgive me for the times that I let the world shadow my ability to see what you can do with the resources you have given me. Remove any trace of selfish nature from my heart…so that you can stir my heart into service for you.  Amen.

How Bright Does Your Face Shine?

Exodus 34:8-9 -  So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

Moses had spent the last few days…perhaps months… modeling for this fallen people how to find God again. The people watched the cloud of God descend every time he entered the make-shift meeting place.  They stood in worshipful attitudes of awe while he remained in the tent talking with God. They had no clue what they talked about…they were just glad that Moses seemed to still have a connection with God.

And it payed off.  Moses persistence inclined God to give them a second chance.  He called Moses back up the mountain with two new tablets to re-record the first conversation they had. He spent another 40 days and nights with God…the intensity of his visit showing in his glowing face when he returned.

Moses prayer is a model of what true repentance and humility sound like to God. He admitted his unworthiness…asking for grace in God’s sight.  Then he requested once more that God attend this people…even with the faults that made them sinners. He asked forgiveness…and pardon from the only one he knew could forgive.  Moses knew that he had no chance to succeed if God were not a part of it…so he just kept going back to meet with him…and plead…and admit the guilt of what they had done.

What a great reminder that what God really wants is a heart that realizes the reality of our mortality.  I had no chance….whatsoever…if God had not chosen to restore me and pardon me from my sin. I was bound to die for my iniquities. I am worth nothing without the love he shed on the cross to save me. My task is to chase after God …admit my sin…repent and ask for him to build me back up in his power and strength.

Perhaps that is what shone on Moses face when he came back down that mountain.  The love that God had used to forgive and pardon thousands of his chosen people was concentrated in the one man's face that went to bat for them with God. He couldn't help but emanate the very love that God had used to pardon and forgive the people God had chosen him to lead.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you long for my heart to be completely repentant and humble. Forgive me for the times that I fail you…because my flesh refuses to acknowledge its real value…. without you. Show me how to pursue you like Moses…. always admitted my guilt and unworthiness… always allowing you to wash me clean once again …using your forgiveness to power me to love you all the more.  Amen.