Devotional Thought, Day 40

Reading: Leviticus 24-25 (ESV)

Devotional Thought: Leviticus 25:18-22

18 Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. 19 The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. 20 And if you say, What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop? 21 I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. 22 When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives.

Thank you Lord for continued proof of your many blessings on your people and further evidence of how you provide and care for us. Forgive us when we doubt and worry. May your words of truth strengthen us for today and every day. Amen.

 

Devotional Thought, Day 37-39

Reading: Leviticus 16-23 (ESV)

Devotional Thought: Leviticus 20:22

22 You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.

This is a grab your attention sort of phrase dropped down here in Leviticus. You don’t always here this sort of matter of fact speech preached today in church. Maybe it’s my mood (I’m a little tired), but I think the church would do well to drop some of its relational niceties and instead speak the hard truth–still in love. But speak the truth nonetheless. It seems we’re so afraid that if we speak truth the relationship we’ve worked to hard to form will forever be damaged beyond repair. While this may be true, isn’t it also true that we shouldn’t beat around the bush simply for the sake of the relationship; epically when that relationship is dangerously close to being vomited out?

I realize too it’s a balance. A very fine balance that must be considered (something I don’t always do well). Like I said, maybe I’m just in a mood, but I find this verse a bit of fresh air.

Is that wrong/strange?

 

Devotional Thought, Day 35-36

Reading: Leviticus 11-15 (ESV)

Devotional Thought: Leviticus

It’s rather fascinating to read about the Old Testament sacrificial process, including the process of moving from unclean to clean. And while it seems far to ritualistic to me, I imagine it worked for the people then. To some degree, I wonder if it might also work for us now. What I mean is, this is a process to being made right before God. How are we made right before God today? Often times we say a quick prayer of “I’m sorry” from our pew and hope no one notices. Or, if we’re really brave or convicted we’ll make our way to the alter and pray. Here, someone may or may not come along side us, but it can still be a very private ordeal for us.

There was not much private about the process we read about in these passages. There was no hiding your “uncleanliness.”  It was out in full view of everyone. Honestly, this would be hard for us today I well imagine (it would be for me). We tend to be so private with the unclean parts of our lives and yet this habit runs so counter to God’s design. We sin and hide our uncleanliness and then wonder why nothing changes; why that sin still holds a grip on us. Maybe it’s because we’re being too private about the whole thing. What if those around us knew or were aware of the junk in our lives; don’t you think that maybe one or two of them at least could help support you as you battled against the sin?

Certainly!

While this Old Testament system may appear to be old, I think there is a good lesson in it for us today. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not suggesting you go out and broadcast every sin of your life, but I am suggesting you stop holding them all in; trying to “fix” the problem on your own. Let the Body work the way it’s intended and designed to work. I imagine the relief you’d feel from this would far out weigh the embarrassment.

 

Devotional Thought, Day 34

Reading: Leviticus 8-10 (ESV)

Devotional Thought: Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord has said, Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

What is our worship to God? Why do we offer it? Who is it for, really? These are the questions that come to mind as I read this passage. It’s all too easy to be caught up in false worship and all the while miss out on true worship. What might our worship to God be if we came to him in a place of obedient worship? Stop trying to offer to God what we think he would desire, and start offering to God what he does desire–our obedient heart.

 

Devotional Thought, Day 33

Reading: Leviticus 5-7 (ESV)

Devotional Thought: Leviticus 5:7, 11

7 But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

11 But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice on our behalf, as I read this passage. But if he cannot afford… The debt of our sin is great; far greater than anything we can offer ourselves in order to repay. Thanks and praise be to God for providing for us his Son so that we may be redeemed. It’s an undeserved honor, yet it’s given so freely.

God, your wonders never cease…