In Leviticus, God’s Name is translated as Hashem which represents His Attribute of Mercy.  “Though ancient societies also offered sacrifices to their gods, they did so to turn away the anger of a judgmental, bloodthirsty god,” (The Chumash, p545).  This attitude would have been abhorrent to a Jew who believed that sacrificial offerings were a means to draw closer to Hashem, the Merciful God.

This same Attribute of Mercy is illustrated in Mark’s account of the woman who touched the clothes of Jesus. He described her as being fearful and trembling after being ‘caught’ with receiving her healing.  Yet, Jesus Christ spoke mercy to this woman, not judgment.  He could have told her to proceed to the synogogue and bring her offering for purification according to the laws regarding a woman’s impurity and to give a thanksgiving offering for her healing or to give a sin offering for what surely she must have been guilty.  He said none of these things – only, “Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Therefore, the only offering that would most likely make sense to this Jewess after her healing would be the peace offering. Such an offering was brought voluntarily by a person to express her love for God’s goodness and to let Him know she wants to be even closer to Him.  (Leviticus 3.) This she may have done.

Sometimes I feel like I have been ‘caught’ receiving more joy, more mercy, more compassionate grace than I deserve.  Determined to grab hold of Him, yet surprised when He blesses me.  Like this woman who turned fearfully to Jesus when He called out, I tremble and feel butterflies in my belly when I recognize His compassionate touch on my life.  These experiences remind me of how much Christ truly loves me, and I am compelled to offer God all that I can – my voice, my body, my mind.  So wherever I am, though I try not to lift my hands while driving, I worship Him for the mercy gifted by Hashem which gives me perfect peace.  Praise is my peace offering.

But that is only the beginning of worship. Now that we am free of the burden’s that come with sin we can live a life devoted to the pursuit of knowing Him more and seeking out our calling and purpose. Living a life of joy and thanksgiving because of Jesus. Even in Mark this is shown out. After Jesus rescues this man from the darkness, from the demon possessed life, he tells him this.

“But Jesus said, No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” Mk 5:19 NLT

He doesn’t tell him he has go and do anything or be anything. Just go, live your life, tell your story. And he does.

“So the man started off to visit the TEN TOWNS of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him.” Mk 5:20a NLT

We all have this same incredible opportunity and potential. Think about your life and the amazing things God has done. As I was reminded in church this past week, God is an awesome story teller and he is continuing to add new chapters to your life and mine. Tell your story and let others be amazed. Worship God with your life.

God, I pray that my life is a reflection of the joy and freedom that you have given me. Even when I am going through hardships and pain, help me to remember how blessed I am and to be thankful for the story you are writing for my life. Make my life an act of worship that testifies of your Glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Allen (allen4myfamily)

Notes in Exodus: ephod made with great skill, care; stones that represent tribes; a reminder to the priest that he represents them; all done, just as the Lord commanded. HOLY TO THE LORD. Bread of Presence; cloud over the tabernacle; fire at night so the whole family of Israel could see it; this continued throughout all their journeys.

Mark: lamp on a stand; seed and harvest; listen and understand! Even the wind and waves obey.

All done, just as the Lord commanded. A running refrain in these chapters in Exodus. When it was easy to get lost in the details of craftsmanship, His command repeats. The details, the order, the process–why so much attention devoted to these things? But these are not the images impressing upon me. It is His repeating command. It is HOLY TO THE LORD. It is this Bread of Presence, and a visual presence by day and night, so that the whole family of Israel could see it.

The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:38 NLT)

Jesus speaks of a lamp on a stand, and I think of Old Testament days and God’s presence with them that the whole family (of Israel) could see. Now God with us, in us. This light that can glow for a whole family to see.

Garments woven and adorned in the Old Testament, HOLY TO THE LORD. That He would care of these details, how much more does He care for our details?

I read lightly of a tossing boat and the disciples’ concern, just a sentence or two. But I stop to play it in real-time–my own storm, my own fears, my own cries. Lord, don’t you care that I’m drowning?

I read His rebuke in the turbulence, “Silence! Be still!” And I’m standing on the deck with the disciples as He turns and says,

“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

HOLY TO THE LORD. God’s presence through the journey. He speaks into my life today.

Footnote: Mark 4:24–The measure you give will be the measure you get back.

Thank you, Lord, that you meet us where we are.

Courtney (66books365)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about God, between reading today’s lesson and having this baby growing inside of me, it’s that God is in the details.  Yesterday, we got to see our daughter for the first time in detail; from her little hands—which she kept putting in front of her face—to her little toes, to the different chambers of her heart, to her brain, and even her kidneys.  I knew the books I’d been reading said that she was developed, but there’s something different about seeing it for myself.  Just in the way she moved and interacted with us, my husband and I agree that she already has my personality.

This verse in Mark really stood out to me, because it’s a lot like being told you’re pregnant.  At the beginning, you don’t see or feel anything, so you’re taking it by faith that a son or a daughter is really growing inside your tummy.  Now that I’m 20 weeks along, more and more people say to me how they can see her (well, see my tummy), but it didn’t start with their taking it to heart and cultivating something new.  It started with me.  And that’s what these verses are teaching us today.  When God gives us a Word—as He gave to Moses in detail about how to build the Tabernacle, Ark, and even down to the lampstands—or about how a baby girl will grow inside of us, it is our job to hear His Word, accept it as Truth, and let it produce something amazing in our lives.

21 When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”  22  And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

Observation:

Jesus was driving out demons, performing miracles on the sabbath, hanging out with sinners, and teaching others about God.  He was gathering great crowds of people because He spoke as someone with authority.  His family thought that “He was out of his mind.”  The so called experts of the time thought that He was the prince of demons.  Why is it that we routinely try to assign the credit due to God to someone or something else?  Why can we not see the actions of God as His alone.  Why can we not recognize him for His actions and offer up the appropriate praise.  Would we really rather assign a good work to Satan than give the credit to God, as the teachers of the law did?

Application:

My God is a God of action. He is constantly working.  I should be able to easily see the signs of this action in my life.  I must focus on seeing these signs and assign the praise to the one who is worthy!  I need to stop looking for other sources.  Jesus is the source of life and is worthy of all praise, I need look no further.

Prayer:

Father may you help me to recognize the wonderful works you do in my life.  Help me to praise you in all things and guide me to stop seeking other answers for events in my life.  Help me to seek You constantly.  Continue to show me your love, grace, and mercy, in Jesus name, Amen.

Ed (edsorrell)

In Exodus 31 we read God’s final words to Moses before he goes back down the moutain. It’s interesting that out of all commandments for God to repeat he repeats the commandment to observe the Sabbath. The 10 Commandments were given back in Chapter 20, and here God repeats that one commandment before Moses returns. The penalty for breaking the Sabbath commandment is pretty steep – death!

Then in Mark we fast forward to Jesus’s day. In Mark 2 Jesus is already questioned about his Sabbath practices when he and the disciples were picking grain to eat. Jesus says “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” And now in Mark 3 the Sabbath issue continues when Jesus heals on the Sabbath. After that event we read that the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. We know that they were trying to trap Jesus, but after reading Exodus 31 you see how they figured they had a good case against him. After all, Exodus 31 tells us the penalty is death!!

So…  how seriously do I take the Sabbath? How seriously should I take it? To tell you the truth, it’s one of my least favorite Sermon topics. But here it is, my day to blog, and I have both Old and New Testament references so I am going to spend some time reflecting…  Maybe it stands out to me because I’m just getting out of a season at work that required nights and weekends with no days off. Sometimes even nights ON the weekends! Maybe??  Maybe. I know that I need rest. I have experienced the physical and emotional toll that this season has taken.

I think eveyone gets the concept of rhythms of work and rest. But it’s good to have those reminders, that it’s not just good sense but it’s a commandment. And Jesus tells us that it was made for man. And God thought it was pretty important and even reminded Moses of it after giving him the commandments and lots of other laws.

Lord, help me to understand that this is an important law, and it is for my benefit. Help me understand this truth and live it out. As I complete this difficult season, let me get back to the rhythm of work and rest the way it was meant to be.

suegraff

Jesus Calls Levi

Mark 2:13-17; 13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ”Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16 And the scribes oft the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ”Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (ESV)

Observation:

Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, to follow him. The next thing we read is that Matthew has a social gathering for all his friends to meet Jesus and hear the message of freedom & forgiveness only he can offer. When the Pharisees see it they criticize Jesus for hanging out with tax collectors & sinners. But what a great idea! Matthew has a party to introduce his friends to the Saviour.

Application:

This is a great idea isn’t it!?! I wish we would do this. Wouldn’t it be great if when people came to Christ they would throw a party inviting all their friends to hear about Christ! Can you see a bunch of people having a great time and then the host introducing the person that led them to Jesus and in a few short sentences that person shares with the group what happened to their friend? Then the person sharing states if anyone else wants to experience that same gift of eternal life come and talk with them. And then the party returns to its activity and fellowship. Let’s be the instigators of some Matthew parties in the future when someone we are close to come to Christ!

Prayer:

Father God thank you for the free gift of eternal life. Thank you that it’s worth throwing a party over. I know you like parties. You did your first miracle at a wedding party. Then you had fun at Matthew’s. Help us to look at this idea with fresh eyes. Help us to have fun with those that desperately need you. It’s in Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

dmbaldwin

Exodus 27     “You shall make an altar, the court of the tabernacle, a screen, the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually, outside the veil which is before the Testimony.”

             The Old Testament sacrifice system is the foreshadow of the new, living and everlasting covenant which Jesus Christ fulfilled. Jesus is our sacrifice Atonement for our sins, past, present and future. Jesus is “the light of the world, the light of life.” Which can never be extinguished.  Thank You Jesus for taking the wrath of God for me!!

             You Lord, tell me that if I follow You, I shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. AND that I am “the light of the world.” Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice in You, the Light of my soul, path and heart!! I praise you for being God and over powering me by Your Love to empower me by Who You are!! May I desire You more and more greatly that You shine through every pore of me and pour out!! Please let it be so! 

Exodus 28    “You shall make holy garments, a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a tunic, a turban, and a sash, the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD, and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord, that he may minister to Me as priest.”

               Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for asking me to come to You, that You would make me a new creature, Your child!! Thank You for being THE Royal High Priest so You forever intercede for me! Because of this, my God, make me honorable to You, fulfilling Your will to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”!!

               Thank you for continually using Your Hand to mold me, shape me and change me to be how You desire, for only in Your blood stained Palm am I eternally safe, grateful and having Your joy as my strength.

             Please dress me up in Your garb: Your honorable Armor, wearing Your righteousness! I can never forget that You won the war, but the battles rage on. Please save the rebellious people from hell and protect the persecuted church! Please! Thank You!  

Mark 1:23-45  An unclean spirit, cried out, You are—the Holy One of God!”  “He commands and they obey Him.” He took her by the hand, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Jesus, moved with compassion, touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And he was cleansed.

            Jesus, You are the King of kings Lord of lords.  You cast out demons, heal us by Your compassionate will, and for the purpose that we will serve You as You desire! Thank You for freeing us to have such an incredible position! I am humbled because I know no good thing is in me – but Only Good is You!! 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12  

Pondering – A repeated Old Testament theme, “You shall make”. But I cannot make Righteousness. Only the Lord Jesus can make me righteous. How I need to lean on Jesus to learn from Him for all I do, say, think, feel, etc – Holding every thought captive to God’s Word, so Jesus’ righteousness is visible!! What a quest! No wonder Jesus is our exceedingly great Reward! Genesis 15:1

Further reading for -

Exodus 27     Leviticus 17:11, Matthew 26:28,  Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 10:19-23, John 19:30, Matthew 27:51, Matthew 28, Luke 24:44-53, John 3:36, John 8:12, John 1:4-5, Matthew 5:14, Psalm 119:105, 160  

Exodus 28 and Mark 1: 23-45       Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:1; John 3:5-7; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:9; Nehemiah 8:10; Ephesians 1:13-14; Isaiah 64:8; Isaiah 49:16, Ephesians 6:10-18; Mark 10:18, John 15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2 

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

The Tabernacle, God’s desert tent.
Immanuel, God with us,
Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle,
image of invisible God in earthly tent.

Ark of the Covenant, golden mercy seat.
The Angel of the Lord, Son of David,
Christ the end of the law
for everyone that believes

Bread of presence, God’s fragrant provision.
Bread of God, True Bread from Heaven
Bread of Life for the world.
Take and eat. This is my body.

Lampstand, Branches of light in the darkness.
Messiah, Righteous Branch of Jesse,
Light from heaven, light of life,
Light of the World

Temple Curtain, Royal purple wool.
Prince of Peace, Only begotten Son,
Lamb of God who takes the sins of the world
Torn

Temples of the Holy Spirit
God within us,
Living tabernacles made perfect forever
By one sacrifice, once for all.

Tabernacle, the person of Jesus Christ.
Tabernacles, everyone that believes.
Unfasten your sandals.
Everywhere we stand is now holy ground.

yicareggie

I love how God makes a way for the Israelites, to cover them in protection, to even give them advance warning of hardships and dangers. God is good. I think of his favor on the Israelites, how they got the head’s up, a direction, and a hint of the reward as they were setting out. A covenant is formed.

And Jesus, returned, telling his disciples to go and baptize, teach.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NLT)

The disciples were also give a direction, (elsewhere) advance warning of hardships and dangers, and a promise of his presence.

Be sure.

He is with (us) always.

Even to the end … the end of the day, the end of the trial, the end of the age.

This is the reminder I need. Especially on the days when a trial’s end isn’t in sight, and fear fights for presence over faith. His word warns of persecution, hatred, difficulties for the believer, but he gives the hints of rewards too. His promise endures.

Thank you, God, for promises.

Courtney (66books365)