Numbers 1-2; Psalm 64; Hebrews 11

How thrilled I was to wake up this morning and find that our readings had left Leviticus and we had moved into Numbers.  That did not last too long.  I forgot how much Numbers was like Leviticus.  Yes, no worries, Erwin, God’s Word, whether in Leviticus or Numbers still changes hearts and lives and sure enough, today is no different.  Both chapters end with a great message and the last verses scream out to me – do everything that God tells me to do!

Israel did everything the Lord had told Moses. They arranged their camp according to clans and families, with each tribe under its own banner. And that was the order by which they marched into battle. – Numbers 2:34  CEV

I know that I have a choice to disobey God, but why would I?  Why would I choose fear when I can rest in His Word?  Why trust my eyes and what they see in the world? When I close them and pray, I say Jesus’ name, He comes into that world of mine and I know I am protected and I know I am safe in the palm of His hands.

Listen to my concerns, God,
    and protect me
    from my terrible enemies.
 Keep me safe from secret plots
    of corrupt and evil gangs. – Psalm 64:1-2  CEV

So there is no need to worry that I am not making as much money as I think I should be making.  There are no worries that my home is not filled with as much expensive stuff as others have.  My only worry is that I am doing what God has asked me to do.  I want Him to welcome me home when I enter His presence.

Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah,^[c] and he looked forward to his reward. – Hebrews 11:26  CEV

Father, thank you for the promises that You have given me through Jesus.  Every day I wake up I have the choice of doing what You ask me to do or staying in my own little world filled with fear. Really not a hard choice to make, but somehow, each day, it becomes a choice.  Thank you for Your Word that finds a way to reach into my heart and change me, direct me and provide me purpose for the day.  You are so amazing – as I do Your work today, protect me, keep me safe – I will treasure You wherever I go. Love You. Amen.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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Leviticus 26-27; Psalms 112; Hebrews 10

“How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; An entire generation of Godly people will be blessed.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to take care of them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.  They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.”  Psalms 112:1-9 NLT

Legacy fills my mind…

A question that Courtney asks in her  post  sticks with me. “How will my children remember me?”

A dear family lost their husband and father in a tragic car accident ten years ago.  I reflect on this man’s faith. It has left a Godly mark on his six children. His time with them was short, but left an eternal impact.

A friend told the story of how her dad read a Billy Graham book and was saved. This changed the course of her family.

“I will look on you with favour and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling-place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” Leviticus 26:9-13 NIV

I am thankful for the story of restoration and redemption  that God is writing in my family.   I am getting to see first hand how he brings beauty from ashes.  God is using two broken people to reflect His glory to the four children that he has entrusted us.  When I start to feel overwhelmed by it all, I come to him again.  He promises to be with me.  And to finish the work he has started.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35&36 NLT

Thank you Father that you are the lifter of my head , that your yoke is easy.  Help me to carry my burdens to you and to teach my kids to do the same. Thank you for your faithfulness, mercy, kindness and forgiveness. Amen.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23

Amy(amyctanner)

 

Leviticus 24&25; Psalm 81; Hebrews 9

What great passages of Scripture for this Lenten season. The Old Testament is a foreshadow of things to come. When Christ comes it is all fulfilled in Him. The last verses of Hebrews 9 state this:

But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:26, 27, 28 [ESV]).

Jesus in the final sacrifice that satisfies the law and pays for our sin. Our only response is to accept this free gift of salvation. There are no do overs in this after we die. All of us will die (unless Christ returns for us first) and after that the judgment. Why did Jesus come to this planet? He came to live a perfect life and be a perfect sacrifice for our sins. And He will return for those who have put their trust in Him alone for their salvation.

How bout you? Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus to return. We can discuss a bit on whether His return is imminent, but verse 28 states He is coming back for those that are eagerly waiting for Him. Are you waiting eagerly for Jesus? That’s our goal during this Lenten season.

Leviticus 21-23; Hebrews 8

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying “Speak to the people of Israel, saying ‘On the Fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD… These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day… You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths.” Leviticus 23: 34, 37, and 42 ESV

In Leviticus 23, the LORD tells Moses of the feasts Israelites are to celebrate, like the Day of Atonement and The Passover. One of those feasts is The Feast of Booths, a feast when the Israelites live in tents to remember when the LORD led them out of the land of Egypt. When the Israelites where sojourning outside of Egypt, the Tabernacle was to tent where the people worshiped the LORD.

…we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 8:1-2 ESV

The author of Hebrews tells of our high priest, Jesus, who ministers in heaven, the true Tabernacle. Just as the priests interceded and made sacrifices for the sins of the Israelites, Jesus intercedes and made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The offerings the Israelites offered up were a foreshadowing of the ultimate offering, Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of the world.

They served a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. Hebrews 8: 5-7 ESV

Christ came because it was impossible for me to fulfill the old covenant perfectly. However, through Christ and the new covenant, I am blameless before God.

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8: 13 ESV

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son and for the new covenant. You know no one could be blameless under the old covenant except Jesus, who led a sinless life and then sacrificed Himself for our sins. Please help me seek You more and help me draw closer to You. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Nathanael (nborger2017)

Leviticus 19-20; Hebrews 7

I know people who are generous. I know people who are stingy. I know people who are encouraging. I know people who are deceptive. I know people who are patient. I know people who are easily ruffled. I think about traits that mark an impression and define a life and lifestyle.

How will my children remember me?

How will my words or actions influence a stranger?

Whether my life is lived in a big way or a small way, it will leave a mark that seems temporary, but one that has a potential to affect generations. (Lord, help me steward well what you’ve entrusted me.)

The Lord speaks of being set apart as holy in Leviticus.

⁷ So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. ⁸ Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20:7-8, NLT)

I find comfort in these words as they point to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. He is the Lord who makes me holy. He is at work within me, transforming me.

²⁶ He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. ²⁷ Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. (Hebrews 7:26-27, NLT)

I don’t expect my kids to master any topic in a first reading. Learning takes practice. I’m so grateful for a gracious God who will walk with me all the years of my life to guide and correct me and love me all the while–on my good days, on my bad days.

Lord God, thank you for your words in my hands, that I can turn to you for instruction and wisdom. Thank you for your great patience in my life, the hard tests and tasks that transform me. Thank you for relationship–that I can be close to you and know I am loved.

Courtney (66books365)