Leviticus is wonderfully rich and full of shadows of a better way that God would initiate through His Son, Jesus Christ. The ministry of Jesus Christ is far superior than that of Leviticus. In reading the multitude of requirements expected from God's people each day, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ.
The book of Hebrews in the New Testament reveals to us Christ's superiority. Jesus offered himself as a perfect sacrifice once for all. (9:12-14; 25-26) The priesthood of Jesus lasts forever. (7:23-25) He became the High Priest we need. (7:26-27; 9:11) Jesus offers us a better covenant. (8:7-13) Through Jesus, the Festivals of the Lord are fulfilled.
1) He became the Passover Lamb...
(1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet 1:18-20)
2) ...the unleavened bread...(without sin)
(2 Cor 5:21)
3) ...the "Firstfruits"...(resurrection)
(1 Cor 15:20-23)
4) Jesus completed the Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) by sending His
Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8; 2:1-6)
The last three Festivals carry strong prophetic overtones. They are yet to be fulfilled.
So what are we to do with this better way? For those of us who have trusted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, I think the writer of Hebrews effectively summarizes what our response should be in chapter 4:14-16:
"So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." God is no longer unapproachable and through Jesus what a joy to know that we can draw near to God at any moment, wherever we may be, assured of His glad welcome.
For those who have yet to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, the only response would be to choose Jesus as the better way. Jesus himself declared in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". Not one person can come to God the Father unless he/she approaches through Jesus. His sacrifice was too costly to include any other avenues to God. This narrow focus is the theme of the entire Bible as we learned from Aaron's son's, Nadab and Abihu, who offered "unauthorized fire" to God. Their sin was that they ignored and dishonored God by doing things their own way. We do well to learn from their lesson for, "how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" (Heb. 2:3)
Hear God's sweet song of love, mercy and grace in the lyrics of a beautiful song written many years ago called, Before the Throne of God Above:
"Before the throne of God above I have a stong and perfect plea.
A great High Priest whose Name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb, my perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Savior and my God!"
Praise God for His better way!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Glory of God
So ladies, I apologize for being late. I am just going to be honest - this week has been ridiculously long. I guess you could say, I have just been in a rut. As to why, I am unsure but I am there nonetheless. So I am sorry for being tardy:) As always, it is exceedingly difficult to find one topic to blog on. It seems that as Christians we often separate the Old and New Testament. We look at the Bible and see the "vengeful" God of the Old Testament who seems to stand in stark contrast with the "grace" offered by God in the New Testament. The more I study the Old Testament, I discover that this could not be any farther from the truth. Up until this point we have encountered a God that yearns for relationship with humans - the Bible serves to portray the development of that very journey. For example, God establishes covenants with His people, delivers them, and provides for them. God creates laws and guidelines to keep that relationship pure - all the while establishing the beautiful relationship between God and mankind. We find an amazing example of this in our current reading.
Exodus 40:34 - 38 reads :
"Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels."
To take hold of the wealth of these scriptures I am going to deviate away from our reading to the story of the transfiguration. In Mark 9:7 we find that while Jesus, Peter, James and John, encounter Moses and Elijah on the mountain "a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'this is my Son , whom I love. Listen to him!'" So up until this point primary way God led the Israelites was through a cloud by day and fire at night. Approximately thirteen hundred years later God shows that the law and prophets are fulfilled through Jesus which is shown by the presence of a cloud.
Now let's go a little farther to Acts 2 and Pentecost. Up until this point in scripture, God is an outward force leading mankind through symbols and prophets. This one chapter in Acts changes the entire relationship between God and mankind for eternity. We read in Acts 2:3-4 that "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
Now, God descends with fire and rather than leading people from afar, dwells inside them. The Trinity is fulfilled - God shown in the cloud, the Christ who is revealed at the Transfiguration, and the Holy Spirit who descended like fire and now dwells within us. How awesome is that! What seemed like a mere Old and New Testament fit together like a perfect puzzle and reveal this long journey of a God that simply longs for relationship and devotion.
So what does this mean for us? As humans, God desires relationship but sin severs that union. As we know, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) As with every relationship, we have to hold up our end of the bargain. For the Israelites, they had to keep an exhaustive list of rules and follow the pillar of God. For us, we still have to keep our temple holy. So I wonder, what are we doing to enhance or detract from that relationship? Are we investing in that relationship or just benefiting from it? We serve an awesome God, a Jehovah that relentlessly pursues us. We just have to give ourselves and devote ourselves to the God that now dwells within us.
Exodus 40:34 - 38 reads :
"Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels."
To take hold of the wealth of these scriptures I am going to deviate away from our reading to the story of the transfiguration. In Mark 9:7 we find that while Jesus, Peter, James and John, encounter Moses and Elijah on the mountain "a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'this is my Son , whom I love. Listen to him!'" So up until this point primary way God led the Israelites was through a cloud by day and fire at night. Approximately thirteen hundred years later God shows that the law and prophets are fulfilled through Jesus which is shown by the presence of a cloud.
Now let's go a little farther to Acts 2 and Pentecost. Up until this point in scripture, God is an outward force leading mankind through symbols and prophets. This one chapter in Acts changes the entire relationship between God and mankind for eternity. We read in Acts 2:3-4 that "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
Now, God descends with fire and rather than leading people from afar, dwells inside them. The Trinity is fulfilled - God shown in the cloud, the Christ who is revealed at the Transfiguration, and the Holy Spirit who descended like fire and now dwells within us. How awesome is that! What seemed like a mere Old and New Testament fit together like a perfect puzzle and reveal this long journey of a God that simply longs for relationship and devotion.
So what does this mean for us? As humans, God desires relationship but sin severs that union. As we know, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) As with every relationship, we have to hold up our end of the bargain. For the Israelites, they had to keep an exhaustive list of rules and follow the pillar of God. For us, we still have to keep our temple holy. So I wonder, what are we doing to enhance or detract from that relationship? Are we investing in that relationship or just benefiting from it? We serve an awesome God, a Jehovah that relentlessly pursues us. We just have to give ourselves and devote ourselves to the God that now dwells within us.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Fear of God
Exodus 20:18-21
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I am enthralled by this small passage. I notice:
- Moses said, "Do not be afraid," like angels, when their arrival causes fear.
- The fear of God (different from being afraid apparently) can keep a person from sinning.
Questions for Reflection:
- How can a person tell if they have a respectful fear of God versus just being afraid?
- Has the fear of God ever kept you from sinning?
When I am afraid- I am frozen- incapacitated. I think the fear of God is more of a motivator. I recognize His holiness and authority. I realize my dependence on him. I am moved, not to shut down, but to consciously, worshipfully put my trust and confidence in him.
I think at times I have experienced something similar to the awe of the Israelites. Looking from atop the Colorado
I watched Louie Giglio's "Indescribable", which attempts to help the viewer understand God's power and beauty by studying the universe. The information about our galaxies is both beautiful and humbling. My brain almost hurt from trying to fathom our Creator and the size of His Creation. Sometimes the confusion of trying to comprehend a God who could make galaxies, yet care for me personally is too much. I can't understand not being born, and I can't fathom eternity.
Sometimes I don't understand choices God makes on our earth. Why do some innocent children suffer and die of cancer, while some evil dictators grow rich and retreat to a vacation home? I don't always understand God. I think that's where faith comes in. I have His Word, which is God's love letter for a humanity filled with dark motives and actions. I have my personal salvation, where I experienced God's forgiveness for my dark heart and actions. I have a history of blessings and mercies. So, when I encounter something I don't understand, I can stand on His Promises. I can remember, God is so big, it's no wonder I don't always understand everything. That knowledge keeps my thoughts in perspective.
I think there is a dangerous tendency to want to create and fashion a God that is manageable and easier to understand when we are faced with the knowledge of his immense power. Maybe He just makes a choice we don't understand.
I know in just a few short chapters, the Israelites will try to create a god they are more comfortable with- a golden calf. They did not pass the test. They went from being afraid, to taking control of the situation by creating a god they could control. Our God- the One who has power over the wind and waves, who does not always behave as we think he should (Job) who makes promises to both slaves and free and sees the promises through, Our God cannot be minimized, explained away or contained in human explanations.
So..
I will pray through my fear. I will ask God to expose times in my life I have, out of fear, asked him to hide himself from me. I will ask God to instead, fashion a holy fear that will keep me from sinning against Him. I will watch for:
1. Grumbling against others versus taking my complaints to Him (Exodus 16:6-8)
2. Quick pat answers about God that make me feel more comfortable (like the friend's of Job)
3. I will spend time meditating on God's power and love so don't engage in idol worship in my mind, and sin against him.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What are we missing?
As I read the passages that I was to blog about, I was a little discouraged. I instantly had many new thoughts and perspectives about the previous passages up to this point so why not these. Why is something not coming to me so easily? Oh, I could write about how Moses kept trying to get out of his calling, how the Lord hardened pharoah's heart so that all people will know for generations to come that He is God and so that all glory was given unto Him, or a multitude of other great insights. But as I brought each one of these ideas up in my head, I wasn't satisfied with writing about them. I didn't feel that those things were what God wanted me to really learn. I felt like I would be settling just to hurry up and write a Bible study blog that I was already late in doing.
So I kept mulling and meditating over what I read and kept asking God what was I missing? What did he want me to see and what did he want me to write about? Many verses kept coming up but there was one in particular that I noticed when I first read it and that came up more frequently than the others as I was reflecting and seeking God's direction. It was Exodus 3:4 "When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
As I read this verse, I thought "Hmmm, interesting, Moses had to turn aside to go see the bush and God had to see this first before God actually would speak to him." And then I joked with myself, "Well, I guess curiosity doesn't always kill the cat." =) Even though that was the end of it as I was reading, it stuck in my head while I was getting ready for the day. While I was taking a shower, it kept coming up in my mind so here is how my thought process went...
"Why does that verse keep popping into my head. It doesn't seem significant - just interesting. No, I haven't ever noticed before that he had to turn aside. That is new to me but what is the point? Yes, I have just always thought he was walking and minding is own business when God got is attention by burning but not consuming the bush with fire and that God began immediately began speaking to him from the bush which is what made Moses stop and turn aside. Ok, so he actually turned aside first. What is the impact of this? What am I missing?
And then I realized that the fact that I was missing something was the very point that I was missing. What if Moses had also missed it that day? What would the impact have been then? What if he looked at the burning bush and thought "Whoa...it's burning but not being consumed...that never happens...hmmm...that's interesting." Then went on about his business. Maybe he would have gone home and told his father-in-law. Then their conversation might have gone something like this:
Moses: "Saw a bush burning today."
Jethro: "What's new?"
Moses: "It wasn't consumed by the fire."
Jethro: "Hmm. Wow. Are you sure?"
Moses: "Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes."
Jethro: "Do you know why it was burning but not consumed?"
Moses: "No, but it was interesting."
Jethro: "Did you go check it out to find out the mystery behind it?"
Moses: "Na, I had a lot of work to do."
Jethro: "Well, guess you will never know if it was real or just the desert heat playing tricks on you."
And that would have been the end of the Exodus which is what makes the action in this verse so significant even though the action itself was not difficult or extraordinary. Moses was going to have questions about the burning bush either way (whether he stopped or kept going) but the difference is that he actively sought an explanation. God saw this and honored him for it by revealing Himself to Moses. Had Moses not responded to the miracle he saw by deliberately stopping and turning aside to investigate then Moses would have just been left with questions and doubt instead of answers and purpose.
When times got tough and Moses had doubts about himself, God, or others, Moses might have wished that he would have just kept walking. But then he (and subsequently all of Isreal) would have missed out on one of the greatest acts of redemption. Which as it so happens, set the stage for THE greatest redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross for ALL humanity. What seems like a small and insignificant act of simply not turning aside to see could have been the very thing that kept hundreds of thousands of people from being saved. But Moses did turn aside to see and it was this local action that had a global and eternal impact.
So the question is "What are you missing?" And what are you possibly causing others here and around the world to miss out on now and forever? What are you not doing or neglecting because you simply don't stop your daily routine long enough to focus on finding out the answers to questions you have? What unexplainable things are happening around you but you do nothing to find the explanation it because you deem it unimportant for whatever reason. You notice it but you chalk it up to "I can't explain it" instead of immediately and purposely stopping what you are doing and turning aside to fully and clearly see it, thus giving God the opportunity to call you.
We need to keep asking God everyday "What are we missing?" and not be satisfied until his Holy Spirit gives us an answer. The Lord, the great I AM, WILL bless our efforts to know His will by giving us the answers that we seek.
So I kept mulling and meditating over what I read and kept asking God what was I missing? What did he want me to see and what did he want me to write about? Many verses kept coming up but there was one in particular that I noticed when I first read it and that came up more frequently than the others as I was reflecting and seeking God's direction. It was Exodus 3:4 "When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
As I read this verse, I thought "Hmmm, interesting, Moses had to turn aside to go see the bush and God had to see this first before God actually would speak to him." And then I joked with myself, "Well, I guess curiosity doesn't always kill the cat." =) Even though that was the end of it as I was reading, it stuck in my head while I was getting ready for the day. While I was taking a shower, it kept coming up in my mind so here is how my thought process went...
"Why does that verse keep popping into my head. It doesn't seem significant - just interesting. No, I haven't ever noticed before that he had to turn aside. That is new to me but what is the point? Yes, I have just always thought he was walking and minding is own business when God got is attention by burning but not consuming the bush with fire and that God began immediately began speaking to him from the bush which is what made Moses stop and turn aside. Ok, so he actually turned aside first. What is the impact of this? What am I missing?
And then I realized that the fact that I was missing something was the very point that I was missing. What if Moses had also missed it that day? What would the impact have been then? What if he looked at the burning bush and thought "Whoa...it's burning but not being consumed...that never happens...hmmm...that's interesting." Then went on about his business. Maybe he would have gone home and told his father-in-law. Then their conversation might have gone something like this:
Moses: "Saw a bush burning today."
Jethro: "What's new?"
Moses: "It wasn't consumed by the fire."
Jethro: "Hmm. Wow. Are you sure?"
Moses: "Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes."
Jethro: "Do you know why it was burning but not consumed?"
Moses: "No, but it was interesting."
Jethro: "Did you go check it out to find out the mystery behind it?"
Moses: "Na, I had a lot of work to do."
Jethro: "Well, guess you will never know if it was real or just the desert heat playing tricks on you."
And that would have been the end of the Exodus which is what makes the action in this verse so significant even though the action itself was not difficult or extraordinary. Moses was going to have questions about the burning bush either way (whether he stopped or kept going) but the difference is that he actively sought an explanation. God saw this and honored him for it by revealing Himself to Moses. Had Moses not responded to the miracle he saw by deliberately stopping and turning aside to investigate then Moses would have just been left with questions and doubt instead of answers and purpose.
When times got tough and Moses had doubts about himself, God, or others, Moses might have wished that he would have just kept walking. But then he (and subsequently all of Isreal) would have missed out on one of the greatest acts of redemption. Which as it so happens, set the stage for THE greatest redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross for ALL humanity. What seems like a small and insignificant act of simply not turning aside to see could have been the very thing that kept hundreds of thousands of people from being saved. But Moses did turn aside to see and it was this local action that had a global and eternal impact.
So the question is "What are you missing?" And what are you possibly causing others here and around the world to miss out on now and forever? What are you not doing or neglecting because you simply don't stop your daily routine long enough to focus on finding out the answers to questions you have? What unexplainable things are happening around you but you do nothing to find the explanation it because you deem it unimportant for whatever reason. You notice it but you chalk it up to "I can't explain it" instead of immediately and purposely stopping what you are doing and turning aside to fully and clearly see it, thus giving God the opportunity to call you.
We need to keep asking God everyday "What are we missing?" and not be satisfied until his Holy Spirit gives us an answer. The Lord, the great I AM, WILL bless our efforts to know His will by giving us the answers that we seek.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Introduction
Hi Everyone. I am a new "blogger" so please be patient with me as I try and come into the sophisticated world of technology. I am excited about this group because I stay very busy but have made it my goal this year to read the Bible. What better way to do so than with others with the same mission?
Basic Info: I have been married to my husband Barry for almost 23 years. We have three beautiful children that we have been blessed with. I have been an RN for the past 15 years. I am very lucky to have been guided to a career field that I find rewarding every single day. I am a very private person but I am trying to open up my life up more.
A Great Experience Last Year: Seeing my husband completely surrender his life to Jesus Christ.
A Difficult experience Last Year: Last year was a difficult year all around but it is behind me and a new light is shining in front.
Goals for this Year: To continue to strengthen my relationship with Jesus, my husband and my children.
Something Silly: I can research for hours on the most simpliest subject. It took me an entire day to finish Genesis 1 and I still feel that I need to research more but I had to force myself to move on.
Salvation experience: I am a reborn Christian.
Basic Info: I have been married to my husband Barry for almost 23 years. We have three beautiful children that we have been blessed with. I have been an RN for the past 15 years. I am very lucky to have been guided to a career field that I find rewarding every single day. I am a very private person but I am trying to open up my life up more.
A Great Experience Last Year: Seeing my husband completely surrender his life to Jesus Christ.
A Difficult experience Last Year: Last year was a difficult year all around but it is behind me and a new light is shining in front.
Goals for this Year: To continue to strengthen my relationship with Jesus, my husband and my children.
Something Silly: I can research for hours on the most simpliest subject. It took me an entire day to finish Genesis 1 and I still feel that I need to research more but I had to force myself to move on.
Salvation experience: I am a reborn Christian.
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