Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Saturday February 06, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 14-15. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-6
Title: Bible Study: Cured From Sin
The more we read through the book of Leviticus the more we as Christian's should appreciate the fact that because Jesus Christ, who was the unblemished, perfect male, became the ultimate sacrifice and shed His own blood we have atonement for our sins without having to sacrifice animals every time we want to speak to God. Speaking to God was more than just admitting sin, it meant one had to make themselves holy and righteous before God. He would not even listen to someone unless they were completely cleansed from the world in mind, body, and soul. The two chapters we read today explain to the Israelite's what they had to do to be cleansed and holy before God. As we have learned from yesterdays reading, any person deemed leprous was not allowed to commune with the rest of the congregation unless they had been cured from the disease. Now, regardless of how many sacrifices brought to the priests the only way a person could have been cured from the disease was by God Himself. Only when a person was cured was he able to take the steps needed to be cleansed and holy before God and be able to communicate with Him. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 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, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.” - Leviticus 14:1-7. The word leprosy struck terror in the heart of an Israelite for two reasons. First, the person who had leprosy became an outcast from society. He was forced to leave his home, family, friends, and the place of worship. When anyone went near him, the leper had to cry out, Unclean, Unclean, and people had to avoid him. When God cured the person of the disease he was able to take the steps needed to be fully cleansed and able to return to society and God.
Now, God did not stop at just lepers, He also addressed the issues of unclean men and women and what they had to do in order to be cleansed and no longer separated from God or the rest of His people. Okay, not to be gross here, but God addresses every issue known to man, including those of the flesh body. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean...........And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.” - Leviticus 15:1-4,19-21. God addresses the issue of certain body fluids, the running issue out of the flesh in men is what is called in the reference Bible as, the running of the reins, or in physician terms, gonorrhea, the issue of blood concerning women is what is known as her menstrual cycle. If an man or woman gets any of these fluids on a person, clothing, or furniture it is considered unclean for seven days. The reason of all these laws was to separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness. Hereby they were taught their privilege and honor, that they were purified unto God, a peculiar people, for that was a defilement to them, which was not so to others. They were also taught their duty, which was to keep themselves clean from all pollutions. Many heathen nations used blood and other fluids as rituals that should not be known to any child of God and this is why God addressed these issues.
Uncleanness is representative of sin and how an infectious disease it is when we are in it, which spreads to everyone around us. Our cure, is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can cure us from the dreadful disease of sin. The steps taken for an Israelite to be cleansed are representative of Christ, the two birds represent, Christ dying for our sins and rising again to cleanse us, releasing us from our sins. The cedar wood is representative of the freedom given by Jesus to remove all the corruption that sin had brought upon our lives. Scarlet is representative of the persons stained blood and also the blood of Christ that removed those stains. Hyssop is representative of the fragrant smell given off as we are cleansed from our sins, deemed holy, and reconciled with God so we can communicate with Him. Although these laws seem harsh they are a reminder that God sees and knows everything that is going on, including things that seem unnoticed by man. Praise God that we no longer have to go through all the steps taken just to be cleansed as we are cleansed by the blood of Christ! We are children of God and need to start acting that way, that means, we are to rid ourselves of all things that defile our bodies. We can not even allow ourselves to do some of the things noted here today, just think about that. We have the great privilege to have had the blood of Christ applied to our souls, which allows us to be able to communicate with God. Do you think He will just let us do what we want and get away with it, even if no one else sees us doing wrong? God knows and He will not let us get away with anything. However, God is quick to forgive all who come to Him for repentance, as long as they are sincere. Praise God! “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - II Peter 3:8,9.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Bible Study: Cleansed By The Blood
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Friday February 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 11-13. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-5
Title: Bible Study: Cleansed By The Blood
Today's chapters focus on things that clean and unclean, God gave the Israelite's instructions on food they were allowed to eat or even touch to keep them clean. Though every creature of God be good and pure in itself, yet it pleased God to make a difference between the clean and unclean. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.” - Leviticus 11:1-4. Although we are exempt from these laws today, several things come to mind. This was a test of the people's obedience, to teach them self-denial, and the government of their appetites. It also was to keep the Israelite's distinct from other nations, many of these forbidden animals were objects of superstition and idolatry to the heathen. The law forbade, not only the eating of the unclean beasts, but the touching of them as well. Today, for Christian's, this would mean that we are to avoid every temptation that would cause us to sin. We must be careful not to abuse our freedom given to us by the Lord, Jesus Christ. When Jesus redeems us and cleans us from our sins, we are called His people, children of the living God, meaning that we are to be holy, just as He is holy. In other words we are to separate ourselves from the world, those who are unclean cause us to be unclean.
Of all the sins committed those of the flesh are considered the worse, although the conception of a child in most cases is not a sin, God addresses a woman's purity after giving birth. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.........And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.” - Leviticus 12:1-4,6,7. What God is referring to here is not regarding a woman unclean from the conception of a child, she was considered unclean due to her infirmities, which is referred to as menstruation or the expelling of unclean blood, which lasted about seven days. The purifying of her blood refers to the complete purification of a woman's body after she gives birth, which took about forty days if she gave birth to a male and eighty for a female. The reason a woman had to wait twice as long was to keep the female population from getting larger than the male. It is called the blood of her purifying because by the expulsion of that blood, which is done by degrees, she is purified. After the cleansing period the woman was to bring offerings to God, they were used to stress the importance of the strength of her surrender and absence from being in the presence God. A man was not to even touch a woman in this state because he too would be considered unclean. Today, while these laws do not refer to us to such a degree, it is a reminder that we are to consider the uncleanness of being immoral with our bodies and the consequences we face in doing so.
God did not just point out women, men too are to keep their bodies pure as well, chapter thirteen refers to the disease of leprosy. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.” - Leviticus 13:1-3. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects and controls the entire body, it starts out as a white spot then slowly eats through a persons muscle, causing the nervous system to shut down as well as hair loss and even loss of limbs. The reason God addresses the issue of leprosy is that it represents sin, it may start off as a little spot, but slowly destroys a person over time. “And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.” - Leviticus 13:45,46. If someone had been diagnosed with having leprosy, he had to literally shout out unclean, unclean if someone were to come near him as he was not able to be around those who were clean because if he had gotten around them they too would catch the disease. Sin not only affects the person committing the sin, but those around them as well, either they become victims or fall right into their sinful ways as well. God gives each of us a choice to either follow Him or sin, the choices we make need to be within the Word of God, if they go against His Word than we will face the consequences. God told us exactly what He expects from us, and when we treat His Word lightly, and without regards and respect, then we tell Him that we reject His Laws and commandments. At that point we have no one to blame, but ourselves for the consequences we face. We are to be holy, because He is holy, therefore, especially when it comes to our bodies, we need to keep everything we do moral. Of course we will fall from time to time, but when we do, we can keep ourselves from spreading the disease simply by calling on the only man who can heal us from our infirmities. That man is the one and only Jesus Christ, who shed His blood to cleanse us from all our infirmities, even those done with the body. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Friday February 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 11-13. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-5
Title: Bible Study: Cleansed By The Blood
Today's chapters focus on things that clean and unclean, God gave the Israelite's instructions on food they were allowed to eat or even touch to keep them clean. Though every creature of God be good and pure in itself, yet it pleased God to make a difference between the clean and unclean. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.” - Leviticus 11:1-4. Although we are exempt from these laws today, several things come to mind. This was a test of the people's obedience, to teach them self-denial, and the government of their appetites. It also was to keep the Israelite's distinct from other nations, many of these forbidden animals were objects of superstition and idolatry to the heathen. The law forbade, not only the eating of the unclean beasts, but the touching of them as well. Today, for Christian's, this would mean that we are to avoid every temptation that would cause us to sin. We must be careful not to abuse our freedom given to us by the Lord, Jesus Christ. When Jesus redeems us and cleans us from our sins, we are called His people, children of the living God, meaning that we are to be holy, just as He is holy. In other words we are to separate ourselves from the world, those who are unclean cause us to be unclean.
Of all the sins committed those of the flesh are considered the worse, although the conception of a child in most cases is not a sin, God addresses a woman's purity after giving birth. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.........And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.” - Leviticus 12:1-4,6,7. What God is referring to here is not regarding a woman unclean from the conception of a child, she was considered unclean due to her infirmities, which is referred to as menstruation or the expelling of unclean blood, which lasted about seven days. The purifying of her blood refers to the complete purification of a woman's body after she gives birth, which took about forty days if she gave birth to a male and eighty for a female. The reason a woman had to wait twice as long was to keep the female population from getting larger than the male. It is called the blood of her purifying because by the expulsion of that blood, which is done by degrees, she is purified. After the cleansing period the woman was to bring offerings to God, they were used to stress the importance of the strength of her surrender and absence from being in the presence God. A man was not to even touch a woman in this state because he too would be considered unclean. Today, while these laws do not refer to us to such a degree, it is a reminder that we are to consider the uncleanness of being immoral with our bodies and the consequences we face in doing so.
God did not just point out women, men too are to keep their bodies pure as well, chapter thirteen refers to the disease of leprosy. “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.” - Leviticus 13:1-3. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects and controls the entire body, it starts out as a white spot then slowly eats through a persons muscle, causing the nervous system to shut down as well as hair loss and even loss of limbs. The reason God addresses the issue of leprosy is that it represents sin, it may start off as a little spot, but slowly destroys a person over time. “And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.” - Leviticus 13:45,46. If someone had been diagnosed with having leprosy, he had to literally shout out unclean, unclean if someone were to come near him as he was not able to be around those who were clean because if he had gotten around them they too would catch the disease. Sin not only affects the person committing the sin, but those around them as well, either they become victims or fall right into their sinful ways as well. God gives each of us a choice to either follow Him or sin, the choices we make need to be within the Word of God, if they go against His Word than we will face the consequences. God told us exactly what He expects from us, and when we treat His Word lightly, and without regards and respect, then we tell Him that we reject His Laws and commandments. At that point we have no one to blame, but ourselves for the consequences we face. We are to be holy, because He is holy, therefore, especially when it comes to our bodies, we need to keep everything we do moral. Of course we will fall from time to time, but when we do, we can keep ourselves from spreading the disease simply by calling on the only man who can heal us from our infirmities. That man is the one and only Jesus Christ, who shed His blood to cleanse us from all our infirmities, even those done with the body. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bible Study: Forgive And Forget
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Thursday February 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 9-10. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-4
Title: Bible Study: Forgive and Forget
In the past nine chapters we have learned that, through Moses, God had explained the purpose of all the sacrificial/meat offerings and instructed the priests on the specific manner in which they were to accept and handle the offerings. They were now cleansed and deemed holy before God and it was time for them to begin accepting the offerings from the people. “And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.” - Leviticus 9:1-5. God knew that if Moses just told the people that they were to start giving their sacrifices to Aaron or his sons that no one would believe. So, He had Moses gather all the elders (head of the twelve tribes) together to be a witness to this phenomenon. Aaron and his sons were the first to offer up sacrifices to the Lord, if you notice a calf was added for a sin offering, this was a reminder to Aaron of the huge sin that he made by making the golden calf when the people complained about Moses being gone for so long. Every day he was to offer up a calf as a reminder that he rendered himself for ever unworthy of the honor of the priesthood, on which he had reason to reflect with sorrow and shame, in all the atonements he made. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17.
These many sacrifices, which were all done away by the death of Christ, teach us that our best services need washing in his blood, and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be done away with by One who is more pure and more noble than even the greatest earthly high priest. Let us be thankful that we now have Jesus Christ as our High Priest and that we no longer have to be reminded daily of our past sins. Praise God! This is a reminder to all of us who have some things of the past that we hold on to. Stop killing yourself over them, you asked God to forgive you and He has and forgot all about them, but as long as you keep bringing them up you are proving God to be a liar and God will keep you suffering until you once and for all let it go and forget about it. We can not change the past no matter how much we try, but we can change the future, God does not want you living in guilt for the rest of your life, He wants you to put all of it away and feel good about life. Trust me, I know this for a fact, as long as I held on to my past I was not going anywhere, it took me almost dying before I realized that it was time for me to get out of the past.
You know, sometimes we can get so hyped up about doing things for God that we do not pay attention to what we are doing for Him. Of course, God loves a cheerful and eager servant, but we need to be careful of what we do and allow ourselves to get caught up in. This proved to be the case as we read about two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu. “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.” - Leviticus 10:1-3. Nadab, and Abihu were eager to show their love for God, but they failed to pay attention to what they were to offer up to God. There are two kinds of fire, the eternal fire that comes from God and the eternal fire that comes from Satan. God Himself placed fire upon the alter, it was holy and acceptable to use to burn incense, but they already had it burning with fire that was not from God. If it had been done through ignorance, they would had been allowed to bring a sin-offering. However, they did it presumptuously and in contempt of God's majesty and justice. The wages of sin is death, therefore, they died in the very act of their sin. The sin and punishment of these priests showed the imperfection of that priesthood from the very beginning, and that it could not shelter any from the fire of God's wrath. Though Aaron's heart must have been filled with anguish and dismay, he spoke not a word to the justice served of God.
When God corrects us or those for sin, it is our duty to accept the punishment and rejoice at the fact that we have been redeemed through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God! I will tell you that I am still suffering the consequences of some of the things that I have done in the past, but I am a forgiven child of the Living God. Although we are all forgiven and are required to forgive and forget, that does not exempt us from facing the consequences of our past actions. So, how do you forget the past although you live in the consequences of your sins? You put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, seek Him for guidance, and move forward knowing that all the suffering will come to pass and a brighter future will unfold as we live our lives for His glory. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:1-5. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Thursday February 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 9-10. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-4
Title: Bible Study: Forgive and Forget
In the past nine chapters we have learned that, through Moses, God had explained the purpose of all the sacrificial/meat offerings and instructed the priests on the specific manner in which they were to accept and handle the offerings. They were now cleansed and deemed holy before God and it was time for them to begin accepting the offerings from the people. “And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.” - Leviticus 9:1-5. God knew that if Moses just told the people that they were to start giving their sacrifices to Aaron or his sons that no one would believe. So, He had Moses gather all the elders (head of the twelve tribes) together to be a witness to this phenomenon. Aaron and his sons were the first to offer up sacrifices to the Lord, if you notice a calf was added for a sin offering, this was a reminder to Aaron of the huge sin that he made by making the golden calf when the people complained about Moses being gone for so long. Every day he was to offer up a calf as a reminder that he rendered himself for ever unworthy of the honor of the priesthood, on which he had reason to reflect with sorrow and shame, in all the atonements he made. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17.
These many sacrifices, which were all done away by the death of Christ, teach us that our best services need washing in his blood, and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be done away with by One who is more pure and more noble than even the greatest earthly high priest. Let us be thankful that we now have Jesus Christ as our High Priest and that we no longer have to be reminded daily of our past sins. Praise God! This is a reminder to all of us who have some things of the past that we hold on to. Stop killing yourself over them, you asked God to forgive you and He has and forgot all about them, but as long as you keep bringing them up you are proving God to be a liar and God will keep you suffering until you once and for all let it go and forget about it. We can not change the past no matter how much we try, but we can change the future, God does not want you living in guilt for the rest of your life, He wants you to put all of it away and feel good about life. Trust me, I know this for a fact, as long as I held on to my past I was not going anywhere, it took me almost dying before I realized that it was time for me to get out of the past.
You know, sometimes we can get so hyped up about doing things for God that we do not pay attention to what we are doing for Him. Of course, God loves a cheerful and eager servant, but we need to be careful of what we do and allow ourselves to get caught up in. This proved to be the case as we read about two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu. “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.” - Leviticus 10:1-3. Nadab, and Abihu were eager to show their love for God, but they failed to pay attention to what they were to offer up to God. There are two kinds of fire, the eternal fire that comes from God and the eternal fire that comes from Satan. God Himself placed fire upon the alter, it was holy and acceptable to use to burn incense, but they already had it burning with fire that was not from God. If it had been done through ignorance, they would had been allowed to bring a sin-offering. However, they did it presumptuously and in contempt of God's majesty and justice. The wages of sin is death, therefore, they died in the very act of their sin. The sin and punishment of these priests showed the imperfection of that priesthood from the very beginning, and that it could not shelter any from the fire of God's wrath. Though Aaron's heart must have been filled with anguish and dismay, he spoke not a word to the justice served of God.
When God corrects us or those for sin, it is our duty to accept the punishment and rejoice at the fact that we have been redeemed through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God! I will tell you that I am still suffering the consequences of some of the things that I have done in the past, but I am a forgiven child of the Living God. Although we are all forgiven and are required to forgive and forget, that does not exempt us from facing the consequences of our past actions. So, how do you forget the past although you live in the consequences of your sins? You put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, seek Him for guidance, and move forward knowing that all the suffering will come to pass and a brighter future will unfold as we live our lives for His glory. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:1-5. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Bible Study: Feast With God
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Wednesday February 03, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 7-8. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-3
Title: Bible Study: Feast With God
In today's reading we learn of the trespass, peace offering, and the ten steps that the priest had to take in order to be cleansed and able to receive the sacrifices of the congregation. The trespass offering was an offering that was given to express repentance and sorrow for sin, “Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.…....And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.” - Leviticus 7:1,2,5-7. The person offering the sacrifice was not allowed to eat the flesh of the animal as it was a time for reflection and fasting, therefore, it was to be eaten only by the priest who accepted the offering, this was the offenders atonement for his sin. Today, we as Christian's should still follow this command and offer ourselves as a spiritual sacrifice to reflect and fast over the atonement of our sins which only comes from the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Peace offerings were not a requirement, they were given to express thanks and praise to God for not only the atonement of their sins, but other blessings as well. “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.” - Leviticus 7:11-15. Unlike the sin and trespass offerings, the person offering the sacrifice was allowed to eat the flesh and bread along with priest accepting the offering. The peace offering was the last one to be offered because there could be no peace or fellowship with God until all the regulations of the sin and trespass offerings had first been obeyed. The special feature of the peace offering was the sacrificial meal wherein the priest and the worshipper shared together what was offered, and part of the offering was presented to God upon His altar, as though it were being consumed by Him. After these sacrifices the worshipper was acceptable to God and could enjoy fellowship with Him, it was a joyful feast celebrating restored peace and communication with God. Today, we too can enjoy a great feast with God as we celebrate the restored peace that only comes by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. All who accept Christ are acceptable to God. Praise God! I remember this past Christmas, we had an extra chair at the table, we used it to invite Christ to eat with us. God rejoiced that day because we wanted Him there and rejoices whenever we invite Him into our daily lives.
Before a priest could accept a sacrifice from an offender, he too had to restore fellowship with God. He had to be completely cleansed and atone for his own sins before he was able to assist God in accepting the sacrifices that would be an atonement for others. This was unlike any sacrifice that a common person had to make, ten steps were taken in order for a priest to be cleansed. “And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.........And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.” - Leviticus 8:6-9,22-24. Three animals had to be sacrificed, the ram of congregation was the sacrifice that would set them apart from the common people, it made them holy before God and able to receive the sacrifices. The right ear, right hand, and right foot were to have blood applied to them. When applied to the ear, it meant that they were to keep their ears holy, meaning they were to listen to no conversation that would violate their congregation to God or distract them from hearing His voice. When applied to the thumb, it meant that the hand was qualified to accept the gifts and sacrifices for God. When applied to the big toe, it meant that they were now holy before God and had to be careful of their daily activities as to not defile their bodies. As Christian's, we too are to apply the blood of Christ upon our right ear, thumb, and big toe, for we are the Temple of God and are holy before Him. Our daily activities need to be thought out and reflected upon Christ, even the people we are around can distract us, keep us from hearing God, and defile our bodies. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” - I Corinthians 3:16,17. We are so blessed that Christ offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy fellowship with God and atone for all of our sins for good. Therefore, we can all enjoy fellowship and feast with God, but we must be willing to keep the blood of Christ applied to us daily if we want it to stay that way..
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Wednesday February 03, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 7-8. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-3
Title: Bible Study: Feast With God
In today's reading we learn of the trespass, peace offering, and the ten steps that the priest had to take in order to be cleansed and able to receive the sacrifices of the congregation. The trespass offering was an offering that was given to express repentance and sorrow for sin, “Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.…....And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.” - Leviticus 7:1,2,5-7. The person offering the sacrifice was not allowed to eat the flesh of the animal as it was a time for reflection and fasting, therefore, it was to be eaten only by the priest who accepted the offering, this was the offenders atonement for his sin. Today, we as Christian's should still follow this command and offer ourselves as a spiritual sacrifice to reflect and fast over the atonement of our sins which only comes from the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Peace offerings were not a requirement, they were given to express thanks and praise to God for not only the atonement of their sins, but other blessings as well. “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.” - Leviticus 7:11-15. Unlike the sin and trespass offerings, the person offering the sacrifice was allowed to eat the flesh and bread along with priest accepting the offering. The peace offering was the last one to be offered because there could be no peace or fellowship with God until all the regulations of the sin and trespass offerings had first been obeyed. The special feature of the peace offering was the sacrificial meal wherein the priest and the worshipper shared together what was offered, and part of the offering was presented to God upon His altar, as though it were being consumed by Him. After these sacrifices the worshipper was acceptable to God and could enjoy fellowship with Him, it was a joyful feast celebrating restored peace and communication with God. Today, we too can enjoy a great feast with God as we celebrate the restored peace that only comes by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. All who accept Christ are acceptable to God. Praise God! I remember this past Christmas, we had an extra chair at the table, we used it to invite Christ to eat with us. God rejoiced that day because we wanted Him there and rejoices whenever we invite Him into our daily lives.
Before a priest could accept a sacrifice from an offender, he too had to restore fellowship with God. He had to be completely cleansed and atone for his own sins before he was able to assist God in accepting the sacrifices that would be an atonement for others. This was unlike any sacrifice that a common person had to make, ten steps were taken in order for a priest to be cleansed. “And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.........And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.” - Leviticus 8:6-9,22-24. Three animals had to be sacrificed, the ram of congregation was the sacrifice that would set them apart from the common people, it made them holy before God and able to receive the sacrifices. The right ear, right hand, and right foot were to have blood applied to them. When applied to the ear, it meant that they were to keep their ears holy, meaning they were to listen to no conversation that would violate their congregation to God or distract them from hearing His voice. When applied to the thumb, it meant that the hand was qualified to accept the gifts and sacrifices for God. When applied to the big toe, it meant that they were now holy before God and had to be careful of their daily activities as to not defile their bodies. As Christian's, we too are to apply the blood of Christ upon our right ear, thumb, and big toe, for we are the Temple of God and are holy before Him. Our daily activities need to be thought out and reflected upon Christ, even the people we are around can distract us, keep us from hearing God, and defile our bodies. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” - I Corinthians 3:16,17. We are so blessed that Christ offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy fellowship with God and atone for all of our sins for good. Therefore, we can all enjoy fellowship and feast with God, but we must be willing to keep the blood of Christ applied to us daily if we want it to stay that way..
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Bible Study: Reconciled With God
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Tuesday February 02, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 4-6. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-2
Title: Bible Study: Reconciled With God
Today's chapters focus on sin offerings, there were certain conditions necessary to make a sin offering acceptable to God. Every man had to bring his own sacrifice to God, he had to offer it willingly and take a personal part by laying his hands on the head of his sacrifice to make it representative of his sins. Then he slew the animal, and the body of this sin offering was burned outside of the camp. God explains how even people who unknowingly commit sin can be reconciled with Him. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.” - Leviticus 4:1-3. God knew at times, that the people did not know that what they were doing was sin, so He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him whether the sin be knowingly or unknowingly. You know sometimes it seems like we are suffering for things, yet we do not know why. Well, this is when we need to go to God and ask Him to search our hearts for any sin we made out of ignorance. Sin is sin, no matter if it is knowingly or unknowingly, so we will face some consequences regardless, but the sooner we realize what we are doing is sin, the quicker we can get right with God and avoid more unnecessary suffering. He is not just going to come out and tell us that we sinned, He actually does that before we sin, but once we commit the sin He will let us be the ones to figure it out. I was just spending time with God this morning, I will tell you that I have been struggling with some things since before the beginning of the year. He just revealed to me my sin and why I have not gotten anywhere in the past three months, it was not even anything real big, but it was keeping me from moving forward and until I let God show me what it was I would have kept struggling.
Now, if someone sinned against their soul, even if one was to witness something and did not speak the truth it is considered sinning with the soul and you would bare the suffering that the guilty one suffered. “And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.” - Leviticus 5:1-6. Sins listed here are touching things that are unclean, this is things like a dead body or animal, even touching a woman that was menstruating is considered unclean. In these cases the offender must confess his sin, and bring his offering, but the offering was not accepted, unless accompanied with confession and humble prayer for forgiveness. We can not hide ourselves from sin, the guilt of sin will tear us apart so, the best thing to do is just admit the sin and be done with it. While God forgives all the sins of those who call on Jesus to save them, there are just some sins that we knowingly do as a Christian that we need to come face to face with God, literally get down on our knees and beg Him for forgiveness. That is the only way that we can reconcile with God as well as move forward in life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John1:9.
The sin offering represents Christ who would die in the sinner's place. Animal sacrifices served their purpose until Christ shed His sinless blood on the cross for man's sins. Today by faith, the sinner who believes that Jesus died in his place is forgiven of his sins and receives Christ as Savior and Lord of his life. This is the only way to be reconciled with God.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Tuesday February 02, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 4-6. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-2
Title: Bible Study: Reconciled With God
Today's chapters focus on sin offerings, there were certain conditions necessary to make a sin offering acceptable to God. Every man had to bring his own sacrifice to God, he had to offer it willingly and take a personal part by laying his hands on the head of his sacrifice to make it representative of his sins. Then he slew the animal, and the body of this sin offering was burned outside of the camp. God explains how even people who unknowingly commit sin can be reconciled with Him. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.” - Leviticus 4:1-3. God knew at times, that the people did not know that what they were doing was sin, so He made a way for us to be reconciled with Him whether the sin be knowingly or unknowingly. You know sometimes it seems like we are suffering for things, yet we do not know why. Well, this is when we need to go to God and ask Him to search our hearts for any sin we made out of ignorance. Sin is sin, no matter if it is knowingly or unknowingly, so we will face some consequences regardless, but the sooner we realize what we are doing is sin, the quicker we can get right with God and avoid more unnecessary suffering. He is not just going to come out and tell us that we sinned, He actually does that before we sin, but once we commit the sin He will let us be the ones to figure it out. I was just spending time with God this morning, I will tell you that I have been struggling with some things since before the beginning of the year. He just revealed to me my sin and why I have not gotten anywhere in the past three months, it was not even anything real big, but it was keeping me from moving forward and until I let God show me what it was I would have kept struggling.
Now, if someone sinned against their soul, even if one was to witness something and did not speak the truth it is considered sinning with the soul and you would bare the suffering that the guilty one suffered. “And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.” - Leviticus 5:1-6. Sins listed here are touching things that are unclean, this is things like a dead body or animal, even touching a woman that was menstruating is considered unclean. In these cases the offender must confess his sin, and bring his offering, but the offering was not accepted, unless accompanied with confession and humble prayer for forgiveness. We can not hide ourselves from sin, the guilt of sin will tear us apart so, the best thing to do is just admit the sin and be done with it. While God forgives all the sins of those who call on Jesus to save them, there are just some sins that we knowingly do as a Christian that we need to come face to face with God, literally get down on our knees and beg Him for forgiveness. That is the only way that we can reconcile with God as well as move forward in life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John1:9.
The sin offering represents Christ who would die in the sinner's place. Animal sacrifices served their purpose until Christ shed His sinless blood on the cross for man's sins. Today by faith, the sinner who believes that Jesus died in his place is forgiven of his sins and receives Christ as Savior and Lord of his life. This is the only way to be reconciled with God.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
Bible Study: Salt of The Earth
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Monday February 01, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 1-3. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-1
Title: Bible Study: Salt of The Earth
The book of Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-seven chapters. The author of the book is Moses and it was written to the people of Israel. This book was a manual of worship for Israel, it was provided to give them instructions on how a sinner could fellowship with God. It relates to the coming of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the sinner in order to allow him to know God. The purpose of the book was to show Israel how to live as a holy nation in fellowship with God and to prepare them to extend God's plan of redemption to all nations. What we are to learn from the book is that God only redeems and fellowships with us if we willingly come to Him through Jesus Christ. The first three chapters of the book of Leviticus explain the offerings that the people were to bring to God in order to be able to fellowship with Him, the offerings were actually voluntary and set according to a persons wealth, if one was not able to afford cattle to offer as a sacrifice, God allowed what they could afford. He gave every person the opportunity to be redeemed from their sins, regardless of their financial status. “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.........And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.” - Leviticus 1:1-3,14. The offering symbolized the person giving his own life in full submission to God without a selfish motive. If the person owned a herd, then he offered a bull. If, however, the he possessed only flocks, then his offering would be a lamb or a goat; for either of these men to offer pigeons would have been offensive to God. But, if the person were so poor that he did not own a herd or a flock, then an acceptable offering could be the less expensive turtledoves or young pigeons. You know, today some religions will ban a person from the church if they could not afford to give tithes and offerings, but God never turns away someone who truly wants to be forgiven and get right with Him. Praise God!
Besides sacrificial offerings the people were oblation offerings (given as a form of thanks), known as meat offerings, this was in the form of flour, grains, fruits, or vegetables. “And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.......... No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” - Leviticus 2:1-3,11-13. The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey is of sensual pleasure this is why this was forbidden to be given and an offering. Salt was required in all the offerings, including sacrificial offerings, salt makes things savory and preserves food, representing the savoriness and acceptableness of Jesus Christ as a meat offering for His people. As we accept Christ as our Savior we send up not only the sweet smell of His blood, but the sweet savory, salted meat offering of His body, who is well pleased with his sacrifice.
Incidentally, Christian's are represented as the salt of the earth, so it is very important that as Christian's we keep ourselves savory. Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” - Matthew 5:13. What Jesus is referring to here is people who get saved and really have no interest in God, when we accept Jesus as our Savior we are seasoned by the knowledge and grace that comes only from Him. While works do not save you, grace does, but if we say that we have accepted Christ as our Savior and really do not mean it, that is as salt that has lost it's flavor. God will cast out all who are not sincere in wanting to be saved. However, praise God, for those who truthfully want to fellowship with God for when they call on Jesus, even if they lose their flavor, they are re-seasoned with the salt of God's grace and are savory to Him one again.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Monday February 01, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Leviticus, chapters 1-3. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-1
Title: Bible Study: Salt of The Earth
The book of Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-seven chapters. The author of the book is Moses and it was written to the people of Israel. This book was a manual of worship for Israel, it was provided to give them instructions on how a sinner could fellowship with God. It relates to the coming of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the sinner in order to allow him to know God. The purpose of the book was to show Israel how to live as a holy nation in fellowship with God and to prepare them to extend God's plan of redemption to all nations. What we are to learn from the book is that God only redeems and fellowships with us if we willingly come to Him through Jesus Christ. The first three chapters of the book of Leviticus explain the offerings that the people were to bring to God in order to be able to fellowship with Him, the offerings were actually voluntary and set according to a persons wealth, if one was not able to afford cattle to offer as a sacrifice, God allowed what they could afford. He gave every person the opportunity to be redeemed from their sins, regardless of their financial status. “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.........And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.” - Leviticus 1:1-3,14. The offering symbolized the person giving his own life in full submission to God without a selfish motive. If the person owned a herd, then he offered a bull. If, however, the he possessed only flocks, then his offering would be a lamb or a goat; for either of these men to offer pigeons would have been offensive to God. But, if the person were so poor that he did not own a herd or a flock, then an acceptable offering could be the less expensive turtledoves or young pigeons. You know, today some religions will ban a person from the church if they could not afford to give tithes and offerings, but God never turns away someone who truly wants to be forgiven and get right with Him. Praise God!
Besides sacrificial offerings the people were oblation offerings (given as a form of thanks), known as meat offerings, this was in the form of flour, grains, fruits, or vegetables. “And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.......... No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” - Leviticus 2:1-3,11-13. The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey is of sensual pleasure this is why this was forbidden to be given and an offering. Salt was required in all the offerings, including sacrificial offerings, salt makes things savory and preserves food, representing the savoriness and acceptableness of Jesus Christ as a meat offering for His people. As we accept Christ as our Savior we send up not only the sweet smell of His blood, but the sweet savory, salted meat offering of His body, who is well pleased with his sacrifice.
Incidentally, Christian's are represented as the salt of the earth, so it is very important that as Christian's we keep ourselves savory. Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” - Matthew 5:13. What Jesus is referring to here is people who get saved and really have no interest in God, when we accept Jesus as our Savior we are seasoned by the knowledge and grace that comes only from Him. While works do not save you, grace does, but if we say that we have accepted Christ as our Savior and really do not mean it, that is as salt that has lost it's flavor. God will cast out all who are not sincere in wanting to be saved. However, praise God, for those who truthfully want to fellowship with God for when they call on Jesus, even if they lose their flavor, they are re-seasoned with the salt of God's grace and are savory to Him one again.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Bible Study: Resting Under A Cloud
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Sunday January 31, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Exodus, chapter 40. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-31
Title: Bible Study: Resting Under A Cloud
The last chapter of Exodus talks about the completion of the Tabernacle and God making His presence known in the form of a cloud and fire. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation...........“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” - Exodus 40:1,2, 38-40. Once the Tabernacle was built to His specifications, God hovered over the Tabernacle in a cloud. In fact, it shone so bright that even Moses could not enter it until He came up out of the tent. The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day, it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all of Israel, that they might never again question, “Is the Lord among us, or is He not?” It guided the camp of Israel through their wilderness journey. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested, when it moved, they followed it. Incidentally, this same phenomenon which had the appearance of a cloud in the day time shone like fire in the night time, the cloud was both a shelter from the heat of the sun and a direction of their way to the promised land. The fire by night was of the same use, it gave them direction and might have been protection for them from the wild beasts that were in the wilderness, who are afraid of fire. The cloud and fire is an emblem of the guidance, protection, light, joy, and comfort from God while in the wilderness of this world. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28,29.
There is something so amazing about clouds, on a hot summer day nothing beats a cloud passing over the sun to give a little relief to the heat and amazingly it does give quite a bit of relief. Yet, at times there are storms brewing in a cloud, so strong and powerful that one would not want to be under it. However, every cloud provides something so phenomenal that one would be crazy not to see that this is truly an act of God (no matter how much science denies it.) I remember when I use to pick my nephew up from school, we would walk home and at that time the sun was so hot, we would say, “God, bring a cloud over the sun to cool us off.” You know what? The majority of the time a cloud came by, but once in a while there was rain in it, amazingly enough though a schoolmate's parent would see us running and offer to take us the rest of the way home. You see, God is always hovering over us like a cloud, making sure we are protected. Once in a while He will let a storm pass by, but He is just making us stronger and more confident in Him through it. Ever see what happens in a storm? Sometimes, it is horrendous, but it often brings people together, not only putting others first, but God as well. People pray more, get saved, and help others more when tragedy occurs. God does not want to bring tragedy in our lives, but the truth is, unless we are faced with it we get all wrapped up in ourselves that we forget what's important in life. I for one am a testimony of that, but I thank God every day for talking me out of the mess that I was in. Praise God that if storms are among us all we have to do is call on Him and He will guide us to safety. “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” - Proverbs 1:33.
God is always with us, in fact, any person who has called on Jesus to save them, enjoys the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. That is right, every person who calls on Jesus enjoys the presence of God. This means we need an intercessor, someone willing to vogue for us on our behalf before God. Just as the Israelite's needed a priest or prophet to speak to God in order to communicate with Him, we need a priest or prophet to speak to God and be able to communicate with Him, our High priest, who was also a prophet, is Jesus Christ. Praise God! “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:26-28. God works all of the storms in our lives for good, if the storms are too much to bare, we can find peace right within us by simply calling on Jesus. He is right there, ready and willing to give you peace and protection. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
P.S. Once again, I apologize for being a day late with the devotions, all should be back to normal Monday evening.
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Sunday January 31, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Exodus, chapter 40. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-31
Title: Bible Study: Resting Under A Cloud
The last chapter of Exodus talks about the completion of the Tabernacle and God making His presence known in the form of a cloud and fire. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation...........“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” - Exodus 40:1,2, 38-40. Once the Tabernacle was built to His specifications, God hovered over the Tabernacle in a cloud. In fact, it shone so bright that even Moses could not enter it until He came up out of the tent. The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day, it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all of Israel, that they might never again question, “Is the Lord among us, or is He not?” It guided the camp of Israel through their wilderness journey. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested, when it moved, they followed it. Incidentally, this same phenomenon which had the appearance of a cloud in the day time shone like fire in the night time, the cloud was both a shelter from the heat of the sun and a direction of their way to the promised land. The fire by night was of the same use, it gave them direction and might have been protection for them from the wild beasts that were in the wilderness, who are afraid of fire. The cloud and fire is an emblem of the guidance, protection, light, joy, and comfort from God while in the wilderness of this world. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28,29.
There is something so amazing about clouds, on a hot summer day nothing beats a cloud passing over the sun to give a little relief to the heat and amazingly it does give quite a bit of relief. Yet, at times there are storms brewing in a cloud, so strong and powerful that one would not want to be under it. However, every cloud provides something so phenomenal that one would be crazy not to see that this is truly an act of God (no matter how much science denies it.) I remember when I use to pick my nephew up from school, we would walk home and at that time the sun was so hot, we would say, “God, bring a cloud over the sun to cool us off.” You know what? The majority of the time a cloud came by, but once in a while there was rain in it, amazingly enough though a schoolmate's parent would see us running and offer to take us the rest of the way home. You see, God is always hovering over us like a cloud, making sure we are protected. Once in a while He will let a storm pass by, but He is just making us stronger and more confident in Him through it. Ever see what happens in a storm? Sometimes, it is horrendous, but it often brings people together, not only putting others first, but God as well. People pray more, get saved, and help others more when tragedy occurs. God does not want to bring tragedy in our lives, but the truth is, unless we are faced with it we get all wrapped up in ourselves that we forget what's important in life. I for one am a testimony of that, but I thank God every day for talking me out of the mess that I was in. Praise God that if storms are among us all we have to do is call on Him and He will guide us to safety. “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” - Proverbs 1:33.
God is always with us, in fact, any person who has called on Jesus to save them, enjoys the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. That is right, every person who calls on Jesus enjoys the presence of God. This means we need an intercessor, someone willing to vogue for us on our behalf before God. Just as the Israelite's needed a priest or prophet to speak to God in order to communicate with Him, we need a priest or prophet to speak to God and be able to communicate with Him, our High priest, who was also a prophet, is Jesus Christ. Praise God! “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:26-28. God works all of the storms in our lives for good, if the storms are too much to bare, we can find peace right within us by simply calling on Jesus. He is right there, ready and willing to give you peace and protection. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
P.S. Once again, I apologize for being a day late with the devotions, all should be back to normal Monday evening.
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Bible Study: The Right Ingredients
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Saturday January 30, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Exodus chapters 38-39. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-30
Title: The Right Ingredients
Ingredients, if is important to have the right ingredients if we want a perfect product. for instance, when making a sugar cookies you need flour, oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and water, leave one out and they do not come out very good, but combined create the perfect cookie. Just as it is important to have the right ingredients in a recipe, As Christian's, we too need the right ingredients to have the perfect Christian life. Of course, once in a while we get new ingredients to change up the recipe, but in order for us to have a right relationship with God we need to use all of the ingredients. When the Israelite's were building the Tabernacle, they had to it ti the exact specification that God gave them, “And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.” - Exodus 39:33-43. I am sure that it was not easy getting the candlestick to be in the exact shape right away, but he had to work at it to get it right. Every detail in the Tabernacle had to be completed the way God commanded or the Israelite's would have not been able communicate with God.
At times in our lives it seems that we can not communicate with God, we talk and pray, and read, and literally become exhausted over trying to do the will of God. It seems that we are missing an ingredient somewhere. So, we think if we do one more thing for Him He is going to change things for us, but in reality if we are not doing it from the heart nothing will change. So, there is an ingredient missing, and that is your heart. You see, doing the will of God can become so routine that we become like robots, therefore we lose our communication with God. So, it is important that we get our heart right with Him first. Of course we love God and have faith in Him, but we just have no strength left to conquer the obstacles that we are facing. Instead of trying to do all these things for God we need to get our heart right with Him first. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7. God is with us and understands what is going on, but in order for us to have our hearts right with God we need to tell Him how we feel. Tell Him that you are weak, weary, and exhausted. He will lift you up and your heart, giving you that specific ingredient needed to be able to communicate again with God. I will tell you that for the past three weeks I have been struggling with this, it has been so hard that all I wanted to do was sleep. I knew God was at work in me somewhere in all this and when I finally went to Him and said, I need to get my heart right with Him, things began to change. You see, we might not be perfect Christian's, but we have the perfect Christian life as long as we have all the ingredients. Praise God! That He sent Jesus because He is the one and only perfect ingredient that even gets us in the door to the Tabernacle (God's dwelling place) in the first place.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Today is Saturday January 30, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Exodus chapters 38-39. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-30
Title: The Right Ingredients
Ingredients, if is important to have the right ingredients if we want a perfect product. for instance, when making a sugar cookies you need flour, oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and water, leave one out and they do not come out very good, but combined create the perfect cookie. Just as it is important to have the right ingredients in a recipe, As Christian's, we too need the right ingredients to have the perfect Christian life. Of course, once in a while we get new ingredients to change up the recipe, but in order for us to have a right relationship with God we need to use all of the ingredients. When the Israelite's were building the Tabernacle, they had to it ti the exact specification that God gave them, “And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.” - Exodus 39:33-43. I am sure that it was not easy getting the candlestick to be in the exact shape right away, but he had to work at it to get it right. Every detail in the Tabernacle had to be completed the way God commanded or the Israelite's would have not been able communicate with God.
At times in our lives it seems that we can not communicate with God, we talk and pray, and read, and literally become exhausted over trying to do the will of God. It seems that we are missing an ingredient somewhere. So, we think if we do one more thing for Him He is going to change things for us, but in reality if we are not doing it from the heart nothing will change. So, there is an ingredient missing, and that is your heart. You see, doing the will of God can become so routine that we become like robots, therefore we lose our communication with God. So, it is important that we get our heart right with Him first. Of course we love God and have faith in Him, but we just have no strength left to conquer the obstacles that we are facing. Instead of trying to do all these things for God we need to get our heart right with Him first. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7. God is with us and understands what is going on, but in order for us to have our hearts right with God we need to tell Him how we feel. Tell Him that you are weak, weary, and exhausted. He will lift you up and your heart, giving you that specific ingredient needed to be able to communicate again with God. I will tell you that for the past three weeks I have been struggling with this, it has been so hard that all I wanted to do was sleep. I knew God was at work in me somewhere in all this and when I finally went to Him and said, I need to get my heart right with Him, things began to change. You see, we might not be perfect Christian's, but we have the perfect Christian life as long as we have all the ingredients. Praise God! That He sent Jesus because He is the one and only perfect ingredient that even gets us in the door to the Tabernacle (God's dwelling place) in the first place.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study
Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)