Devotions: Life of Moses Leviticus 25-27

Everything belongs to the Lord. Everything. This passage about the sabbath year and the year of Jubilee is truly pointing towards the fact that everything in the world belongs to the one who created it. Our "ownership" is really stewardship. Otherwise there would be no reason to forgive debts, free slaves and return to the land previously given to your family. God is reminding his people, they are his, the land is his, and in order to walk in covenant relationship with him, they need to follow his commands and treat the land and their people with the respect that he commands.

We don't have a sabbath year, or a year of Jubilee. I am not a farmer and I don't own slaves or have servants. But the principle of the sabbath year and the year of Jubilee is about he way we treat our brothers and sisters, in Christ or otherwise. God is calling us to trust him for our lives and prosperity. To show kindness to the poor, to take in impoverished family, to treat our homes and our money like they are not our possessions but the Lords. Because they are the Lords. How much more will heaven be worth than these "treasures" we have here? What is really important is that we can live in the presence of God. 

I may not be able to implement a jubilee year, but I can treat my possessions as what they are - God's possessions. And I can treat my life like what it is - for I am a servant of God, bought with the blood of Jesus, redeemed from the debt of sin, and brought to live in his house, wretched and poor as I am. Thank you Lord. 

Devotions: Life of Moses Leviticus 16

It seems like such a simple concept, but if it was that simple, everyone in the world would be saved. We, humans, are sinful and deserve death. We have failed our perfect and holy God and sin results in death. The end. The only way to pay for sin is through death - in Leviticus it is through the death of animals. Blood on the Atonement cover, the Lord seeing blood before seeing the broken law when he looks down from his seat. Jesus paid the ultimate price, his blood is always before God, paying for our sins. We only have to accept Him, follow Him. But first, we must acknowledge the truth that we are all sinful. We all fall short. There are none of us that live up to the precepts of Holiness that the Lord requires. We are all worthy of death. Once that is acknowledged, how can you not fall on your face and worship God who sent his son to atone for you?

Devotions: Life of Moses Leviticus 8-10

Leviticus chapter 10 holds a very sad revelation about respecting God and His worship. Aaron's sons, fresh out of training, have disobeyed the regulations for how to approach the Lord and they have been consumed by fire. God makes an example of them, whether their attitude was wrong, or whether they hadn't paid attention during Moses's training, or if they were drunk it doesn't matter. God has decreed the way in which he will be approached and worshipped and they disregarded that commandment and were punished for it.

The idea that worship must be approached in a certain way is hard for us, we don't understand it because we don't have laws specifying how to burn incense or where to sprinkle blood, but we do have a way to approach the Lord. The question is do we enter the Lord's presence lightly? Do we enter into worship in a manner that dishonors the Lord?

Aaron recognized that his sons had sinned and he refrained from grief, refrained from speaking out in his emotion, and stayed true to his anointing, finishing out the sacrifices. His example shows that God's presence, his worship, our relationship with Him should be over all other things.

It must have been excruciating, his two sons dead at the hands of the God he is serving, having to continue in an attitude of honor, respect and worship. We should do the same, no matter what is going on in our lives, no matter who has wronged or harmed us. We should enter into worship of God with Him at the center, no distractions. Spend the time with God, and let's worship Him and honor Him in the way that He has commanded.

Devotions: Life of Moses Leviticus 1-7; 11-15; 17-24

"All things in moderation." This phrase is used frequently in our American culture. A little bit of exercise - but all things in moderation. A little bit of a healthy diet - but all things in moderation. A little bit of drinking - but all things in moderation. I can read that, listen to that, watch that, do that, say that, wear that etc - all things in moderation. We think that as long as we are well-rounded, listen to, read, or do things only in moderation that nothing will touch us.

Moderation is compromise. It is saying that as long as I don't do/say/listen to this thing more than a certain arbitrary amount then it's not hurting anything. It's not affecting me, it's not a problem.

The book of Leviticus stands firm on the holiness of God, shows us the desire of a holy God to be a part of every part of our lives. He wants to give parameters, laws, commands, for every part of your existence. Our holy God desires us to be holy as he is holy.

Moderation in our lives leads to moderate Christianity.
And moderate Christianity sounds a lot like lukewarm...

I am just going to sit there for a moment.

Let it sink in.

Re-read the passage in Revelation, yeah, I'll still be here.

Our Lord wants us to be sold out for Him. He wants to indwell us with his Spirit just as he indwelt the tabernacle. And the tabernacle required specific sacrifices and rules in order for God to stay there. He commanded them to follow these laws in order for them to be holy. Our holy God loves us enough to speak into every aspect of our lives. He wants us to live, breathe, eat, be in relationship, in His way. He wants every aspect of our lives to be holy, because that is the way he designed us to be. He desires to be with us, but a holy God cannot be with a sinful people. We shouldn't just rest on our salvation, we should be constantly striving to be closer to our Lord. And a holy Lord deserves holy people.

He wants our every action, every thought, every deed, dedicated to Him.

And he deserves no less.

So next time you think, its only one movie, one song, one book, one tv show, one word, one day, remember, nothing in moderation. God demands and deserves our 100% obedience as we strive to be holy as he is holy.

Thank goodness that he forgives our errors and has provided the Holy Spirit to give us strength and purpose, because even in this we will never achieve holiness. But Jesus' sacrifice, God's love, the Holy Spirit's encouragement deserves our genuine attempt.