NO TAKE BACKS!

Posted on January 23, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Playground games we enjoyed as kids come to mind as I read God’s regulations of vow keeping for His people.  Wait, what, now?  Consider this; as children, we would naturally gather to play a game of tag, kickball, Red Rover, Mother May I, tether ball, etc. but sometimes we would become board with these known games and make up games with our own created rules—most rules were made up as we played the game!  The rules would change often to suit our team’s advantage until someone on the other side would shout, “Hey, no take backs!”  “You said the rule was…” and then an argument would ensued which seemed to be part of the game’s fun—until the teacher came over to set us straight.

God is the Teacher of His People. God does not promise what He will not deliver and fulfill.  God is teaching His people to be more like Him in this way by instructing them how to keep a vow holy and deliver on the promise of the vow with a pure heart.  This is not as much about giving to God, although tithing is taught, as it is keeping a promise (vow) made that has been pronounced holy to God by the priest.  No take backs!

Leviticus is ending with teaching vow keeping rather than with an account of a special demonstration of God’s glory and holiness. It might seem odd to us until we dig deeper.  Our promises to God must be as firm as His covenant with us. “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastic 5:2). “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows” (Proverbs 20:25).

Leviticus 27

Redeeming What Is the Lord’s

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, 3 set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel; 4 for a female, set her value at thirty shekels; 5 for a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels; 6 for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver; 7 for a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels. 8 If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

9 “‘If what they vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy. 10 They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. 11 If what they vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord—the animal must be presented to the priest, 12 who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. 13 If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, a fifth must be added to its value.

14 “‘If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. 15 If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs.

16 “‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord part of their family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed. 17 If they dedicate a field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains. 18 But if they dedicate a field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced. 19 If the one who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become theirs. 20 If, however, they do not redeem the field, or if they have sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed. 21 When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord; it will become priestly property.

22 “‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord a field they have bought, which is not part of their family land, 23 the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the owner must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord. 24 In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom it was bought, the one whose land it was. 25 Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

26 “‘No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord; whether an ox or a sheep, it is the Lord’s. 27 If it is one of the unclean animals, it may be bought back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If it is not redeemed, it is to be sold at its set value.

28 “‘But nothing that a person owns and devotes to the Lord—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.

29 “‘No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; they are to be put to death.

30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. 33 No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

34 These are the commands the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The principle behind the regulations in this chapter is that of substituting money for something given in dedication to God (a person, an animal, or a piece of property), and giving that money to the priests for the upkeep of the sanctuary. These vows were strictly voluntary and were expressions of the worshiper’s gratitude to God for His blessing.  God sees our hearts and knows our motivations to give. 

I’m reminded of what happened to members of the early church as told in the book of Acts.  Everyone was so caught up in the living lives for Jesus, desiring to be like Him, while doing what Jesus said to go and teach others.  The people, though persecuted because of their zeal of knowing and living for Christ, “gave all they had” in gratitude to God for saving their souls.  One storehouse was formed with the purpose to share goods with anyone in need. What a grand movement of building churches that spread the Good News of Jesus’s salvation while meeting the needs of everyone involved!  God Holy Spirit was indeed moving in the hearts, minds, and souls of His people committed to Christ and His work. 

However, there was this one couple who so wanted to be like the others in giving up all for God; that they vowed to do the same—almost.  Here’s the true story:

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.”  Acts 5:1-2

Their action seemed almost reasonable until they both lied about the transaction…Here’s the rest of the story—

“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” Acts 5:3-11

Ananias and Sapphira represent just how much we humans do not trust the truth. They sold a piece of property and gave half the money to the church. They lied to Peter and the apostles, claiming that the land sold for the amount they gave. Their sin was not in holding back some of the money for themselves; it was in misrepresenting the truth. Their deceit resulted in their deaths. Great fear of God followed.

Death seems harsh but to make a vow to God you have no intention in keeping affects all other relationships, too.  Death might not be physical; but lying certainly erodes trust with others who we say we love and care deeply.  According to Jesus, the two greatest and most important commandments of Love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul and love your neighbor like you love yourself are the foundational to our relationship with God and others.  Jesus added, “Love each other like I have loved you.”

With God there is no room for deceit in hearts, minds, and souls committed to God.  Max Lucado writes; 

“It seems to me that the wages of deceit are still death. Not death of the body, perhaps, but the death of:

  • a marriage—Falsehoods are termites in the trunk of the family tree.
  • a conscience—The tragedy of the second lie is that it is always easier to tell than the first.
  • a career—Just ask the student who got booted out for cheating or the employee who got fired for embezzlement if the lie wasn’t fatal.
  • faith—The language of faith and the language of falsehood have two different vocabularies. Those fluent in the language of falsehood find terms like “confession” and “repentance” hard to pronounce.

We could also list the deaths of intimacy, trust, peace, credibility, and self-respect. But perhaps the most tragic death that occurs from deceit is our witness. The court won’t listen to the testimony of a perjured witness. Neither will the world. Do we think our coworkers will believe our words about Christ when they can’t even believe our words about how we handled our expense account? Even more significantly, do we think God will use us as a witness if we won’t tell the truth?” –Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible.

Be careful.  Dishonesty can affect—and infect—every aspect of our life.  Make a vow to God with an honest, contrite heart with a committed intention and discipline to keep your promise. 

Lord,

Thank you for another lesson in Leviticus that at first glance we might have missed. Cleanse our hearts and remove all deceitfulness. Renew our minds. Transform our thinking and behaviors to be more like you.  Refresh our repentant souls with your tender mercies.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation always at work within us who believe and trust you.  You are Life!  I seek you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!

Posted on January 22, 2025 by randscallawayffm

How many times in our young adult years did we rebel against parental authority and guiding advice that was delivered often for our good because we really thought we were old enough to know best what we needed?  From age 12 through 20 something, we knew our parents’ advice was so out of date that surely it didn’t apply to our current situation.  At that age and stage of our lives; we couldn’t imagine them being the age we were then, much less understand us; so we went our own way, leaving the protection and safety net provided by our parents.  As we parted, we heard, “but it’s for your own good!” but that didn’t stop us, did it?

Sometimes, we got “lucky” and avoided the pitfalls of bad decisions while doing our own thing without the benefit of experience to guide us.  Or, maybe our “luck” was a result of our parents desperately praying for our safety as we embarked on our own in a world that did not care what would happen to us.

God is asserting his “holy authority” with specific, detailed ways of obedience so the Israelites will know what is for their own good as they declare His glory by trusting Him alone.  “I am the Lord your God” is proclaimed often because His people are not grasping God’s loving desire to deliver gracious intervention into their lives for the purpose of their protection and provision.  God is the parent we all desire to be for our kids—we want what is best for them so they will thrive!

God outlines His gameplan of trust and obedience while pointing out the consequences.  If His people obey; they will be rewarded.  If they do not trust and obey, His people will be on their own, fighting battles without God’s protection, as their own pride takes over which will lead to their fall.  “You’re either for me or against me,” says God here and throughout His Word.

Notice that God also references the consequences of the Israelites’ choice to disobey His command of allowing the land to remain fallow every seven years with redemption for His people on the fiftieth year—which, as far as we know, was ignored.  Go your own way, but suffer the consequences of stepping out from under the protective wings of God. 

Leviticus 26

Reward for Obedience

26 “‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.

2 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

3 “‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.

6 “‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.

9 “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Punishment for Disobedience

14 “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.

18 “‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.

21 “‘If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. 22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.

23 “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. 25 And I will bring the sword on you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. 26 When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.

27 “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. 31 I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings. 32 I myself will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.

36 “‘As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them. 37 They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you. 39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their ancestors’ sins they will waste away.

40 “‘But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”

46 These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the Lord established at Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The presence of the Lord was the greatest blessing promised, because every other blessing depends on it. No other nation had God “walking among them”! 

To worship anyone or anything other than God led to the murder of their own children when they turned from God to the old idols of their past that demanded the sacrifice of their own flesh and blood to appease the gods!  We say we would never do that. But consider all the things in our lives that we crave that become our idols.  Without God, we are easy prey for the Enemy. Out from under God’s protection, we can fall for lives of abusive, self-destructive behaviors lived out in front of our children who are “sacrificed” to lack of care by us. 

When we lose the sense of the Lord’s presence and the privilege it is to serve Him, then we begin to despise His Word and disobey His commandments.  God doesn’t understand what I am going through, we think, as we suffer needlessly.  But there’s good news!  All have sinned but all can be forgiven by Jesus who died to redeem us from all sin and make us right with God!  God may punish His people, but He will never reject them or cast them away—read Romans 11 for proof! In fact, one reason for His chastening and discipline is to bring His erring people back into His arms of love, where He can enjoy them and bless them once again! Hebrews 12:1–13.

So, we learn there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that we have done that God will not forgive. God is not a rejecting God but a relational God! God wants us to love Him back!  Every passage we read from Genesis to Revelation shouts this truth about God!

It is not God’s desire that we perish because of our sins but that we live with Him forever with His help to guide us to all the is good and best for us.  God made a Way for us to come back to Him—Jesus!  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Since the Word never changes and God’s character never changes, we have every encouragement to come to Him and make a new beginning. 

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…”

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation at work in our hearts. To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GIVE IT A REST!

Posted on January 21, 2025 by randscallawayffm

When I read God’s Word while seeking who God is; He amazes me with something new each time!  As we read Leviticus, God holy standards for living with each other and with Him; God reveals His heart of compassion. It is in the reading for understanding that we observe how God demonstrates His care for all people while displaying His abundant wisdom and care.  God commands the Israelites to live lives that do not take advantage of another’s downfall.  God says to give the land a rest—a Sabbath—so that the land and the managers of the land can renew and be fruitful by God’s design. 

The Year of Jubilee is a specific way to level the playing field for all His people who will live in a the promised land that God will provide for them.  He is setting up behavioral standards with specific guidelines to follow every seven years. God reminds them that the land they possess was given to them by Him. God owns the land.  His People are merely “renters” with specific guidelines for the care of the land God owns.  This is not their final destination.  This world is not our final destination!  (Who we live for now is where we will be later!  Too much, too soon?)  All we have and hold right now, God owns.  ALL we possess now and seek to possess later, belongs to God.  All we borrow to gain what we possess now still belongs to God.  Pause and let this truth sink in.

If we truly believe who God is and what He says, we will eventually internalize this “ownership” truth.  What God has given to us is the means and the ability to steward (manage) what He has so graciously given to us.  God has guidelines for us to follow in managing what He has given to us to care for long with standards of behavior that will not match the standards of the world of business.  Those of us who think we rose to the top as “self-made” men and women and feel we deserve all that have worked so hard to gain will probably not understand the following wisdom of the Lord—to give it all a rest! 

Leviticus 25

The Sabbath Year

The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. 6 Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

The Year of Jubilee

8 “‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. 9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. 11 The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. 12 For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

13 “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property.

14 “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. 15 You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. 16 When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. 17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.

18 “‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. 20 You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.

23 “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. 24 Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

25 “‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold. 26 If, however, there is no one to redeem it for them but later on they prosper and acquire sufficient means to redeem it themselves, 27 they are to determine the value for the years since they sold it and refund the balance to the one to whom they sold it; they can then go back to their own property. 28 But if they do not acquire the means to repay, what was sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property.

29 “‘Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it. 30 If it is not redeemed before a full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to the buyer and the buyer’s descendants. It is not to be returned in the Jubilee. 31 But houses in villages without walls around them are to be considered as belonging to the open country. They can be redeemed, and they are to be returned in the Jubilee.

32 “‘The Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns, which they possess. 33 So the property of the Levites is redeemable—that is, a house sold in any town they hold—and is to be returned in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their property among the Israelites. 34 But the pastureland belonging to their towns must not be sold; it is their permanent possession.

35 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

39 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40 They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. 42 Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. 43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

44 “‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

47 “‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, 48 they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them: 49 An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves. 50 They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker for that number of years. 51 If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them. 52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly. 53 They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.

54 “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, 55 for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

In the Year of Jubilee, the social hierarchy is put aside with the slate wiped clean of debt.  What does this tell us about God? 

  • God cares for His people even when it seems impossible.  All fields were allowed to rest. No farming permitted. The fallow land could recover from forty-nine years of planting and harvesting.  God provided enough food during the year of rest.
  • God is a redeeming God.  Anyone who had been sold into slavery or who had sold himself into slavery to pay off debt was released. Bondage ended.
  • God is compassionate and merciful.  Families might lose their land through calamity, sickness, or even laziness. The Jubilee provision guaranteed that every family, at least twice a century, would have the opportunity to get back on their feet.
  • God’s wisdom is beyond all human thinking.  This Year of Jubilee was intended to prevent a permanent underclass of poverty and slavery. People could still be rich, very rich, but they could not build their wealth on the backs of the very poor.  “Do not take advantage of each other, fear God, I am the Lord, Your God.”
  • God’s love never changes and His grace is unending for those who belong to Him.  “Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, for the Israelites belong to me…”  “I am the Lord, your God.” 

We belong to God.  All we have belongs to God.  We are His children, joint heirs with Jesus who redeemed us from our debt of sin, the sin that held us in bondage.  Jesus who came to earth to seek and to save the lost ultimately took our deserved punishment, paid our debt in full, freeing us forever!  Slate clean!  Jesus came to declare “the year of the Lord,” providing a “jubilee-like” redeeming relationship with all who believe!

“The year of the Lord’s favor” found in Luke 4 describes, perhaps more than any other words, Jesus’ radical commitment to the poor and restates the standards God set forth to the Israelites in the Year of Jubilee’s redemption. In Luke 4, Jesus advanced the significance of His mission as He read these words out loud while announcing the Truth of who He was;

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to readand the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”—Jesus, Luke 4:

As far as we know, the people of Israel never practiced the Year of Jubilee, which is sad, really. Still, Jesus alluded to it in His opening statement of who He is and why He came. God’s heart for us is demonstrated by His Son.  God values a level playing field. God’s favor rests on those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.  God does not play favorites among those who believe.  Kingdom thinking and behaving does not take advantage of another person’s misfortune nor does it think less of people in distress.  We love and serve as we follow the example of the One who Redeemed us.  We point all to Jesus! 

Lord,

Hallowed is Your Name.  Great are You, Lord.  May Your Kingdom come and dwell in our thinking and behaving.  May Your Will be done in all the details of our lives as we seek to follow in Your ways.  Lead me, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LIGHT AND BREAD

Posted on January 20, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Jesus, God in flesh, made seven I AM statements as recorded in the John’s gospel;

  • I am the bread of life. 6:35, 48, 51.
  • I am the light of the world. 8:12; 9:5.
  • I am the door of the sheep. 10:7, 9.
  • I am the good shepherd. 10:11, 14.
  • I am the resurrection and the life. 11:25.
  • I am the way, the truth, and the life. 14:6.
  • I am the true vine.

The fact that this “I am” statement is given before the Savior’s earthly ministry emphasizes that Jesus Christ would fulfill his divine mission to atone for the sins of humankind.  It is interesting to me that the first two I AM statements of bread and light parallel the priests’ work of keeping the lights burning continually with sustaining bread always available “as lasting covenants” between God and His People.  Jesus came and declared HE was the Light of the World that dispels all Darkness.  He is the Bread of Life that sustains all who believe and hunger and thirst for righteousness.  With Jesus; there is no reason to stumble around in the dark!

When God gives a name for His people to call Him it conveys His dominion over all things, the source of His power, and His eternal nature: I AM. He is the self-sufficient, self-sustaining God who was, who is, and who will be. This eternal nature is conveyed better in the Hebrew than in the English.

I AM, God spoke to Moses.  Remember the time Moses fled Egypt and lived in Midian for forty years? It was in Moses’ self-imposed exile that God came to him and spoke through a burning bush. Moses asked God for His name, so he will have an answer when the people of Israel ask. In English, God’s answer is translated as “I AM WHO I AM … tell them I AM has sent me to you.”  I AM also means I exist, I have existed, and will always exist.  The name of I AM is how God chose to introduce himself, becoming so sacred that in Judaism, the name is not to be spoken. The significance of God’s self-given name encompasses all that He is, and how we are to relate to Him.  So, it is no wonder the punishment is harsh when anyone curses God by His Name. 

God is the Giver of Life.  When another human decides to take a life God has created; God intervenes.  So, with these understandings, let’s read on…

Leviticus 24

Olive Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. 3 Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually.

5 “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. 8 This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9 It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”

A Blasphemer Put to Death

10 Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses: 14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

17 “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. 18 Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. 19 Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. 21 Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death. 22 You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’”

23 Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. The Israelites did as the Lord commanded Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

In this chapter, the Lord gave Moses instructions concerning three holy things: the holy oil for the lampstand, the holy bread for the table, and the holy name of the Lord, which all the people were to honor.  We are reminded of one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses that specifically says; “Do not take the Lord’s Name in vain.”  Do not swear by God’s Name saying “God is my witness” for example, as explained in Exodus 20:7.

THE OIL – The people of Israel were to provide the oil for the priests to keep the lamps burning.  There was a method of extracting olive oil by heat, but beating or crushing the olives and straining out the impurities produced the best olive oil. The God of Israel deserves the very best.  God gave His best to us!

Warren Wierbe writes of the parallel of Jesus;

“Jesus is the light (Luke 2:32; John 1:4, 9; 8:12; 9:5), and only through Him can we see and appreciate spiritual things. The apostle John compared local churches to individual gold lampstands that are supposed to shine and bear witness in their cities (Revelation 1:12, 20. (See also; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15).  Many a local church has had its light go out before both God and the world because of the unfaithfulness of the leaders and/or members. They failed to pray, give, and allow the Holy Spirit to use them. If the light is to be kept burning, somebody must provide the oil.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

THE BREAD – From the priest’s viewpoint, the loaves of bread sustained life and maybe reminded him that what God called him to be and do was basic, for real people. Being somewhat isolated in the tabernacle day after day; the priests could easily get “out of touch” with the people they were representing before God.  Isolation is easy prey for the devil to convince them of their importance as priests and lead them to believe that they were better than everyone else. 

Bread is common.  So, why bread on the table of the Lord God in the Holy Place? The presence of bread in the tabernacle assures us that God is concerned about the practical things of our lives and that there’s no such thing as “secular” and “sacred” in the Christian life. Believers live one life for God alone.

FUN FACT:  Later, we will read of young David who is escaping King Saul who has gone insane because God’s Holy Spirit was no longer on Saul.  David and his men were hiding out in the Temple and were hungry.  They ate the “holy bread”!  Read this story in 1 Samuel 21:1-6.  Yes, God’s Word ties together from beginning to end!  Fascinating!

The main emphasis of Leviticus 24 is: Our God is a holy God and we must honor Him, whether in bringing our offerings and gifts to Him or by respecting His very name. The Lord doesn’t execute blasphemers today, but there is coming a day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and then God will “render to each one according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). 

We must pause to respond to God with repentance followed by humbled praise for His forgiveness of all our sins.  God seeks hearts who seek Him to be made holy and pure. God’s Holy Spirit who lives in all believers of Jesus; calls us to repentance by convicting us of sin; confronts us with Truth; comforts us with healing; and then compels us to live life to the full with God in the lead!  As we respond to God in His way; His gift of peace descends and falls over our whole being.  What a great and gracious God we have!  Thank you, Jesus, for your mission to save the world, forgiving all who repent— of whom I am one of them.

Lord,

Thank you for who you are to us! Thank for reminding us who we are to you! Thank you for helping us see that you, dear Jesus, were there at the beginning and will be there at the end of the ages.  From Genesis to Revelation, you are the God who was, is and always will be.  And you are the God who is Present and sits beside me to guide my thoughts.  Lord, God of all; Come and fill all of me.

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your Glory, Amen!

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EVENTS TO REMEMBER AND CHERISH!

Posted on January 18, 2025 by randscallawayffm

I got up early yesterday morning and sat by the computer, fingers ready to pounce on the tab, “ticket sales.”  At ten in the morning the sales for a certain worship concert would begin.  I knew that this concert would be popular to my age group and older as these were popular artists from my past.  They are still going strong now! Their songs gave hope and encouragement as a younger adult in my growing faith.

Led by God’s Holy Spirit; their praises joyfully give glory to God!  Two groups are coming together to worship God in praise for all He has done. Memories are flooding back of all the many ways God provided and protected me over the years as soon as I saw the event published.  My heart gives thanks to God now with thanksgiving for all He is doing now in our lives! I thank Jesus for making me whole and presenting me acceptable to God with forgiveness of my sins.  I thank God’s Holy Spirit for keeping me focused, daily leading me to all that is Truth.  The concert will not happen for eight months but I have our tickets!  We have an event to look forward to with grateful hearts.  And did I mention, the date fell on my birthday?  Oh, yeah!

God directs His people to hold sacred events and celebrations as ways to remember all that He is to them as their Creator and Sustainer of life.  God wants all His people to celebrate all the ways in which He meets their needs as Provider.  God reminds His people that He is the Protector from all their enemies.  Most of all God is the Rescuer of their very lives.  God brought them out of the bondage and slavery they had live for centuries into a world where only God is to be their Lord who is Holy and will make them Holy.  God is their Master Teacher with lessons to guide them to all that is for their good and His glory.  God is Present with them.  God is to be the One and Only God they worship.  God is God.

Leviticus 23

The Appointed Festivals

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

The Sabbath

3 “‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread

4 “‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: 5 The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”

Offering the Firstfruits

9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

The Festival of Weeks

15 “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”

The Festival of Trumpets

23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25 Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’”

The Day of Atonement

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. 30 I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

The Festival of Tabernacles

33 The Lord said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)

39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows, and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” are the words chiseled into the table placed in front of the pulpit.  The beautiful oak grained table never moved from it’s sacred place.  Upon it was a huge Bible, opened to Isaiah the prophet who announced the “coming of a Messiah” who would take away the sins of the world.  The Word of God was moved over or set aside on the days of communion when the table held the elements to be served.  But everyone who believed and followed Jesus in obedience to Him knew that we drank and ate the bread in remembrance of His blood shed and His body given as a sacrifice for our sins.  What a sacred and holy moment in the remembering! 

It is in the remembering that we realize God knows our hearts and knows exactly what we need.  God will still be God even if we do not thank Him or remember what He has done.  (Pause, let that sink in, but don’t read what I’m not saying.)  God commands these “remembrance” times for us who need to remember all the details of how God sent His Son to rescue us!  As believers who left the old life to obtains a forgiven new life with Christ; praise bursts forth in thanksgiving as we remember!  We can’t help but praise Him!  It’s in our new nature to do so as we remember.  When we praise Him with humbled thanksgiving in adoration, awe, and wonder for all He is and all He has done in and for us; a pleasing aroma ascends to God who is pleased.  Sabbaths, feasts, and celebrations for our own good and for His glory!  These times of focus on God are designed to consistently remember with a celebration to look forward to with God!  It’s all about God’s relationship with His beloved. 

God established several holidays that symbolized the Israelites’ special relationship with him. He also gave rules that governed interpersonal relationships so His people would remember why coming before Him is a sacred act of denying self to be filled with all of God.

Therefore, special holidays like going to a concert remind us of the past ways God ministered to our needs by His Holy Spirit living in us. Holidays are designed for praise to God with grateful hearts.  Feasts, (we now call potlucks), help renew our commitment to God and to each other. In the New Testament, Jesus became the Lamb of the Passover, Messiah come!  The celebration of the Lord’s Supper reminds us of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for our sins and calls us to renewed commitment.  What a sacred moment and that is why most pastors say not to take this lightly but to remember humbly.

Approach this Sunday as a real holiday to remember with gratitude. Celebrate it with all your heart. Remember the past. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to renew our minds for what lies ahead with expectant hope for the future. Jesus is risen! God has conquered death! Be glad.  Live like the redeemed people we are!  Celebrate, come on!

Lord,

Thank you for making us whole and holy by your forgiveness and grace—All made possible by your deeply, demonstrated love and sacrifice for all you have created.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GIVING THE BEST WITH SINCERE HEARTS

Posted on January 17, 2025 by randscallawayffm

““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” –Jesus, Matthew 23:23-26 

As we read through the detailed directions of God to his appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained priests who stood as mediators for God’s people, we wonder what went wrong over the centuries?  At what point in obediently doing their appointed work given to them by God did they lean more heavily on the rules and less on the relationship that God so greatly desired from His people?  First and foremost, God wanted His people to love Him back. 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.” Jesus said to one of the “experts” of The Law who was actually testing Jesus about performing of the Law. (Matthew 22:37) 

Then Jesus added, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:39-40)  (Read the rest the story—there’s a twist to proclaim truth in the storyline!)

God, who is Love, tells Moses to tell Aaron how to treat all offerings to God with respect for God.  “I am the Lord” is repeated often because God knows mankind needs constant reminders of who God is and that He alone is Holy.  God is also teaching his priests that all that is given to God must be done with a sincere heart for God. 

Leviticus 22

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the Lord.

3 “Say to them: ‘For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person must be cut off from my presence. I am the Lord.

4 “‘If a descendant of Aaron has a defiling skin disease or a bodily discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is cleansed. He will also be unclean if he touches something defiled by a corpse or by anyone who has an emission of semen, 5 or if he touches any crawling thing that makes him unclean, or any person who makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be. 6 The one who touches any such thing will be unclean till evening. He must not eat any of the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water. 7 When the sun goes down, he will be clean, and after that he may eat the sacred offerings, for they are his food. 8 He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, and so become unclean through it. I am the Lord.

9 “‘The priests are to perform my service in such a way that they do not become guilty and die for treating it with contempt. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.

10 “‘No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired worker eat it. 11 But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if slaves are born in his household, they may eat his food. 12 If a priest’s daughter marries anyone other than a priest, she may not eat any of the sacred contributions. 13 But if a priest’s daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, yet has no children, and she returns to live in her father’s household as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food. No unauthorized person, however, may eat it.

14 “‘Anyone who eats a sacred offering by mistake must make restitution to the priest for the offering and add a fifth of the value to it. 15 The priests must not desecrate the sacred offerings the Israelites present to the Lord 16 by allowing them to eat the sacred offerings and so bring upon them guilt requiring payment. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.’”

Unacceptable Sacrifices

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, 19 you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. 20 Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. 21 When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable. 22 Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. 23 You may, however, present as a freewill offering an ox or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. 24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut. You must not do this in your own land, 25 and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.’”

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “When a calf, a lamb or a goat is born, it is to remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the Lord. 28 Do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.

29 “When you sacrifice a thank offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 30 It must be eaten that same day; leave none of it till morning. I am the Lord.

31 “Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. 32 Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy 33 and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”—Jesus, Matthew 23:37-39 (Read Matthew 23 entirely for the full message of woes declared by Jesus to the Law keepers who added to the Law to gain power and wealth over the people, seeing only themselves worthy before God.)

We are appalled at the Pharisees and Sadducees’ behaviors when we read the woes Jesus pronounced against them until we look inside ourselves and observe our own hearts filled with pride.  We might recall our own judgement of people who come into our churches.  We “size them up” and judge them with merely a first impression based on human instinct.  We gossip with other rule keepers who agree with us.

The Holy Spirit who lives within us will confront and convicts us of being the very person that breaks the heart of God.  If we are listening, we will repent and transform.  If we go on about the business of doing all the churchy things required of us as our adopted habits of behavior, we might miss out on the beautiful, loving relationship that God loves to bless.

Am I making this too simple? Sometimes it is the simple, unnoticed sins of wanting to feel important that slowly erodes the motivation of a once pure heart for God.

The rules for the Levitical line of priests eventually became the “first and greatest commandments” and trumped the relationship God was seeking with His people.

We do the same if our hearts are not pure and our behaviors are mere performance.  

Jesus sought God’s direction often before doing anything significant on earth in his mission “to seek and to save” people.  Who are we to think that seeking God’s direction is not needed for us?  We might know all the church rules but without a growing relationship with our God who created guidelines of behavior that lead us to Him; we are useless to His Kingdom work.  Too strong?  I don’t think so after reading Matthew 23.

We not only need God’s detailed direction and guidance; we need constant reminders of WHY we do what we do—because we love God back and want to please HIM in all we think, say, and do.  This is the why than purifies and motivates our hearts. 

Jesus demonstrated this truth for us as He would “get away by Himself” to seek God first.  We follow his example by seeking God first before beginning each new day that is full of opportunities to love God back, love each other, and tell of His redemption.  His disciples caught on and ask Him to teach them to pray—which Jesus did.  “Hallowed be YOUR Name. May YOUR Kingdom come; May YOUR Will be done” was at the beginning of this profound but simple prayer that reaches the heart of God!

God is looking for us whose hearts are committed to Him!  “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

God’s intentions for Aaron and his sons were to encourage people to give their best to the Lord. The priest who had respect for his ministry and high regard for the sacrifices of God would accept only those animals that met God’s requirements. To send a worshiper away from the altar with a false assurance of forgiveness would be to do great damage to his or her spiritual life.

Lord,

Doing what you say with a heart committed to you is key to our growing relationship with You as we tell others about you.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, restore the joy of your salvation at work within us.  Make us holy before you.  I love you, Lord with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul.  Fill me with all of you.  Lead me, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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EXPECTATIONS

Posted on January 16, 2025 by randscallawayffm

God appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained certain men as the mediating priests who would stand in the gap between the unholy sins of Israel and Holy God. God’s priestly order would begin with Aaron and the sons of Aaron.  Aaron is the brother of Moses who was surely not without the propensity to sin.  We remember that it was Aaron who caved to the crowd while Moses was getting instructions from God on the mountain. (Exodus 32). 

Forty days with God’s detailed training for Moses was just too long for the people waiting on Moses’ return.  The people assumed Moses wasn’t coming back, presumed Moses to be dead, and so reverted back to the sin of worshiping manmade gods and wild partying—as was their habit learned from the Egyptians.  Holy Cow!  No, seriously, gold was melted down by Aaron who then formed a calf from it, then put it on a platform for all the people to bow down and worship!  It got the people off his back, so to speak, but ended up with God anger becoming the anger of Moses who destroyed it, ground the gold down to power and made the partiers drink it! It’s been said that it takes 40 days to form a new habit; but God’s people merely fell back to old habits. God’s people need help.

We have been learning from the message of Leviticus of God commands His People to live differently and distinctly in the culture that surrounds them for their good and His glory.  “I will make you holy” promises our Holy God.  God was with them always but would not come near their sins until the priests mediated on their behalf by God’s detailed direction so that the unclean could be ceremonial clean by atonement for sin through sacrifice.  Only God is completely perfect and holy.  It is only Holy God whom they must trust and obey.

We learn today that God’s Mediators must be held to high standards for they are the ones who represent all God’s people; seeking God’s forgiveness of all their sins—as well as their own sins.  God knows his priests will not be perfect as they are human.  The priest must be atoned for his own sins before bringing the sins of the people to God to be forgiven.

Leviticus 21

Rules for Priests

21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, 2 except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, 3 or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean. 4 He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.

5 “‘Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies. 6 They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, they are to be holy.

7 “‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God. 8 Regard them as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy—I who make you holy.

9 “‘If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by becoming a prostitute, she disgraces her father; she must be burned in the fire.

10 “‘The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair become unkempt or tear his clothes. 11 He must not enter a place where there is a dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even for his father or mother, 12 nor leave the sanctuary of his God or desecrate it, because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil of his God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘The woman he marries must be a virgin. 14 He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, 15 so that he will not defile his offspring among his people. I am the Lord, who makes him holy.’”

16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the Lord, who makes them holy.’”

24 So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God gave instructions to Moses about the priesthood and sacrifices and gave a code of moral principles.  Those who serve God must be totally dedicated, because God deserves only the best.  God is the best.

But over the centuries, the human priestly system became so sinfully flawed that a “course correction” for the cleansing of sin would need to be made.  The Source of all that is good and holy stood ready at just the right time to make this course correction.  Interestingly, the intent The Law didn’t change; it was fulfilled by a Savior, who was God’s Son.  He came down to earth to save the world.  God knew before Creation that the ultimate Plan to save people from their sins would be needed and God was ready.  God’s love for His created all over the world prompted His perfect plan to save an imperfect people once and for all by one perfect sacrifice. God loves. He always has and always will!  God is the Source of real love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

God gave His people a glimpse of the glorious coming of the Messiah through the prophets. God gave them the words to say to tell how He would save His people—but many would not listen to understand for most people are very impatient in waiting. (Remember the golden calf debacle, for instance!)

Before Jesus came, the priests still stood and read of God’s Plan out loud in the synagogues; but they did not fully understand because of their well-formed arrogance coupled with their desire to always have the final say with power over the people in any given community.

As for me; I am grateful for The Plan.  I am humbled by Jesus who demonstrated God’s love, taught us what real love is with how to live a more holy life through repentance of our sins to Him and who gave us a greater understanding of who God is with what God expects. God still wants us to be holy as He is holy.  God gives us all the help we need to seek His holy ways.  God knows we are not perfect. God knows our hearts.  His expectation for us is to seek His holy ways.

Real life begins with Jesus, our High Priest, who is without sin, who sacrificed His life for ours, who stood in the gap between our sins and God’s holiness. We simply and sincerely repent to our Savior who has already taken our punishment and paid the debt of sin in full.  Jesus made us right with God—closing the gap between God and us!  

We who believe and repent to Jesus are made clean by God who is holy.  Our sins are erased, gone, remembered no more! Jesus stands ready as our Advocate to God because Jesus is God.  Pause to thank God for sending His Son to save us and make us holy before Him!  Jesus did what we cannot do for ourselves—remove all sin and make us holy before a Holy God.

Jesus’ plunge into the Jordan is a picture of his plunge into our sin. His baptism announces, “Let me pay.”  And He did.  So, to arrive at holiness we must trust in Jesus Christ. Every area of our lives must be placed in subjection to His lordship, every decision made with him, and every word said honoring to him. Believe, repent, and be set free to love God and others with the love God who now takes up residence in the hearts of those fully committed to Him who saved us. 

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing,” says Jesus. (John 20:29) He was talking about us!  As we trust and obey; we live with expectancy, following Jesus’ adventures that build and expand our faith, hope, and love—all from Him who loved us first!

Lord,

Thank you for your message of “standards” that when studied and translated leads us to seeking your holy ways of living. Thank you for the help we need every day to live a more holy life with you in the lead.  Cleanse our hearts and remove all that does not belong.  Renew our minds, transform our behaviors by your power working in us.  Refresh our souls with your tender mercies.  Continually restore the spring of joy of you in us and us in you.  Thank you for your gift of peace that transcends all.  Be our wisdom and strength for today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Since Jesus, we who believe are appointed to go and teach of Jesus who saved us.  We are the “priests” who proclaim and point people to Jesus, the Highest Priest, who is the only Way to God. (1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 28:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20)  Do our standards for living match our Holy God desires for us?  Pondering…

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WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS

Posted on January 15, 2025 by randscallawayffm

The relationship God desires to have with His people, who He has created in him own image, is intimate, loving, and personal.  God wants His created to know Him.   God wants our undivided attention which is obvious by all the sin filled distractions that are detailed in Leviticus to be avoided at all costs!

God is not in heaven making up impossible rules for us to follow just to annoy us. God is not one who enjoys opportunities to punish us for disobeying his rules, His Word tells us.  When we pause to think about God, who He really is, and what He does, from His vantage point of relentlessly loving us; our perspective changes. God loves His created—individually and as a people group—and wants them/us to survive and even thrive in an imperfect world filled with other people groups who culturally seek self-satisfaction, self-produced power over the weak, while living life arrogantly without God.

God wants those who love Him back to be different and act differently.  There must be a distinction between those who love God and those who do not.

God is not soft on the sin that engulfs and enslaves His people.  His laws are given to protect His people in ways that provide health spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.  His compassion for His people never stops, fails, or gives up.  If He did, we would not be reading this today!

Leviticus 20

Punishments for Sin

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. 3 I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. 4 If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, 5 I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

6 “‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

7 “‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

9 “‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.

10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

11 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

12 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.

13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

14 “‘If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.

15 “‘If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he is to be put to death, and you must kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

17 “‘If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They are to be publicly removed from their people. He has dishonored his sister and will be held responsible.

18 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people.

19 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the sister of either your mother or your father, for that would dishonor a close relative; both of you would be held responsible.

20 “‘If a man has sexual relations with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless.

21 “‘If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.

22 “‘Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. 24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.

25 “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God was leading the Israelites from one pagan culture (Egypt) to another (Canaan). God wanted the people to follow his guidelines for sexual practices. He wanted them to abhor the sexual sins of the pagan cultures along with the horrific practice of sacrificing their own children to a god of sin.

Research says—

“Molech was the god of the Ammonites. His metal image was heated red hot and little children were placed in his arms and burned to death (see 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 32:35). People who practiced such idolatry were inhumane, and their presence in the camp defiled God’s sanctuary and profaned His holy name. Idolaters were not tolerated because they influenced others and led people away from the worship of the true God.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

Although the sacrificing of children and the sexual abuse detailed seems barbaric to us; our sins of being unfaithful to our wives or husbands, sacrificing our children by not telling them of Jesus’ saving grace and teaching them to trust and obey God by words and our actions carry the same consequences.  The disgusting trafficking of innocent children around the world is at an all-time high today! These beloved children of God are prostituted to the highest bidder and robbed of all innocence unless rescued.

Divorce which affects everyone in the family is at an all-time high—even in “Christian” communities.  One out of three marriages will succumb to divorce—which is “emotionally worse than death” as stated by those we’ve counseled who suffer the destruction of intimacy with the one you imagined you would spend your life with “until death do us part.”  Abuse of a mate is a different story, of course, and protection must be sought.  But today’s casual perspective by those seeking to be married will often say; “Ah, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just find another.”  This is distasteful to God who wants His best for all who belong to Him.

God’s moral law is the revelation of His holy will for humanity; individuals and nations can’t despise God’s law and escape judgment or consequences.

While law can be a light that exposes evil and a guard that restrains evil, it can never change the human heart. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can do that.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” writes Paul.  Paul also confessed, “of whom I am the “chief sinner”!  Paul told his story of redemption and life transformation, from one who persecuted new believers to one who was relentless committed to Jesus, with every breath he took!  Jesus came into his life and changed his heart, renewed his mind, and transformed his behaviors!  (See Romans 3:23 and 1 Timothy 1:15)

Jesus does that for all who come to Him in repentance of sin with a sincere heart that desires what God wants for each one of us—freedom from sin’s bondage, joy and peace of knowing God, the promised gift of His Holy Spirit who lives in us giving us the power to change, along with the bonus of eternal life. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

The prophet, Jeremiah who believed, obeyed, and proclaimed what God told him to say then is still often quoted today as a verse from God that reminds us of the hope provided to us by Jesus who defeated death and gave us a future!

The foundation of all these laws and decrees from God was later taught and demonstrated by God’s Son himself when He walked the earth to “fulfill” every part of the Law—even unto death on the cross.  Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin as he carried all the sins of the world to that cross to save us; taking the punishment we deserve.  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice; We are a redeemed people!  And what does He ask of us?  To love God and each other like He loves us.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” –Jesus, Matthew 22:36-40

Lord, I believe and ask today that all who believe be filled with your love, your purpose and plan, your compassionate mercy and grace, with your power to transform; as we love you and others like You love us—with all that is in us.

In Jesus Name, I pray, for our good and His glory, Amen

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PURSUE HOLINESS

Posted on January 14, 2025 by randscallawayffm

“Let me make this perfectly clear,” says God: “I am God; you are not.”

Then God gives us detailed ways to develop His holy character traits along with holy behaviors in the pursuit of being holy in what I’d like to call, “Holiness for Dummies”.  Okay, we humans might not be dumb but we can certainly become very dull as we absentmindedly go about our day, on our own, habitually expecting better results today than yesterday by doing life without God.  God commands, “Be holy because, I the Lord your God, am holy.” 

But, the standard is high, too high, we think.  How can we just “be holy” like God says? 

Leviticus 19

Various Laws

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

3 “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

4 “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.

5 “‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.

9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

11 “‘Do not steal.

“‘Do not lie.

“‘Do not deceive one another.

12 “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

13 “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.

14 “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.

“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.

17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.

18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

19 “‘Keep my decrees.

“‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.

“‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.

“‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

20 “‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the Lord. 22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.

23 “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.

26 “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.

“‘Do not practice divination or seek omens.

27 “‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

28 “‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

29 “‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.

30 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

31 “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

32 “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.

33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

35 “‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. 36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

37 “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

A person whose heart is fully committed to God desires to do life His way.  Our commitment to God grows stronger as we learn quickly that our way is limited in wisdom and weak in understanding.  Wisdom is defined simply as “skills for living.”  The wisdom we seek and follow determines the steps we take each day.  To be holy is to first pursue God and His wisdom, the One who is Holy in every way.  The definition of Holy is God.

What’s repeated in God’s Word is important to God!  Notice how many times God tells His people who He is; “I am the Lord, your God, and I am holy.”  We are not only to pursue God but to pursue who God is and He is holy.  Why? Because we are created “in the image of God.”  To be holy does not mean perfection, but the consistent moving forward to be like the One who is perfect in every way.

God knew before we were born that we would not be perfect. God gave “free will” to follow Him—or not.  Because of our sin nature born within us because Adam and Eve’s  choice to follow evil; we have the propensity to be seduced by evil in our choosing in life, too.  But God, in His wisdom, guides us in all the details of living life.  He presents behaviors that will help us to develop His character of love, mercy, and grace.  God teaches us how to love Him back and how to love each other—in detail!  God teaches us how to be holy.

Did you notice?  All these regulations are tied back to God’s Ten Commandments for His People which relates to all that is moral and holy in God’s view of life. Since He is a holy God, we must be a holy people. If you count for curiosity’s sake; we discover that the phrase “I am the LORD your God” is repeated over forty times in Leviticus 18–26 to remind us that we belong to Him.

God also warns us, “Fear your God. I am the Lord” (19:32). Fear of God is more about a healthy respect and awe of our God who knows all, is in all, because He created all. There is no one like our God who cares for all He has created and wants His very best for each one.  Nothing escapes God.  God is sovereign.  Nothing will happen that will cause God to give up His divine authority over all.  He is God. We are not.

Note that God calls these laws “My decrees.”  God also reminds He people that the Sabbath is to be kept holy with reverence for the tabernacle that is His “sanctuary.” The law brings sinful people into the presence of a sovereign God who has every right to tell us what is right and wrong.  God is the final authority.

Today, these same laws of spiritually morality still guide us to what is wrong along with how to revere God and love Him back as well as how to really love each other with respect and dignity. God’s Holy Spirit guides us to what is right and holy and guides us to abundant living designed by God—who is Holy.  Because Jesus sacrificed his life for our punishment of sin, we who repent of sin are forgiven completely, our sins to be remembered no more!  We are in awe of God for His relentless love, mercy, and grace so undeserved!  

One final thought for today:  Getting along with people, especially our neighbors, isn’t a matter of obeying laws but of having love in our hearts. “Love is the fulfillment of the law,” says Paul. Romans 3:10) The new commandment given by Jesus to love one another helps us handle human relationships and treat people the way God treats us (John 13:34, 35).  “Being holy” then does not seem as hard as we first thought when we realize that in our committed pursuit of Holy God; He gives us powerful help to become holy.  We are not in this alone! God is with us. Always.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

THIS is the pursuit of holiness—to know and become more like Jesus each day, not perfect but perfectly forgiven.

Lord,

Only you are Holy for you are perfect in every way.  You know our hearts.  You know our thoughts and desires.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh and fill my soul, and restore the joy and peace of you in me and me in you.  I will pursue your holy character all the days of my life.  I love you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY

Posted on January 13, 2025 by randscallawayffm

God always knows what is best for us.  God created us.  God knows how our bodies work from the inside out and outside in.  We are meticulously woven together by God in our mother’s womb. God knew us before we were a “twinkle in the eyes” of our parents. We are intricately made to sustain good health.  God love us each one of His created and knows us by name. God even knows the number of hairs on our heads!  God knows what keeps us healthy and strong. God knows what we will need to fulfill his pleasing and perfect will for each one of us.  God created us with purpose. God has a plan to prosper us, not to do us harm.

In traveling through the wilderness as God’s People, the Israelites are reminded Who brought them out of slavery from Egypt to be set free to follow God to the land He promised their ancestors centuries earlier.  We need to broaden our scope as we center on this people group. They number in the hundreds of thousands. This isn’t a small camping adventure led by tour guides.  The Israelites numbers are over six hundred thousand by now.  To keep them all focused on the Lord, their God, God must provide laws in all areas of their lives for their good and His glory. 

Sexual purity proclamations are clearly detailed as with the other laws and practices God has given them.  Why?  Because the Israelites lived for years in a culture where “anything goes” in Egypt.  Evil behaviors, sexual abuse of people to satisfy their own needs, along with the defilement of women and the sacrifice of children will now be seen as they approach and live near the people living in Canaan where God’s protection does not exist.  God’s people have a new beginning to live in ways that are for their good. Following God’s ways will give God glory for all that is good for God is good. 

“I am the Lord your God,” God reminds them.  I know what is best for you for I created you in my own image.  Let me repeat that.  We are created in the image of God; we are like Him, we belong to Him.  To do anything that would bring defilement using our bodies is the same as desecrating the image of God that He created.  God has our best interests at heart.  Our bodies, His Temple, should not be used in unhealthy ways that would bring harm to us or to those with whom we are intimate.

Who and what we truly believe will be reflected in our behavior.

Leviticus 18

Unlawful Sexual Relations

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. 5 Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.

6 “‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord.

7 “‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.

8 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.

9 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

10 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

11 “‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.

12 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.

13 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.

14 “‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.

15 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.

16 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.

17 “‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.

18 “‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

19 “‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.

20 “‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.

24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

29 “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God was leading the Israelites from one pagan culture (Egypt) to another (Canaan). God wanted the people to follow his guidelines for sexual practices. He wanted them to abhor the sexual sins of the pagan cultures.  To obey God means fulfilling our sexual desires only with our spouse, as God intends.

This is not a check list to decide which one to obey and which one crosses the line for us—all is detestable to God who created us in His own image.  God wants His image bearing people to reflect His holiness.  The detailed list includes all the ways we can hurt ourselves and/or the children produced from unholy sexual practices.

When it comes to our bodies, the Bible declares that we don’t own them. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We respond to God’s goodness by using our bodies to honor God. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13

Your body is God’s instrument, intended for his work and for his glory.  We who believe Him belong to Him!

For Our Good—

God had chosen Israel to be the channel through which His Son would come into the world, and it was important that the channel be sanctified. The breakdown of marriage in the Jewish society and the adopting of pagan practices could threaten the plan of God for their redemption. This seems to be the emphasis of Malachi 2:15. The Lord was seeking “godly children” that can come only from godly marriages.

The world promotes sex without restrictions as the key to happiness. Avoid that lie. Eliminate its deceitful influence. Build solid friendships and an active social life on a foundation of sexual purity. If you are married, renew your commitment to your spouse.  What the world needs now—is God’s love—for our good and His glory!

Lord,

Thank you for the details that avoid the loopholes so many of us seek instead of seeking your holiness and what is best for our good and brings you glory, honor, and praise.  Thank you for clarifying that abuse of women and children are not a part of your plan to prosper us. Thank you for claiming us as your own, reminding us we were made in your image.  We belong to you.  I belong to you. To be known as your child humbles me and brings peace to my heart. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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