LIFEBLOOD

Posted on January 12, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Our blood is being necessary to our lives.  Our hearts get the most attention these days because we think the heart, which is merely the muscle that keeps the blood flowing to all parts of our bodies is the most important.  But it is the blood that sustains and purifies our entire inner workings.  There have been many medical advances over the last decades designed to replace our hearts with other hearts, mechanical hearts, along with pace makers to regulate the flow of our blood so that we can continue to live.  But it is the blood that gives and sustains life.

That’s why cliches such as “his family was the lifeblood of the church” are used to indicate what or who is the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality. Lifeblood is that factor that is most important to the continuing success and existence of the living and growing! 

God is now teaching the Israelites that the life of any creature is the blood. Blood is regarded as the life itself.  God tells His people that is the blood that gives life and vitality.  Blood is the vital, life-giving force that drives all God’s creation.

As we read, remember that Jesus is the lifeblood of redemption and salvation! His blood was shed so that we could have life—eternal life for all who believe.

Leviticus 17

Eating Blood Forbidden

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord has commanded: 3 Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people. 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. 6 The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.’

8 “Say to them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice 9 and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord must be cut off from the people of Israel.

10 “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

13 “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, 14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”

15 “‘Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean. 16But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Avoid roadkill…still.  (Okay, just my opinion, but my momma said, “leave that alone or put that down, you don’t know where it’s been!”)

It is the blood of the unblemished innocent that provides the atonement for sin.

Warren Wierbe simple states:

“When a sacrifice was offered and its blood was shed, it meant the giving of a life for the life of another. The innocent victim died in the place of the guilty sinner. Throughout Scripture, it’s the blood that makes the atonement. Any theology that ignores or minimizes the blood isn’t founded on the Word of God.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

God provides atonement for the sins of His People with a specific procedure because of His love, mercy, and grace.  Jesus, who is a part of the Trinity, will be the once and for all sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus will take the place of all other sacrifices as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.  And we are grateful!

Because the blood is the life of the creature and the God-ordained means of atonement, it must not be treated like ordinary food. Before preparing his meal, a Hebrew out hunting had to be careful to drain out the blood of the animal or bird he had caught. The blood then had to be covered with earth, giving it a decent burial, as it were. Orthodox Jews today are very careful to purchase kosher meat from which the blood has been drained in the prescribed manner.

Peter writes;

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” I Peter 1:18-20

As believers today, I pray that we fully appreciate the importance of the “precious” blood of Christ;

  • “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
  • “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7
  • “…and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…” Revelation 1:5
  • “And so, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” Hebrews 13:12
  • “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
  • “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
  • “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” Acts 20:28

The number of sins, from small to barbaric, atoned for on the Day of Atonement is staggering. The sin offering cleansed the place of God’s dwelling from the pollution of the people’s sins. 

Today sin must be still be cleansed and washed away by the blood of the Lamb.  Maybe the process is too easy since Jesus did all the work for us!  Jesus’ crucifixion that provided our freedom from sin must NOT be read or believed casually. The sins of the world stood in the way of a growing relationship with Holy God.  His deserve was that no one perish but have eternal life with Him. God wants a relationship with us for He is the One who created us in His own image.  God loved us so much He sent His Son to suffer torture, be nailed to a cross, with a crown of thorns pushed down on his head. The purpose of Roman crucifixion was to be humiliated in public view while bleeding out until the body’s lifeblood was depleted. 

How can we then take sin and God’s forgiveness so casually when the very image of Jesus taking our place on that cross should drive us to our knees?  Maybe we take our sin too causally?  What is sin to us? 

Sin is anything and everything that distracts us from God.  “All have sinned,” says Paul.  “There is no one good; only God is good,” says Jesus.  Some sins are atrocious and affect everyone around us.  Some sins seem small in the view of the sinner and are casually deemed harmless. But, according to God; all sins need forgiveness and cleansing!  Think about it…

  • At the very least, we all complain and grumble when things don’t go our way.
  • We worry about everything we cannot see or control; even though Jesus says, “Do not worry!” God says, “Trust Me.”
  • We’ve hoarded when we should have shared.
  • We’ve turned away when you should have helped.
  • We’ve second-guessed, presumed, assumed, and we’ve covered up.
  • Because of sin, we criticize the ones we love without mercy and argued with the ones we cherish.
  • We feel ashamed, guilty, and bitter often.
  • We develop ulcers, endure sleepless nights, are depressed on cloudy days, and feel physical pain when out of sorts because we do life on our own with asking for God’s help.

Ah, but wait, there’s more…

  • Because of sin, the young are abused and the elderly forgotten.
  • Because of sin, God is cursed while drugs and other addictions are worshiped.
  • Because of sin, the poor have less and the affluent are never satisfied.
  • Because of sin, babies have no daddies and husbands have no wives.
  • Sin gives birth to a thousand heartaches and broken promises. Addiction can be traced back to an original sin.
  • Mistrust can be traced back to sin.
  • Bigotry, robbery, adultery—all because of sin.

But in heaven, there is no sin.  All the sins above will be no more. In heaven, sin will have no power; in fact, sin will have no presence. There will be no sin, no tears, no death. 

Avoid allowing sin to pull us down, distract and deceive us. Sin is the enemy’s one and only tool used to destroy us. 

Believe, repent, confess sin out loud to God in Jesus Name. God already knows anyway!  Accept God’s complete forgiveness. Thank God for His relentless love, great mercy, and unending grace.  Then live a gratefully free, humbly redeemed life!

Others who need a Savior will see His reflection on the faces of those who truly believe that Jesus really suffered a horrific death in our place for the punishment of all our sins.

Lord,

Thank you for shedding your blood so that I could be free from all my sins. Thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit who teaches me to avoid returning to the sins that brought me down. Thank you for those times when I did fall but you were quick to pick me back up and put me back on your solid foundation—all because of your love, mercy, and grace.  There is no one like our God!  You had me at “we love Him because He first loved us”!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE SCAPEGOAT

Posted on January 11, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Some call these people crazy, some are grateful for them, and some assume it is their job as leader to take the blame for all who work there. Afterall, the “buck stops here.”  Who are we talking about?  The “scapegoat” in any given workplace or family community who will take all the blame for the wrongful behaviors of the group on their shoulders.  The scapegoat will voluntarily step forward and bare the brunt of the punishment they know must be administered.  Sometimes the scapegoat doesn’t have a choice in our world. 

Scapegoating begins at a very young age.  As immature children, our first response and inherit knee jerk reaction is to shift the blame to a bystander as we run from the scene of the crime with sure punishment.  In any given social group, one will be chosen by the group to take the blame.  They will betray him or her with made up lies about their character so that their innocence is accepted and protected.  Sound familiar?  Were you ever the scapegoat—voluntarily or involuntarily?  Or were you the one who helped decide who the scapegoat was going to be?

The term “scapegoat,” most likely, originated with this next passage.  God was the inventor of the idea!  Read on…

Leviticus 16

The Day of Atonement

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

11 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

18 “Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. 24 He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

26 “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp. 27 The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. 28 The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.

29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.

34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The Day of Atonement was the holiest day for the Israelites. God teaches His People that sin cannot dwell before a Holy God.  Sin must be dealt with in a way clears the pathway to God.  God made a way for the sins of the priest and the people to be atoned or covered over so that Holy God can come and reside with His people. 

The number of sins atoned for by the Day of Atonement is staggering. The sin offering cleansed the place of God’s dwelling from the pollution of the people’s sins.  Like oil and water; sin and holiness do not mix.  Sin blocks our view of God and stands in the way of our relationship with God.  Holy God will not occupy the same space as sin; so sin, not in part but the whole, must be cleansed thoroughly so that God can enter in.

No one but the high priest entered the Most Holy Place. No one. To do so meant death. Two of Aaron’s sons died when they disobediently entered the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifices to the Lord on their own terms. In no uncertain terms, the curtain was the line between the Holy and unholy and declared: “This far and no farther!”

We learn that God and only God is holy.  We are sinners.  There is distance between God and sinners.  Max Lucado writes of our sin problem with where the blame resides;

Isn’t this our problem? We know God is good. We know we are not, and we feel far from God. The ancient words of Job are ours, “If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together” (Job 9:33).

Oh, but there is! Jesus hasn’t left us with an unapproachable God. Yes, God is holy. Yes, we are sinful. But, yes, yes, yes, Jesus is our mediator. Is not a mediator one who “goes between”? Wasn’t Jesus the curtain between us and God? And wasn’t his flesh torn? What appeared to be the cruelty of man was actually the sovereignty of God.

We are welcome to enter into God’s presence—any day, any time. God has removed the barrier that separates us from him. The barrier of sin? Down. He has removed the curtain.” –Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible

The most important day of the year for the Old Testament Israelite was the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur—when God graciously atoned for all the sins of all the people and gave the nation a new beginning.  Israel can’t celebrate Yom Kippur in the appointed way today; but those who have received Jesus Christ can see in this ancient ritual a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Jesus was our “scapegoat” who took all the sins of the world upon his shoulders and carried them to the cross!  Because of God’s love, mercy, and grace; His Son, Jesus took the punishment for our sins so that we could be set free from what we owned—our sin debt! 

Only the shedding of the blood could give the people forgiveness and a new beginning on this day of atonement.  Only by the shedding of Jesus’ blood are our sins forgiven and forgotten forever.  (Hebrews 9:22)

And the goat who was released?  This goat, we call “the scapegoat”, is short for “escape-goat,” that is, the goat that escaped death and escaped into the desert. The Hebrew word is azazel, which could be a compound of the two Hebrew words “goat” and “to go away.” Some Hebrews connect it with an Arabic word that means “to remove, to banish.”

Regardless of the origin of the word, the meaning is clear: The releasing of the goat symbolized the sins of the people being carried away, never to be held against them again…like Jesus did for us!

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

The Hebrew word kapar, translated “atonement,” is used sixteen times in Leviticus 16, and it basically means “to ransom, to remove by paying a price.” The high priest had to repeat the ritual of the Day of Atonement year after year, but Jesus Christ came at the right time (Galatians 4:4-5) to finish the work nobody else could do. “Once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

The death of Christ on the cross has fulfilled the Day of Atonement! 

Our part is to wholeheartedly believe, repent, and be forgiven and redeemed from sins confessed forever.  Jesus also resurrected from physical death as the Son of Man, defeating death, giving us the hope of eternal life with God!  “We shall be like Him”

The annual Day of Atonement was considered a Sabbath, and the people weren’t allowed to do any work. The fact that the people weren’t to do any work reminds us that we are saved wholly by God’s grace, through faith, and not, because of our character or our good works (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The forgiveness that the people received that day was the gift of God.  God did for us through Jesus what we cannot do for ourselves—remove all our sins—God’s gift to us.

“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.” John 3:16

Lord,

Thank you for removing all my sins as I confess them to you one by one. Thank you for the Way made to boldly walk into your throne room to speak with you, God, our Father. The curtain removed by the blood you shed for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SUSTAINING CLEANLINESS

Posted on January 10, 2025 by randscallawayffm

The normal routines of life, our going to work, coming home, preparing meals for family, keeping clothes clean for work, school, and church, vacuuming all the dirt of the world we bring into our homes, the washing of bedding, cleaning toilets of germs always present—all these chores are done to sustain a clean household for our families to enjoy.  When one has a sickness, it is common sense to isolate them as best we can, so the other members of the household can avoid it.  Our sustained cleaning is designed to avoid sicknesses but we bring in germs from our daily going and coming that cannot be avoided.  The Covid era (as other former plagues of the world) highlighted the need for good hygiene through all generations for sure!

God tells Moses detailed ways to sustain the cleanliness of the Israelites’ households with awareness of how to deal with bodily fluids, both normal and abnormal.  All secretions must be cleansed, along with everything the fluids touch.  Then they must be declared clean by the priest who will provide a sacrifice and burnt offering from what they bring to him so that they can be atoned and cleansed.

Are we noticing how the job description of a priest is growing in the number of tasks?  I have questions!  Priests now are very personally involved in the lives of God’s people!  They will see and hear things that others will not.  As with lawyers and doctors, will they sustain a confidentiality agreement?  But wait, there’s more…

Leviticus 15

Discharges Causing Uncleanness

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any man has an unusual bodily discharge, such a discharge is unclean. 3 Whether it continues flowing from his body or is blocked, it will make him unclean. This is how his discharge will bring about uncleanness:

4 “‘Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and anything he sits on will be unclean. 5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 6 Whoever sits on anything that the man with a discharge sat on must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

7 “‘Whoever touches the man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

8 “‘If the man with the discharge spits on anyone who is clean, they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

9 “‘Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean, 10 and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening; whoever picks up those things must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

11 “‘Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

12 “‘A clay pot that the man touches must be broken, and any wooden article is to be rinsed with water.

13 “‘When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean. 14 On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the Lord to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. 15 The priest is to sacrifice them, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement before the Lord for the man because of his discharge.

16 “‘When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 17 Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. 18 When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

19 “‘When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening.

20 “‘Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Anyone who touches her bed will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 22 Anyone who touches anything she sits on will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening.

24 “‘If a man has sexual relations with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.

25 “‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. 26 Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. 27 Anyone who touches them will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

28 “‘When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. 29On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 30 The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the Lord for the uncleanness of her discharge.

31 “‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’”

32 These are the regulations for a man with a discharge, for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen, 33 for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God always has a reason for his detailed commands. We have learned that God who loves and cares for His created has a strong desire to keep them safe and protected from harm and sickness. This is indeed another “law” to keep that will prevent the spread of disease.

However, I’m reminded of the woman who bled consistently for twelve years.  She tried everything.  She paid money to every doctor who said they could help—but could not. She obeyed the Mosaic law but found never to be cleansed completely because the bleeding never stopped!  All hope was gone until she heard of this preacher who had healed others of their debilitating ways of life and gave them a healed new life.  Oh, how she long for a new life without continually cleansing herself and her clothes of this constant bleeding that made her weak and weary.  All who knew her declared her unclean—for twelve long years! 

We pick up her story in Luke 8—

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-47

This same beautiful story of healing of this particular woman is also told by Matthew and Mark as well.  “If I can only touch the hem of his garment…”  The woman knew an unclean person such as herself should not be touching anyone—especially a man proclaimed to be a prophet of God!

But she had tried everything else.  Her last and only hope was Jesus. 

This woman’s risky faith, the size of a “mustard seed”, brought the healing she had sought for twelve years!  It was instant!  Jesus, full of the power of God, healed her as soon as she touched the hem of his garment without seemingly knowing who she was—or did He?  Jesus knew that the power within him had just been released to this lost, weakened woman, so he used her story to declare her faith and His glory!  The woman could now go the local priest, offer a sacrifice, and be declared clean! 

Think about it—

This woman had a hidden need, a burden she had lived with for twelve long years. It affected her physically and made life difficult. But it also affected her spiritually, because the hemorrhage made her ceremonially defiled and unable to participate in the religious life of the nation as we just read in Leviticus 15:19–22. She was defiled, destitute, discouraged, and desperate, but she came to Jesus and her need was met. Her faith, though maybe a bit superstitious at first; was honored and applauded by the Highest Priest and Savior of our souls!

But wait, there’s more—there’s always more God want us to know!

In the same passage of Luke, previous to this healing of the woman, Jesus was on his way to the house of Jairus, a prominent man, whose twelve year old daughter was dying!  So, the daughter was born about the same time the woman developed her bleeding disease.  Mm, with God, there are no coincidences!

The healing on the way to Jairus house was an opportunity for the woman to confess Christ and glorify God for her healing! Had she stolen away in the crowd, she would not have met Jesus personally or heard His words of assurance and comfort. But her confession was also an encouragement to Jairus, who would soon hear that his daughter had died. (Perhaps he wanted to blame the woman for the delay!) The woman’s twelve years of trial were ended, and the same Christ who helped her would help Jairus.  We read that Jesus brought Jarius’ daughter back to life!  The same Jesus served both the poor and destitute and the rich.  This same Jesus still gives life to whoever believes and desires to be saved from all their sins!

So, we learn that the law convicts us of all that is unclean that needs to be cleaned.  But it is Jesus, the Fulfiller of The Law who brings complete cleansing to all sin by His Sacrifice, once and for all!  Wow.  Jesus who was with God in the Old Testament is linked once more to Jesus of the New Testament who came down to earth and moved into the neighborhood of humanity.  May our response be to fully embrace the God who knows exactly what we need when we need Him.  Trust Him.  He knows!

Lord,

Thank you for leading us through Your Word that gives light to what might be hard to understand by the power of Your Holy Spirit who guides us to truth.

I’m yours.  I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE CLEANSING

Posted on January 9, 2025 by randscallawayffm

In any given public school classroom; all who reside for the duration of the school day are exposed to all that students (and teachers) bring into the classroom from their home environments.  As they travel to special classes of gym, music, library, or art; they carry the germs with them.  During cold and flu season, we provide more tissue boxes and full bottles of soap at the sink.  But first graders in my classroom needed to be taught often about the hygiene of washing hands after tending to their runny noses. Some had to be taught how to wash their hands!  One of my students, for example, didn’t know that when soap is applied and hands are scrubbed together, bubbles form!  That instance taught me not to assume that common hygiene skills are learned at home.  I sent that student home with his own bottle of soap.  He was elated and excited to show his younger siblings!

Along with the writing, reading, phonics, and math; we taught the science of what a good cleansing does for our health!  First graders respond when you show them all the germs under a blue light that exposes what a careless washing of hands can miss!  Yes, I did that and it was effective!  A good cleansing removes all that can possibly make you sick later. 

God teaches the Israelites how to cleanse His people of diseases brought into the camp.  The regulations provide ways to prevent future outbreaks among the thousands who live and journey together on their wilderness trek with God in the lead to the promised land. As always, God is in the details!

Leviticus 14

Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.

8 “The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair and bathe with water; then they will be ceremonially clean. After this they may come into the camp, but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. 9 On the seventh day they must shave off all their hair; they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.

10 “On the eighth day they must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, and one log of oil. 11 The priest who pronounces them clean shall present both the one to be cleansed and their offerings before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

12 “Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the Lord seven times. 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for them before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from their uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them, and they will be clean.

21 “If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these, they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

23 “On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord. 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford, 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.”

32 These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for their cleansing.

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

33 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, 35 the owner of the house must go and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a defiling mold in my house.’ 36 The priest is to order the house to be emptied before he goes in to examine the mold, so that nothing in the house will be pronounced unclean. After this the priest is to go in and inspect the house. 37 He is to examine the mold on the walls, and if it has greenish or reddish depressions that appear to be deeper than the surface of the wall, 38 the priest shall go out the doorway of the house and close it up for seven days. 39 On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mold has spread on the walls, 40 he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town. 41 He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town. 42 Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.

43 “If the defiling mold reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered, 44 the priest is to go and examine it and, if the mold has spread in the house, it is a persistent defiling mold; the house is unclean. 45 It must be torn down—its stones, timbers and all the plaster—and taken out of the town to an unclean place.

46 “Anyone who goes into the house while it is closed up will be unclean till evening. 47 Anyone who sleeps or eats in the house must wash their clothes.

48 “But if the priest comes to examine it and the mold has not spread after the house has been plastered, he shall pronounce the house clean, because the defiling mold is gone. 49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”

54 These are the regulations for any defiling skin disease, for a sore, 55 for defiling molds in fabric or in a house, 56 and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot, 57 to determine when something is clean or unclean.

These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.

**The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

If it seems overkill to rid the camp of disease by shaving all the hair from their bodies, both male and female, then you have never experienced a lice epidemic among students.  Lice are tiny insects who spread like wildfire and jump from student to student. Lice embedded themselves at the nap of the neck and hide in hair.

Only the purchase of special prescribed solutions from the local pharmacy can be used at home to wash everything that the student has come in contact with so the lice can be eradicated from their home.  The student’s hair is washed several times until they are declared “clean” from the invasion of lice!  Long ago, many parents would shave their heads, as recommended by some doctors, if shampooing was not cleansing enough! When all cleansing procedures were completed; the school nurse had the final say regarding reentry into the classroom!  So, we get it!

A complete cleansing takes effort but is good for the overall health of God’s beloved.

Failure to obey these regulations was considered sin. While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. Israel was to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them. Obedience to God shows our desire to be holy before a Holy God!

Although it was discouraging to read chapter 13, with its emphasis on uncleanness and isolation. But chapter 14 brings us that ray of hope that we need: A person with a skin disease can be cleansed and restored!

Sometimes we need the bad news of judgment before we can appreciate the good news of salvation!  Warren Wiersbe paints a beautiful picture of salvation from the sickness of sin;

“The steps in the person’s cleansing and restoration picture to us what Jesus Christ has done for sinners. The priest goes to the sufferer. Since the unclean person wasn’t permitted to enter the camp, the priest had to go outside the camp to minister to him or her. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). When He ministered here on earth, Jesus was called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34); He compared Himself to a doctor helping his needy patients (Matthew 9:10–13). As God’s Great Physician, Jesus makes “house calls” and comes to sinners right where they are. In the case of the Hebrew person with a skin disease, the priest went out to investigate and determine if indeed the victim was healed, but Jesus comes to us that He might heal us of the sickness of sin.”—Wiersbe Study Bible

Consider the significance of the offerings:

  • The sin offering shows Christ atoning for a person’s sin.
  • The trespass offering reminds us that Christ paid the debt we owed to God because, like the diseased person, we were unable to serve Him during our days of uncleanness.
  • In the burnt offering, the man dedicated himself completely to God, and the grain offering displayed the perfections of Christ accepted for the imperfections of the worshiper.

Wiersbe notes that the priest ceremonially treated the now cleansed like a fellow priest!  The priest put the blood of the trespass offering on the man’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. He sprinkled oil on the man seven times and then put the oil on the blood that was already on his ear, thumb, and toe. After that, he poured the oil on the man’s head. These are the same details given to Moses to be used when he ordained Aaron and his sons!  What grace, that God should treat a former unclean person like a priest! Six times in this section the Lord declares that the priest “purified” the man, which means that his sins were forgiven.

But then again, isn’t that who God is? –Full of grace, abounding in mercy with unending love for all people who come to Him, seeking to be well from the sickness of our sins?  The answer is yes, and amen!

I am reminded of an old hymn of my childhood that I now recall and fully understand—

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?


Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

After our own cleansing; we become “joint heirs” with Jesus, members of his royal priesthood, with a mission.  Go to where the sick in sin people are and teach them how too be cleansed by Jesus!  Then baptism them as a public profession of their cleansing by the blood of the Lamb!

Lord,

I love how you guide our thoughts and lead us to connect the dots of your love, mercy, and grace from Genesis to Revelation!  I’m yours and I’m listening!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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PRIESTS—AGENTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL

Posted on January 8, 2025 by randscallawayffm

It was not fun when the chicken pox spread throughout our children’s elementary school near the close of the school year.  We spent the first weeks of summer vacation tending to the itchy, swollen rashes that wreaked havoc on their skin.  “I even itch on the inside” was the pitiful cry of one of our kids.  I didn’t know there was an epidemic until it came to our house.  I didn’t notice anything wrong until I bathed both of our girls in the same tub of water and saw the first bumps on our oldest daughter.  By then it was too late.  Both were exposed, then later our son.  The days of isolation for all of us was challenging but we got through it.

Skin diseases are noticed by anyone glancing at you and immediately signal that something might be wrong.  We all work hard to avoid being exposed to what might be spreading, don’t we?  In the days of Moses, it was imperative for God to create a system for regulating the health of the hundreds of thousands of people traveling together through the desert wilderness. Imagine it! There are no doctors, as such.  So, God gave medical oversight to His priests who will have the authority to examine skin abnormalities to prevent the spreading of disease.  They are under the leading and guidance of The Great Physician who created us.  God, as always, is very detailed.

Leviticus 13

Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. 3 The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean. 4 If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. 5 On the seventh day the priest is to examine them, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days. 6 On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a rash. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. 7 But if the rash does spread in their skin after they have shown themselves to the priest to be pronounced clean, they must appear before the priest again. 8 The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.

9 “When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce them unclean. He is not to isolate them, because they are already unclean.

12 “If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, 13 the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, he shall pronounce them clean. Since it has all turned white, they are clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears on them, they will be unclean. 15 When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce them unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; they have a defiling disease. 16 If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest. 17 The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean; then they will be clean.

18 “When someone has a boil on their skin and it heals, 19 and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest. 20 The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the boil was. 21 But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. 22 If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling disease. 23 But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

24 “When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, 25 the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. 27 On the seventh day the priest is to examine that person, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. 28 If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a scar from the burn.

29 “If a man or woman has a sore on their head or chin, 30 the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease on the head or chin. 31 But if, when the priest examines the sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep, 33 then the man or woman must shave themselves, except for the affected area, and the priest is to keep them isolated another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce them clean. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. 35 But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, 36 the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean. 37 If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

38 “When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, 39 the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean.

40 “A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. 41 If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. 42 But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead. 43 The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling skin disease, 44 the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head.

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.

Regulations About Defiling Molds

47 “As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mold—any woolen or linen clothing, 48 any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything made of leather— 49 if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mold and must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest is to examine the affected area and isolate the article for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he is to examine it, and if the mold has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mold; the article is unclean. 52 He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mold is persistent, the article must be burned.

53 “But if, when the priest examines it, the mold has not spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather article, 54 he shall order that the spoiled article be washed. Then he is to isolate it for another seven days. 55 After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mold has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled. 56 If, when the priest examines it, the mold has faded after the article has been washed, he is to tear the spoiled part out of the fabric, the leather, or the woven or knitted material. 57 But if it reappears in the fabric, in the woven or knitted material, or in the leather article, it is a spreading mold; whatever has the mold must be burned. 58 Any fabric, woven or knitted material, or any leather article that has been washed and is rid of the mold, must be washed again. Then it will be clean.”

59 These are the regulations concerning defiling molds in woolen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean.

**The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that leprosy was the most dreaded skin disease of all to God’s people.  They believed it was infectious so to guard the healthy from exposing others in among family and friends; they were to immediately isolate themselves by living outside the camp until they died of the disease.  Leprosy was a flesh-eating disease that caused fear among those who had it or saw it. There was no sign of relief, only an impending slow death.  Knowing this makes the healing of Jesus of those with leprosy even more miraculous and compassionately wonderful! 

Jesus, The Great Healer, came to heal, save, and set the captive free from not only sin but from being ostracized from the community.  Jesus demonstrated the love of God when He showed compassion for the outcasts that no one else dared to touch or come near.  Some family members would leave food for the infected but would not touch or extend their love to them in any other way or they would be considered unclean.  Imagine being told by Jesus, “who touched them” with His healing Hand to go now and tell the priests you are well!  Now, we know the reason they must go the priest who will examine them with authority to pronounce them clean so they can reenter the neighborhood!

How like leprosy is sin! “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15).  Sin is also a progressive disease that hinders our growth of an intimate relationship with God that He lovingly desires with us.

Sin unexamined, undiagnosed, and unhealed by not believing in Jesus who died for our sins; affects all those around us and will also lead to death if left unchecked and unresolved.  We have a choice of eternal life and a growing relationship with God because of Jesus’ work on the cross—or death.

Warren Wiersbe writes;

“Sin is more than skin-deep. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The word translated “wicked” in Jeremiah 17:9 means “sick” and can be translated “beyond cure.” Sin is not a surface problem that can be solved with simple remedies, like trying to cure cancer with hand lotion. Sin comes from within, from fallen human nature; unless the heart is changed, there can be no solving of the sin problem. Paul wrote, “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18). Those who talk about the “innate goodness of man” know neither the Bible nor their own hearts.”–Wiersbe Study Bible

Why this parallel discussion of skin and sin?  As skin illnesses had to be examined by priests and confirmed as clean or unclean; God’s Holy Spirit examines our hearts, minds, and souls; “diagnosing” us of the status of our spiritual health and relationship with God daily.

Jesus told His disciples of God’s Holy Spirit who God would send when Jesus ascended to heaven.  God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and now the Holy Spirit—THREE in one Person, contributing to the spiritual health of our beings created in His image.  Amazing!

This truth is a lot to internalize for lost humanity.  But when we truly believe what God says about who He is; who Jesus is and what He did to save us; with who the Holy Spirit is and that He lives within us to guide us to spiritual health; we are found!

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul writes. (Romans 3:23) But the remedy to cleanse us of all sin, to be remembered no more, is accomplished by humbly uttering the words, “I believe you, Jesus.  I believe that you died in my place for my sins. My desire is to now follow what you say is right and good.  I want to know you, dear Jesus, who is the Way to eternal life with God, our Father. Thank you, for all you have done to give me a healthier spiritual life that knows no bounds in growing in your love, mercy, and grace.”  In Jesus Name, Amen, I believe. Our high priest then declares us clean.

Lord,

I believe.  And I’m listening.

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GOD TEACHES DISCIPLINED HEALTH PRACTICES

Posted on January 7, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Randy and I decided to walk 3-5 miles daily to strengthen our heart’s ability to keep us alive and well.  If the weather is nice, we walk the paths through our neighborhood.  (Praying over the neighborhoods is good, too) If the weather is not as nice, we walk indoors on a path the width of our home, which isn’t that long so it takes many laps to accomplish our goal.  After diligently doing this for a couple of years, we invested in a small treadmill, to help us reach our goal more efficiently. 

Walking was a unified decision on our part.  The decision made was influenced by considering what quality of life we preferred.  Did we want to live a sedentary life on the couch that leads to diminished energy levels; or did we want to remain as active as possible with our energy levels consistently renewed daily?  We also love to serve—not to be served so the later alternative fit us.  These decisions are indeed a lifestyle choice.  We chose walking with some stretches added so our bodies in this season of life can be at their best.

If we learned anything at all during Covid; we were clearly made aware that clean health practices matter to the quality of life we desire!  We must be cleansed from the diseases that enter our world daily.  So, we do our part to cleanse ourselves daily.  Our personal hygiene affects the health of those we live with and those we encounter daily. 

God who created the working of our bodies, is now teaching His beloved people who are walking through the wilderness on their journey to the promised land with how to handle bodily fluids because of childbirth, a women’s cycle, and the circumcision of male babies on the “eighth day” which makes it easier to keep boys clean and healthy. To us now, it all makes sense.  God made a way for purification.  To be declared “clean” promoted good health among His people. 

Leviticus 12

Purification After Childbirth

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I gave birth to three children in my lifetime. Every mom develops rituals to protect the cleanliness and health of their newborns.  Our goal is to keep our beloved infant alive and well!  It’s “inborn” to care for our offspring.  We also understand the care we must take of our own bodies as new moms.

Nothing in Leviticus 12 should be interpreted to teach that human sexuality is “dirty,” that pregnancy is defiling, or that babies are impure. God created humans “male and female” (Genesis 1:27), and when God declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31), that declaration included sex and reproduction. He commanded our first parents to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). Scripture presents children as blessings from God.  Jesus blessed babies and children when he walked the earth!

Therefore, the theme of this chapter is not personal holiness but ritual purification for the mother, without which she could not return to normal life in her home and in the camp. So, God set forth his laws for purity. These laws included food, childbirth, skin diseases, and bodily fluids for their own protection.  While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. Israel was to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them who did not.

Today, we make decisions daily that may not be popular but may be proper.  Do what is right even when no one is looking over your shoulder may not be popular for instance, but it is what God is asking for us to achieve.  The silly “five second rule” for instance, is not a rule to follow when food falls on the dirty floor or ground.  Our goal is good health with less disease.  We all must be taught what is pure as well as holy.  God still teaches us to do what is right today through His Holy Spirit!

God’s Holy Spirit is our guide to wisdom when making decisions.  Many in the world make decisions based on the blowing of the winds of opinion and popularity. But we learn when we follow God that the majority is not always right. If the majority had ruled, the children of Israel never would have left Egypt. They would have voted to stay in bondage. If the majority had ruled, David never would have fought Goliath. His brothers would have voted for him to stay with the sheep.

What’s the point? We must listen to God’s Holy Spirit within us who guides us to all that is true and right.  God says we’re on your way to becoming His disciple when you can keep a clear head and a pure heart before Him.

If we do all that is right, will we escape sickness, heart disease, cancer and other health issues that can lead to our passing?  No, but we can follow a regimen that leads to a better quality of life before God takes us home in His time.  We know our days are numbered.  Walking with Him here prepares us for walking with Him forever!  And when we do what is right and good, God remembers. 

So, in the meantime, we’ll keep walking!  Peace comes from knowing God and doing what He says.

The End Game—Is only the beginning!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” –Jesus, John 14:1-3

Lord,

May we always look beyond what we see if front us to what lies ahead with expectant hope.  Help us to look beyond Moses to Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, who was wounded that we might be healed as the prophet Isaiah wrote. To you be the glory for teaching, healing, leading, and guiding us to all the is true and right for our good.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Make us holy as you purify our hearts, minds, and souls.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“CLEAN EATING”

Posted on January 6, 2025 by randscallawayffm

It’s the first of the year!  We claim we will change our habits “beginning right now”!  After our two month eating binge that begins Thanksgiving and take us through January 1, and a few days after until the leftovers are gone because it would be sinful you know to waste food; we declare a moratorium on unclean foods.  What are the unclean foods?  Anything that leaves a sugary, waxy film on your teeth from fudge, cookies, cakes, and pies or anything fried and dipped in gravy that leaves extra “luggage” on your hips and thighs.  I’m no expert, but am I right?  We all do it. Well, most of us.  We declare to the world that we will begin new habits of eating clean and exercising because the world of media is commanding and compelling us to get our act together at last!  But unhealthy habits take diligent work to replace them with healthier habits.

What is clean eating?  Generally, clean eating is assumed to refer to foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, maybe organic, and most likely with minimal use of any chemical additives and preservatives.  And yes, they are more expensive which I don’t understand if less is added and the process more pure.  But what do I know?

Unclean eating for us is to leave the gravy made from meat renderings off your biscuits!  It also means to stop frying everything in sight.  Frying a vegetable coated in breading doesn’t make it healthy!  It’s tasty for sure but not good for us!

And, You’re welcome.

God’s people are making their way through the desert wilderness, cooking over campfires, trying to keep their families fed on their journey with God to the land He has promised.  They are traveling with a few hundred thousand of their closest friends and family along with all their herds of animals.  God, their God, is now teaching them what to eat and what not to eat on their journey to keep His people healthy…and holy!  

They are the FIRST people to be told about “clean eating” with what is “unclean eating!  Well, there was that time with Adam and Eve… 

Leviticus 11

Clean and Unclean Food

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.

4 “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. 5 The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

9 “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. 11 And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. 12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.

13 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

20 “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. 21 There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. 22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. 23 But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.

24 “‘You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. 25 Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.

26 “‘Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. 27 Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. 28 Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you.

29 “‘Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31 Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening. 32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean. 33 If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot. 34 Any food you are allowed to eat that has come into contact with water from any such pot is unclean, and any liquid that is drunk from such a pot is unclean. 35 Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean. 36 A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean. 37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean. 38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39 “‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass will be unclean till evening. 40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.

41 “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. 43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. 44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46 “‘These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. 47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.’”

Footnotes: The precise identification of some of the birds, insects and animals in this chapter is uncertain.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do not eat roadkill!  Thank you, God, for this clean eating habit!!  A member of one of the churches Randy pastored notoriously stopped to pick up road kill, dress it out, and freeze it.  He would “gift” us with his prizes occasionally.  All I could think about was this passage of scripture which I longed to quote to him!

God wants His best for His people. God’s goal is to keep is people alive and well on their journey.  Not all animals are to be eaten because there is something in them that could make His people ill. God knows His creation and knows created being contributes.  As parents, our goal on any road trip with our kids is to get to our destination without anyone getting sick, right?  So, we guard what they eat.

Consider this—God who created all has a purpose for all. If God’s people ate what was “unclean” as indicated by God; that unclean animal can no longer serve it’s purpose.  For example:  Bats eat mosquitoes.  Snakes eat rats that carry germs.  Camels are their mode of travel—don’t eat your luggage racks! 

God knows what is best for us.  We must deal with the unhealthy consequences when we do not obey His direction and guidance. That is not to say that illness will not come into our lives as our bodies do wear out eventually; but we do what we know to be right and good when we seek God’s will for our lives. Following God is more than what we eat, it’s who we follow each day. 

Our response to God is to seek Him first concerning all of life because He gave us eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus’ life. 

Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2; “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God seeks those who hearts are committed to Him.  “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This was written by Samuel to God’s leader who was foolishly going his own way with dire results for God’s people.

What we learn from Samuel is this: God wants to help us to be more like Him who created us “in His own image.”  He will give us the strength we need along with the divine power of His Holy Spirit within us to obtain more healthy lives spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically!  Bonus:  God’s desire is that no one perish but have everlasting life—that’s why He sent a part of Himself, Jesus, to redeem us and set us free from the sins that bind us to the Enemy and keeps us from God’s best for us.  God will give us His strength and power to overcome all obstacles in this life.

Summing it up—Whether a creature was “clean” or “unclean” had nothing to do with the quality of the beast; it all depended on what God said about the animal. When He gave these laws, no doubt the Lord had the health of His people in mind (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15), but the main purpose of the dietary code was to remind the Israelites that they belonged to God and were obligated to keep themselves separated from everything that would defile them. “You shall be holy; for I am holy.” 

The spiritual principle of separation from defilement still applies to us today. The fact that we know God must make a difference in every aspect of our lives. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body”, 1 Corinthians 6:20. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Lord,

I believe what you say.  I know without a doubt that you want your best for us.  Help us, by the guidance of your Holy Spirit, to discern what will glorify You in all we think, say, and do!  Keep our hearts cleansed of all that does not belong.  Renew our minds. Refresh and reset our souls. Restore the joy and peace of your work in us. To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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REBELLION AGAINST THE HOLY

Posted on January 5, 2025 by randscallawayffm

 “Boys who play with fire wet their pants at night!” These were the surprising words that came from my Grandpa to my older male cousin who was caught messing around with the fire we had started in the burn barrel.  The burn barrel was the way to rid the house of all the trash consumable by fire on Grandpa and Grandma’s farm.  It was our “assignment” that morning to take the trash to the barrel and burn it. We gladly obeyed.

Fire is mesmerizing, especially to city kids who do not get to do this at home because trash is picked up by trucks!  So, the temptation to see what fire can do is attractive to the curious. But fire is very dangerous when the “rules” are not adhered to and the fire leaves the barrel to consume what you did not intend…like grassland on the farm! 

People who play with fire generally get burned, too.  

I am reminded of this memory as I read how the sons of Aaron decided to “play with fire” that was designated to be Holy while going about their assigned work from Holy God.  Their rebellion against the Holy did not go well for them.  I can only imagine the shock and grief of Aaron and his family.          

Leviticus 10

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“‘Among those who approach me
    I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.’”

Aaron remained silent.

4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.”

12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the Lord and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the Lord; for so I have been commanded. 14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded.”

16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”

19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that disobedience to God and dishonor of all that God has made Holy is a matter of life and death.  Playing with fire, meant to be holy and blessed by God, is a dangerous, fool hardy life.  Playing around the Enemy’s fire is extremely dangerous!  We are so easily distracted and deceived by the Enemy who seeks to destroy us with his fire of rebellion against God.  In fact, his entire goal is rebellion against Almighty, Holy God and death for us!

God’s Holy Fire is meant to purify us like gold. Fire polishes and removes impurities in silver until the reflection of the Silversmith is seen in His work of art. God’s fire within us gives us His power, igniting our hearts to burn with a desire love and serve Him while pleasing Him in all we think, say, and do!  His fire removes all that is not God and sears into our being all that is God.

The Enemy’s fire is meant to destroy us forever. When we use the enemy’s fire to relate to people, relationships are seared and burned.  When we use the enemies fire to guide our tongues, hot tempers flame up the coals of hate.  Our problems escalate. Our lives are robbed of the peace of Christ and the joy our salvation turns to sadness until evil’s fire is extinguished and consumed by the fire of God once more.

Sometimes only the ashes of what once was remains. Not to worry!  Our God is the God of miracles! God can bring dry bones alive and turn ashes of defeat into victory!  His Son, Jesus, provided the Way! This is who God is and what He does! God was, is and is to come. His faithfulness lasts a lifetime, His compassions never fail, and His love never ends.

There is no one like our God!  Do what God says!

Lord,

We have learned a valuable lesson of who you are and how you work in our lives because of your deep love for us. Rebellion against all that is Holy is foolish.  Help us today to live a higher standard of behaving that reflects your holiness.  Not that we have attained perfection; we know we are perfectly forgiven. Only you can make us holy before you by your love, mercy, and grace.  Thank you, Lord.  I just wanted you to know I know what is required of me. Help me to be and then do all you created me to be and do for your glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“ON THE EIGHTH DAY” THE REAL WORK BEGINS!

Posted on January 4, 2025 by randscallawayffm

Over twenty years ago, I was ordained by our denominational leaders as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Honestly, I wasn’t particularly seeking ordination but because I had fulfilled all the educational and spiritual requirements according to leaders, and was already doing what the Lord called me to for our churches, I accepted their invitation to be ordained at our local church.  It was a busy time for me in national ministry but a day was set aside for the ceremony of ordination.  Our two daughters had planned a reception afterward with the ladies of our local church where my husband was pastor.  The date for this event landed on my birthday which added to this special memory.  Yes, there was cake!

The service was particularly special because the college students I was mentoring for leadership at the time came to be a part of the service.  My loving husband affirmed me in the service.  A good friend in ministry, a nationally known speaker to youth and their leaders, came to give the sermon of challenge and encouragement for me and others in attendance. 

When they laid their hands on me; I could feel the Presence of the Lord; His yoke bearing down on my shoulders as the sacred seriousness of my commitment to Him became known and celebrated that day.  This was a holy moment that capped many other holy moments of coming to Jesus for the first time as a child, learning from my mentors what it means to follow Jesus, working as a Youth worker volunteer all my life, taking God’s ways into public classrooms, then answering God’s call to go, tell, and teach others the Good News of His redemption full time.  The work God have given me to be and do was not to pastor a local church, although I certainly was a helpmate to my husband as pastor; but to help the congregations of local churches see their role in the Body of Christ, and with God’s guidance and help train them to be who God created them to be before doing anything.  “Be the church” was the mantra of mentorship given to me.

But on the “eighth day” …the real work began.  After a week of preparation for the event; we came together for Sunday afternoon’s ordination that publicly declared who I was in Christ.  The next day, “the eighth day” so to speak, Monday morning after, I received a phone call from a pastor of a church in another state that would rock my world and challenge all I hold dear in Jesus.

I knew the church and the pastor vaguely.  He presented a proposal to me that would take me from traveling often to churches and mission fields to settling down in one church to help them organize a strategy for real discipleship of the congregation from infant to senior adults.  I was enticed with all that was presented; but said I must pray with my husband first.  We did exactly that and sought the advice of our mentors.  This move would mean reducing our income in half as Randy would leave his pastorate.  I was promised the same salary as I had before, but like other “promises” that didn’t really happen.  But God provided where He guides as always.  We tapped in our teachers’ pensions to help us make it work.  Our faith in God never wavered. But we had questions!

The move was challenging, the work expected of me was far beyond what any human could attain.  The dysfunctional staff was challenging to work alongside.  I learned quickly that “all was not as it seems” with evil lurking among leaders whose goal was to satisfy their pride while holding tightly to their power and position.  This working situation was new to me.   But God was with me and led me on through the high waters of turmoil.  God stayed close to me through some great challenges and difficulties as we taught the “why” of ministry in our lessons, counseling and mentoring.  Randy helped me as I had helped him in his pastorates. We made many friends who we still relate with today.

This is a part of my life story that I do not tell often but when this passage was read this morning, God brought to my mind the reason for being ceremoniously “ordained as set apart for ministry” in front of the congregation of His People.  Being ordained means that God puts HIS HAND on us who said yes to Him in obedience because of our love for Him.  We are consecrated by God to be His Hands and Feet as we extend holy hands on the shoulders of those in need of comfort, compassion, redemption, love, mercy, and grace as only God through Jesus can give.  As shepherds, we are driven by The Shepherd who trained his followers to teach others what He had taught to them.  As we join God in HIS WORK, we are commanded to teach His ways and demonstrate His love as we train others to do the same as Jesus taught His guys! 

Moses is given specific, detailed instructions for the atonement of sins for all God’s People.  Now, as God commanded, Moses’ trained brother, Aaron and his sons, will for the first time do exactly what God said through Moses.  Observe how every detail was performed with diligence and holiness to God who is Holy.

Leviticus 9

The Priests Begin Their Ministry

On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord. 3 Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.’”

5 They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. 6 Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.”

7 Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.”

8 So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. 9 His sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar. 10 On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering, as the Lord commanded Moses; 11 the flesh and the hide he burned up outside the camp.

12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 13 They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14 He washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people. He took the goat for the people’s sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he did with the first one.

16 He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way. 17 He also brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering.

18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. 19 But the fat portions of the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20 these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. 21 Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND TO GOD?

On the eight day; after all the celebrations on Sunday, the real work of God in us begins. What God begins—He finishes!  When Monday mornings dawn; be ready for God to take us with Him on life’s adventurous journey that will teach us and build our faith in Him far beyond what we ever dreamed or imagined!

God so loved His “created in His image people” through all generations. His chosen imperfect people will need a way to cover their sins and the sins of the ordained priests. So, God gave detailed, laborious instructions that must adhered to so that sins are atoned (or covered over).  Moses is the Trainer of the priests who do exactly what God as commanded them to do.  We applaud their efforts out in the wilderness desert as they journey with God! 

Consider this:  God’s ultimate plan of the sacrifice of His Son, sent to earth as a perfect human, born of a virgin, raised by a devote Jewish father who listened to God, was already in His mind; but it is not yet time.  The prophets told of Jesus, the Messiah, the One who would save them, but God’s people will have to wait patiently for this event to come. But He did come—as promised!

Jesus came and moved into the neighborhood of humanity oppressed by the world and religion.  Jesus demonstrated the love of God in every detail of His life.  Jesus willingly and humbly laid down His life to take the place of the punishment our sin deserved. Jesus died to save us from our sins, removing our sins forever.  Jesus is the One and Only way to God, our Father.  By believing in God’s Son means believing that our repented sins are indeed forgiven forever.  We must live as a humbly grateful, redeemed people! 

No more animal sacrifices or rituals of religion are required or necessary to be redeemed from the bondage and guilt of sin because of Jesus!  God’s bonus is a new life given to live that is forever!

Repenting of our sins to Jesus is mandatory for salvation; giving our lives to Him daily is the beginning of eternal life lived on God’s terms to build our faith. Jesus gave His life so we could have Life forever. And that’s not all!  God not only provided the Way back to Him through Jesus, His Son but gave us the Gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us to guide us to Truth daily! 

“All have sinned”, says Paul, the Apostle and mentor to young leaders. But all who repent to Jesus of our sins become an immediate member of His royal priesthood who are commanded by God, with the authority and power Jesus had, to tell others of the Way to God!  We no longer must be related to the priestly line of Aaron to join God in His work of saving the world!  All who believe and follow Jesus in truth are “set apart” from the world to go into the world to show Jesus’s love and tell the Way to His saving grace.

Listen to God. You’ve been on His mind since the beginning—Let that sink in…

Lord,

I offer my life to you again this morning as an offering—all of it, flaws, and all. Use my life so others may see Your glory at work and come to you to be saved. Only you, dear Lord, can reconcile us to God, the Father. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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APPOINTED, ANOINTED, CONSECRATED, AND ORDAINED

Posted on January 3, 2025 by randscallawayffm

These words have sacred meaning for the people whom God has called, to be set apart, made holy by God, for service to His People.  God wanted His People to know, without doubt, whom He had chosen to be His mediators who will deal with their sins, including the sins of the mediators!  

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” –Paul, Romans 3:23

We wonder how much trouble could God’s People get into on their journey through the wilderness to the land God has promised them; but as we read further, trouble and temptation follows all people all the days of our lives.  The Enemy of God is constantly trying to undo all that God has created to be perfectly holy and perfectly pleasing—God’s glorious standard for living in God’s Presence.  Sin must be dealt with and God has chosen Aaron and his sons and the succeeding generation of sons to be the priests who will be the mediators for the atonement for sin—until Jesus, our High Priest forever, comes to rid people of all sin once and for all.

Leviticus 8

The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, 3 and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” 4 Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

5 Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. 8 He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. 9 Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 Then he brought Aaron’s sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

14 He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 15 Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16 Moses also took all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat, and burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull with its hide and its flesh and its intestines he burned up outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses.

18 He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 19 Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. 20 He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. 21 He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

22 He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar. 25 After that, he took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys and their fat and the right thigh. 26 And from the basket of bread made without yeast, which was before the Lord, he took one thick loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf, and he put these on the fat portions and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they waved them before the Lord as a wave offering. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 29 Moses also took the breast, which was his share of the ordination ram, and waved it before the Lord as a wave offering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments.

31 Moses then said to Aaron and his sons, “Cook the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting and eat it there with the bread from the basket of ordination offerings, as I was commanded: ‘Aaron and his sons are to eat it.’ 32 Then burn up the rest of the meat and the bread. 33 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days. 34 What has been done today was commanded by the Lord to make atonement for you. 35 You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and do what the Lord requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded.”

36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord commanded through Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is firm and commanding to his appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained priests when He tells them through Moses exactly what is required of them.  God also tells them what they do is a matter of life or death!

When we respond to God by believing in faith, repenting of sins in Jesus Name, and then choose to follow Jesus, His Son; God gives us entrance into God’s royal priesthood as the redeemed people of God.  God has appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained us as the redeemed with this requirement; a commandment given to all who believe and follow our High Priest, Jesus:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20

We no longer go through human priests for atonement.  Our faith in Jesus who was the ultimate sacrifice for all our sins removes all sins.  Jesus was, is and always will be the only Way to God.  Jesus is the One and Only High Priest who is our Advocate and is also a part of God.  God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, and Holy Spirit—with us always!

Trained by Jesus, Peter, “the rock upon who Jesus built his church” of believers, writes; 

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Our Assignment as Proclaimers—

Paul, who was saved by grace, turning from cruel persecutors of believers to a radical believer in Jesus was appointed, anointed, consecrated, and ordained to also go and tell, teaching, making disciples in people groups called church, with the encouragement and wisdom of God in him to help the churches established in Jesus Name. 

Paul explains our new work as the royal priesthood of God;

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We are committed to share the message of reconciliation between God and mankind!  We speak for Jesus, in His Name, “as though God” were speaking through us of all Jesus did to make the Way clear to Him by removing the sins that block us from God. Wow!

Paul, by the power and words of God’s Holy Spirit reminds us that ALL have sinned.  We are not perfect; only perfectly forgiven.  No one is “good.”  Only God is good—Jesus words.  So, Paul explains further how we must think with what we must do to be more like Jesus with grateful hearts for what Jesus has done for us;

“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.” Romans 3:21-31, NLT

Bottomline:  All have sinned.  Jesus took our punishment for sin.  It is still a matter of life or death. 

“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.” John 3:16

Lord,

I choose life! I am committed to continue to point the Way to Truth who gives Life!  I’m yours, Lord.  And I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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