Leviticus 9

Leviticus 9:24 Fire came forth from the Lord's presence and consumed the holocaust and the remnants of the fat on the altar. Seeing this, all the people cried out and fell prostrate. 

To see God's all consuming fire must have been a sight. Both glorious and terrifying I suppose. The Israelites had seen God's power before with the plagues and parting of the sea. But fire is in w sense magical on its own. To watch God's fire consume the offerings is a reminder that his love consumes our sin and his anger can consume the lost. 

Lord, I pray I never anger you to the point of seeing your wrath, and that you consume my sins out of love. Amen. 

Leviticus 8

This chapter is on the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons as priests. I don't have a specific verse to SOAK. What I took in after rereading the chapter was at the end of the first 4 paragraphs in my Bible is the sentence "as the Lord had commanded him to do." This is also in the next 2 paragraphs, 8:29b "All this was in keeping with the Lord's command to Moses," and 8:36 "So Aaron and his sons did all that the Lord had commanded through Moses."

God spoke and Moses obeyed. Unlike in Exodus, where Moses needed a little prodding when God commanded him to do something, here Moses obeyed instantly. Perhaps the mighty power of God freeing the Israelites and bringing them out of Egypt showed Moses God meant business. 

What will it take for me to completely and instantly obey God's command? I have seen his power in the Bible and through the the death and resurrection of his son. But still I need prodding in some instances when I hear him calling me. 

Lord, please don't give up on me. I want to obey you in an instant, but I still need pushing and I don't know why. Help me release whatever is holding me back so I can answer right away. Amen. 

Leviticus 7

This chapter is very similar to previous chapters 3-4. It rèminds me of the detail in Exodus that God gave Moses to build the temple. No detail was spared, and often repeated. 

With the details of he offerings being repeated, did the Israelites get it right the first time they did an offering? I think of a child listening to instructions for an adult and how often they need to be repeated before the child does them right. Or an adult. How often to do we hear the details of how Christ died for us before it clicks in our head and we follow God's commands correctly?

Lord I pray that I can follow your instructions in my daily life. I know I struggle and I want to be better. Please continue to guid me and my family to you. Amen. 

Leviticus 6

Good morning. I hope everyone had a restful weekend. 

S: Leviticus 6:5 The fire on the altar is to be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest shall put firewood on it. On this he shall lay out the holocaust and burn the fat of the peace offering.

O: God told Moses to make sure the fire was continuous for the offerings. It would be a constant chore to have someone watching the fire to make sure it didn't go out, with a priest adding firewood tide a day to the fire, and another priest taking out the burnt ashes. 

A: if we consider Jesus's death and resurrection as our peace offering with God, the fire is in out heart and souls. It is our want to be with God. Daily reflections can help "add firewood" as well as "take out the ashes (ask for forgiveness of sins)". We are the fire keepers. We must keep the fire lit. 

K: Lord, humble me so I seek you daily, constantly. There is nothing I can do on my own. Help me to add firewood to the fire you lit in my heart. Amen.

What are some ways to keep the fire lit? 

Leviticus 5

Today's chapter continues with offerings, this time for guilt. The inccured guilt would be from not knowingly committing a sin and then realizing it later. The Israelites are still new believers, so it seems that God is giving them leeway for when they accidentally commit a sin. I haven't seen anything yet for when someone purposefully commits a sin. That person may be turned away from the camp. 

Regardless, this is showing God's love for his people. That even when they accidentally mess up, he offers them grace. God still does this today. Sometimes it is hard for people to understand His ability to forgive, and think "I've done this. How could God forgive me?" But he does. 

Lord, I thank you for your love and grace, that you continuously offer it even though we may stumble and fall. Please continue to help me grow so I may see the mistakes before I make them. Amen. 

Leviticus 4

This chapter discusses the offerings of animals for sins committed inadvertently, or with out purpose. I am glad that we no longer have to follow the rules of burning an animal for forgiveness of sins. I couldn't imagine how bad it smelled with the blood splashed on th altar. Jesus gave his life for us for our sins, and I would much rather confess my sins to a priest. 

On AirOne radio yesterday, the host presented an intriguing issue. He said he didn't want to go to heaven. Then he clarified that statement by saying he wants to go to heaven, just not yet. And then went on to say how so many of us how such a love for worldly things that we aren't ready to go to heaven today. It was such a good topic of discussion to listen to. Made me realize how many things I am letting hold me to the earth. 

Leviticus 3

Levictius 3 talks of peace offerings and specific parts of the animal to be sacrificed. After doing some research, I found that after God's portion of fat and kidneys/liver were placed on the altar, the breast meat was given to the priests and then the offerer got the remainder. The meat had to be eaten that same day, so basically the peace offering was a large dinner between the offerer, his family, the priest and his family, and God. 

When we receive communion at church, and partake in the last supper, we are sharing the dinner with our family, the priest, and God. Jesus is the sacrifice brought to the altar, Jesus is the priest who divides the sacrifice, and Jesus is God, in which we offer sacrifices to. Jesus is th peace offering. 

Lord, I pray that each and every time I receive communion I take the time to realize the bigger meaning of the sacrifice of your son. He is the peace offering between you and me. Amen.

Leviticus 2

S: Leviticus 2:13 However, every cereal offering that you present to the Lord shall be seasoned with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant of your God be lacking from your cereal offering. On every offering you shall offer salt. 

This verse intrigued me because I have no idea what the salt covenant was. I found this

http://www.vawtermark.com/COVENANT_OF_SALT.htm

The author mentions that the salt covenant is is a symbol of incorruptibility and permanence. The act of eating together is a bonding commitment. So adding salt to the offering showed the covenant as permanent and indestructible. 

K: Lord I pray I add enough salt to my spiritual life to show that my covenant with you is permanent and indestructible. I do not want to take your word lightly. Amen. 

Leviticus 1

Good morning! Our group took a "vacation" for a week after Easter, but I am so glad to be starting up again. 

S: Leviticus 1:2-3 " Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any one of you wishes to bring an animal offering to the Lord, such an offering must be from the herd or from the flock. If this holocaust offering is from the herd, it must be a male without blemish..."

O: one of the reasons to offer a sacrifice to God for the Israelites was for forgiveness of sins. Her, God says when one wishes to bring an animal. He does not say you must bring an animal this day, this day, this day, etc, but when the person felt necessary. And God requests a holocaust, or for the animal to be wholly burned in the offering, not partially. 

A: Though these burning sacrifices were laws in the Israelite time, I think from this chapter we can take away the fact that God requests a whole sacrifice and not partial. The same is for us. He wants us wholly, not partially. We can't partially give ourselves to him and partially stay with the progress of the world. When we ask for forgiveness of our sins, our whole heart must ask and we must repent wholly. 

K: Lord, help me to come before you wholly and not partially. I need to give my whole heart and soul to you when asking for forgiveness. Amen

Matthew 28

S: Matthew 28:20 ...And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

O/A: Jesus told his disciples to go teach and make disciples of all nations, and reminded them that he will always be there with them. Even though we do not see him, Jesus is with us. He is right along side us through our hard times and good times. Let us not forget he is there.

K: God, I thank you for giving us your son so that he may die on the cross for our sins. I am thankful he is with us in spirit. Help me to remember he is there and I am not alone.

Matthew 27

Since adulthood, I have always had a hard time listening to this part of the gospels. The passion and crucifixion. I can't put my finger on the exact reason, but I always end up hurting so badly in my heart and crying for comfort like a child. It could be because at Mass on Good Friday we read the gospel from where Jesus was arrested through his burial, and we, the congregation, read aloud the parts of Peter's denial and the crowd demanding for the release of Barabas and demanding Jesus be crucified. It could be as I read those parts aloud in church, I am the one denying Jesus and I am the one demanding his crucifixion. 

Matthew 27:25 And the whole people said in reply, "His blood be upon us and upon our children." 

He people have acceptd the responsibility for Jesus' death. Verbally anyway. They really have no idea what they have taken responsibility for. They had been encouraged by the high priests to ask for Barabbas to be free and Jesus to be crucified. 

Still today, we deny Jesus the way Peter did. Each time we knowingly sin or willingly put outlives into bad situations, we deny Jesus. We put him on the cross.  

Matthew 25

We are nearing the end of Matthew. Another chapter almost done. I'm hoping yall have a wonderful Easter weekend.

Matthew 25:13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 

Some of the lessons in this chapter are similar to Chapter 24. Jesus doesn't necessarily want us to never sleep. Instead by "stay awake" he wants us to always be ready for we do not know when his return will be. If we are not prepared, it will be like the man to the virgins saying "I do not know you."

This is the same as yesterday in which we should think if he came back today, would we be ready? And honestly I need to strive to live this question daily. I need to do some serious soul searching and get myself there. We have no idea if we will have time to "prepare" for his arrival, since we don't know when that will be. It will happen so w just need to be ready daily. 

Lord, I need you. I need to let go and be ready. Show me how. Amen.