Scripture Nugget 2.5.2016

“You shall not make yourselves detestable … you shall not defile yourselves … and so become unclean. For I am the LORD your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves … For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:43-45

The way I live, the choices I make, affects my holiness – the image of God passed down from original creation. Only God can make me holy, return me to holiness, complete Christlikeness. If only I would make right choices, not just a following of some legal code, but to live out every moment of every day loving God first, loving others and myself the way God does. Making all my choices based on that standard.

                                                                       Life

Application Topic – Holiness Many of the rules and regulations about being clean seem complex and, perhaps, confusing; nevertheless, we can learn about holiness from them. Holiness is not merely an inner experience; it is a way of shaping every aspect of ordinary life to please God. Holiness involves all our habits, manners, and behaviors. Not only is holiness the offering of ordinary life to God but also it is a goal for ordinary people. One does not have to have extraordinary gifts to be a holy person, only a willingness to do everything in a way that shows reverence for God. Wesley Study Bible, pg 135

Scripture Nugget 2.2.2016

“On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, ‘Take a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And say to the people of Israel, “Take a male goat for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering; and an ox and a ram for an offering of well-being to sacrifice before the LORD; and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.”’ They brought what Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting; and the whole congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. And Moses said, ‘This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.’ Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Draw near to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the offering of the people, and make atonement for them; as the LORD has commanded.’” Leviticus 9:1-7

Praise God we no longer are required to slaughter, butcher, clean, burn up, and cook animals (large, medium and small) to offer as sacrifice when we worship. Much less prepare by cutting/chopping/stacking wood enough to burn up large portions of flesh, haul water for washing, then haul away the ashes, and carcasses. Thank you Jesus for making atonement for all sin once and for all. However, since Jesus has atoned for all our sin, for all time, worship still requires preparation and effort. God is present everywhere at all times, we still are asked to draw near, to enter into His presence, to intentionally praise, thank and glorify God. God is holy, to enter His presence we to must be holy, holiness comes from God and the opportunity for holiness is the result of Jesus suffering, death and resurrection. It is now up to me/us to recognize the sin(s) in my life, confess those sins to God, ask for/receive the forgiveness He offers then turn from those sin(s) – repent, turn to God. Draw near, enter in, actively rest in God’s presence. Stop struggling and striving – receive the gift God offers.

Scripture Nugget 2.3.2016

“You shall eat no fat of ox or sheep or goat. The fat of an animal that dies or was torn by wild animals may be put to any other use, but you must not eat it. If any of you eats the fat from an animal of which an offering by fire may be made to the LORD, you who eat it shall be cut off from your kin.” Leviticus 7:23b-25

Choices have consequences, notice the personal decision to do something forbidden (something that makes one unclean) causes me to be separated from the family. My choices affect not only myself but others. Deviation from holiness, which God defines, separates me from God and others.

                                                                                       Wesleyan

Core Term - Holiness

The basic biblical meaning of holiness is total dedication to the Lord God, and therefore total separation from all that pollutes, defiles, or draws people away from God. Holiness is the central theme in Leviticus. The word holy occurs more often here than in any other biblical book. God’s people are told repeatedly, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” So the key fact and dynamic is this: Israel must be holy because of their relationship to God – because the Lord has called, liberated, and formed them into a people for God’s mission. Leviticus 6 and other passages make it clear that true holiness is moral and ethical, not just ceremonial. Anyone who defrauds or cheats another must make full restitution, adding a fifth to the value. Thus holiness is intimately connected with justice. God is love – holy, just, all-encompassing love. This is the character of God, and therefore (as John Wesley emphasized), it must be the character of God’s people. (Wesley Study Bible pg 127)

So when Jesus summarizes the Law telling us to Love God first, love others and love ourselves as God loves, he is not dumbing down the law, or making things more permissive. He is commanding us to love as God loves – “God is love – holy, just, all-encompassing love”, O that I would live that way, love that way – help me Lord!

Scripture Nugget 2.2.2016

“When any of you bring an offering of livestock to the LORD, you shall bring your offering from the herd or from the flock. If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you shall offer a male without blemish … it shall be acceptable in your behalf as atonement for you.” Leviticus 1:2b-3b, 4b)

From your herd or flock, male without blemish (if a sheep – female without blemish 4:32). The point is a sacrifice is costly, it is to make atonement for my sin – dang right it should hurt a bit to give, it should make me think, make me appreciate what is being done. In this Levitical sense, the atonement was temporary, sacrifices for atonement were made over and over – obviously slow learners. How large the sacrifice God made by offering Himself to atone for the sins of the world for all time! Hurt, yes Sir that had to hurt. As Atonement for all for all time is made in the sacrifice of the Son. My debt is paid, my sins are gone – will I live into the holiness made possible by the ultimate without blemish sacrifice?

Scripture Nugget 1.31.2016

“So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

“Moses finished the work”, sounds like Gen 2-2, …”God finished the work”. God finished the work of creation however creation had much to do; Moses (and the Israelites) finished the work of constructing the tabernacle/tent of meeting there is still much to be done. I’m guessing entering into a Sabbath day’s rest and worship come first. God lifts the cloud and the people move, they journey in stages toward and into the Promised Land as the community of God (God’s creation). As they journey onward, they are example to other peoples and nations – demonstrating life with God. They journey onward just as we are called to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the world. Do I journey following God’s lead, do I go when He goes? Do I stop when he stops? Do I demonstrate life with God in all I do? Do I share the love of God with others? I’m I a change agent, helping spread God’s creation? Oh that I be obedient in all that I do?

Scripture Nugget 1.30.2016

“In this way all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished; the Israelites had done everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the covering of tanned rams’ skins and the covering of fine leather, and the curtain for the screen; the ark of the covenant with its poles and the mercy seat; the table with all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the pure lampstand with its lamps set on it and all its utensils, and the oil for the light; the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance of the tent; the bronze altar, and its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; the finely worked vestments for ministering in the holy place, the sacred vestments for the priest Aaron, and the vestments of his sons to serve as priests. The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. When Moses saw that they had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded, he blessed them.” Genesis 39:32-43

Please read through this inventory of completed but as yet unassembled sections of the Tabernacle slowly, recognize the enormous amount of materials that is represented, realize that all this was donated through a goodwill offering as requested by God. Further, as we appreciate the all this remember the Israelites were given much of it by the Egyptians as they fled, remember that it was God that caused to happen. The gold (2200 lbs) the silver (7500 lbs) and the bronze (5300 lbs) and all the other components, acacia wood, fine linen, yarn, etc. etc. added much, much more to the tally, had all been carried into and through the desert by the Israelites. For how long did they carry all this stuff that had until this time no purpose for life wandering in a waste land? Please don’t take for granted the enormity of God’s grace in our lives, especially when we may, for a season, experience it as a burden, before it is put to use. Also recognize that when individuals respond generously by donating “their” stuff to a common cause and then in communion with God and each other put it all together awesome outcomes occur. O that I always recognize God’s blessings upon me, that I have eyes and ears to see and hear, a mind to understand and heart enough to respond as generously to God as He gives grace to me.

Scripture Nugget 1.29.2016

“Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and nights.” Genesis 24:18

“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest.” Genesis 34:21

“He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” Genesis 34:28

“Moses assembled all the congregation of the Israelites and said top them: These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: Six says shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwellings on the sabbath day.” Genesis 35:1-3

As I re-read Chapter 34 in preparation for today’s reading (Chapters 35-37) Moses’ experience of being in God’s presence got my attention – Moses, in a span of 90 or less days spent 2 X 40 day periods in God’s direct presence, fasting (he ate no bread nor drank water) and receiving, writing (engraving in stone actually) God’s covenant promise – The Words of God, from God directly. No wonder his face shone when he came down off the mountain….. If only my face would shine that way! Maybe it would, if only I was obedient to rest in the Lord, truly rest as he commands – not because it’s a rule but a gift. Not stopping to rest, even in the midst of doing the work God calls me to is like leaving a present with my name on it under the Christmas tree. A gift unopened is a gift not received not put to use. God gives instruction concerning sabbath rest at the end of this second iteration of the covenant to reinforce what I’m thinking occurred between He and Moses during both forty day periods. God spoke, Moses chiseled 6 days then they would rest – together. Moses leads with instruction concerning the gift of sabbath rest when he again shares with the Israelites; just before the capital campaign for and construction of the Tabernacle begin. If I took time to be made holy, holier, holiest – maybe my face would shine……..who will join me, resting with God?

Scripture Nugget 1.27.2016

**Illness starting the afternoon of Saturday 1.23.2016 – 1.25.2016 prevented even reading much less writing and posting, spent 1.26 catching up with reading (Exodus 20-28) made no post.

1.27.2016 (Exodus 29-31) going back to Exodus 20 for today’s post.

“Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, …you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, … You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.” Genesis 20:1-5 (2a,3a,4a,5a&b)

There is only one God, the LORD. God expects and desires that I, His creation, revere Him as LORD. That I love Him first, primarily and give my allegiance, my obedience to Him – freely. God does not force this relationship; interesting that He knows my weakness and proclivity to wander. As a good friend and mentor Dr Bob Tuttle tells me often, “If we didn’t have the option, the choice to say no, our yes would be meaningless”, God tells me/us His expectation and the consequences bad and good depending on our response. Regardless of the response, God is God, God is LORD, and there is no other(s). I either believe in, trust in, have faith in and worship God, or I am wasting my time believing in, trusting in, having faith in and worshiping nothing. O God forgive me when I’ve denied you, forgive me when I looked for happiness in someone/thing else, it is my desire to get this right each and every moment of every day!

Scripture Nugget 1.23.2016

“Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians. Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them.’ And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.” Genesis 18:8-12

Oh the power of God unleashed by personal witness and testimony! Do I readily recognize that which God is doing in my life and then share God’s story in my life to others? Especially those close to me who know all my faults and deficiencies? Jethro had just brought his daughter and grandchildren back to Moses after a separation when Moses sent them to Jethro (Gen 18:2). Does my witness and testimony bring others to a profession of faith in God? Jethro responded in an opposite manner from Pharaoh; his response ushered in community worship of God. Again, how powerful is truthful testimony and witness to God’s actions in my/our lives? To lead others to worship of God, high and lifted up fulfills the great commandment to worship God first.

Scripture Nugget 1.21.2016

“Then he (Pharaoh) summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, ‘Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD, as you said, Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!’” Genesis 12:31-32

Through God’s power and grace the Israelites are now free as a people to serve God, they no longer are Pharaoh’s servants. They are free to worship God, to serve God, to realize their place as God’s people. That same grace is available to all. Do I recognize God’s grace, do I receive the entirety of His grace and move in that grace. Or am I shackled by past “Pharaohs”, do I carry the burdens of past sin, past captivity to those sins, therefore limiting what God can and will do in me, through me, for me and others? Or do I drop those chains, declare I am set free and walk in the liberty of life with Christ? O God forgive me for not realizing the totality of freedom found in You!