Scripture Nugget 2.17.2016

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Is the LORD’s power limited?’ Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.’” Numbers 11:23

Almost immediately after setting out from Sinai the people complain to Moses about that which the God provides, Manna, the bread of life. God provides enough each day for all, but the some (the rabble) have a strong craving for meat, their loud voices influence the people who cry out for something more than the provision from God. Moses, overwhelmed and weary request help from God. God provides assistants, who are limited in how much they will do. Then asks Moses, “Is the LORD’s power limited?” This is a great question for us to answer for ourselves, especially during Lent. What are our cravings? Are we satisfied with the daily issue of life God provides? Are our cravings for God, or for substitute gods? Are our desires for other than that which God desires for us? Do I limit the power of God in my life with my own desires? Oh that I live with God, satisfied with the abundance of daily life with God and not desire (crave) that which separates me from God and therefore to death. The place where the Israelites died and were buried after gorging on quail is called Kibrothhattaavah (11:34), - graves of craving. Oh, that at the end of Lent I stand before the open tomb, the eternal life with God!

Scripture Nugget 2.16.2016

“On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. At the command of the LORD the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. … Whether is was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. At the command of the LORD they would camp, and at the command of the LORD they would set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses. Numbers 9: 15-18, 22-23

God is with us at all times, God leads do I pay attention? Do I heal, walk by God’s side when He walks, then sit by His side when he stands still? Unlike a dog on a leash, there is no leash tethering me to God, God doesn’t give me a jerk by a leash to make me comply. It is up to me (and all of us) to be obedient. Do we move when God moves? Do we actively camp when God stops? In our routines do we constantly keep one eye on God to see where He leads? In the life of grace, from justification to sanctification we will journey with God, He may even lead us into the wilderness and have us there for a while. God is always with us, goes before us and leads us through and to the place(s) He desires. Will I follow? O that I always go the way of the Lord!

Scripture Nugget 2.13.2016

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying: ‘Enroll the Levites by ancestral houses and by clans. You shall enroll every male from a month old and upward.’ So Moses enrolled them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.” Numbers 3:14-16

From this census of the Levites came instruction concerning where each clan of the Levites was to camp, march and serve in and around the Tabernacle. Order is established for all parts of their lives; where and how they will serve and how they will protect themselves from and with God’s holiness. It’s easy to read through these instructions too quickly and miss God’s grace at work. Later in Chapter 3 God provides a way for all the firstborn of the Israelites to be redeemed by substituting the first born of the Levites. “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Accept the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD. As the price of redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the Israelites, over and above the number of the Levites, you shall accept five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary, s shekel of twenty gerahs.’” Numbers 3:44-47

God’s grace pursuing His creation making a way for all to be redeemed. We know now that Jesus is the perfect and acceptable sacrifice that allows all who believe to be redeemed, justified, and sanctified – to receive ongoing salvation. I was saved, I am saved and I will be saved some more! Glory Hallelujah!

Scripture Nugget 2.12.2016

“So the whole number of the Israelites, by their ancestral houses, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war in Israel – their whole number was six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty (603,550, males, 20 years old +). The Levites, however, were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them. The LORD had said to Moses: Only the tribe of Levi you shall not enroll, and you shall not take a census of them with the other Israelites. Rather you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the covenant, and over all its equipment, and over all that belongs to it; they are to carry the tabernacle and all its equipment, and they shall tend it, and shall camp around the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And any outsider who comes near shall be put to death. The other Israelites shall camp in their respective regimental camps, by companies; but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the covenant, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the Israelites; and the Levites shall perform the guard duty of the tabernacle of the covenant. The Israelites did so; they did just as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 1:45-54

The Lord’s creation is ordered, not chaotic. The Lord’s people receive instruction on the most basic things, how to set the camp when still, what the order of march is when on the move and most importantly that the Tabernacle (the presence of God) is to be the center of the encampment and protected by the Levites, the priests, the tribe that is the example to all the others, the ones who are to lead worship. The other tribes are counted as warriors, the Levites not counted are priests, both groups, as members of the People of God are to receive power from the Lord, not operate on their own. Each has task and purpose and are expected to guard the tabernacle, face the tabernacle – keeping their focus on God which guards their hearts from outside influences. O that the people of the Body Jesus Christ would always keep their eyes on Jesus, guarding their hearts from outside influences, that God would be at the center, high and lifted up, and that we would listen for and to God’s instruction instead of making it up as we go. Order instead of chaos, please Lord lead us.

Scripture Nugget 2.11.2016

“You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no carved images or pillars, and you shall not place figured stones in your land, to worship at them; for I am the LORD your God. You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land. … But if you will not obey me, and do not observe all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and abhor my ordinances, so that you will not observe all my commandments, and you break my covenant, I in turn will do this to you: I will bring terror on you; consumption and fever that waste the eyes and cause life to pine away. You shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down by your enemies; your foes shall rule over you, and you shall flee though no one pursues you. … Leviticus 26:1-5, 14-17

                                                                 Wesleyan

Life Application Topic – Obedience Obedience is our responsibility in God’s relationship with us. It involves listening to God’s word, doing God’s will, and returning to God’s way when we fail or turn away. Often, however, even in listening and returning to God, we need God’s gracious help to empower and equip us. The list of blessings and curses contained in Leviticus may seem to be devices for controlling our behavior. Actually, they are signs that the life of obedience is a personal relationship with God in an ongoing struggle of ups and downs as we learn to be holy as the Lord is holy. Wesley Study Bible, pg 156

Scripture Nugget 2.10.2016

“You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God. You shall observe my statutes and faithfully keep my ordinances so that you may live on the land securely. The land will yield it fruit, and you will eat your fill and live on it securely.” Leviticus 15:17-19

Love God, love others, live a faithful obedient life for God provides. In a Jubilee Year, an entire year where no planting, cultivating or harvesting occurs God provides. Will I trust God? Do I trust enough to take a weekly Sabbath rest? Do I trust enough to live obediently, the law Jesus commands? Will I love God first and most, love others the way God loves me? Will I love my self, be satisfied with who I am in Christ, the way God loves me? On this Ash Wednesday 2016, I contemplate my humanness, my earthly mortality, and measure my faith within God’s Grace. I fall miserably short, but by God’s grace I am made worthy, acceptable and whole. O that I live every moment of every day growing in God’s grace, becoming more like Christ, my Savior. Thank you God for grace, for forgiveness, for being patient with your creation as we experience life, as we make bad decisions, as we fall, turn away; then make good decisions, admit our failures and turn back to you. We praise you that through your grace you return us to the rightful place you meant for us; that you forgive our sins and we may once again enter your presence with confidence. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Scripture Nugget 2.9.2016

“..to be acceptable in your behalf it shall be a male without blemish, … You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable in your behalf. …to be acceptable it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.” Leviticus 22:19a, 20, 21c

Thank you Jesus! “Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, …for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; …Worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! …To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Revelation 5:6b, 9, 12, 13b

Thank you Jesus! I need a Savior for I cannot save myself, I am no perfect, without blemish, sacrificing myself to save myself would be futile. Your sacrifice is more than sufficient, for you atone for all sin of all time; mine and everyone’s – Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Reveal to me all my flaws, and blemishes, my sin so I may realize, confess and move into, be healed by your grace! May this Lenten season be one of growth in and toward you. O that I be much more like Christ the Monday after Easter than I am today.

Scripture Nugget 2.8.2016

“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy…you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD… Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes, and observe them; I am the LORD; I sanctify you.” Leviticus 19:2b, 18, 20:7

Holiness, defined by God, is social, it is relational, proper response is to love God first and most, then love others more than self. Holiness is becoming like God for God’s sake not my own. Growing in Christlikeness is God’s work in me, I must allow that work to be done. All are invited to allow that work, the grace of God to make improvements toward the image of God we are created in. Bugs to butterflies; sinners to Christlikeness, come Holy Spirit work in me.

Scripture Nugget 2.7.2106

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: I am the LORD your God You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. My ordinances you shall observe and my statutes you shall keep, following them: I am the LORD your God. You shall keep my statutes and my ordinances: by doing so one shall live; I am the LORD.’ … ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for by all these practices the nations I am casting out before you have defiled themselves. Thus the land became defiled; and I punished it for its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. But you shall keep my statutes and my ordinances and commit none of these abominations, either the citizen or the alien who resides among you (for the inhabitants of the land, who were before you, committed all these abominations, and the land became defiled); otherwise the land will vomit you out for defiling it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. For whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from their people. So keep my charge not to commit any of these abominations that were done before you, and not defile yourselves by them: I am the LORD your God.’” Leviticus 18:1-5, 24-30

God defines holiness, not the individual or popular social thoughts, trends, or mores. God defines holiness, God created life and defines the way life is to be lived. Choosing other ways, an attempt to redefine holiness, is sin. Sin robs the sinner of life, life abundant. It is interesting that these sets of verses are bookends around God’s instructions concerning improper sexual relations; as God knew that freedom to choose and our fallen condition would result in many attempts to redefine holiness. There is much in verses 6-23 that have become common place, accepted practices, by society. However, holiness, as God defined holiness, is still God’s to define. O that as we enter the Lenten season I, and all assess whose definition of holiness we live our lives in.

Scripture Nugget 2.6.2016

“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst. Leviticus 15:31

Sin, that which separates me/us from God, causes spiritual, relational and emotional death. God, Creature of Life, desires life, life abundant for His creation, all of it. I, in my sin, cause death, not only to myself but to others around me. My family, friends and the congregations & communities God calls me to serve and lead. It is grace from God that allows forgiveness of sin(s), do I move to, in and receive that grace? Am I living in God’s covenant and the covenant of a believing community by rejecting sinful choices? O that I would not defile myself, others or the love God offers me.