You want some meat?

February 29, 2008

Numbers 11:18-20 ESV
(18) And say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.
(19) You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,
(20) but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?"'"

My kids have a TV show they like to watch called 'Time Warp Trio'. In the first show three boys are sitting around bored. One of them wishes that they had some excitement. At that moment, one of the boy's uncle shows up and says 'Be careful what you wish for,' hands them a book and walks away. When they open the book they are whisked back in time (though in one episode they go forward in time and meet there great-great granddaughters). No matter where they land in time they seem to be in the middle of some important historic event (the educational value of the show of course) and they have to fix what they messed up.

I think about those words a lot some times. Be careful what you wish for! And as I read today's readings, it became so clear just why you should. The people of Israel wanted meat to eat. They got mad at Moses (and God) and demanded it as they reminisced how much better it was in Egypt.

God took care of them all right. They wanted meat, He gave it to them. So much that it was coming out their noses. God has a warped sense of humor to me. You want meat, I will give you meat.

What about you. What are you wishing for that by the grace of God you are not going to get?


Got the readings straightened out. Sorry about the confusion yesterday.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 11:1-13:33
Tomorrow
Numbers 14:1-15:41
http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The Second Chance

February 28, 2008

Numbers 9:4-11 BBE
(4) And Moses gave orders to the children of Israel to keep the Passover.
(5) So they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening, in the waste land of Sinai: as the Lord gave orders to Moses, so the children of Israel did.
(6) And there were certain men who were unclean because of a dead body, so that they were not able to keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
(7) And these men said to him, We have been made unclean by the dead body of a man; why may we not make the offering of the Lord at the regular time among the children of Israel?
(8) And Moses said to them, Do nothing till the Lord gives me directions about you.
(9) And the Lord said to Moses,
(10) Say to the children of Israel, If any one of you or of your families is unclean because of a dead body, or is on a journey far away, still he is to keep the Passover to the Lord:
(11) In the second month, on the fourteenth day, in the evening, they are to keep it, taking it with unleavened bread and bitter-tasting plants;

God is clearly a God of second chances. When He told the people they were to celebrate the Passover on the 14th day of the first month He meant it. But through no fault of their own, some people became unclean.

God could have said, 'tough luck, you are not my people anymore.' He did not. He set up a second chance.

How many people have hurt you in your life. They may have done it on purpose, but I have a belief in the good of all people and that there wasprobably a misunderstanding. If God can give His people a second chance, can we not give the same to someone who has been at fault to us?

Have you needed that second chance and wish you could have it.




Sorry but I have lost a reading day somewhere along the line. Rather than go back and find it we will move forward with three devotions for the 28th, 1 for yesterday, one for today, and one for the leap year day.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 8:1-10:36
Tomorrow
Take a rest, it is leap year day. We will do another devotional from today's reading

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Looking into the light

February 27, 2009

Numbers 8:2 DRB
(2) Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seven lamps, let the candlestick be set up on the south side. Give orders therefore that the lamps look over against the north, towards the table of the loaves of proposition, over against that part shall they give light, towards which the candlestick looketh.

As Aaron went into the tabernacle for the first time he was given instruction on what he was to do. He was to light the candles so that the light would go forward. In going forward, it was to light the area of the Ark of the Covenant, the area where God was to reside. All behind it was to be in darkness.

Aaron represented the people. He was the one to come to God to ask for mercy, to give the offerings to God for the sins of the people. He was to come from the darkness into the light.

We as humans these many years later have not changed much at all. We are in the darkness. We have been given a chance to move out of that darkness and into the light of God through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Once we see the light we should never again return to the darkness.

Are you in the light or in the dark?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 8:1-10:36
Tomorrow
Take a rest, it is leap year day. We will do another devotional from today's reading

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Where does my gift go when I give it?

February 26, 2008

When we give our gifts to God in the terms of our finances, we do not really have any say in where they should go afterwards. Here in the United States, the law says that the funds collected on a special project, say a building fund or helping a missionary, should go to that and nothing else. That is good and it creates accountability of people not using the money any way they want to. That is not God's way.

Numbers 7:1-9 ACV
(1) And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, and all the furniture of it, and the altar and all the vessels of it, and had anointed them and sanctifi
(2) that the rulers of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses, offered. These were the rulers of the tribes. These are those who were over those who were numbered.
(3) And they brought their oblation before LORD: six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the rulers, and for each one an ox. And they presented them before the tabernacle.
(4) And LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
(5) Take it from them, that they may be [used] in doing the service of the tent of meeting. And thou shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.
(6) And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
(7) Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
(8) And he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
(9) But he gave none to the sons of Kohath, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them. They bore it upon their shoulders.


Now was it fair that the sons of Korath got no wagons? Was it fair that Merari's group got 4 carts while Gershon's got 2?

Moses was the man in charge and he decided where they should go. The people might have wanted something different, but Moses knew who needed what. We know that Moses spoke directly to God so we can assume that God looked on and approved.

When we give into someones ministry, we too must trust them to hear from God as to where it should go. While I may think that having an airplane is an extravagance, it could be what God told them to do so they can move around quickly to minister. It is between God and them. I am to give as God directs me to.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 7:1-89
Tomorrow
Numbers 8:1-10:36

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The Blessing from God

February 25, 2008

Numbers 6:22-27 KJV
(22) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(23) Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
(24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
(25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
(26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
(27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.



I have heard that people believe that prosperity, healing, and peace are not provided by God, at least not guaranteed in the Bible. I do not know what they are reading because it is clear in these verses that God does want those things.

In verse 24, the Hebrew word for keep means to put a hedge around something to protect it.
In verse 25, the Hebrew word for gracious is to have pity and show mercy.
In verse 26, peace, shalom, not only means peace, but health as well, your body at peace.

All of these things God wants Aaron and the priest to speak over His people.

And we are those people as well. God speaks that over us as well. And we, who are as Paul says in the New Testament, part of the Royal Priesthood, and should speak it over each other.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 5:1-6:27
Tomorrow
Numbers 7:1-89

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Called to minister

February 24, 2008

Many of us are called into ministry by God, but we get the wrong idea of what ministry is. We think that if we are not up in the pulpit we cannot be doing anything for God. God does not call us all to the pulpit. He did not call all the Levites to the work of the priest either, only the sons of Arron. For the rest of them:

Numbers 3:6-8 NET
(6) "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.
(7) They are responsible for his needs and the needs of the whole community before the tent of meeting, by attending to the service of the tabernacle.
(8) And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve in the tabernacle.

You see, the Levites were just as important as the priest. They were to move the tabernacle when it was time to leave. They also camped around the tabernacle so that the rest of the tribes of Israel might not cross over to Holy Ground and be destroyed. They represented God to the people. They were what the people saw.

Do you have a greeter in your church. Shaking hands and hugs is what they give out. They represent the church to someone who has never visited before. How about a worker in Children's Church so the parents can listen to what is being preached to them without being disturbed . Maybe you lead a Bible study away from the church in a place that will reach new people. Each one of these, and so many more, are like the Levites. They do the work needed by the minister, the priest so to speak, so that he can go ahead and do what he needs to do.

So, what is your Levite position in your church?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 3:1-4:49
Tomorrow
Numbers 5:1-6:27

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The Center

February 23, 2008

As we move our way through the Bible in readings and devotions, we come to the book of Numbers today. While we call it Numbers, the Hebrew people called it 'Wilderness Journey'. We gave it the name Numbers because both at the beginning and the end of the book, the Israelites were counted. At the opening we find 603,550 people in all the tribes but the Levites . They were God's special people and not to be counted unless God said so. This count was only the men of military age, 20 years old and older. This did not include woman or children which would have made these numbers much greater.

In order to make order out of that many people they needed to be organized. God had them get organized by their tribes. They would have a sense of identity , of belonging this way. Otherwise they would just get lost in the crowd. Then he set out special ways for the tribes to set up camp and to march.

When they traveled or when they camped, God told them:

Numbers 2:17 LITV
(17) And the camp of the Levites, with the tabernacle of the congregation shall pull out in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so they shall pull out, each man in his place, by their standards.


God is in the center, isn't that a good place for Him to be. As I started my day today, as I often do, I make a list of things to do. On the list, even though it is a Saturday, I put my work priorities . I need to keep them in focus even on weekends because to stay in my job I need to get my certifications. Since I teach part time as well, grading and preparations often take place on the weekends. Let's say that is north of center. To the east, is things that I need to do for my family. I have things around the house that need my attention. I still have not cleaned up all the limbs from an ice storm we had in December and my 'office' area is cluttered and needs cleaning. I also put in here things I need to do for and with family members. To the south is stuff I want to do for my self, books I want to read, things I want to do that are not necessarily family related. Lastly to the west is the things I need to do for spiritual growth. This is not necessarily the worship of God, but the work that allows me to worship Him better, things like this devotional.

Notice that as points on the compass, there is no one things that is more important than any thing else. They all fall on the circle that is my life. But the center is empty. Or is it. There is where, like the Israelites, I need to put the tabernacle of God. That needs to be the center part of my life. Any of the things that I do needs to start from the center so that I can make sure that I am doing it for the right reasons. If it is not coming from the center, from God, then most likely I should reject it and move on to something else.

What is at the center of your compass? Are all the things that you need to do emanating from that center?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 1:1-2:34
Tomorrow
Numbers 3:1-4:49

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The Center

February 23, 2008

As we move our way through the Bible in readings and devotions, we come to the book of Numbers today. While we call it Numbers, the Hebrew people called it 'Wilderness Journey'. We gave it the name Numbers because both at the beginning and the end of the book, the Israelites were counted. At the opening we find 603,550 people in all the tribes but the Levites . They were God's special people and not to be counted unless God said so. This count was only the men of military age, 20 years old and older. This did not include woman or children which would have made these numbers much greater.

In order to make order out of that many people they needed to be organized. God had them get organized by their tribes. They would have a sense of identity , of belonging this way. Otherwise they would just get lost in the crowd. Then he set out special ways for the tribes to set up camp and to march.

When they traveled or when they camped, God told them:

Numbers 2:17 LITV
(17) And the camp of the Levites, with the tabernacle of the congregation shall pull out in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so they shall pull out, each man in his place, by their standards.


God is in the center, isn't that a good place for Him to be. As I started my day today, as I often do, I make a list of things to do. On the list, even though it is a Saturday, I put my work priorities . I need to keep them in focus even on weekends because to stay in my job I need to get my certifications. Since I teach part time as well, grading and preparations often take place on the weekends. Let's say that is north of center. To the east, is things that I need to do for my family. I have things around the house that need my attention. I still have not cleaned up all the limbs from an ice storm we had in December and my 'office' area is cluttered and needs cleaning. I also put in here things I need to do for and with family members. To the south is stuff I want to do for my self, books I want to read, things I want to do that are not necessarily family related. Lastly to the west is the things I need to do for spiritual growth. This is not necessarily the worship of God, but the work that allows me to worship Him better, things like this devotional.

Notice that as points on the compass, there is no one things that is more important than any thing else. They all fall on the circle that is my life. But the center is empty. Or is it. There is where, like the Israelites, I need to put the tabernacle of God. That needs to be the center part of my life. Any of the things that I do needs to start from the center so that I can make sure that I am doing it for the right reasons. If it is not coming from the center, from God, then most likely I should reject it and move on to something else.

What is at the center of your compass? Are all the things that you need to do emanating from that center?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Numbers 1:1-2:34
Tomorrow
Numbers 3:1-4:49

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

The tenth animal

February 22, 2008

Leviticus 27:32 UPDV
(32) And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth will be holy to Yahweh.


In the days of Leviticus, a tenth of the produce of the land was to be given to the priest as a payment to God. It was used by the priest as a way to live since they were not to do 'real' work. The flocks, however, were a different case. They were to take all new born animals and run them in a line. Every tenth animal was to be separated out to the Lord. The owners were not to take the bad ones and put them in a certain place in line. God was to take what He got, it did not matter if it was good or bad.

These animals were not the same as the sacrifices, they were to be whole and without blemish. These animals were to be taken as they were. You could take a blemished animal and move it to the tenth one, nor could you move a blemished one out because you were feeling guilty that the Lord got the bad ones.

Today, we have passed 'under the rod' when we accepted Jesus. God takes us as we are. We cannot exchange ourselves for something better, neither can we be worse. God gets us as we are. An interesting thing happens however. If any man be in Christ, he becomes a new creature. You see, God did not see the animals as blemished then and He does not see us as blemished now. We are whole in Him. If you do not know Jesus as savior, accept Him now. Get rid of your blemishes.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 26:1-27:34
Tomorrow
Numbers 1:1-2:34

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool

Year of Jubilee

February 21, 2008

Leviticus 25:39-40 GW
(39) "If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, don't work him like a slave.
(40) He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee.

The year of jubilee was a great concept that God gave to the Israelites. God knew that they might have to sell their land to survive so he set it up that every 50th year the land would resort back to its original owner. If you were to sell it to someone, the fact that he may only have 10 years left before it came back to you would have to factor into the purchase price.

More importantly, God knew that they would also have to sell themselves as slaves. Since they were God's property, God wanted the Israelites to know that in the year of Jubilee, they were to be set free as well. All the debts that they had sold themselves for were to be paid off and the person was to be free again.

Some of us when we became Christians have not strayed at all. I wish I could say that I had not. At one point I was mad at God for not giving me what I wanted in life. I was unhappy with the situation that had developed in my marriage and I did not see God doing anything to fix it at a speed I wanted. I ran away from my marriage and my God. I sold myself to Satan for the price of my personal happiness. After a while though, I found I was not happy. How could God take me back? I found that God would. Like the slave in the year of Jubilee, I was forgiven of my debts and was able to walk back in freedom. Jesus had paid for that. He was my Jubilee.

My words are inadequate to convey it I know. Michael Card wrote a song about it a few years ago. I could not find the words to it, but if you have some time, take a look and listen to the song, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d1VCfYdI4E). It starts a couple of minutes in so be patient. He has to introduce the band members.

If you are struggling with some sin in your life. Jesus is your Jubilee. Take a hold of that today.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 24:1-25:55
Tomorrow
Leviticus 26:1-27:34

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

To gleam?

February 19, 2008

Leviticus 23:22 NET
(22) When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.' "

God had clearly told people throughout the Old Testament that they were to take care of the poor, widowed and the strangers that lived amongst them. Now, right in the middle of scriptures that talk about how they are to celebrate festivals, God talks about gleaming. They were instructed not to harvest right up to the edge of the field, and if they were to drop any of the harvest they were to leave it there. Then the poor were to come along and pick up what was left behind so that they could afford to live. Why if God instructed them to take care ofthe poor did He tell the people to leave behind the gleamings?

My thoughts are that all the other things were to be done so that you could feel good about yourself. You were the one doing the giving, you were the one that they had to come to and ask for help. But withgleaming , you had no control over who got what. In fact, you really gave in an anonymous fashion. It also allowed for the poor to do some work to get what they needed. The big thing to me was the poor did not have to ask for help, they just got it.

So how can people gleam today? Can they? I think that they can.

I can think of many years ago when I left groceries on a persons doorstep and walked off after ringing the bell. I can think of a Jewish man whom I do computer repair work for (my only customer anymore), who when I tell him $30 for what I did he writes the check for $50. I know of hunters who cannot eat all their kill so they donate it to a processing plant to give it to a food bank. I can think of Andrew Wommack ministries (http://www.awmi.net/). Andrew not only gives away free tapes where ever he goes to preach, but all of his sermon series are available to download and listen to. He could make people pay for them, but he allows for the gleaming of the fields.

Gleaming is still around today. And it is something that we should practice in our everyday life.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 22:1-23:44
Tomorrow
Leviticus 24:1-25:55

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Love one another

February 19, 2008

Leviticus 19:18 CEV
(18) Stop being angry and don't try to take revenge. I am the LORD, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.


One of the most important commands come from the Old Testament. In fact Jesus said it was the 2ND most important one. And yet, we as people do not do it. We are to love others like we love ourselves. That is a hard concept for some people. Some people grew up unloved or at best under-loved. For them to try to love others is not really possible because they first have to learn to love themselves.

But what does it mean to love ourselves. Would we harm our bodies? Would we abuse them? Would we terminate the life from it? Unfortunately for many the answer is yes. It is sad that it takes place. Many people cut themselves and otherwise mutilate themselves. Many people pour drugs andalcohol into their systems in an effort to feel good. Many, in an attempt to end the pain, end their lives.

Jesus came so that we could know love. When we do the things like these, we do not show our love for ourselves and we cannot possibly even begin to show love for others.

Learn to love yourself. If you have trouble with that then know that God loves you so much He sent His son for you and accept Him as the Lord of your life.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 19:1-21:24
Tomorrow
Leviticus 22:1-23:44

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

The Scape-goat

February 18, 2008

Leviticus 16:20-22 LITV
(20) And when he has finished atoning for the sanctuary, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, and has brought near the living goat;
(21) then Aaron shall lay his two hands on the head of the living goat, and shall confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions, and all their sins, and shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send it by the hand of a chosen man into the wilderness.
(22) And the goat shall bear on him all their iniquities to a land cut off. And he shall send the goat away into the wilderness.

God provided for a way for the children of Israel to have their sins removed. Once a year they would lay hands on a goat and that goat would be driven out into the wilderness, bearing their sins. Some of us go through that each day. We may live indis functional families, or may be dis functional ourselves. We try to blame all of our sins on someone else. If that person would be what I want them to be, then all we be well in the world and in the process we drive them away from us and out into the wilderness.

Now when the Israelites did this, notice one thing. The next year they got another goat and they did the same thing. Likewise, if we do not deal with the problems inside ourselves, we will find another person to be our goat and put all of our problems on.

It is only when we take the time to admit to our sins, then we can put them on the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus.

If you are putting your sins on someone else, stop now and put them on Jesus. If you are the one receiving them, Jesus already took them for you, place those sins on Him today. No one should have to have their or the sins of any one else on them. Not when Jesus paid the ultimate price.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 16:1-18:30
Tomorrow
Leviticus 19:1-21:24

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Unclean

February 17, 2008

Leviticus 15:31 BBE
(31) In this way may the children of Israel be made free from all sorts of unclean conditions, so that death may not overtake them when they are unclean and when they make unclean my holy place which is among them.


In our lives we may not have to go through what the Israelites did when they sinned, but we do have to take the time to ask forgiveness of those who we have done wrong and of God. We must take the responsiblity for what we do.

If we do not clean ourselves of our sins, and then we try to enter into worship of God, then we are unclean. At that point, what will be like spiritual death will approach us. We will be apart form God and not able to hear His voice. We need to move back to God so that we can hear Him


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 14:1-15:33
Tomorrow
Leviticus 16:1-18:30

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

How poor

February 16. 2008

Leviticus 12:8 KJV
(8) And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

A poor woman, so she could return to worship God after giving birth to a son, was required to bring an offering. She was supposed to bring a lamb, but if they could not do so, she was to bring a pair of turtle doves.

Luke 2:24 KJV
(24) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.


Jesus took the splendor of the universe and gave it up to be born of parents that were poor. Yes we know that He did not stay that way, but His beginning was so very humbling.

God does love us so much that he sent His son to take care of us. And He came, even though the change in His way of being must have been so drastic.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 11:1-13:59
Tomorrow
Leviticus 14:1-15:33

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

How poor

February 16. 2008

Leviticus 12:8 KJV
(8) And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

A poor woman, so she could return to worship God after giving birth to a son, was required to bring an offering. She was supposed to bring a lamb, but if they could not do so, she was to bring a pair of turtle doves.

Luke 2:24 KJV
(24) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.


Jesus took the splendor of the universe and gave it up to be born of parents that were poor. Yes we know that He did not stay that way, but His beginning was so very humbling.

God does love us so much that he sent His son to take care of us. And He came, even though the change in His way of being must have been so drastic.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 11:1-13:59
Tomorrow
Leviticus 14:1-15:33

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Strange Fire

February 15, 2008

Leviticus 10:1-2 (The Message)

Leviticus 10

1-2 That same day Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, took their censers, put hot coals and incense in them, and offered "strange" fire to God—something God had not commanded. Fire blazed out from God and consumed them—they died in God's presence.

God has a very special way that He wants to be met. He told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons just how to do what they were supposed to do and what they were supposed to do it with. Now two of his sons had done just that. They had tried to come to God on their own terms, ignoring God's commands.

Today the world is not much different. In the Tulsa area where I live, a respected preacher of the Gospel got shunned by the church he had founded and grown because he started to teach that all were going to heaven if they were good people, that they did not need to know Jesus as a savior. His church is now closed and an empty shell on a busy road in and out of town. He burned strange fire before the Lord. And the local media love him because he preaches a Gospel of tolerance.

There are people that say that my sin is special, it is not a sin because God told me so, or that it is not a sin because how could it feel so good. Their lives often fall apart and they get burned by those who truly love them. They burn strange fire before the Lord.

Know that there is one judge for your actions, it is God Himself, not me. He will use His word, our Bible as the measuring stick. It might be a good idea to get into it and find out what it says.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 8:1-10:20
Tomorrow
Leviticus 11:1-13:59

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

A loaf of bread for God

February 14, 2007

Leviticus 5:11 Darby
(11) But if his hand cannot attain to two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering: he shall put no oil on it, neither shall he put frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering.

This is the tail end of what God was giving to Moses about what to do when you sin, what type of offering to give. It starts by sacrificing either a cattle, sheep, or goat. If the person cannot afford it he is to give a offering of a pair of turtle doves. Lastly, if they still cannot afford that, they are to take flour as an offering.

Everyone in those days could afford flour. It would be the equivalent of us giving God a loaf of bread.

God wants all of us to come to Him. It does not matter if you have money, are middle class, or poor, He wants you where you are at.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 5:1-7:38
Tomorrow
Leviticus 8:1-10:20

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Your best

February 13, 2008

Leviticus 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

1 WHEN ANYONE offers a cereal offering to the Lord, it shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil over it and lay frankincense on it.

The word fine can mean a lot of things. One of the commentaries that I looked at in preparation for this said that it would be the best that we have to offer.

Think about that. They were to take the best flour that they had and give that to God. I would think that they would want to keep the best for themselves, but in order to worship God properly they had to give their best.

How about you. When you worship God do you give it your best? Their are a lot of different ways to worship God. I know that when I write these up I am taking time to hear God and that involves worship. Lately I find myself squeezing in time here or there to do it. Is that giving God my best? Or when you go to church on Sunday, are you listening to the words you are singing or are you preparing for your work week? Do you hear the words of the preacher or do you look at others to see what they are wearing or doing? Are you giving God your best?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Leviticus 1:1-4:35
Tomorrow
Leviticus 5:1-7:38

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Cloud by day... fire by night

February 12, 2008


Exodus 40:36-38 BBE
(36) And whenever the cloud was taken up from the House, the children of Israel went forward on their journey:
(37) But while the cloud was there, they made no move till it was taken up.
(38) For the cloud of the Lord was resting on the House by day, and at night there was fire in the cloud, before the eyes of all the people of Israel, and so it was through all their journeys.


Wouldn't that be great. I mean, there was a cloud during the day, they could see it, if it moved, they moved. And at night, when a desert can get cold, there was a fire burning for them, keeping them warm. All they needed was there. God was with them and they followed Him. Wouldn't that be great to be able to see God and get guidance from Him.

I cannot help with the seeing part. God is here and we have to take that on faith. But there are ways to know His will and be guided. Read the word every day. Not just a little devotional like this, read a few chapters.

And when you get the word in you, then you can know that the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you in all things. How can you know that? Jesus said that He would said the Holy Spirit to do those things.

We do not need a big cloud or fire, just a little faith.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 39:1-40:38
Tomorrow
Leviticus 1:1-4:35

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

What is God's presence worth?

February 11, 2008

Exodus 38:24-25 GW
(24) The total amount of gold from the offerings presented to the LORD used in building the holy place weighed over 2,193 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.
(25) The silver collected when the census of the community was taken weighed 7,544 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.


$14770.19264 is what one pound of Gold is worth today. They used 2,193 pounds, making the value of the tabernacle $32,391,032.46. Now lets add to that the value of the silver in today's currency. At 7,544 pounds and 1000 ounce bars of silver selling for $17,810 then 120704 ounce of silver is worth around $120,000. This makes the value of the tent and all that was in it around $32,711,000. I do not know about you but I have a hard time picturing that much money. As noted before, this was coming out of people who had been slaves. Obviously God's presence was worth something to these people. They had more to give and Moses had to stop them.

But stop and think about what the presence of God is worth to you today. When you are sick and need a healing, when you are lonely and need a touch, when you think you have hit bottom and you can look to God, what is that worth.

It seems some times that we want to just pull the covers up over our head when Sunday morning comes. I work all week I need a day to sleep in. Or maybe you want to go out and enjoy that new toy that God gave you the finances for. Well you know a new toy can not cureloneliness , a bed cannot cure sickness. Why do we put all these things of so little value in front of God. Why do we not see the value of taking time to worship God and get the touch we need all the time.

Next time you want to just take care of your own needs in stead of worshiping God, look at the value that the Israelites gave to just a tent for God so that he could dwell among them. He dwells in your heart now. What value do you put on Him dwelling in you.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 36:1-38:31
Tomorrow
Exodus 39:1-40:38

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.


An extra note for you. Today is the 1 year anniversary of Daily Devotions by Bob. Thanks for all that have been with me for one year and all that have joined along the way. The group has 10 members on the mailing list and I encourage you to invite others to join. The instructions I think are sent out with each devotion.

There is also a web site that you can send people to: http://dailydevotionbob.blogspot.com . From there the whole years worth of devotionals can be read as well as any new ones coming up. On the upper right corner of the page is a box that will let people subscribe from the web site. As of today the blog site has had 1,530 hits in the one year of existence . While not great numbers they are not bad either. It is interesting when I see how people find us what they were looking for. Some put in some weird terms that would not lend themselves to devotionals (making you wonder what they were looking for, not really) and because of words that I have used, they will show up and people will click through. Others are more obvious but surprising as well. A few weeks ago there was about 10 hits on Super Bowl Sunday all looking for Superbowl devotionals, which I had just written about.

Please pray for me to hear God and continue to write what he wants to be said. Thanks.

Bob

Sins of our fathers

February 10, 2008

Exodus 34:6-7 KJ2000
(6) And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
(7) Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.


I always thought it was not fair. Why is God going to punish children for the mistakes of the parents? That did the children do. They most likely were not even born yet.

As I thought on this verse I realized it does not imply punish at all. In the king James it is visited. The Greek word is paw-kad' and it means according to Stroud:
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit,

That last word is the one that caught my eye, deposit. When you deposit some money in the bank, you are putting some money in. When you live in open sin before your children, God allows for that sin to be deposited in to their spirit. What you do affects them not just now, but for the future as well. Since their sin will affect their children, what you do today will affect generations to come.

My dad was an angry drunk. I lived a lot of my life angry myself (some how I escaped the drunken part). In the pas few years I have chosen to learn how to, for the most part, control that anger. The sins of the father do not have to be passed on if you want to change it. Is it easy? No! Habits, especially those learned in childhood do not change easily. It requires an effort to change. When a chance to get angry happens I have to make a decision not to get to the point that my anger does not spew all over everyone else. I could not decide to and just let the habits continue and the cycle will continue.

What are you depositing into your children? What of that did you inherit from your parents? What do you need to change?

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 33:1-35:35
Tomorrow
Exodus 36:1-38:31

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

One person's Job

February 9, 2008

Exodus 32:1-5 KJV
(1) And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
(2) And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
(3) And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
(4) And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
(5) And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.


This is a situation that Moses caused in the first place. He wanted God to send someone else, someone who could speak well. Someone who speaks well is usually one who knows what the people want to hear and tells them that. God gave him Aaron. Now Moses is up on the mountain talking to God and Aaron is in charge. The people think Moses is dead because he is gone so long. Aaron worries about loss of power and gives them what they want.

If Moses had done what God wanted him to do in the first place and not demand that someone else do it, Aaron would not have been in this position. But he is and he does every thing wrong.

When you argue with God be prepared for things not to work out quite they way they should. They will get done, the people did make it to the promised land, but not the way that would be most efficient.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 30:1-32:35
Tomorrow
Exodus 33:1-35:35

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

What's on your forehead?

February 8, 2008

In Exodus, the priestly garments for Aaron (and his descendants) are described. One thing of interest is the headpiece that he was to wear, or what was to be on it.

Exodus 28:36-38 KJV
(36) And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
(37) And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
(38) And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

When God would meet with Aaron he would not be able to see the sins of Aaron or of the people of Israel. The reason why is that he would see a sign that the King James version of the Bible tells us said Holiness to the Lord. Holiness here is the Greek word ko'-desh which means a sacred place or thing. Aaron, once he had gone through the ritual had become holy and now that is how God saw him. This was to be for Aaron and his descendants, who would be called the High Priests.

Jesus, though not of the Levite tribe, and therefore not capable of being a High Priest under Jewish tradition, became out High priest. When we go to God to worship Him, God can not see our sin. We also have Holiness to the Lord written on us as well. You can not see it like you could see Aaron's, but Jesus placed it on us. God, when we approach Him in the name of Jesus, sees that and will see us as Holy. We can then approach Him and not be concerned about being unholy in the place of God.

Next time you feel like your prayers do not reach up to God, touch your forehead and remember what it says up there.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 28:1-29:46
Tomorrow
Exodus 30:1-32:35

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

What's on your forehead?

February 8, 2008

In Exodus, the priestly garments for Aaron (and his descendants) are described. One thing of interest is the headpiece that he was to wear, or what was to be on it.

Exodus 28:36-38 KJV
(36) And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
(37) And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
(38) And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

When God would meet with Aaron he would not be able to see the sins of Aaron or of the people of Israel. The reason why is that he would see a sign that the King James version of the Bible tells us said Holiness to the Lord. Holiness here is the Greek word ko'-desh which means a sacred place or thing. Aaron, once he had gone through the ritual had become holy and now that is how God saw him. This was to be for Aaron and his descendants, who would be called the High Priests.

Jesus, though not of the Levite tribe, and therefore not capable of being a High Priest under Jewish tradition, became out High priest. When we go to God to worship Him, God can not see our sin. We also have Holiness to the Lord written on us as well. You can not see it like you could see Aaron's, but Jesus placed it on us. God, when we approach Him in the name of Jesus, sees that and will see us as Holy. We can then approach Him and not be concerned about being unholy in the place of God.

Next time you feel like your prayers do not reach up to God, touch your forehead and remember what it says up there.

Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 28:1-29:46
Tomorrow
Exodus 30:1-32:35

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Prosperity

February 8, 2008

Exodus 25:2-8 BBE
(2) Say to the children of Israel that they are to make me an offering; from every man who has the impulse in his heart take an offering for me.
(3) And this is the offering you are to take from them: gold and silver and brass;
(4) And blue and purple and red, and the best linen, and goats' hair;
(5) And sheepskins coloured red, and leather, and hard wood;
(6) Oil for the light, spices for the sweet-smelling oil, sweet perfumes for burning;
(7) Beryls and stones of value to be put on the ephod and on the priest's bag.
(8) And let them make me a holy place, so that I may be ever present among them.


Many people have complained that the Bible does not really talk about prosperity and it is man that had read it into it. I look at these verses and think about that sometimes.

Where did God expect these people to get the money from to support what he was asking for. Yes I know He was asking for items, but those items cost money. Last I knew, the Israelites had just gotten out of slavery. Last I knew. slaves did not make a lot of money. So how were they going to be able to do what God was asking them to do?

How? God had provided for these poor people. As the last plague ended, God had told the Israelites to ask their Egyptian neighbors for things and they did. An earlier verse in Exodus says that they plundered the Egyptians as they left.

This shows me an important principal. Yes God wants us to be prosperous. And he wants us to live nice. But some of that is to go back to Him for doing the work that He has called His people to do.


Read through the Bible in one year in Historical order
Today
Exodus 25:1-27:21
Tomorrow
Exodus 28:1-29:46

http://tinyurl.com/24beby for a daily reading tool link.

Favor the poor

February 6, 2007

God never fails to surprise me when I read His word.

Exodus 23:3 MKJV
(3) And you should not favor a poor man in his cause.


Now if I was God, I would probably think that you should favor a poor man in his cause. The rich people are out to get him and he needs the help would be the logic that I would use.

Think about it though. God is not saying that you can not help the poor man, but that you need to get both sides. Poor people can con you just as well as rich people. If you do not believe that, watch some roadside intersections in the summer in the US for 'will work for food' signs. Actually go up and offer one of them a job and see what happens.

The truth is, we should not favor anyone, we should however, favor God in His causes

Read through the Bible in historical order in one year:
Today
Exodus 22:1-24:18
Tomorrow
Exodus 25:1-27:21

Value of a life

February 5, 2008

I have seen a lot of people say that there is no reason for a person to get out of an abusive marriage. They should stay and be a witness to the person. They should stay and lead them to Christ.

I do not think that God agrees with that. In the Old Testament, as God starts talking about rules of life He says:

Exodus 21:27 LITV
(27) And if he causes the tooth of his male slave, or the tooth of his slave-girl, to fall out, he shall send him away free for his tooth.


Now are these people going to tell me that the life of a slave is more important that that of a human being? I can not see that at all. To me it is up to the person, but if a spouse is abusing a mate, it is time to get out of that relationship. When the partner gets help for themselves, then they can get back together. Until such time, God values you more than a slave, and you should value yourself more as well.

Read through the Bible in historical order in one year:
Today
Exodus 19:1-21:36
Tomorrow
Exodus 22:1-24:18

Biblical Leadership

February 4, 2008

Exodus 18:14-21 GW
(14) When Moses' father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "Why are you doing this for the people? Why do you sit here alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"
(15) Moses answered his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to find out God's will.
(16) Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them God's laws and instructions."
(17) Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you're doing is not good.
(18) You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You can't do it alone!
(19) Now listen to me, and I'll give you some advice. May God be with you! You must be the people's representative to God and bring their disagreements to him.
(20) You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings, show them how to live, and tell them what to do.
(21) "But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people.


I have been a member of a few churches over my 30 years of being a Christian. I have been part of churches that were new and ones that were established. As a rule, the ones that survived were the ones that followed a very Biblical principal. It is shown here in Exodus 18. One person can not do all the work.

I have seen where the pastor thought that if he did not do something it would not get done and though he said that the staff was empowered to do what they needed to get the job done, in reality, if he was not the one doing it, it was not important and all had to do what he wanted as he micro-managed things down to the lowest level. This cannot work in a ministry. It did not work for Moses because he was burning himself out.

The New Testament shows it as well. Jesus had a large amount of followers. Some he chose to be his disciples. Out of those He chose 12 to be Apostles. Even within that group he had 3, His inner circle, Peter, James and John, that He trusted for the big things.

When you get involved in ministry, look at the big picture. If you are the one in charge, delegate using the Biblical example. If you are under someone else's ministry, see that you have a part in it where you are.


Read through the Bible in historical order in one year
Today
Exodus 16:1-18:27
Tomorrow
Exodus 19:1-21:36

The Biblical Superbowl

February 3, 2008

Today in the United States of America, we celebrate Superbowl Sunday. The two best teams from the NFL will tough it out on the football field to see who is the best. Both teams have supporters who know they are going to win. Only one can be the winner (and we all know it will be New England Patriots defeating the New York Giants).

Years ago, a Superbowl of sorts took place. It was a rag-tag team of Israelites versus the gigantic Egyptian army. As we have today, both sides had supporters. Egypt had Pharaoh who knew right was on his side. It looked like there was going to be a fumble and the Israelites would go down in defeat. But one man had faith.

Exodus 14:13-14 (Amplified Bible)

13Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.

14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.

Moses had faith. He was not sure what was going to happen but he knew God was in control.

As we watch the game today with family and friend, know that there is a much more important going on then the game you are watching. Know there is a battle going on between Satan and God. We may not know what God is going to do, but if we act like Moses, we know He will pull us through if we put our trust in Him.

Read through the Bible in historical order in one year.

Today

Exodus 13:1-15:27

Tomorrow

Exodus 16:1-18:27

Does anyone like me?

February 2, 2008

When some one does not like you it is hard to see that many other people do like you. It was a problem that Moses had during the Exodus plagues.

Exodus 11:2-3 ASV
(2) Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
(3) And Jehovah gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

You see, Moses was dealing with Pharaoh for the most part. Pharaoh hated him. So by extension, Moses thought that all of Egypt did. But really, Pharaoh's men and the people of Egypt had a great respect for him.

The next time that you think that everyone is against you (or at least everyone at work/school/etc.), know that they are not. There is a whole body of people out there that like you and are hoping for you to succeed.

Read through the Bible in historical order in one year:
Today
Exodus 10:1-12:51
Tomorrow
Exodus 13:1-15:27

Getting rid of frogs

February 1, 2008

Exodus 8:8-11 GW
(8) Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray that the LORD will take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD."
(9) Moses answered Pharaoh, "You may have the honor of choosing when I should pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then the frogs will leave you and your homes. The only ones left will be those in the Nile."
(10) "Pray for me tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say so that you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.
(11) The frogs will leave you, your homes, your officials, and your people. The only frogs left will be those in the Nile."

I have always wondered what was in Pharaoh's mind during this plague. Here Moses is asking when do you want me to get rid of the frogs that had taken over Egypt. Now, if it was me, and I had frogs everywhere I looked, in my cooking pots, my bed, my water, I think that I would have had a need to get rid of them quickly. But what does Pharaoh say? Tomorrow! He could have gotten rid of them immediately and he tells Moses tomorrow.

We have problems in our lives, just as Pharaoh did. They may be addiction, they may be getting along with people, even not being able to study or even work hard to get a promotion. Whatever they are they are like frogs everywhere we go. God asks you, when do you want to take care of those problems? We answer, tomorrow.

Make an effort today to get rid of your frogs.

Read through the Bible in historical order in one year:
Today
Exodus 7:1-9:35
Tomorrow
Exodus 10:1-12:51