...And Kill It At The Door

I've been reading Leviticus lately and I am astounded at the minute detail described for all of the sacrifices.  As I was reading I ran across a couple of verses that answered a question that I've long had. 

Why was it necessary that the Jews turn on Jesus?  I understand that His blood had to be shed but there were many ways that could have come about.  Was there a particular reason that it had to come about at the hands of the Jews?  I think I've found my answer.

Leviticus 3:1-2(NKJV)

1‘When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. 

2And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. 

When the Jews brought their sacrifices to the alter, they were to lay their hands on the sacrifice and kill it.  So in the case of the Jews and Jesus, I think it was a symbolic "laying his hand on his offering". 

Isn't it neat the way God reveals His Word a little at a time?  Enjoy the journey!

We Are The Hands of Jesus! (Thanks Ben!)

My cousin posted a great question of Facebook the other day.

"What was the last thing you did to help someone in real need, and why?

I would like you to read some of the stories.

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Bought a homeless man dinner...because he was sitting in the booth across the restaurant with his glass of water, filthy, falling asleep, looking frail and felt he needed to get something in his belly.

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I try to help someone every day in one way or another. It could even be animals. I have a 98 year old lady on my mail route I check on every day. Her concern is that her dog will be by it's self if she passes. I am concerned for them both!

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Bought a homeless person a mea last week.

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helped an older woman a few days ago in Walmart. I put a case of water in her cart for her and then helped her find detergent!

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A friends wife and son were going to do a tandem skydive in Goshen. He asked me to go along as he was going to be on the ground by himself. He felt he needed support if things went awry. I had my day already planned but went along with him anyway. He wouldn't ask if he really didn't need me to go along. So hey, plugged in Magellan and had a great ride.

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Two Friday's ago I took the day off and with another guy from our church we went to a lady's house down in the Edison neighborhood and did some repairs on her house. Her front stairs were all rickety. Under the stairs was all open and varmints were getting into her house. We fixed that and sealed it all up. In the back the soffit was all open and birds were getting into the insulation and building nests so we got that all sealed up as well.

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Two weeks ago, I donated the entire video collection of MASH and "I Love Lucy" to the John George Home for Elderly Gentlemen in Jackson. When I went to the residence, I found a bunch of delightful old gentlemen who just wanted to chat and share some old stories. I am going to continue to visit them and most likely set up a volunteer schedule for whatever they need. According to one of the administrators there, one gentleman "lives, breathes, and sleeps I Love Lucy", but he can no longer get it on his TV, so he is thrilled with the videos.

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This morning I stopped for gas and ran inside to get a coffee. The lady before me paid in silver dollars. Since my husband saves silver dollars I asked the clerk to buy them from her - there was $20.00's worth - I was beaming from ear to ear knowing that this would make Carey's day when I got home. When I got outside I saw the lady that had paid for her gas with the silver dollars shutting the hood on her car - which was a very old and VERY beat up car. That little voice in my head told me to go over there and give her the silver dollars back - she was overwhelmed with joy and it felt great to give these back to her. When I walked past her car to get to mine - I saw three little faces staring at me - I reached in my purse to give her another $20.00 but as I handed it to her I realized it was a $50.00 - it stung for just a second then it felt real good!!!

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put in a gas stove for a bedridden elderly woman in Benton Harbor. because i know how, and she needed it done.

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Why?

Because it is a great way to demonstrate the love of Jesus in a very real and concrete way, as you can see from the stories above.  We each have unique situations in which we can touch other peoples lives in a way that no others can.

Folks we are all the eyes, and ears, and hands of Jesus.  He's counting on us.  Let's not let him down!

Life Lessons From God

As you know, one of my themes is "of what practical use is the Bible"?  What are the actual real world benefits of our faith in Christ?  Eternal life is great but it is a bit hard to wrap our minds around in the here and now. 

Well today I want to offer a great example of how exquisite God's plan really is.

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are told that one of the foundations of a growing faith is to seek God through daily study of His Word.  We are taught to make it a daily, lifelong habit to seek knowledge and wisdom from God's Word.  It's not easy.  It takes discipline.  But it creates a lifelong habit of learning.

But how does that help us in the real world?  Take a look at this scripture.

Proverbs 3:13-18(NKJV)

13    Happy is the man who finds wisdom,      And the man who gains understanding;

14    For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,     And her gain than fine gold.

15    She is more precious than rubies,     And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

16    Length of days is in her right hand,     In her left hand riches and honor.

17    Her ways are ways of pleasantness,     And all her paths are peace.

18    She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,     And happy are all who retain her.

Did you catch that last part?  She (knowledge and wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.

Now how is that of practical use?  Let's compare two kinds of people.  First you have the type of person that graduates from high school or even college and then declares something like "Glad that's done.  I'm never reading another book again".  Then you have the other type who is curious and continues throughout life to learn new things and skills.  Long term, of the two types, who do you think is going to have the more satisfying and successful life?  My guess would be the ones that continue to learn new things throughout their lifetime, wouldn't you agree?

The practical thing that transfers from your daily faith walk is that you are already a daily seeker of knowledge.  It is really easy to transfer that discipline and skill to all other walks of your life.

Now look at how Proverbs describes the different results of our two types of people.

Proverbs 3:35(NKJV)

35    The wise shall inherit glory,      But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

God's plan is so cool!

I just don't get Paul

I have always had a hard time understanding Paul.  Quite frankly I just don't get him.  He says things that to me seem to contradict other Scripture. 

Now once again, as I question something in the Bible I want to make perfectly clear that I am approaching this from the aspect that God is way smarter than me and so it is me that is failing in my understanding. 

If you've been reading my posts for any amount of time then you probably realize that I am just an upfront kind of guy.  I think to have an honest discussion about our faith we need to talk about the things we understand as well as the things we don't. 

Anyway, I am going to go through this section from 1 Corinthians and comment on what I don't get.  If anyone out there has answers to my questions I would love to hear them

1 Corinthians 10:23-33(NKJV)

23All things are lawful £for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful £for me, but not all things edify.

(All things are lawful, really?  So there is no right or wrong anymore?  To each his own?  Let your conscience be your guide?)

 

24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

(OK, that makes sense.   Put others first.  Golden rule, etc.)

25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 

26for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” £

27If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 

28But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake;£ for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” £ 

(So all of those rules in the OT about what foods you can eat and what foods you can't are out the window?  Bring on the bacon baby!  Here's the part I really don't get.  Eat any food you want and don't ask any questions about it and you are fine, BUT if the person who gave you the food mentions that it was offered to idols, now you can't eat it?  So Paul is saying that as long as we stay purposely and blissfully ignorant we are OK?  That just seems very odd to me.  I'm in the financial services business and if I suspect someone is committing some sort of fraud and I purposely remain blissfully ignorant, that's a felony punishable by prison and a big fine.) 

29“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 

30But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

(So no matter what you do, as long as you do it for the glory of God it is OK?)

32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 

33just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

(This seems to be one of Paul's themes in 1 Corinthians, be all things to all people.  To me that seems to go against the Scripture where God says it is better that we be hot or cold because if we are just luke warm He will spit us out.  Isn't pleasing all people a form of being luke warm?)

Now here is why I love studying Scripture so much.  First, this doesn't challenge my overall beliefs in any way.  Second, I know that I can stand on God's promise to reveal that knowledge to me when I need to understand it.  As long as I continue to diligently seek God, I will continue to grow in my understanding of God's word.

How is your understanding of God's word coming along?  Do you have questions?  If so, have you taken them to God in prayer?  He promises to reveal His word to all who believe in His son Jesus Christ.  Have you accepted Jesus yet?  If not, why don't you do it right now.  Then enjoy the journey as God starts to reveal His word to you as well.

Are you playing God to win?

How do you play God?  Do you play God to win or do you just play God to participate?  Do you want the First Place medal or do you want the pretty little ribbon that all of the kids got for simply showing up? 

1 Corinthians 9:24(NKJV)

24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Now obviously I am being a bit facetious.  I don't mean to imply that your faith is some sort of a game.  The issue I want to highlight is how do you approach your faith?  Is it something that you take seriously  and are focused on or is it something that you just show up for on Sundays? 

Those of you who were athletes know what I mean.  It takes a tremendous amount of commitment to compete at the highest levels.  There are fundamentals that you have to master.  It takes a lot of discipline and work.  It takes a time commitment.  It takes passion.  It takes all of these things to be the best!  Or you can just show up on Saturday for the pickup softball game and call it good.

Does it make a difference?  Yes it does in my opinion.   Here is why.

Revelation 2:23(NKJV)

23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

Never noticed this before.  Jesus telling us that He will give to each according to their works.

Jeremiah 32:19-20(NKJV)

19You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. 

20You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among other men; and You have made Yourself a name, as it is this day. 

Notice it’s not each according to his need but each according to his doings.

Revelation 22:12-13(NKJV)

12“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 

13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the £Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

We are all saved by faith by accepting Jesus as out Lord and Savior and that is a great start.  But that is like getting the pretty little ribbon that all the kids got for showing up.  Scripture tells us that our reward will ultimately be determined by the work that we do for Jesus.  If you really want to experience all that God has to offer then play the game to win.   Work hard at it.  Be passionate about it.  As Paul says "Run the race to win!"

Playing With Snakes and Faith

You know there are some things in the Bible that I just flat out don't get and this is one of them.  Here is a link to an article that I will be referring to in case you haven't seen it.

http://news.yahoo.com/serpent-handling-west-virginia-pastor-dies-snake-bite-173406645--abc-news-topstories.html

Now let's look at some verses that these people base this practice on. 

Mark 16:17-18(NKJV)

17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 

18they£ will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The first aspect of this that I find puzzling is who is it that draws the line on things like this?  Some denominations say speaking in tongues is important, others don't really support it.  Some denominations believe that total immersion adult baptism is the only type of baptism that counts while others say sprinkling when you are an infant is fine. 

The church that I currently am a member of believes in tongues and that total immersion baptism is necessary but even they don't promote snake handling.  My question is, who makes that decision?  Who said we get to pick and choose? 

The second aspect is more of a practical level.  I've always felt that I have a very strong faith but I got to tell you there is no way I'm gonna be handling snakes to prove it.  Call me weak of faith if you want but for me it just doesn't pass the common sense test!

Exercising Leadership

The Bible has a lot to say about leadership.  Let's take a look at a couple of things I've come across recently.

If God has bestowed leadership on you then don't be afraid to exercise it, God's got your back.

Exodus 8:8-13(NKJV)

8Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

9And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”

10So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 

11And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

12Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. 

13So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. 

Did you catch that?  The Lord did according to the word of Moses!  God had bestowed leadership on Moses.  Moses was in a situation and made a decision and then asked God to enforce it  and God did!  So if God has given you leadership then lead.  Be a strong and decisive leader!

Here is the next principal.  Beware weak leadership

Exodus 32:1-6(NKJV)

1Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

2And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 

3So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 

4And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

5So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” 

6Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Look how quickly Aaron, the Chief Priest chosen by God, folded.  He was essentially the second in command after Moses and he abandoned God at the drop of a hat.  Now pay attention to this next part because it is another classic of weak leadership.

Exodus 32:21-23(NKJV)

21And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”

22So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 

23For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 

The "it wasn't my fault" defense  of weak leadership.  Don’t be a weak leader.  If God has given you a leadership role He did it for a reason, so that you would lead, not follow!