Bible In 90 Days – Day 10

Reading: Leviticus 26:27 – Numbers 8:14

Take Away(s):

• The Levites Given Their Tabernacle Tasks/Responsibilities.
  • As I read about how the Levite tribe was given various duties around the tabernacle, it reminded me that eventually in 1 Chronicles 16:4-7, David appoints them to a ministry of music and praise – specifically as, “ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord.”  From caring for the actual Tent to the poles and pegs;  in today’s reading, they were given the these duties and set apart for ministry before and to the Lord.  These duties seem trivial compared with their future responsibilities assigned by David, but they were just as critical to worship of, showing reverence to, and pleasing and obeying God.  I think sometimes people see their part of the Sunday worship service as unimportant or less important or critical than other roles (at times, those being lead see this similarly).  Some think that the only roles that matter during the service are the ones that are on stage.  That is so far from the truth.  Just like the Levites in the Old Testament and their specific roles with the Tabernacle, each and every person is key to worship on Sunday morning today.
  • The other take away from this passage is that leading worship (all of the roles/duties involved) is at it’s core serving.  We must first have a servants heart AND put that into action before we can even lead others in worship of our amazing God.  This example is evident in the progressing role of the Levites.

If you’re participating in BIND, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 9

Reading: Leviticus 14:33 – Leviticus 26:26

Take Away(s):

• In, Not Of. In 18:3-5, the Israelites are warmed by God not to follow the practices of the other people around them.  They are set apart…different.  They are in the world, but not of the world. Reminded me of the Apostle Paul and his “all things to all men” passage in 1 Corinthians 9.  Whenever I read that passage, I am reminded that Paul met people where they were – all the while, not compromising his testimony for Christ and the work at hand.  May that be so in me…through the power of the Holy Spirit!
• Keep, Not Think About. In 18:5, God says, “Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.”  Note to self: There is a distinct difference between keeping and thinking about or even knowing.  We can’t live by simply having a good intention to obey…we must obey.  Thinking about or knowing without the actual action of keeping is fruitless.
• Made Holy – By The Holy One.  In 19:1, God says that they are to be holy for He is holy.   Quite a tall order.  Without verse 20:8 (“Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”), their (and our) efforts to be holy are futile.  Thank God for His enabling power and the Holy Spirit!  I could never measure up on my own!

If you’re participating in BIND, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 8

Reading: Leviticus 1:1 – Leviticus 14:32

Take Away(s):

• The Lord instructs on Offerings. In this first section of Leviticus, God lays out the details for offerings to Moses (as well as other Levitical procedures).  I am struck by the details that were given/required.  I have no insight into the physiology of these specific animals, but I’m sure God had a rational for instructing specificaly in this manner.  Contrast that with how we gripe about some of the “methods” or commands we (as Christ Followers) follow in obedince…in a grumbling manner at times.  I guess if we heard them from Him directly, we’d consider them differently.

Continue Reading…

Bible In 90 Days – Day 7

Reading: Exodus 29:1 – Exodus 40:38

Take Away(s):

• Underappreciated Intimacy. As I read chapter 29, with all the details and steps through which God had the priests go through for consecration, it struck me that we (as Christ Followers) generally underappreciate the intimacy that we have with God.  It’s really only when we read passages like this – and the others to come – that we see what Christ’s death on the cross accomplished for us.  As I type this, I am sitting in my room at the Disneyland resort in Anaheim (on a business trip).  I just worked most of the evening getting ready for a conference, but came back to the room and worshiped the Lord with a bunch of people online and those who attend in-person Table Rock Fellowship in Medford, OR (one of my tweeps is the worship leader there).  In the hustle and bustle of the “Happiest Place on Earth”, I enjoyed intimacy with the Creator of the Universe – the True Happiness Giver.  No animals were required to be sacrificed and I didn’t have to wear a specific outfit or have someone facilitate my communion with God.  My videostream-lead worship was made possible by my Savior’s amazing grace and sacrifice!  May I never underappriciate the blessed intimacy I have with God.
• Silence doesn’t mean we need to strike out on our own.  When Moses is on the mountain with God for so long, the people get ancy and strike out on their own and want to make gods for themselves.  Aaron suggests and then makes the golden calf.  This got me thinking how impatient we are when God doesn’t seem to answer our prayer or give direction in the timeframe we expect.  Waiting on the Lord is hard.  How often my plan seems the “best” choice!  Forgive me, Lord…

Continue Reading…

Bible In 90 Days – Day 6

Reading: Exodus 15:19 – Exodus 28:43

Take Away(s):

• Moses assisted by Aaron and Hur (17:8-13): This passage shows that we must support each other!  I blogged about what this meant to me in my marriage back on May 8.  It’s a cool passage and a great application to marriages…
• Father-in-law-ly Advice: delegate Dude! Jethro visits Moses and pretty much tells him that he needs to delegate the lower-level duties he has to make sure he doesn’t burn out.  Good advice.  I am a delega-phobe – or what some may call a control freak (I disguise it quite well though).  It’s something that I need to work on for sure.  If Moses did it…it must be a “good thing.”
• I’ll let the video below speak for itself…

Continue Reading…

Bible In 90 Days – Day 5

Reading: Exodus 1:1 – Exodus 15:18

Take Away(s):

• Moses failure to circumcise his son. Even though God had chosen Moses to free His people from Egypt, had spoken to him, and had given him signs for demonstrating to the Israelites and the Egyptians that he was from God; even he was not exempt from circumcising his son.  Moses was circumcised (he lived with his Hebrew people for 3 months), and he must follow Hebrew law also.  Interesting that Moses wife was the one who noted that the Lord was about to kill Moses son and took action.
• Horse and Rider song! Anyone remember the Horse and Rider song from their childhood?  I found no real references online for it except this one.

x

If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 4

Reading: Genesis 40:12 – Genesis 50:26

Take Away(s):

• Joseph’s perspective. Joseph could have been very conceited about interpreting dreams and said he had power, knowledge, and insight.  He could have even alluded to having consulted with his God – all the while saying “he” interpreted.  He didn’t do that.  He forthrightly states that the answer came from God – not him (41:16): “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” I pray that the knowledge of Who enables me doesn’t stay “knowledge” – but that it transfers into testimony of Who He is and how He enables me.
• The word WORSHIP. Chapter 47, verse 31 is the fourth time the word worship (or worshiped) is used so far in the NIV.  There are other words and phrases used for the act of “worshiping” or revering God – I’m just curious as to the differences in the Hebrew and any significance for using that specific word in these four instances.  No time to research this right now, but I certainly will do it soon.  [A quick search online shows that in the NIV, the word or root-word worship is used 175 times in the Old Testament, 75 times in the New.]
• Joseph’s perspective – Part 2. Of course, one of the classic observations and lessons from the story of Joseph is his telling his brothers that their act of selling him into slavery was God’s plan (50:19-21).  The fact that God is sovereign and uses all situations (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) for the furtherance of His story, for His glory, and ultimately for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28).  The hard part, of course, is aligning our definition of “good” with Gods!  [OK, Joseph did make his brothers sweat a little before he revealed himself to them…]

I can’t help mentioning that as I read about Joseph, I recalled watching Donny Osmond play him in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!  [Karen’s been an Osmond fan since her childhood!]

x

If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 3

Reading: Genesis 28:20 – Genesis 40:11

Take Away(s):

• Esau running to meet Jacob (33:1-4). It says a lot about the healing and peace that Esau had after Jacob stole his father’s blessing (which was in yesterday’s reading).  Today, we read how Esau runs and greets/embraces Jacob at their reunion.  Sounds like Jesus’ parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-31.)  Not exactly what Jacob thought would happen…not what we typically think will happen in our lives.  May I surprise people by my “turning the other cheek”, as Jesus talked about in Luke 6.
• Joseph’s understanding of sin. In 39:9, Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife that sleeping with her would be wronging his master (Potiphar) and sinning against God.  How often we categorize our mis-steps (OK, sins) and try to differentiate them from “real sins”.  Joseph got it – I pray that I would…

x

If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 2

Reading: Genesis 17:1 – Genesis 28:19

Take Away(s):

• Lot’s wife.  How often we look back…instead of keeping our focus and efforts on moving away from sin or the past.  It’s tempting to see how things turned out or what the results were (or may have been); but, as Paul says later, we are to forget what lies behind and press on.
• Abraham and Isaac in chapter 22.  There are so many things in this story, but the few that I thought about were:
  • Abraham’s relationship with Isaac in the sense that the father had raised his son to know about God (faithfulness, trustworthiness, providence,…) and the way in which they worshiped Him.  Isaac knew what was required for worship (fire, wood, lamb) and the process.  He also had no suspicions about their trip when his father told him what they were going to do.   We can assume that this was because Abraham taught Isaac about God – the “why” of worship, not just the “how”.  I pray that I boldly proclaim the how and why of worship with my kids.
  • Of course, Abraham’s obedience – based on his close relationship with and knowledge of God.  Abraham had known God’s faithfulness and providence first-hand and trusted Him…this was, no doubt, based on his remembrance of the events in his life.  How often we doubt God’s capabilities and providence – even when we know from first-hand knowledge that He never fails.  We may not have “huge” examples of His providential hand in our lives; but, if we reflect, we can see His faithfulness in our lives.  We just need to keep those examples at the forefront of our memory so we rest in that knowledge and truth at all times.  Reminds me of the chorus to Salvation Is Here, by Joel Houston when considered in relation to Abraham’s relationship with God and the way he lived (although, not perfectly all the time!):

  Cause I know my God saved the day,
  And I know His word never fails,
  And I know my God made a way for me,
  Salvation is here.
  x

  If you’re participating, what were your observations?