J. Sidlow Baxter said, regarding the book of Leviticus...It is referred to over forty times in the New Testament. All that follows it in the Scriptures is coloured by it; and, therefore, a clear knowledge of it contributes greatly towards comprehending the message of the Bible as a whole.

How is “all that follows it in Scripture…coloured by it?”

Because the Bible is all about this: How can a sinful man be made right with God? The Scriptural narratives, poetry, prophecy, and instruction address the fact that man cannot do it himself. He does not have it in him to close the gap between the human and divine. He cannot and worse, he will not, be righteous and holy enough to propitiate a righteous and holy God.

From Genesis to Revelation it is clear that a sacrifice MUST be made. In Genesis 3, the first sacrifice was made to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Their own attempts at “covering” had proven inadequate and insufficient. And in Revelation 22, we find the Lamb of God being worshiped as the only adequate and sufficient sacrifice.

Christmas

On the first Christmas morning, God gave us a gift.
On subsequent Christmas mornings, we have given each other gifts.
As nice as it is to get them, it is more like God to give them!
Who do you think is happier, the giver or the receiver?
Who do you think is happier, us or God?

(Unknown)

Idolatry = Harlotry

Exodus 34.12-16: 12 Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.
13 But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim
14 --for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God--
15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice,
16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.

Worshiping other gods is ‘playing the harlot’. What does this mean? What do harlots do, fundamentally? They exchange sexual intimacy for money. They seek and give pleasure to anyone who will give something in return. Fidelity, honor, exclusivity is abandoned for the temporary pleasures of the flesh.

This is very different from what a wife does. A wife gives intimacy to her husband who receives it gladly and reciprocates out of love. It is a selfless type of giving and receiving that is monogamous, exclusive, and morally pure (not to mention fun!).

Does this mean that anyone who gives of themselves to anything other than God for favors/wealth/pleasures is prostituting himself? Does this mean that favors/wealth/pleasures are the domain of God alone and that receiving them from His hand is the only proper way to receive them at all?

There is nothing wrong with favors/wealth/pleasures, inherently. But they must be received from God in His time and with His blessing.

So often, it is not what we want that is problematic, it is when we want it and from whom!

God knows how to enjoy life! He created it, for goodness sake! He enjoys allowing us to have intimacy with our mates.

But as much as I enjoy a good piece of German Chocolate cake, a la mode, God doesn’t intend for me to have German Chocolate cake at any time, day, or place my body might crave it.

The lesson here is NOT to avoid all pleasure, but to take it when it is obviously from His hand.

Which Shepherd are you following?

John 10.27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The implication here is that there are other Shepherds. (My sheep hear My voice…) Other Shepherds who want to get the attention of sheep are also speaking. To which Shepherd are we listening?

The Shepherd of selfishness?
The Shepherd of covetousness?
…of envy?
…of greed?
…of gossip?
…of pride?
…of…anything that would replace the Good Shepherd.

If we listen to the Shepherd of selfishness we will follow the path to meeting our own needs rather than the needs of others.

If we listen to the Shepherd of covetousness we will follow the path to dissatisfaction in God’s provision.

If we listen to the Shepherd of envy we will follow the path to bitterness and resentment.

If we listen to the Shepherd of greed we will follow the path to hoarding our possessions.

If we listen to the Shepherd of gossip we will follow the path to pain and loss of relationships.

If we listen to the Shepherd of pride we will follow the path to stumbling and falling.

If we listen to the Good Shepherd we will follow the path that leads to life, peace, joy, contentment, and, eventually, heaven!

The Good Shepherd’s voice IS heard by His sheep! The Shepherd is followed by His sheep!

A Heart to Praise

Dear Father,

We lift our voices in words and songs in a feeble attempt to praise you.

We have enough to praise you for: life, light, truth, grace, redemption, glory, peace,...

We have the faculties to praise you: our tongues, our minds, our voices, our bodies.

We have the time to praise you: right now.

We have the place to praise you: right here.

Give us the heart to praise you!

"All praise to God who reigns above,
the God of Grace and Glory!"

In Jesus' Good Name,
Amen.

Back from India

On a personal note...

I returned from India last Sunday afternoon. This is my second trip, having gone in November of 2007 as well, and I have been amazed at God's kindness and provision in each case.

I've also been amazed at the level of welcome and kindness with which we are received by the local Indian ministers. They are so friendly and appreciative of our teaching.

Last year I taught on "Holistic Health" (how to be healthy in mind, body, emotion, etc) and this year I taught basic counseling skills to leaders who are already counseling others, informally.

I was also able to do some counseling (2 or 3 hours per day) and pray for all kinds of healing and guidance.

One man in particular, at the age of 38, was still struggling with feelings of inferiority and insignificance. For years, throughout childhood and even now, he has heard assaults on his value and worth as a minister and as a person. We prayed. He cried. I felt the healing hand of God on his heart and soul.

If God had me there for only this one man, it was worth it.

The Firstborn Over All Creation

There appears to be a deep mystery, a law of such enigmatic magnitude, regarding the need for the death of the firstborn to affect the redemption of souls. In Egypt, God images the work of His Firstborn, the Messiah, who redeems us from our sins. He does this by demanding the death of the firstborn of each family in Egypt after the multitude of signs and plagues was demonstrated to NOT work.

Turning a staff into a snake would not redeem the Hebrews. Turning water into blood would not deliver Israel. Even floods of gnats, frogs, locusts, boils, flies, storms of hail, and darkness ‘that could be felt’ could not effect deliverance from evil. Only the death of a firstborn could release the Hebrews from the clutches of their evil master.

And only God’s Firstborn can produce this affect in our souls. Only the death of God’s Firstborn can deliver us from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son.