45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt,[c] cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.
Leviticus 13:45-46
God is righteous. God is just. God is loving. It is easy to take this passage and claim how unfair God is by blaming him for the cause of these horrible diseases, but taking the reality of why these diseases exist is the directly related to the fall of man. Likewise this passage shows me that God is pure and we are wretched because of the spiritual boils and lesions that covers our spiritual bodies. I should be screaming out.. "UNCLEAN UNCLEAN" to God, yet he shows compassion in sending Jesus and dying for my sin. How grateful I am to God for giving me grace and mercy! Knowing well that I fully deserve this as a direct cause of my disease - "They must live alone; they must live outside the camp" I take it on account that ~ I must live alone; I must live outside the presence of God. Thankfully I don't.
As I reflect on this passage, it just reminds me that I have spiritual leopardsy and I deserve to be castoff from God's face, but he gave me mercy and grace to take me back and to join him at the table. The Spirit is nudging my heart to forgive those who wronged me as well.. How can I receive forgiveness from God when I am willing to not forgive?
Thank you Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice to forgive my sins once and for all! You are gracious, awesome and wonderful in which I do not deserve to be saved from being cast away, but you did it anyways to express your love for us. Help me not to take your grace & mercy for granted. Cleanse me of this bitterness in my heart for those who hurt me intentionally and unintentionally... As you forgave me help me to forgive them as well. Ultimately you have a purpose in my life and I ask that you help me not to be anxious, but to trust and obey your plans.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Oath Keeper
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalms 15:4
God is just and perfect. David asks who can be with God and the short answer is... No one... Everyone is a sinner, and only through Christ are we made perfect. Yet God calls me to to live a life set part, to have these characteristics of Psalms 15 to follow to my best example.
Flatly putting it.. I find that I lack spiritual discipline. I'm all over with my faith promising God I'll change but never putting words into action. There is no fear in God, and that is the biggest struggle I go through in my walk. I lack fear and reverence for God. I must keep oaths even when its hard and never change my mind about what I committed.
God thank you for giving me grace when I fail so many times. Though you say you'll forgive 70 x 77, I understand that I must strive to be a mature christian. I acknowledge that this cannot be done by my own strength, but by the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for taking everything so lightly with you even right now as I'm nodding away. Help me to set time apart and be exciting to meet with you and gain more wisdom. Thank you for being my standard.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalms 15:4
God is just and perfect. David asks who can be with God and the short answer is... No one... Everyone is a sinner, and only through Christ are we made perfect. Yet God calls me to to live a life set part, to have these characteristics of Psalms 15 to follow to my best example.
Flatly putting it.. I find that I lack spiritual discipline. I'm all over with my faith promising God I'll change but never putting words into action. There is no fear in God, and that is the biggest struggle I go through in my walk. I lack fear and reverence for God. I must keep oaths even when its hard and never change my mind about what I committed.
God thank you for giving me grace when I fail so many times. Though you say you'll forgive 70 x 77, I understand that I must strive to be a mature christian. I acknowledge that this cannot be done by my own strength, but by the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for taking everything so lightly with you even right now as I'm nodding away. Help me to set time apart and be exciting to meet with you and gain more wisdom. Thank you for being my standard.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Be My Strength
2 Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “[b]This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”
Exodus 32:4
Aaron was with Moses every step of his journey. He was the one who held the staff in which God performed miraculous signs from. Aaron also was the High Priest for all the Israelites who is anointed to make atonement for people. Even though Aaron was a great follower, he failed at leading his people in the right direction. After Moses' disappearance for over 40 days, Aaron became lost and gave into the demands of the Israelites. I would assume that Aaron was the type who knew the heart of God well enough to not sin against him, but that did not deter him, as it seemed that he was more interested in pleasing people rather than God. He lost his allegiance to the one who mattered. He lacked leadership and boldness to fight against the popular demands of what the people wanted.
How many times have I failed God to look good in front of people? How many times have I sold out on God to get ahead in life?
God reminds me that I am just like Aaron. Luckily I don't have millions of people under me, but the people I do influence will and does get affected by my selfish actions. I must learn how to be steadfast in God when the crowd moves against me. I must understand His heart to know what is right and wrong. Aaron had the best intent as the calf was suppose to represent God of Israel, but he forgot one key aspect as God commands that there be no imagine that represents Him. God wanted purity and obedience in Aaron and because of his folly, 3000 people died that day, and the Israelites were let to wander the dessert for 40 years. Even though I fail, it reminds me of God's grace he gave me...
God thank you for your grace. Thank you for forgiving me when I always sell you out for personal gains. Please teach me to understand your heart and to follow you regardless of what oppositions I may face. Help me to have pure faith when the time comes to show you I'm devoted. I ask that you give me strength tonight to lead your people into praise. I feel weak Lord, but I ask for spiritual strength in return. Help me to honor you.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
Exodus 32:4
Aaron was with Moses every step of his journey. He was the one who held the staff in which God performed miraculous signs from. Aaron also was the High Priest for all the Israelites who is anointed to make atonement for people. Even though Aaron was a great follower, he failed at leading his people in the right direction. After Moses' disappearance for over 40 days, Aaron became lost and gave into the demands of the Israelites. I would assume that Aaron was the type who knew the heart of God well enough to not sin against him, but that did not deter him, as it seemed that he was more interested in pleasing people rather than God. He lost his allegiance to the one who mattered. He lacked leadership and boldness to fight against the popular demands of what the people wanted.
How many times have I failed God to look good in front of people? How many times have I sold out on God to get ahead in life?
God reminds me that I am just like Aaron. Luckily I don't have millions of people under me, but the people I do influence will and does get affected by my selfish actions. I must learn how to be steadfast in God when the crowd moves against me. I must understand His heart to know what is right and wrong. Aaron had the best intent as the calf was suppose to represent God of Israel, but he forgot one key aspect as God commands that there be no imagine that represents Him. God wanted purity and obedience in Aaron and because of his folly, 3000 people died that day, and the Israelites were let to wander the dessert for 40 years. Even though I fail, it reminds me of God's grace he gave me...
God thank you for your grace. Thank you for forgiving me when I always sell you out for personal gains. Please teach me to understand your heart and to follow you regardless of what oppositions I may face. Help me to have pure faith when the time comes to show you I'm devoted. I ask that you give me strength tonight to lead your people into praise. I feel weak Lord, but I ask for spiritual strength in return. Help me to honor you.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
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