From the Master . . .

Leviticus 2–3; Proverbs 18; John 21; Colossians 1

Reading from four places can mess with my focus or like today, can give me four strong thoughts for the day. They are thoughts about worship, confession and repentance, seeking God’s advice in my activities, and instruction about increasing my love for others.

Worship: Peace with God is incredibly precious. The OT peace offering had to be perfect, but even then, it was only temporary: “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.” (Leviticus 3:1) This offering pointed to the offering of Jesus Christ who made peace with God an eternal joy:

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19–20)

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14)

This reality is one huge reason to worship God today. No matter what might go wrong, my relationship with God can never be lost because it is based on the work of Christ who secured peace for me. He is my peace.

Confession: I’m learning more about listening to others but sometimes find my mind wanting to talk more than listen, to interrupt instead of hearing the other person finish. The Word of God rebukes me for this and tells me what to do instead.

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (Proverbs 18:2)

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13)

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

That last line suggests I’m not as smart or as wise as I think I am. Time to deal with this bad attitude.

Seeking His guidance: Peter was an experienced fisherman but after Jesus rose from the dead, things changed. He was not as skilled as he thought he was. (Nor am I.)

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. (John 21:3–6)

Just because I was good at an activity in my BC days does not mean I can carry on without Jesus being my instructor in those things now. Peter and the others were astonished at their catch, particularly after not having the success they were accustomed to having. This passage does not encourage me to go back to those old days and ways; it tells me to rely on Jesus no matter what I am doing, even things that I already know how to do. If I want results, I need to listen to Him and do what He says. My stubborn pride is taking a long time to learn this and obey it.

Loving others: Today’s reading makes a connection I’d not noticed before . . .

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven . . . . (Colossians 1:3–5)

Subtle suggestion here — that my faith in Christ and my love from others flow out of my hope (not a hope-so hope) of eternal life. In other words, the deeper my realization of what God has promised me the deeper my faith in Jesus and my ability to love others. I’ve noticed that the less I am concerned about me, the more I can focus on Christ and on His people. Lately, I’ve noticed that the greater my anticipation of being with Jesus, the easier it is to care about what happens to other people. I’m not worried about me. He is taking care of my needs. I’m free to love without concern for the cost. Awesome. Only God can do such a thing in my selfish heart.

APPLY: Reread. Worship. Confess my selfish arrogance and repent. Seek His guidance, even for the activities I think I know, and love others without concern for any cost to me in time, energy or resources. Thank You Jesus for filling my cup.

He didn’t stay dead . . .

Leviticus 1; Proverbs 17; John 20; Philippians 4

Leviticus isn’t known for being an exciting read, but the typology in it is fascinating. Typology is a literary device or figure of speech in which a something in the Old Testament is understood to correspond with a something in the New Testament. In most cases, the OT type points to Jesus Christ.

For instance, the burnt offering description says that the one who offered it must “lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” (Leviticus 1:4)

The word translated “to lay his hand on” means “resting or supporting oneself” on the animal. Through this act the worshiper identified himself with the animal as his substitute. In the NT, those who believe in Jesus Christ identify with His death and declare that they are totally resting their life on Him.

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:8)

The burnt offering is repeatedly said in Leviticus to be “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” which is an anthropomorphic expression or figure of speech attributing human attributes to God. This expression indicates the Lord’s approval and acceptance of the completed sacrifice. In the NT, it says . . .

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)

As I was reading about the killing of lambs etc. I thought how shocked those OT people would have been had the animal on the altar returned to life. I remember my dad reluctantly disposing of a large dog because it was chasing the neighbor’s cows. He shot it between the eyes out in the trees. Two weeks later, that dog walked into the yard. What a stir that created! Most people would not have believed it.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19–20)

However, Thomas was not there and he didn’t believe it happened. He had to see it for himself . . .

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26–29)

Jesus, not a tough dog but the Lamb of God and a vulnerable and willing sacrifice, did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which John did not write in his gospel, but he said, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30–31)

Types don’t work backwards. We read them that way now after easily being able to see the fulfillment they pointed toward, but those slain animals could not save anyone offering them. They stayed dead, yet had a purpose . . .

“But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3–4)

Instead, the NT says that by the will of God, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) Jesus is the better sacrifice, the One needed to resolve the sin problem.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:16–18)

APPLY: Today, the OT points me again to Jesus who died for my sin — but He did not stay dead. He is no longer on the cross and He did not die so I could earn my salvation (like one cult believes). He died and rose. He is alive and He lives in me. He gives me His incredible peace and joy — and I can experience both even as the world news threatens. Because His offering was accepted, I am also accepted and death cannot rob me of His abundant life here — or His eternal life beyond this life.

Jumbled?

Exodus 40; Proverbs 16; John 19; Philippians 3

Waking from a night of jumbled dreams, I’m struggling to focus, asking God to give me guidance for today. The first things He tells me come from these verses:

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established . . . . The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps . . . . Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16: 3; 9; 20)

From that combo, I’m hearing Him say, “Make your plans keeping your mind on My word and I will establish them and bless you.” That is all I need to settle this addled brain. He has deeper things for my mind to think about and rest upon.

When I came into the kitchen, hubby was watching the latest news on the Covid-19 virus. That alone is troublesome to think about but I remembered: God wants me to think about His sovereignty. He rules everything. Case in point: the death of His Son . . .

So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:10–11)

Jesus knew that Pilate’s decision was from His Father. This was God’s plan for salvation, a plan put in place before the foundation of the world. By God’s design, Jesus died for our sin, was buried and rose again. Pilate was responsible in a way, but just like I can make plans and He establishes them, the Lord was not absent or caught of guard by this turn of events. Jesus came to pay the penalty for my sin by God’s design.

I do not understand His design for this pandemic, but from His Word, I know that He is in control of it just as He was in control at Calvary. Once God decides to do something, nothing can stop His plan.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

Yesterday I talked with a cult member in my family who wondered how his people will manage social distancing in a couple weeks when they usually gather in large groups to “celebrate the death of Jesus” — a statement that reflects their belief that Jesus died to give them the ability to earn their own salvation. It made me sad. He misses the whole point of Jesus death and the wonder of His resurrection. The Bible is clear that our salvation is never earned . . .

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Yet his statement did not jumble me. Instead, it made more precious the words from today’s reading in Philippians:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 3:20–4:1)

And these words gave me the focus I need for today!

APPLY: Already stated. Think about who I am in Christ, that He is coming one day (soon?) and will transform everything about me to be like Him, even my body (no more aches and pains). He will do this by the same power that He rules everything else. Because of this, my thoughts need not wobble and be jumbled. I can stand firm on the truth, make plans for the day, and trust my Lord Jesus Christ to establish them and anything else that seems to be out of control!