February 16, 2012

"Be Holy, For I Am Holy" (2/16)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Leviticus 11-13.

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45).

This chapter goes into great detail showing the Israelites which animals were clean and which ones were unclean. One of the reasons for these commands was so the Israelites would be a peculiar people, distinct from the nations around them. When God called them out of Egypt, He set them apart as His people. Therefore, they were to be holy just as God is holy.
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February 14, 2012

"If He Cannot Afford a Lamb" (2/14)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Leviticus 5-7.

If one of the Israelites under the Law of Moses sinned, he was to offer a sacrifice.

“He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin” (Leviticus 5:6).

Specific instructions were given regarding this sacrifice. But what if one did not have this to sacrifice? Would he be exempt? Would be unable to have atonement made for his sins? No, God made a provision for one who was not able to produce this sacrifice.
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February 12, 2012

Moses Finished the Work (2/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 39-40.

“When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work” (Exodus 40:32-33).

When all the work for tabernacle was finished, Moses erected the tabernacle according to the pattern he had received from the Lord (Exodus 40:17-33). He used every piece, leaving nothing out. He did not add anything that the Lord had not commanded. He did not change the layout, dimensions, materials, or any other detail. He followed the pattern (Exodus 40:16) and finished the work (Exodus 40:33).
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February 11, 2012

"The People Are Bringing Much More Than Enough" (2/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 36-38.

Though God specified Bezalel, Oholiab, and other skilled workers to construct the tabernacle, the people would also be able to contribute in the work, but this would be done voluntarily (Exodus 35:21-29).

The people were to be commended in that they did not begin to do this eagerly, then slack off as the newness faded. Instead, they “continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning” (Exodus 36:3). As a result, those who were constructing the tabernacle ended up with a great surplus of supplies.

“And they said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.’ So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.’ Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more” (Exodus 36:5-6).

What a contrast between this and what we see too commonly today!
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February 10, 2012

“During Plowing Time and Harvest You Shall Rest” (2/10)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 33-35.

Though the Sabbath law had already been given to the Israelites, the Lord provided further instructions regarding the application of the command:

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest” (Exodus 34:21).

From the beginning, God has expected man to work hard (Genesis 3:19). The wise man gives this admonition: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Paul tells Christians: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). So this instruction to the Israelites was not advocating slothfulness but that they strictly obey the commandment of God.
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February 9, 2012

How to Grow in Knowledge of God’s Word

2 Peter 3:18

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

All Christians have an obligation to increase in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord. To do this, we must become more acquainted with His word. But how are we to do this? In this article we will notice six things we can do to grow in knowledge of the word of God.
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February 8, 2012

"I Am the Lord their God" (2/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 28-29.

Amidst the detailed instructions regarding the pattern for the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priests, and the sacrifices, God reminds the people why they were to obey.

“I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:45-46).

Why were they to follow the instructions? The instructions came from the Lord their God.
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