service, celebration and devotion

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd at beachLeviticus 10      The installation rituals for Aaron and his sons involved service and celebration.  The service elements were absolutely essential, and the LORD would tolerate no deviation.  The sad story of the death of Nadab and Abihu (for offering unauthorized fire at the altar) teaches us that.  But when it came to the celebration aspect of the ritual, the LORD made an exception.  He did not punish Aaron and his sons for refusing to eat of the sin offering.  They were just not in the mood to celebrate. 

We make much of the joyful celebrations we regularly have as believers.  But we need to be considerate of those whose joy is being dampened by pain or tragedy.

LORD, help us to serve you always, and celebrate when appropriate.

Posted in church, compassion, consideration of others, ministry, worship | Tagged | 1 Comment

approved devotion

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 9    This event was singular in that the priests did not have to prepare the fire which was to consume the sacrifices on the altar.  The LORD himself sent the fire.  This was his way of showing approval of Aaron and Moses.  Their obedience was noted. God approved.  This does not mean that either one of them was sinless.  It means that God is willing to work with them, in spite of their fallenness.   Do not fear serving the LORD.  He will approve.  He wants to show the world that he loves you, and that he can love others through you.

LORD, here we are.  We await your orders.  We anticipate your glory.

Posted in church, commitment, ministry, relationship with God | Tagged | 1 Comment

ordained devotion

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 8      The special ordination ritual for Aaron and his sons was a reminder of their solemn duties as representatives of the people before God.  Not taking the ordination seriously would have meant death (35). 

As we saw yesterday,  all believers are royal priests under the new covenant (1 Peter 2:9).  That is not just what we will be, it is what we are.  Too few believers really take that commission as seriously as we should.  We have been ordained to a holy ministry.

LORD, forgive us for treating our calling too casually.  Teach us how to serve others in your name.

Posted in church, discipleship, faithfulness, holiness, responsibility | Tagged | 1 Comment

anointed devotion

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 6:8-7:38     Aaron and his sons were designated by the LORD to serve as priests under the covenant.  This involved much responsibility, but it also came with privileges.  Many of the sacrifices went to the priests, after a portion was burned on the altar.  They were to stand as symbols of the LORD to all the congregation.  The whole community would be evaluated on how well they treated the priests, because they were the anointed ones.

Peter tells believers…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9).

All believers are priests under the new covenant.  Our lives are to be centered around the presence of God in our midst, and what he has commanded us to do and say.

LORD,  help us to walk according to our anointing.

Posted in church, discipleship, faithfulness, genuineness, ministry, responsibility, witness | Tagged , | 1 Comment

blameless devotion

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 5:14-6:7         These are not the words of a God who ignores sin and guilt.    These are the words of the LORD, who punishes the guilty.  But he does not want to.  It is not God’s desire that any perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  That is why he built into the covenantal system at Sinai a means for people to make restitution and remove guilt.  He wants a people who are comfortable in his presence forever.  We are not there yet, but by God’s grace we are getting there.

LORD, reveal to us today things about us that should be changed.  We want to be fitted for an eternity with you.

Posted in atonement, confession, discipleship, eternal life, forgiveness, future, grace, growth, sanctification | Tagged , | 1 Comment

a devoted community

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 4-5:13     The sin offering communicates some important things about God.  He is a holy God, and he cannot overlook sin, even when the sinner is unaware of it.  As soon as the worshipper is aware of any sin, he must take care of it immediately, seeking forgiveness, and confessing the sin.  God offers forgiveness through the atoning blood of the sacrifice – the sin offering, Jesus Christ.  He sought a community in Israel that would take their relationship with him as seriously as he does.

LORD, make us a people devoted to you and your holiness.

Posted in atonement, commitment, confession, dependence upon God, discipleship, fellowship, forgiveness, grace, holiness | Tagged , | 1 Comment

committed devotion

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 3    The peace offerings showed how the worshipper could demonstrate complete dependence on the LORD, and find peace only in his relationship with the LORD.  Whatever was offered, it had to be without blemish.  You cannot offer your life to the LORD if you intend to keep living it for yourself.  You cannot achieve holiness while still being committed to sin.

Peace offerings were to be drained of blood, because blood represented life.  Anyone coming to Christ must be willing to lose his life for Christ’s sake.

Peace offerings also required that all the fat of the animal be consumed on the altar.  Fat symbolized prosperity and well-being.  The worshipper must be willing to pursue God’s kingdom and righteousness above al else.

LORD, we are willing to surrender to you, in order to gain peace with you.

Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, holiness, kingdom of God, peace, worship | Tagged | 1 Comment

well-prepared devotion

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd-at-beachLeviticus 2    

The grain offerings had to be well-prepared by the worshipper.  They had to look good, smell good, taste good.  A portion of them would always be consumed on the altar, but the rest would go to the priests.

How can I express my devotion to the LORD?  I need to make sure that the life I am offering to him is the very best it can be.  The unsaved person has no hope of offering such a life.  But the believer has resources that can help get his or her disordered life put back in order.  The word of God, prayer, regular fellowship with the saints, and regular worship are some of those resources.

LORD, teach us how to offer to you lives that are well-prepared.

Posted in commitment, discipleship, holiness, prayer, scriptures, worship | Tagged | 1 Comment

complete devotion

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

jd at beachLeviticus 1     The book of Leviticus picks up on the Exodus theme of sanctification, with only a slight twist.  The issue in Leviticus is not how can I escape Egypt?  but how can I express my devotion to the LORD?

The whole burnt offering was a good ritual to begin with in answering that question.  The goal was to express a desire to be completely pleasing to the LORD.  The LORD took in the aroma of the offering as it was consumed on the altar, and delighted in it.  He was not so much pleased by the sacrifice as he was delighted that his people wanted to please him.

LORD, we want to please you – to be completely devoted to you.  Make us people in whom you delight.

Posted in commitment, discipleship, holiness, worship | Tagged | 1 Comment

Exodus: a finished (?) work

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

a68f702073593c4bbf714be05b6f56d3_A-bs-Parting Red SeaExodus 40     After all those detailed instructions from the LORD, and Moses and those under him completing the tabernacle according to those specifications – you would think that at least Moses would be able to enter into the glory when the cloud filled the structure.  But, no.  Our work is never completed this side of eternity.  The most that we can expect is that God will occasionally show us his glory.  We cannot enter into it.  Sanctification is not about the end result.  It is about a relationship with God.  It will result in eternal holiness, but our attitude should be like that of Paul:

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

LORD, keep us pressing on toward the goal!

Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, discipleship, holiness, sanctification | Tagged | 1 Comment