The offerings given to the Lord were not to be second best, or defective in any way. It was a principle God was instituting in the hearts of His people. First fruits, first quality, first tenth etc.

God gave His best to us when He sent His Son into the world to save it. He was the spotless, sinless Lamb of God.

“Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.” [Col. 3:23]

Give your very best to each detail of this day.

DAILY PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our slothfulness. Work within us a desire to do our best in every endeavor.

DAILY READING: Lev. 22-24

Although we are not bound to the law of Moses, we gain insight into the culture God was trying to create when we read it. Significant was God’s promise that the land would favor Godly living whereas it would be resistant to transgressors. It’s as if all creation is preset to harmonize with those who live in tune with God’s Spirit.

The writer of Romans saw this when he declared, “… the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” [Rom. 8:22]

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we love You and want to live according to Your ways. As we go about our day, keep speaking Your words of direction to us that we may blend in harmony with Your eternal purposes.

SUNDAY’S READING: Lev. 16-18  [My apologies. We had our son Jeffrey’s wedding this weekend which included entertaining many out-of-town relatives. I missed my entry yesterday.]

TODAY’S READING: Lev. 19-21

God’s pattern for redemption is so clearly modeled in the system of sacrifices, introducing the element that clears the slate with God … atonement. “Without the shedding of blood, there’s no forgiveness for sin.”

Our appreciation for Christ Jesus, God’s sacrificial Lamb, grows each time we read these passages contained in the low. After all, the Law is merely a type and shadow of what was to come to us through Christ … God’s ultimate and final atonement for sin … Christ’s death on the cross.

DAILY PRAYER: Father, we are awed and secured by Your demonstration of love through Christ Jesus. Forever we will worship-fully cry, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

DAILY READING: Lev. 14,15

Within the law, God gave Moses rules to judge the health of the people. The distinction between clean and unclean was made by the priest who knew how to observe and diagnose.

Peter also made an observation when a sheet dropped down out of heaven with unclean animals in it. God said eat. Peter said they are unclean. God said, “What I have called clean, don’t call unclean.

The Lord is in the business of cleaning up lives. Who are we to judge?

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, may we always be mindful of Your ability to restore and cleanse lives. Through Your blood, every stain of sin can be cleansed.

DAILY READING: Lev. 12,13

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron who were designated to be priests, offered strange fire (disobediently) on the Lord’s altar. He immediately struck them dead, and their carcasses were hauled out of the tabernacle.  God’s response; “I WILL be proved holy, I WILL be honored before the people.”

Disobedience was what got Cain in trouble.

We think we know better than God. Simple, unquestioned obedience is what God asks for. The rewards are incomparable. Just ask a senior saint.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, give me the grace to trust You and be thoroughly obedient to all Your commands.

DAILY READING: Lex. 9-11

A quite extensive process was prescribed by the Lord for Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests, qualifying them to stand before the Lord and minister to Him.

God still has an extensive process to prepare His people to minister to Him. Christ took care of all the blood, but purification and preparation lessons are extensive.

Jesus Himself served a 30 year preparation period before He entered 3 years of ministry. The Lord is a Refining Fire.

DAILY PRAYER: Father, we trust in You to lead us through life. Your hand to guide, chasten, and provide, is all we need.

DAILY READING: Lev. 6-8

God gave Moses instruction on how sin could be atoned for … made right before God. The goal was the clearing of one’s record before the God Who could not look upon sin. Hebrews states, “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Ch. 9:22

Hence, the value of the blood Christ shed when He died in our place.

“O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we rejoice in the forgiveness and cleansing we have received through faith in Christ, the sinless Lamb of God.

DAILY READING: Lev. 3-5

In all the preparations and sacrifices that God showed to Moses to get the tabernacle ready, we see the distinct desire expressed and detail given by God to prepare us to meet with Him. The difference now is that we no longer need animal sacrifices to get there. Christ’s sacrifice covered all.

However, God still has the desire to meet with us. Paul said we are to pray and praise continually.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we will come and bow down in Your presence. It’s there we find fullness of joy. There is nothing, there is no one to compare with You. We take pleasure in worshiping You, Lord. 

DAILY READING: Ex. 40, Lev. 1,2

The description of the construction of the Tabernacle of Moses included a liberal use of solid and hammered gold; utensils, the altar, the lampstand, portions of Aaron’s garment. Clearly, no expense was spared and excellence was apparent everywhere.

New Testament thinking transfers the application of excellence to the investment made into the hearts and lives of people.  John, the Revelator, “Heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. 21:3

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are awed by Your love and care to us. You spared no expense when You sent Your Son, Christ Jesus, to lay down His life that we might live. Hallelujah!

DAILY READING: Ex. 37-39

GPS has nearly eliminated the need for maps (our grandchildren won’t know what they are.)  Nevertheless, the law God gave His Children was like a roadmap through life. It showed them how to live to get to the righteous destination. Maybe the Holy Spirit is like GPS because He has a voice and He always leads to the right destination.

Reading and listening to God’s Word everyday fills out heart and mind with His thinking. It’s like downloading daily updates from His map app. He gives us everything we need to be truly successful in life.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, lead me by Your Holy Spirit and Your Word. Teach us to hear Your Voice more clearly. Lord Jesus, only You have the Words of eternal life.

DAILY READING: Ex. 34-36