Thurs.s Devo - The Way of the Kingdom

Read Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17 Proverbs 10 22 God gave the people a way to be bought back from slavery. If a person ended up destitute he could sell himself to a wealthy foreigner or a wealthy Israel, but always had the option of being bought back. Anyone from his extended family could buy him back. The price would be negotiated based on the number of years till the net year of bile. The foreigner was not to be allowed to treat them harshly. If the people don’t set up idols and keep the Sabbath and obey Gods commands then the land would yield bountiful harvests. They would live in peace with no fear of war. Their women wold be fertile and multiply. God would walk among them and be their God and they would be his people. If they refused to obey his commands, they would experience terror, disease, blight and defeat. If they continued in sin they would be punished seven times over for their sins. God would withhold the rain which would kill their crops. Wild animals would attack and kill them. Armies would attack and take them as hostages. Plages would destroy them and their food supply. They would eat their own children and their cities would become desolate and the land would lie in ruins. Survivors would be demoralized and live in terror. They would die in the land of their captors. At last, the people would repent and turn back to the Lord. God would remember his covenant with them and redeem them. Chapter 2 tells us the cost of a person to be dedicated to the Lord. They were valued according to their age and gender. A vow which involved an animal’s valet according to its condition and whether it was clean or not clean ames and John secretly asked Jesus if they cold have placed of honor ext to him when he sits on the throne. Jesus told them they had no idea what the cost of gaining those positions. The other disciples caught wind of what they had asked and were indignant. esus told them that the way to earn those positions was by serving and laying down his life. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimeus who then followed Jesus. Lord, may we learn the ways of you kingdom. May we lay down or lives and serve one another because that was what you did.