Thursday Feb. 29, 2024

This year is a leap year so there is no reading on this day. This would be a great day to catch up if you are behind or just ask the Lord what He wants you to read. May you be extremely blessed today!

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Feasts

Read: Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19 The people were allowed to offer of their own cattle, offerings to the Lord. The animals had to be clean and without blemishes to be acceptable. That is why we come to the Lord repenting first. God will accept only those with a broken heart who have confessed their sins and asked for forgiveness. Then they will be saved. *** God gave them days that God proclaimed to be holy meetings with the Lord. The first was the Sabbath which was every seventh day. On that day they were not to work, but their dwellings should be holy. *** Then he gave them the feasts that were to be special appointed times they would meet with God. The first was the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight which was the Lord’s Passover. The fifteenth day would be the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They were to eat unleavened bread for seven days. They were not to work on the first and seventh day of that feast but offer an burnt offering the seven days of the feast. *** The third feast was the feast of First Fruits. They were to bring a sheaf of their first fruits to the Lord. The priest would wave the sheaf before the Lord on the day after the Sabbath. They would also offer a burnt offering of a lamb, a grain offering and a drink offering. *** On the day after the Sabbath they were to count seven Sabbaths or fifty days, then offer a new grain offering to the Lord. This grain offering should be two loaves made with yeast. The priest would wave them before the Lord He shall also offer seven lambs, one bull and two rams as burnt offering to the Lord as well as grain offerings and drink offerings. A goat was to be offered as a sin offering and two male lambs as a peace offering. No work was to be done on this day. When they reaped the harvest of this season, they were not to reap the corners but leave them for the poor and stranger. *** On the seventh month on the first day, they were to celebrate the feast of trumpets. It would be a sabbath rest and a memorial of blowing of trumpets. They were not to work on this day but offer a burnt offering. *** The tenth day of the seventh mount would be called the Day of Atonement. On this day they were to afflict their souls and offer burnt offerings to the Lord. It was the most holy day. Any one who does not repent on this day or who works on this day will be cut off from his people. It was to be a sabbath of solemn rest. *** The seventh feast would be the Feast of Tabernacles. It was to be celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. It was to be celebrated for seven days. The first day they were not to work. For seven days they would offer offerings to the Lord and on the eight day they would have a holy meeting with the Lord. The were not to work on this day either but offer burnt offerings to the Lord. On the first day of the feast they were to take branches from the fruit tree, the palm, leafy tree, and the willow and use them to rejoice before the Lord. They were to dwell in booths those seven days to remind them of the booths they dwelt in when God brought them out of Egypt. *** These feasts were huge markers for us. They signify God’s holy days when he comes to earth and visits with his people. Jesus fulfilled the first four feast already and has the last three yet to fulfill. He died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread and rose on First Fruits. He gave his Spirit on Passover. *** He will one day blow the trumpet and come for his bride. Then he will open the books and judge on the Day of Atonement. He will create a new earth on Tabernacles. We have much to look forward to. *** As Jesus traveled through Galilee with his disciples he told them that the Son of Man would be betrayed into he hands of men and killed but rise on the third day. The disciples didn’t understand so they quarreled among themselves about who would be the greatest. Jesus told them if they wanted to be great they had to be the greatest servant. He told them that if they received a child in his name they were receiving him. *** John told Jesus that he saw someone casting out demons in His name and they forbade him to continue. Jesus told them not to forbid them because if they work a miracle in his name, they will not speak evil of him later. If they are not against him, then they are for him. Anyone who gives a cup of water in His name will be rewarded. *** Whoever causes another to trip up in their walk, it would be better if he was drown in the sea. Whatever is causing a person to sin, they need to cut it out of their lives. *** They came to the region one Judea and a crowd was gathered and Jesus taught them. The Pharisees came and asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus told them that Moses permitted men to write a certificate of divorce only because their hearts were hard. God had planned from the beginning for man to be joined as one to his wife and not separate. *** The disciples asked Jesus when they were alone about it again. He told them that whoever put his wife away and married another committed adultery and caused the wife he put away to do the same if she remarried. It was because they were not giving them a writ of divorcement making it legal under God’s law. *** Lord, may we live by the spirit of your law of love. May we walk in love and forgiveness.

Tues.’s Devo - The Glory

Read: Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18 God gave them his laws to show them what pleases him so he could bless them. If they refused to obey his laws and worship him alone, then the land would vomit them out of it like it was going to do to the inhabitants living there now. God wanted them to be separated from evil and know the difference between what was clean and what was unclean. *** God had specific laws for the priests. They were not to defile themselves for the dead unless it was someone who was their next of kin. They were not to marry a harlot or a divorced woman. The priests were to be holy set apart because they were the ones who would offer the bread of God. The daughter of a priests who played the harlot should be burned with fire. *** The high priest could not even defile him self if his father or mother died. Nor shall he leave the sanctuary because the anointing oil is on him. He must take a wife from the virgins of his own people. *** None of the descendants of Aaron who were handicapped in any way could serve as priests. They could eat the holy bread only not in the tabernacle. A priest was defiled if he had leprosy, had a discharge, or had touched anything unclean. He could eat the holy offerings once he washed his body with water when the sun went down. If he had leprosy he had to wait until he was healed and cleansed from it. *** The ones in a priest’s household could eat the holy offerings if he was clean. If he ate something holy unintentionally he could restore the offering to the priest and add one-fifth to it. *** Jesus said to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s. *** Jesus told them that there were some of them that would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God present with power. Six days later, he took Peter, James and John up on a mountain to see his glory. They saw Jesus shine in glory and Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus and talked with him. Peter wanted to make three tabernacles for them, but a cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying, “this is My beloved Son, Hear Him!” When the cloud went, only Jesus was standing there. He told the three not to tell anyone what they had seen until he rose from the dead. They didn’t understand what that meant but they kept quiet about it. *** They asked him why the scriptures said that Elijah must come first but they said it was so he could restore all things. Then he told them that Elijah had come and they did what they wanted to him. He was referring to John the Baptist. *** When they came down from he mountain there was a crowd. The disciples couldn’t deliver a man from demons. Jesus commanded the deaf and dumb spirit from the man and he fell and looked dead. Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose. (What a picture of death and resurrection.) *** When the disciples asked why they couldn’t deliver the boy, Jesus sad that this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. *** Lord, may we live fasted lifestyles so that we can pray, believe and see your deliverance. We pray for our nation, that she would be delivered from evil men and ideas. We pray that your people would be able to hear, see and understand what you are doing and work with your plan.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Faithfulness 2-26-24

Read: Leviticus 19-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17 Today we read many laws about the interactions between people. They were to honor women, strangers, neighbors, their parents and elders. They were not to have anything to do with mediums, familiar spirits and those who sacrifice their kin to Molech. They were to be totally consecrated to the Lord and be holy. They were to obey his statutes. *** The worship of Molech involved child sacrifice and sexual deviation such as homosexuality, bestiality, and incest. It also involved consulting with mediums and other reign religious practices. *** One of the statutes that stood out to me was 20:12. It says that if a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them should be put to death because they had committed perversion. I am reminded of Tamar who played the harlot and slept with her father-in-law, Judah. He wanted her stoned until he found out whose child she was bearing. Under the law he would have died also so he didn’t charge her. He proclaimed that she was more righteous than him. He had not kept his promise to her. *** The sexual laws are given again but this time the consequence is given. The consequences are death, guilt, being cut off from their people or dying childless. *** In Mark the Pharisees kept asking for a sign from heaven to test him. Jesus was exasperated in his spirit wondering why they insisted on a sign. Signs were everywhere but they refused to read them so Jesus said that no sign would be given them. *** Once in the boat, Jesus told his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. They thought he was talking about physical bread but he was talking about the wrong doctrine of the Pharisees and the government. They had the Bread of Heaven with them so they would never run out of bread. *** Lord, we have the Bread of Heaven always with us. May we never despair or worry. You have been faithful to us in the past and will be with us in the future.

Sun.’s Devo - The Day of Atonement

Read: Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16 On the tenth day of the seventh month God set the day said as the Day of Atonement when the people would bring sacrifices to atone for the nation. It was a national day of repentance. There was to be no work on that day because it was a holy day. It was the one day of the year where the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies and offer atonement for the people. *** Anyone who killed one of their animals was to bring an offering to the Lord because to remove the guilt of shedding blood. If he didn’t bring the sacrifice to the Lord, he was to be cut off from his people. *** They were to stop offering sacrifices to demons. They were not to eat the blood of any beast because their life was in that blood. *** In Chapter 18 God gives the laws of sexual morality. They were not to lie with anyone who was kin to them or that belonged to someone else. Verse 18 says not to marry two sisters or it would make them rivals. We saw that carried out in Rachel and Leah. Some of the things listed God called these sexual sins: wicked acts, violations, defilements and detestable sins. These were the acts that were done in Egypt and would be done in the land they were going but they were not to participate in them or the land would vomit them out of the land just as it was vomiting the inhabitants for them to possess it. *** Jesus went to Tyre and stayed at a place he thought would be secret but a lady found out and fell at his feet. She told Jesus of her daughter who was possessed by demons. She was not a Jew so Jesus said that he must first feed the children from is own family. It was not right to take their food and throw it to the dogs. But she answered that even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates. Jesus told her that was a good answer. Then he healed her daughter. *** Jesus then went to Sidon and met a deaf man with a speech impediment. He begged Jesus to lay his hands on him and heal him. Jesus led him away from the crowd and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit on his fingers and touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven he said, “Be opened.” Instantly the man could hear and speak plainly. *** Jesus told the crowds not to tell people but the more he told them not to tell, the more they told. The crowds grew until there were more than 4,000 people. They were hungry so Jesus asked his disciples how much food they had. They came up with a few fish and seven loaves. Jesus blessed the food and it multiplied to feed the crowd. Seven large baskets of leftover food was taken up. *** Jesus and his disciples left immediately to cross over to the region of Dalmanutha which means “the poor portion”. *** Lord, your compassion is limitless. Thank you that your desire is to make us clean and completely whole.

Sat’s Devo - Cleansing

Read: Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:22-27; Proverbs 10:13-14 *** Moses was to speak to the children of Israel about any discharges from their body. This issue makes the person unclean and anything of anybody his discharge happened to touch. Everything that he has touched must be cleansed and when he stops having the discharge he must wash himself and count seven days from after being clean and then he is clean. On the eighth day, he is to take two turtledoves or two your pigeons and bring them to the door of the tabernacle and given to the the priest. One would be the sin offering and the other the burnt offering. *** The same ritual must happen after a man has an emission of semen or a woman has an emission of blood. These laws were laws that kept the people from spreading diseases and kept them clean. *** After Aaron’s sons offered unholy fire and died, God told Moses to tell Aaron that they priest were not to come just any time into the Holy of Holies inside the veil where the ark was or they would die. There would be one special day where the high priest could enter and that day would be the Day of Atonement. *** On that day, Aaron would dress in his priestly garments and bring a bull and two goats to the tabernacle. The ram would be his own sin offering which he would offer first to cleanse himself. Then he would take the two goats to the door of the tabernacle and cast lots for them. One would be for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. The one that fell for the Lord would be sacrificed and a censer full of burning coals from the altar would be brought inside the veil. There the priest would put incense on it and that a cloud of incense would fill the tabernacle. Blood from the bull would be sprinkled on the mercy seat seven times. Then the goat would be killed for the sin offering for the people. It would also be sprinkled on the ark seven times. Then he shall come out and offer the blood of the bull and the goat on the horns of the burnt offering seven times *** The live goat would then be brought before the people and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess all the iniquities, transgressions and sins of the children of Israel. This goat would be led into the wilderness by the hand of a fit man. “Fit” means “timely”. This man, Jesus, came at just the right time to carry our sins from us. This fit man would release the goat in the wilderness to show that our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. *** Aaron was then to come out and take off his garments and wash his body in water in the laver and put on garments and offer the burnt offering for himself and the people making atonement for them. *** The fit man would come and wash himself before he could come into the camp. The rest of the bull and the goat was to be taken outside the camp and burned. The person who burned it would have to wash himself before he came back into the camp. *** This ceremony represented the repentance to be made for the nation once a year. This was the most holy day of their year. *** In Mark, the Pharisees complained that Jesus’ disciples didn’t follow their traditions of washing their hands in their ritualistic manner. Jesus called them hypocrites because they put aside God’s commandments to follow their own. He also nailed them for not honoring their faith and mother by not taking care of their elderly parents but giving it to the priests instead. Jesus explained that it was the heart that would be judged not their rituals. Sin or righteousness comes from the heart. *** Lord, may we learn from your Word what you require of us not what man requires of us. You say that we are to love mercy and justice and walk humbly before you. May we do that today.

Fri.’s Devo - The Cleansing Power of the Blood

Read: Leviticus 14:1-57; Mark 6:30-56; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12 On the day of a leper’s cleansing, he was bring two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop and present them and himself to the priest. The priest would examine him one last time and if he is healed then the priest would take the things he brought for his cleansing. The priest would command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The other objects would be dipped in the blood the bird that was killed over the running water. The man who had leprosy would be sprinkled with the blood seven times and the other bird would be set free. He would was his clothes, shave off all his hair and wash himself in water and be clean. Then he was to come into the camp but stay outside his tent seven days. *** On the seventh day, he was to shave all the hair off his head and wash his clothes again and his body and be clean. *** On the eighth day he would take two male lambs and one eye lamb and flour and oil and present it as a grain offering and a log of oil to the Lord. *** The priest shall present the man and his offerings before the Lord and take one of the lambs, the grain offering and the log of oil and wave it before the Lord. He would kill the lamb for the sin offering and the burnt offering in the holy place. The priest would apply some of the blood from the offering on the tip of his right ear, his right thumb, and his right big toe. The rest of the blood would be applied by the priest to his head. *** The house that is to be cleaned of a plague or mildew is the same ritual as for person. Instead of washing the house, it was to be scraped clean. *** The rituals of them both represent the cleansing of the cross by the blood of Jesus. Jesus is represented by the birds. The first bird represents his death. His blood is applied to our sin and we are pronounced clean. The bird that goes free is the resurrection of both Jesus and the one who is now clean. *** Jesus had sent his disciples out in pairs giving them power over unclean spirits (John 6:7). They came back telling Jesus all the things that happened while they were out. Jesus took them to rest for a while but the multitudes saw where they were going and followed them. Jesus came out and began to teach them. At the end of the day, his disciples told him to send the crowd away so they could find food. Jesus told them to feed them. They answered that they only had five loaves and two fish. So Jesus took what they had and blessed it and broke it. He let the disciples hand them out and all 5,000 people ate and there were 12 baskets of left-overs picked up. *** Jesus put his disciples into the boat to go to the other side. He sent the people home and he went to the mountain to pray. In the middle of the night, Jesus saw that the disciples were fighting a storm. He walked out on the sea and comforted them. When he stepped into their boat, the storm stopped. They marveled. *** They stepped out of the land of the Gadarene but instead of being told to leave, they were met with a multitude of people waiting to receive him with their sick. The man that had been delivered of the legions of demons had spread the word and his testimony influenced the people to accept Jesus. *** The power of a testimony is great. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that can break all fears and prejudices. *** Lord, may we walk in your resurrected power and see the miracles that you performed in our day. Thank you for the cleansing power of your blood.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Laws of Leprosy

Read: Leviticus 13:1-59; Mark 6:1-29; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs Proverbs 10:10 There are three different kinds of skin diseases: leprosy, boils and burns. They were treated by the priest and healing depended on the spread of the area, swelling, whether it was skin deep and the color of the skin and the color of hair that grew from it. The concern of the priest was whether the person was contagious or not. His responsibility was to keep the others from being exposed and determining if the person was clean or unclean. *** Since Romans tells us that the law is spiritual we know that this has something we can learn from it. Sin is a matter of the flesh. In my understanding, leprosy had to do with general sin. We are all sinners and doomed to die. Leprosy was a sin that could affect others. Pretty much all sin can fall into that category after a while. Boils seem to be dealing with anger since it causes our blood to boil so the saying goes. Burns seem to be dealing with lusts that burn in our hearts. It may be lust for things or another person. All of these can be dealt with on our own by just repenting and changing our actions. But, if the sin goes further than skin deep and has festered for a while, it becomes a matter of greater surgery on our part. *** The priest who is constantly examining us is Jesus, our High Priest. He decides when we can be around people (used for ministry) and not be a contagion to them. *** These things can spread to our garments and make our sin become so obvious it is like a garment around us. To me, this is when our sin becomes a lifestyle. Our lifestyles can be cleansed also. *** Jesus went through the rejection in his own town. It was hard for them to not think of him as the son of Mary instead of the Son of God. He sent out his disciples and told them what to do if they were rejected. They were to shake off the dust under their feet as a testimony of what it would be like for them in the day of judgment. They were also not to take provisions for themselves but let the people provide for them. It would be a blessing for them. *** When King Herod heard about Jesus he felt convicted about John the Baptist who he had beheaded. He reminisced over his birthday. Herod had stolen his brother’s wife, Herodias and married her. John the Baptist had spoken out against this (he certainly got involved in the politics of his day). Herodias had her daughter dance before the king on his birthday and when he asked her what she wanted in return, her mother told her to ask for John’s head on a platter right then. Herod, regrettably gave it to her to save his face. *** Now that Jesus had taken up John’s ministry, he was afraid that John the Baptist had risen from the dead and was back to haunt him. Amazing how sin can condemn you and give you unimaginable fears. *** Lord, help us keep our hearts and our garments clean. As we watch things fall help us to keep in mind that you are the one who is going to rebuild them according to your ways.

Wed.’s Devo - The Clean and the Unclean

Read: Leviticus 11:1-12:8; Mark 5:21-43; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 10:8-9 God gave the children of Israel explicit rules about what they could eat and what they couldn’t eat. He wanted them to know the difference between what was clean and what was unclean. The word “clean” in the Hebrew was “tahowr” which means pure in a physical, chemical, and ceremonial or moral sense. The word unclean in the Hebrew was “tame” which means “defiled; foul in the religious sense; polluted”. *** It was either unclean from it’s birth or in its death. Things that were unclean from their birth were animals that didn’t divide the hoof or chewed the cud. Spiritually this would describe something that wasn’t stable (divided hoofs) and wasn’t meditated on (chewing the cud). We are not to let into our minds or bodies things that can’t be divided by the Word or that we haven’t meditated and prayed about. *** Another thing they were not to eat were fish that didn’t have scales or fins. Scales are coverings and fins help a fish stay upright in the water. We are to be covered with the blood of Christ and submitted to authority. Our fins are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that keeps us upright in all that we do. *** They were not to eat anything that crept upon the earth or moved on its belly or that preyed on the dead. These all describe what Satan does. *** In Mark we read about a woman who had had a bleeding issue for 12 years and a dying 12 year old daughter of one of the rulers in the synagogue. To show that God cares about women both old and young, Jesus healed them both. Jesus told the woman who knew she just needed to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe that her faith had made her whole. He told her to go in peace. *** Jesus told the man who was worried sick over his dying daughter to be afraid and have faith. He told the people mourning her that she was not dead but just sleeping. The father’s faith contributed to her healing. *** Lord, may we have faith to believe you are our healer and our great provider. We put our faith in you.

Tues.’s Devo - Jesus Demonstrates the Kingdom of God

Read: Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 10:6-7 Once Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priest, they entered their first day of ministry as priests. They offered the sin offering first for themselves so they would be holy, then they could offer the sin offering for the people. God showed up in a great way and fire came from God to consume the offering. *** The people fell on their faces when they saw the Lord’s fire but Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s oldest sons took their censer and put fire in it and offered incense to the Lord that he hadn’t told them to do. It was profane. God’s fire came out and consumed them and they died before the Lord. The Lord spoke through Moses and said that these who come near to him must be regarded as holy and He must be glorified before the people. Moses called Mishael and Elizaphan who were kin to Aaron to take their bodies out of the camp by their tunics. *** Then Moses gave Aaron and his son’s a lesson on their conduct. They were not to drink wine or be intoxicated when they entered the tabernacle or they would die. (It makes you wonder if Nadal and Abihu had been drunk.) *** Moses told Aaron to eat the sin offering but when he found out he didn’t eat it he was upset. Aaron told him that he was afraid that it wouldn’t have been accepted by the Lord in light of all that had happened that day. Moses was satisfied with that answer. *** Jesus said in Mark that the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed. Though it is small, when it is put in the ground it becomes greater than all the herbs. The kingdom of God started with Jesus who died and was put in the ground but his death brought about so many followers. *** Jesus only taught through parables so that only those with ears to hear could understand them. *** Jesus took his disciples over to the other side of the lake. A storm came up and Jesus was asleep in the boat. The disciples woke him to tell him they were going to perish. He got up and rebuked the wind and told the sea to be at peace and it was. The disciples were in awe but Jesus rebuked them for not having faith. *** When they got to the other side of the lake they met the wild man of the Gadarenes who lived among the tombs. He was so full of demons that no man could bind. He ran to Jesus when he saw him and fell at his feet. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit from him and asked the spirit what his name was. He said it was Legion because he had many evil spirits. They begged not to be sent out of the country but to be sent into a herd of swine that were feeding near the mountains. He let them and the swine ran and threw themselves into the sea where they drown. The keepers of the swine ran into town and told the people what had happened. They came and saw the demon-possessed man in his right mind and it scared them. They begged Jesus to leave them and get out of their town,. The man who had been possessed with all the demons begged to go with Jesus but Jesus told him to stay and tell the people the great things the Lord had done for him and Jesus left. *** This man was the single seed that had come back from the dead who would produce many seeds. *** Lord, may our testimony go out and produce many more seeds.

Mon.’s Devo - Consecrating the Priests

Read: Leviticus 7:28-9:6; Mark 3:31-4:25; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 10:5 The peace offering was a personal gift that was not required. It was to be offered by the person who would put their own hands on the head of the animal. Then the priest would burn the fat on the altar but the breast and right thigh would be given to the priests to eat. This was to be a fellowship offering to the Lord. Now that God had given the instructions about all the different offerings, it was time to consecrate Aaron and his sons as their official priests and high priest. Moses gathered all the people and showed the people what God required. He dressed Aaron and his sons in their priestly garments and anointed them with oil. He also anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it. *** Then Moses put the tunics of the priests on them and tied them with sashes, and put the miters on their heads. He brought the bull for the sin offering and the priests laid their hands upon their heads. Moses killed it and put the blood on the horns of the altar and around the base consecrating it. The fat and two kinds were taken and burned on the altar but the rest was burned outside the camp. Next, the ram was brought and the priests laid their hands on its head. Moses killed the ram and cut it up and washed the pieces and burned them on the altar. The second ram was brought and the priests laid their hands on its head. It was killed by Moses and its blood was used to consecrate Aaron and his sons. He put the blood on the tip of their right ear, the thumb of their right hand and the big toe of their right feet. Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. *** Moses took the fat from the liver and kindness and right thigh. He place one of the unleavened cakes on the fat of the thigh. He then put all of these in Aarons hands and his sons’ hands and they waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. Moses took them and burned them on the brazen altar. *** Moses anointed Aaron and his sons again along with their garments. They were to stay outside the door of the tabernacle for seven days, until the days of their consecration were ended. *** On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel and had them each take a bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering and offer them before the Lord. Then they children of Israel were to take a goat, a calf and a lamb as a burnt offering. They were to offer a bull and a ram as a peace offering and a grain offering mixed with oil because on that day, the Lord would meet with them. Moses told them that the glory of the Lord would appear to them. *** The offerings were like parables for us to understand. Moses stood for God. Aaron stood for Jesus and the priests stand for those who are fully consecrated to the Lord and his service. The seven days represent the seven thousand years that man has lived on the earth and the eight day is the next thousand years. We are entering the seventh day. *** In Mark, Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. He was inside teaching. When Jesus was told that they wanted to see him he made it clear to those listening that they were just as important to him as his own flesh and blood if they did the will of God. He taught them by telling them parables and started with the main parable. It was the one about the seed and the sower. When he was alone with his disciples he explained the meaning because the mysteries of the kingdom were for them to understand. He explained that the see was the Word of God that God scatters across the land. Whether the seed produced fruit depended on where it landed. Seed that landed by the wayside was quickly stolen by Satan. Seed that fell on stony hearts had no way to produce roots so when tribulation and persecution came, they stumbled. Seed that fell in hearts that had thorns were easily distracted by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches making them unfruitful. But the seed that fell on good hearts sprang up and increased and produced some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred. *** Jesus encouraged them to walk always in the light and have no secret sins because everything is going to be revealed in the end. He warned them to watch what they believed and let into their hearts. If they keep God’s Word in their heart, more will be given to them. *** Lord, may we walk in the light as you are in the light and keep our fellowship with you always.

Sun.’s Devo - The Old Verses the New

Read: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4 Lying or deceiving, robing or extorting from another person was not only a sin against them but against the Lord. The guilty person must restore what he has stolen and add one-fifth to it. Then he must atone to the Lord by bringing a ram without blemish from his flock. *** The priest must burn the burnt offering on the altar all night. In the morning the priest must put on his linen garments and take the ashes and put them beside the altar. Then he was to take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The brazen altar was always to have the fire burning. *** The instructions of the grain offering were this: the priest would take a handful of fine flour from the grain offering with the oil and frankincense on it. They would burn it on the altar for a sweet smelling offering. What was left of the offering was given to the priests to make unleavened bread and eat in the holy place. On the day the priest was to serve, he was to offer an offering to the Lord from this grain. *** The sin offering was to be killed where the burnt offering was killed. The priest was to eat it in the holy place. Everyone who touched its flesh must be holy. Any garment that has blood from that offering on it must be washed. The earthen vessel in which it was boiled must be broken and if it was boiled in a bronze pot, it was to be scoured and rinsed with water. Any meat with blood still in it was to be burned on the fire. *** The difference of the trespass offering was that its blood was to be sprinkled all around the altar. The fat and two kidneys were to be taken out and burned on the altar. Every male must eat the offering in the holy place. *** The peace offering was to be eaten in the first two days by the priests. The people were not to eat any fat or blood from the offerings. *** All of these laws were to point to Christ and his atoning sacrifice. He consumes our sin when we offer it up to him. He cleanses us and we are then holy. *** In Mark, Jesus went to the areas around Galilee preaching, healing and delivering the people. He warned the evil spirits not to make his identity as the Son of God known. He kept a boat ready in case he needed to escape being crushed by the crowds. *** Jesus called his twelve disciples: Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas and sent them out to preach. He gave them power to heal sicknesses and cast out demons. *** The scribes followed him from Jerusalem and when he had drawn a crowd they accused him of having a demon. They said that that was how he could cast out demons. Jesus asked the how Satan could cast out Satan. If a kingdom or a house is divided against itself, it would not stand. If Satan is risen up against him self then he wont’ be able to stand either. No one can plunder the goods of a strong man’s house unless he first binds the strong man. Then he could plunder his house. *** Jesus was explaining that he was binding Satan and taking his people back (plundering his house). *** Then Jesus went on to say that all the sins of men would be forgiven but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirt never has forgiveness and is subject to eternal condemnation. Jesus was saying that man can be forgiven of all sins, even blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but evil spirits cannot be saved they are eternally condemned. They are the ones who blaspheme the Holy Spirit. *** Lord, thank you for the cross and forgiveness. Thank you that we can stand holy and righteous before you in humility and thanks giving.

Sat.’s Devo - Forgiveness

Read: Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 2:13-3:6; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 10:1-2 The sin offering was the “chatta’t” in Hebrew. It was to be offered when a person found out he had unintentionally committed a sin against any of the Lord’s commandments. If it was the priest who sinned he was to offer a young bull as a sacrifice and lay his hands on the head of the bull. Then he was to sprinkle its blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary. Blood was also to be put on the horns of the altar of incense and the rest of the loved was to be poured at the base of the altar of the brazen altar. The fat, two kidneys and fatty lobe of the liver was to be burnt on the altar and there rest of the bull was to be carried outside the camp to be burnt along with the ashes of the offering on the altar. *** If the whole congregation found they had unintentionally sinned against the Lord’s commandments the same sacrifice was to be offered only just the fat was offered on the brazen altar. *** If a ruler found he had done something unintentionally, he was to offer a goat instead of a bull. The blood was only put on the horns of the brazen altar and the rest poured at its base. *** If the common people sinned unintentionally and then realized they had sinned against the Lord, they were to bring a female kid goat or a female lamb and lay his hand on its head. It was to be killed and the priest would put blood on the horns of the brazen altar and pour the rest at its base. All the fat was to be removed and burnt on the altar. Then their sins would be forgiven. *** It is not hard to see that Jesus did this for us on the cross and was crucified outside of the camp. When we are convicted of our sin, we accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and we are forgiven. *** The trespass offering was the “asham”in Hebrew. It was also known was the guilt offering or the offering of reparation. It was prepared when one violated the sanctity of God’s property or another person’s. It was usually done by lying or giving false testimony or not coming forth with the truth. *** The violator was to bring a female goat or lamb to the priest. If he couldn’t afford these he could bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons. One would be the sin offering and the other the burnt offering. The blood of the sin offering was to be put on the sides of the altar and at it base and the other was to be burnt on the altar. If the person couldn’t afford the birds then a grain offering could be given. *** If the sin regarded harm done to something then he must pay for the holy thing and add one fifth to it. This is much like our “pain and suffering” clause in insurance policy’s today. *** The result of all these sacrifices was forgiveness for the sin. *** In Mark, Jesus went to the areas around the sea and the multitudes came to hear him. He passed by the tax office and saw Matthew the tax collector sitting at his table. He told him to follow him and he rose up and did. Jesus ate at his house with Matthew and his friends and the scribes and Pharisees accused of eating with sinners. He told them that he didn’t come to the well who didn’t need him but he came to the sick to call them to repentance. *** During the feast where they were to fast, Jesus disciples didn’t fast. When they asked him about this he replied, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them… but the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will fast.” Then he added that you wouldn’t sew a new piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment or else it would pull away from the old and make the tear worse. And, no one would put new win into old wineskins, or else the new wine would burst the wineskins. New wine must be put into new wineskins. *** Jesus was referring to the new he was bringing. They had to be born again to receive the new doctrine he was bringing. *** To prove his point, Jesus did something that he knew would break their tradition. He had his disciples pluck the heads of the grain on the Sabbath. He explained that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a gift, not a curse and Jesus was the Lord of the Sabbath. (I bet that ticked them off.) *** He emphasized it further by healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath in the synagogue. He explained that he was good to do good on the Sabbath and bring life. It grieved the Lord to see the hardness of their hearts. *** Lord, may we not worry about what the evil people are doing but set our hearts to follow you.

Fri.’s Devo - Our Offerings

Read: Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18 God told Moses what kind of offerings to bring to him. The first was the burnt offering. The burnt offering was the “olah” in Hebrew. It was the only sacrifice that is entirely consumed on the altar and sometimes referred to as the whole offering. It represents Jesus’ finished work on the cross. When we become a child of God we offer ourselves to him. This is what Romans 12:1 means “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It was offered of a person’s own free will. He was to put his hand on the head of the offering and transfer his sin to the animal and the animal would make atonement for him. Jesus made atonement for our sins and when we freely offer ourselves to him. *** The grain offering was called the “minchah” in Hebrew. It was given of the fruits of ones labor like our tithe. It was to either get favor from God or keep the favor of God. It is what Malachi 3:10 means: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” *** There was to be no yeast or honey added. In other words, no sin or bribes. I should be seasoned with salt. In other words, it must be something that cost you. It was to be anointed with oil and have frankincense laid on it. The oil and frankincense pertains to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the frankincense is the sweet aroma of a heart that is honored to bring his best to the Lord. *** The peace offering is the “shelamim” in Hebrew. It pertains to atonement that allows the person to eat the meat of the sacrifice. This was a free will offering and the cooked animal was shared by the priest and the worshiper. It was I see this as our daily cleansing of our sins to come before God with a clean conscience. It renews our fellowship with God and with man. It is representative of Communion where we eat of Christ’s flesh and drink his blood. It was often given on a joyous occasion. We are so blessed that we can be atoned from any offense against God by just humbling ourselves and asking for his forgiveness. It definitely gives us peace and renews our fellowship with the Lord. *** In Mark, Jesus had just cast out an unclean spirit from a man and amazed the crowds. Then he went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law. All of this was done on the Sabbath. When the Sabbath was over at sunset, a crowd of people came to Peter’s house and gathered at the door. He healed many and cast out demons. He cleansed a leper and told him to go and present himself to the priest as a testimony to them that the Messiah had come. *** News about Jesus spread quickly so that everywhere he went he preached, healed and delivered. In Capernaum, the crowd was so thick in one of the homes that a paralytic was lowered down through the roof so Jesus could heal him. Jesus saw their faith and forgave the sins of the paralytic. The scribes heard him say this and thought he was blaspheming God to pronounce forgiveness on someone when he wasn’t a priest and the man hadn’t brought a sacrifice. Jesus perceived their thoughts and asked them what was easier, to tell a man his sins were forgiven or to say to rise up and walk. But, so they would know that he was the Son of Man he told the man to rise and take his bed and walk. The man immediately rose up and walked. Everyone was amazed and praised God. *** Jesus was trying to bring in a new system of grace. He was stirring up their faith to see the power of their own words and how the priesthood was being transferred to all of them if they only had faith. That is still his mission in us. *** Lord, may we stir up the gifts within us that you are wanting to use. May we step out in faith and do the things that you did following the Spirit you have put in our hearts.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Tabernacle is Complete

Read: Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12 The garments for the priests were finished. The ephod had the onyx stones on the shoulders that had the names of the tribes of Israel engraved. When God looked down from heaven he saw the named of his people. This was to show that God’s government rested on his shoulders. *** The breastplate had the stones for each of the tribes of Israel across the chest to show that Jesus, our high priest carried his people near to his heart. *** The linen tunics, sashes, miters (hats) and trousers for Aaron and his sons were woven of blue, purple and scarlet thread. A gold plate was inscribed with HOLINESS TO THE LORD and tied to a blue cord and fastened on the turban. This was to show that their minds and thoughts were righteous. *** The furniture was completed. God told Moses to set the tabernacle up on the first day of the first month of the second year. The ark of the covenant was put in first, then covered with curtains. Then the table for the shewbread, the menorah. The altar of incense was put outside the veil for entering into the Holy of Holies. All the utensils they would need for these pieces were put in place. Then the tent was erected around them. Everything was anointed with oil to consecrate it. ***The altar of burnt offering and the aver were in place and anointed. Then Aaron and his sons were brought out and washed with the water from the laver. They were clothed in their holy garments and anointed. *** The rest of the tabernacle was set up with its curtains around the area. The coverings were put over the top of the tent. Moses took the Testimony and put it into the ark and inserted the poles through its rings and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the veil in front of the opening. Everything else was ceremonially brought into the tabernacle and put in its place. When he had finished putting everything in place the glory of God in a cloud filled the tabernacle. Mose was not able to enter because of the glory of the Lord. Whenever the cloud lifted, they would move with it. It stayed above the tabernacle during the day and became a fire by night. *** Today we begin the book of Mark. Mark was written to the Romans and the theme of Mark is “Jesus is the Servant”. It opens with The prophecy of Isaiah who said that God would sent his messenger before the Messiah to prepare the way. He would be a voice crying in the wilderness. John the Baptist was this messenger and voice. He preached a baptism of repentance of sins. He spoke of one coming after him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. *** Jesus came to John to be baptized and when he came out of the water the Spirit descended upon him like a dove. A voice from heaven said, “you are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then Jesus was driven into the wilderness where he was there 40 days, tempted by Satan. Angels ministered to him there. *** Meanwhile, John was put in prison and Jesus continued his ministry. He preached the kingdom of God was at hand. Repent and believe in His gospel. *** Jesus called the brothers Peter and Andrew who were fishing to come and follow him. Then he met the brothers,James and John and called them also. *** They traveled to Capernaum and went to the synagogue because it was the Sabbath. Jesus began teaching and taught with authority. A man with an unclean spirit was there and cried out for Jesus to leave them alone. Jesus rebuked the spirit and told it to come out of the man. It came out of the man and the people were amazed. *** Lord, may we wear the garments of praise and righteousness. May our thoughts be holy unto you and may we move with the spirit wherever it goes.

Wed,’s Devo - He is Risen!

Read: Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10 The ark of the Covenant was the most sacred of all the furniture in the tabernacle. It was the piece that housed the presence of the Lord. It was made of acacia wood and covered with gold. There were rings on the sides for slipping the poles in to carry it so that no human hand touched it. The top was called the mercy seat and sitting on it were two gold angels that knelt and spread their wings toward one another. This piece would sit in the Holy of Holies and only the priest would enter once a year. *** Outside the Holy of Holies was a room called the Holy Place. In it they put the altar of Incense, the table for the shewbread and the golden lamp stand. The table of shewbread was also made of acacia wood and covered with gold and had the gold rings for poles for carrying. It had a molding of gold all around it. Twelve loaves, one for each tribe were put on this table. It represented us dining with the Lord. *** The golden lamp stand was a menorah with seven branches. The branch in the middle was straight and there were three branches on each side. The branches had almond buds and flowers on them and a bowl at the top for the oil and wick. The seven bowls stood for the seven spirits of God. *** The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and covered with gold. A gold molding was made around it with horns on each corner. The incense that was burned here stood for the prayers of the saints that went up to heaven and were a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord. *** The altar for the burnt offering was made of acacia wood and covered with bronze. it was larger than the other furniture and had horns on the corners. A gutter-like piece ran halfway around it for the blood to run into and down the sides. It also had rings and poles for carrying. This altar stood for the cross of Christ who was our sacrificial lamb. *** The bronze laver was made of the mirrors of the women. It was to be filled with water and would serve to wash the blood from the hands of the priests after sacrificing. It stands for our baptism in water. *** The court was surrounded in a curtain that went all around the area the people would stand. The curtain was made of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. *** The people gave greatly to the building of the tabernacle and a half shekel was given a piece for the redemption of each person. Everything was made according to God’s plan. *** The day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. There was a great earthquake when the angel came down and rolled back the stone from the door. It sat on the rock shining like white light. The guards shook and fell down like they were dead. The angel spoke to the women and told then not to be afraid. They said that Jesus was not here but had risen and they were to go and tell his disciples that he had risen and was going before them into Galilee where they would get to see him. *** Some the guards went to the chief priests and told them what had happened. They paid them a great sum of money not to tell anyone what they had seen, but to lie and say that Jesus’ disciples had come and stolen his body. They took the money and did what they said. *** Jesus met with his disciples and many more and told them that all authority had been given him in heaven and on earth. They were to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They were to teach them to live like he did and he would be with them, even to the end of the age. *** Lord, You are the resurrection and the life! We honor you as our Lord and Saviour.

Tues.’s Devo - Jesus’ Crucifixion

Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8 Moses called for all the craftsmen, architects, seamstresses, apothecaries, jewelers and builders to come help make the elements for the Tabernacle. People gave freely of everything they had to make the Tabernacle and the clothing for the priests. 
 *** God chose Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and filled him with the Spirit of God and gave him great wisdom and ability and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He also chose Ohliab of the tribe of Dan and gave them both the ability to teach others their skills. *** The people gave more than enough to complete the task. They began with the curtains the would enclose the area and build the tent. God showed Bezalel and Ohliab how to hang them on poles and secure them with hooks. *** In Matthew, they led Jesus from the governor’s court to be crucified. On the way they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, and made him carry Jesus’ cross. I wonder what Simon was thinking as he walked with Jesus who was beat beyond recognition, stumbling and bleeding. They came to Golgotha which was the Place of a Skull where they crucified Jesus. They tried to give him sour wine as a pain killer but Jesus refused to lessen his pain. They divided his garments and cast lots for his clothing just as Psalm 22 said. *** They put the sign THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. The people blasphemed him and mocked him. *** At noon the sky went totally dark for three hours. At the end of the darkness, Jesus cried out and quoted the first line of Psalm 22. He was referring them to this song because it was being fulfilled before their very eyes. The people thought he was calling for Elijah. Jesus then gave up his spirit and died. The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom and the earth quaked and the rocks were split. The graves were opened and many bodies were raised out of their graves after Jesus was raised. They went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. *** The centurion and those guarding Jesus saw all these things happening and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” *** Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man. He gave his grave for Jesus to use. He took Jesus’ body and laid it in the tomb and rolled a large stone over the opening. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw where they laid him. *** The next day was the Day of Preparation and the chief priest and the Pharisees met and discussed Jesus claim to rise from the grave on the third day so they sealed the stone and set guards so none of Jesus’ disciples could steal his body and say he rose from the dead. *** It is humorous how human beings thought they could stop Jesus from anything. He had proven he had supernatural powers but their hearts were so hardened they couldn’t see. *** Lord may we use our talents for You for you are the source of any good thing about us. May we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to You and your purposes.

Mon.’s Devo - The Innocent Lamb

Read: Exodus 34:1-35:9; Matthew 27:15-31; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6 Moses went back up the mountain to get another set of the Commandments. God proclaimed his mercy and forgiveness, but he said he by no means cleared the guilty but he visited the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation. *** God covenanted with them to do marvels such as on one had never seen before in all the earth. He would be with them to drive out all the “ites” of the land. They were to destroy all their altars, pillars and sacred images. They were not worship any of their gods; He was to be their only god. They were to not make any covenants with any of the people of the land either. Their covenant was with God alone. They were not to intermarry with them. *** They were to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread every year in the month they came out of Egypt. All the first born were the Lord’s of humans and animals. Only a donkey could be redeemed back with a lamb. If they didn’t redeem him back his neck was to be broken. The donkey was the most stubborn of animals and he stood for the spirit of rebellion which had to be broken. *** They should always observe the Sabbath and rest on that day. They should also observe the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and The Feast of Ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles). During these three feasts the men were to appear before the Lord at the place where he set up to come. *** For the second time it tells us not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk which means that the sins of the mother were not to be passed down on the children. *** After 40 days with the Lord, Moses came back down and didn’t realize that his face shone. It made the people fearful of him. He told the people what the Lord had said and then he covered his face from then on with a veil. He would take it off when he talked to the Lord. *** On the Sabbath they were to do no work or build no fire. They were asked to freely give the materials needed to build the Tabernacle and its furnishings. *** In Matthew, Jesus had been questioned by Pilate but there was no evidence that he should be punished much less die. Jesus had refused to defend himself. Pilate’s wife had told Pilate that she had suffered much in a dream the night before and he should have nothing to do with Jesus’ death. *** At the feast, the governor would release one of the prisoners of their choice. He chose Barabbas hoping they would choose him since he was a well known murderer. Surely they would rather have Jesus freed who healed and gave life than this man who had no regard for others. They chose to set Barabbas free and crucify Jesus even though they had no reason to kill Jesus. *** The people were so railed up that Pilate was afraid of a riot so he washed his hands in front of them and said that he was not responsible for what they wanted to do to Jesus. In his eyes Jesus was innocent. They told him that Jesus’ blood would be on them and their children. How true that was. *** Barabbas was set free and Jesus was scourged and taken to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium which was the official residence of the governor. He was stripped of his robe and another was put on him. They put a crown of thorns on his head and put a reed in his hand and mocked him and spat upon him. Then they took the robe off and put Jesus’ back on him and led him to be crucified. *** Lord, may we trust in your holy name. You are our help and our shield. Thank you for all the suffering and shame you went through on the cross to give us grace and salvation.

Sun.’s Devo -THe Golden Calf

Read: Exodus 32:1-33:23; Matthew 26:69-27:14; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 8:33-36 Moses who had been like God to them had disappeared on the mountain and the people thought he wasn’t coming back down. Man needs something to worship. The people went to Aaron and told him to make them some gods that could lead them so they could get going. This was a test for Aaron and he failed it in flying colors. He gave in to pier pressure and told them to each donate one of their golden earrings. They had left Egypt wearing the expensive coats and jewelry of the Egyptians. *** Aaron took this gold and crafted a golden calfs with an engraving tool. He told them that these were the gods that brought them out of the land of Egypt. He built an altar in fromt of the calf and proclaimed a festival. They celebrated like the pagans did in Egypt. *** God told Moses to go back down to the people quickly because they had corrupted themselves and turned against his ways. He told Moses exactly what they had done. God wanted to blot them all out and start over but Moses interceded for the people. He reminded God of his promises to Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord changed his mind and Moses went down holding the two stone tables the Lord had written on. *** Joshua heard the noise and told Moses it sounded like war in the camp but Moses said it was the sound of a celebration. When Moses saw all their dancing and drinking he took the stone tablets and threw them crashing to the ground at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf and burned it and ground the powder, mixed it with water and forced the people to drink it. He turned to Aaron and asked him what the people did to make him do such a terrible sin. Aaron told him the pressure they had put on him and how he threw the gold into the fire and the calf jumped out. (What a whopper!) *** Moses saw how out of control the people had gotten and how much it amused their enemies to see it. He told the ones who were on the Lord’s side to join him. All of the Levites gathered around him. He told them to take their swords and kill everyone who was at the party. They killed 3,000. When it was over he blessed the Levites for obeying the Lord. *** Moses went back up on the mountain the next day and prayed tot he Lord for them. He begged him not to erase their name from his book but the Lord said he would only erase the names of everyone who had sinned against him. God sent Moses back to lead the people and told him that God’s angel out lead them. *** He sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf. *** God said that the angel of the Lord would lead them and drive out the Canannites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hives and Jebusites. He wold not go with him because they were so rebellious and stubborn he knew he would end up killing them, but his angel would go with them. When the people heard this they mourned and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. *** The Tent of Meeting was set a distance from the camp and when the people saw Moses walking toward it they would stand at the entrance of their tent and watch until he went inside. They would see the pillar of cloud that came and hovered at the entrance while the Lord spoke to Moses inside. The people would bow by their door in worship. When God was finished talking to Moses, he would return to the camp, but Joshua would stay behindt the Tabernacle. *** God told Moses that he would personally be with him and give him rest. Everything would be fine for him. Moses told him that he would not leave that place unless he promised to be with them. God said he would do it for Moses’ sake. Moses asked for a sign. He wanted to see God’s glorious presence. God said he would make all his goodness pass before him and call out his name “Yahweh” before him. Moses was not to look directly into his face. He would hide Moses in the cleft of the rock and shield him from seeing him until he had passed, then he would let him see him from behind. *** In Matthew, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times and the rooster crowed. When he heard it crowing, he remembered what Jesus had told him and what he had told Jesus and he left weeping bitterly. *** Very early in the mourning, the leading priests and elders planned Jesus’ death. They bound him and took him to Pilate. Judas realized that Jesus had been condemned to die and was filled with remorse so he tried to give the 30 pieces of silver back to the elders declaring he had betrayed an innocent man. They told him that was on him, they didn’t care. Judas threw the coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. The priest used the money to buy the potter’s field and made it a cemetery for foreigners. *** They stood Jesus before Pilate and asked him if he was king of the Jews. Jesus replied, “you have said it.” But when the brought all their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. Pilate asked Jesus if he had a defense against all they were saying but Jesus said nothing. Pilate marveled at this. *** We need to remember how Jesus defended himself and use that as an example to follow. He didn’t answer unless God told him to. He let God avenge him and if he didn’t then he would face the consequences. He totally depended on God. *** Lord, thank you that our names are written in your book. May we hide under the shelter of your wings and trust in your hand to save us.

Sat.’s Devo - Jesus’ Mock Trial

Read: Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32 When they numbered the people they were to collect 10 gerahs which was half a shekel for each person to redeem them back, or a plague would come. David didn’t do this when he numbered the people so they got a plague. *** This atonement money would go toward the service of the tabernacle *** The Lord told Moses to build a laver for the priests to wash after offering the sacrifices. It was to be between the bronze altar and the tabernacle tent. The bronze altar stood for our salvation through the cross and the laver stood for our baptism in water to wash our sins away. *** Moses was to have the perfumers make an anointing oil from oil and spices which was not to be replicated. With it they would anoint the tabernacle, all the furniture in it, and Aaron and his sons. With this oil, Moses would consecrate them to minister to the Lord as priests. *** Incense was also to be made by the apothecaries. It should be beat before the Ark of the Covenant making a sweet aroma before the Lord. *** God anointed Bezalel from the tribe of Judah to design the artistic works in metals jewels and wood carving. His helper would be Aholiab from the tribe of Dan. Bezalel means “in God’s shade” or in the shadow of God. Aholiab means “tent of the father”. *** The Sabbath was given to them to be a sign between God and the people that they might know that the Lord is the one who sanctifies them. It was a holy day where they were to do no work. God rested on the seventh day and was refreshed and we are to do the same. *** When God had finished speaking to Moses on the mountain, he gave him two tablets of the Testimony written on stone by the finger of God. *** In Matthew, Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemene when the soldiers led by Judas found him. Judas greeted Jesus with a kiss as a signal to the soldiers that he was Jesus. When they went to take Jesus, Peter (John 18:10) drew his sword and cut off his ear. He was the servant of the high priest. Luke tells us that Jesus put the ear back on and healed it. Jesus asked them why they had to get him in the cover of night since he sat with them in the daylight. He told them that they were fulfilling scripture (Isaiah 50:6: 53:2-11). *** They took Jesus to Caiaphas house to the high priest’s courtyard to hold the trial. They looked for someone to bring false accusations against him and could’t find anyone. They did find someone who would twisted the truth against him. This man testified that Jesus said that He was able to destroy the temple of God and build it back in three days. Jesus had actually said in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” They would be the ones to destroy the temple and he would build it back in three days. Jesus wouldn’t be the one to destroy he temple but he was the one who would be able to build it back. *** When they asked for Jesus answer, he refused to answer them. Then they asked him if he was the Christ the son of God. Jesus answered, “It is as you said, Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes and accused him of blasphemy. He sentenced him with death and spat on him. Others struck him and slapped him in the face and mocked them. *** Jesus, thank you for all the suffering you went through for our sake and the sake of our sins. Thank you that your blood cleansed us once and for all for all our sins and we are being justified through Calvary.

Fri.’s Devo - Sanctifying the Priests and the Betrayal of Jesus

Read: Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 8:14-26 Moses was to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. The animals for the sacrifice were chosen then the priests were dressed in their priestly garments. They were to place their hands on the head of the bull to transfer their sin to the bull. The bull was offered as a burnt offering to atone for them. *** Next, they were to take two ram. The first one would be their sin offering so they placed their hands on the head of the ram and offered it on the altar as a burnt offering. The second ram was to be killed and the blood applied to the tip of the right ear of Aaron and his sons, also on the thumb of their right hand and the big toe of their right foot. The rest of the blood would be sprinkled all around the altar. Some of the blood on the altar, would be mixed with anointing oil and sprinkled on Aaron and his garments and on his son’s garments. *** The places the blood was applied was to represent what God was sanctifying. He was sanctifying what they heard (the ear), what they did (the hand), and where they went (the big toe). *** Some of the fat from the offering, a loaf of leavened bread made with oil and a wafer of unleavened bread would be put in the hands of Aaron and his sons and they were to wave them as a wave offering before the Lord. Then then were to be burnt on the altar. The breast of the ram was to be waved before the Lord and be their portion to eat. These would be the peace offering. *** Daily offerings were to be offered in the morning and in the evening. This was to be done continually because this was where they would meet with the Lord. He would dwell with them and be their God and they would be his people. *** An altar was to be made of wood and covered with gold. It would be fore bringing incense to the Lord. It would have horns on the corners and Aaron and his sons were to make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering. *** In Mathew, Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him to turn Jesus over to them and they gave him 30 pieces of silver. He looked for just the right moment. *** It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the disciples asked Jesus where he wanted to eat the Passover meal. Jesus told them the house to go to. God had already prepared that man to receive them. On that Passover night, Jesus sat with them and told them that one of them would betray him. They all wanted to know if it was them. When Judas asked Jesus if it was him, Jesus replied, “You have said it.” Jesus told them that it would be better for his betrayer to not have been born. *** I have to think that Judas now knew that his plot had been discovered, so he had to act then. Little did he know that God was orchestrating his timing. *** Jesus blessed the bread and told his disciples that it represented his body. Then he gave them the wine and told them it represented his blood that would be shed for the remission of the sins of many. He told them he would not drink wine from then until he drank it with them in his Father’s kingdom. 
 *** Jesus tried to prepare them for what was going to happen that night. He quoted Zechariah 13:7 saying that he would be struck and they would be scattered. *** Peter spoke up and said that he would not stumble. Jesus told him that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter refused to accept that. *** Jesus then took them all to the garden of Gethsemane and told them to pray with him. He went alone but when he returned, he found his disciples sleeping. He addressed Peter who had promised not to stumble and asked him if he couldn’t stay awake for even an hour. This happened twice. The second time, Jesus told them to wake up his betrayer was close. *** It is hard to get upset with the disciples when we look at our own weaknesses. They had no idea what was about to happen and how much Jesus needed them to be supportive. These were the people Jesus would leave the responsibility for carrying out his ministry. We are the ones Jesus has put on the earth right now to carry out his ministry. May we be faithful to carry out our part. *** Lord, anoint us to carry out our assignments on the earth. May we be watchful and awake when we need to be seeking your face and your will.

Thurs.’s Devo - Garments of Salvation

Read: Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13 Moses was given instructions for the garments that Aaron and his sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must wear when they were acting as priests. These garments were to represent who Jesus as our High Priest was. These garments were for glory and beauty. Aaron was the High Priest so his garment described the person of Jesus Christ, our High Priest. *** The ephod was a made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine linen. It had two shoulder straps that had two onyx stones. On one the names of six of the tribes of Israel were etched and the other had the six other names of Israel. They sat on the shoulders of the High Priest so when God looked down from heaven he saw them. (“And the government shall be upon his shoulders.” Isaiah 9:6) *** The breastplate was worn next to the High Priest’s heart. It was called the breastplate of judgment. It had the twelve stone of all colors to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They were set in four rows of three stones. The name of the tribe it represented was etched on the stone. Jesus wore the ones he came to save, his children, over his heart.The breastplate was bound with a blue cord to his heart so when he went before the Lord they would be a remembrance to the Lord. In the breastplate of judgment was the Urim and the Thummin. They were used to determine God’s answer. *** Next was the robe of righteousness. It was to have pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet around its hem and bells of gold between them. There are 613 laws in the Torah and the rabbi’s likened it to the pomegranate that they said also had 613 seeds. Bells put off a frequency that is know now to bring healing. Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). *** On his head, he was to wear a turban with a gold plate that read “Holiness to the Lord”. Its purpose was to bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts. It was always to be on his forehead that we might be accepted before the Lord. *** These were the garments of the High Priest, Aaron as he represented the Christ which was to come and become our High Priest. Aaron’s sons represented us, God’s holy priesthood. They were to wear linen garments to show that they were righteous because they were the children of their father. They wore the garments of salvation. All of their body was covered in linen which made them acceptable to minister to the Lord. We enter into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus who made us holy and acceptable to God. *** Jesus explained that when he came in his glory, he would separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep were the ones who ministered to him here on earth and ministered to people that he created. The goats were the one who didn’t receive him or honor the ones he created. They will be thrown into the fire prepared for Satan and his demons and the sheep will inherit eternal life. *** It was two days before Passover, Jesus last Passover on earth. the priests and elders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest at that very moment plotting Jesus assassination. The agreed not to do it during Passover because they were afraid of a riot. *** Jesus was at the home of Simon who Jesus had cleansed of leprosy. A woman came in with a jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples criticized her because that perfume could have been sold for much money that could have benefited the poor. Jesus rebuked them and told them that they would always have the poor to worry about but they would not always have him in bodily form. She was anointing his body for burial and wherever the Good News was preached, she would be remembered and what she did would be discussed and understood. *** Lord, Thank you for putting your imprint in everything you created. Everything speaks of your goodness and your glory. May we join in the song.

Weds.’s Devo -The Holy Spirit

Read: Exodus 26:1-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Psalm 31:1-8: Proverbs 8:1-11 God gave Moses the instructions on how to make the curtain of fine linen embroidered with cherubim of blue, and purple that would go all around the Tabernacle area. It would have loops to hold it up and would encase a 810 square foot area. The Tabernacle itself would be a structure with cloth sides and goat skins for a roof. Over the goat skin would be another cover of ram skins dyed red to represent the blood of Christ. Over that would be a layer of badger skin to represent our own skin. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. *** Everything in the Tabernacle was to represent God’s salvation and presence with us. Outside of the tent would be the brazen altar which would be 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet tall. This would be where they would offer burnt offerings. This stood for the cross of Christ. This would be the first thing they would see when they walked through the opening gate. *** Jesus gives the parable about the kingdom of heaven only the parable happens here on earth. There are 10 virgins who are waiting for their bridegroom to come. Five of the women were foolish and five were wise. The wise virgins took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. The foolish just took their lamps. The Word of God is the lamp to our feet but the Holy Spirit is the oil in the lamp. It keeps the Word illuminated and alive in our lives. The foolish ones had the Word but they didn’t have the Holy Spirit. It could also be understood as the Jews who only had the Torah verses the Jews who accepted Jesus and had the Holy Spirit also. The foolish virgins could not get to the bridegroom with the light of one of the others; they had to have their own oil and their own light. We must be born again and have embraced the Holy Spirit. *** Lord, may we have our lamps full of oil. May we embrace every part of You: Father, the Son and Holy Spirt. May we walk in spirit and in truth.

Tues.’s Devo - The Feasts and the Sign of the Son of Man

Read: Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27 God gave them instructions for observing his feasts. There would be three major times to present themselves before the Lord and they would be at the three major feasts: The Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring, the Feast of Harvest which was 50 days after Passover and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year. *** Over and over in the law it says not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. Since all the laws have a spiritual application I wonder if it doesn’t mean that the sins of the mother can not be passed on to her posterity in death if the person is young. In Passover, they were to take a young lamb and cook it over fire to burn out all the impurities in it. Boiling meat fills the meat with the substance it is being boiled in. (Just my thoughts.) *** God promised to send an angel to take them into the promised land. They were to protect and regard what he told them to do and not to provoke him. He would go before them and bring them to the land of the “ites” and God would cut them off. *** They were not to bow down to their enemies’ gods but overthrow them and break down their sacred pillars. If they would faithfully serve the Lord, he would bless their bread and water. He would take sickness away from them. No one would suffer miscarriage or be barren in the land and they would live out all their days. *** God would send fear, confusion and hornets to drive out their enemies little by little so they could slowly occupy the land. *** Moses told the people all God had said to him and they agreed to do what the Lord had said. Moses wrote all the words of the Lord down then he built an altar and built 12 pillars to represent each tribe. He offered the sacrifices and sprinkled the blood on the altar. He read the Book of the Covenant to the people again and they agreed to do it. *** Then Moses took Aaron, his two sons and seventy of the elders and they saw the Lord in his glory. They all ate before the Lord’s presence. God called Moses up on the mountains to give him tablets of stone with the law and commandments he had written for the people. He was there for 40 days and nights. *** During those days and nights, God spoke to Moses about the offerings he wanted of all who willed to give. It was all the materials they would need to build the tabernacle from metals to cloth to precious stones. Then he gave him the blueprints of the furniture that would be in the Tabernacle: the Ark of the Testimony with the gold cherubim on top. The top of the ark would have a lid called the Mercy Seat and the angels would spread their wings over it. This is what we refer to as the Ark of the Covenant. *** The table of Showbread would be where the priests would eat the unleavened bread. The Menorah would be a light in the Holy Place. *** All of the furniture inside the Tabernacle was to be made of wood and covered with gold except the Menorah that would be made of beaten gold. *** In Matthew, yesterday we heard Jesus’ answer to the end of the age. Today we will read what he said the sign of his coming would be. After the tribulation the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine. The ones in power over the earth (the stars) will fall and the powers of heaven would also be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heaven. *** This sign began on November 9, 2016. Jupiter entered Virgos’ womb to begin the sign of the Son of man. That was the day that Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. From that day we have seen the sun darkened as all hell broke out. Stars have fallen as their sins have been exposed and the elect are being gathered as one all over the planet. *** Jesus said that when we see these signs taking place we know that the time is near and this generation will not pass away until all the things God has promised will take place. How exciting is that?!!! *** It will be like the days of Noah when people are oblivious to the times they are in. They will be taken from this world with no warning. But, blessed will be the man who is faithfully ruling his household in godliness. God will be pleased with him. God warns us not to get weary in doing good because our reward will surely come. *** Lord, may we not get weary in the wait because you will fulfill every word in your book.

Mon.’s Devo - The End of the Age

Read: Exodus 21:22-23:13; Matthew 24:1-28; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 7:6-23 God’s laws reveal who God is. He is just and fair and loves mankind he created. His desire was for us to live together respecting one another and desiring fairness and justice. His laws gave us practical ways to do this. They dealt with the intent of the heart, taking responsibility for oneself and their animals, respecting one another and their possessions and treating one another fairly. They were never to charge interest on a loan. *** The only way this could happen was if there were just and fair judges. The judges must be honest, not prejudiced against the poor or women. They had to refuse to be bought or compromised. The witnesses had to be honest and forthcoming with the truth. They could not take bribes to distort the truth. *** If the system got broken and they were didn’t get the justice they needed from the courts, they were to cry out to the Lord who hears and is gracious. *** They were not to dishonor God or curse any of their rulers. They were not to hold back their offerings to the Lord of their crops, wine or first born of sons or animals. Newborns were to be given to the Lord on the eighth day. *** They were to treat foreigners like they would want to be treated. They were once foreigners, themselves. They were to plant their crops and harvest them for six years but on the seventh, they were to let their land rest. During this year they were to let the poor and the wild animals eat whatever the land brought on its own. This would be the Sabbath for the land. The people were to observe the Sabbath every seven days and rest from their work. *** God told them to pay close attention not to even mention the names of other gods or let their names come out of your mouth. *** In Matthew, the disciples are walking through Jerusalem commenting on all the buildings of the Temple. Jesus says that he saw the day when every stone would be thrown down. *** As they sat together on top of the Mt. of Olives which looks out over the Temple, the disciples asked him when would the Temple be destroyed and what would be the sign of his coming and the end of the age. *** Jesus gave them things that would lead up to it. Many would claim they were the Messiah. There would be wars and rumors of war. Nations and kingdoms would rise up against one another. There would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in different places. But these would all be the beginning of the sorrow. His followers would be persecuted and hated because they were Christians. There would be much hate and betrayal. False prophets would rise up and deceive many. Lawlessness ad hopelessness would abound. But he who endures to the end will be saved. The gospel of the kingdom would be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations then the end of that age will come. *** Then he tells them what is about to happen in their time in verses 15-28. He warned them to flee to the mountains when they saw the desecration of the Temple. *** In 70 A.D., the Roman army came in and totally destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. The Christians fled to the town of Pella near the Sea of Galilee. More than one million Jews were killed in one day. Jesus was giving them practical advise to flee the city before this happened so they could escape. *** False Messiah’s would arise to lead the people astray but they were not to fall for their deception. *** Tomorrow, we will read what Jesus said about the sign of his coming. *** Lord, thank you that you give us the end from the beginning so we will endure till the end. Thank you for all the great things you have planned for us in our everyday and in our future. You are so good.

Sun.’s Devo - The Ten Commandments

Read: Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 7:1-5 On the morning of the third day, God blew a loud trumpet so loud, that the people trembled. They all met at the foot of the Mountain and Mt. Sinai was completely in smoke because God descended upon it in fire. The whole mountain quake greatly and the sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then the Lord came down upon the mountain and warned Moses to tell the people not to come any closer or they would die. *** God told Moses and Aaron to come up on the mountain, but not the priests or the people. God then gave them his commandments that we call the Ten Commandments. The people begged Moses not to let God speak to them again because it scared them so much. Moses told them that he spoke to put that fear in their hearts of him so that they would obey what he said. *** God told Moses that they were never to make him an altar of gold or silver or hewn stone but of the earth and of rough stone. And they must not make steps up to the altar or it would expose their nakedness. *** Then God went into a bunch of laws having to do with how to treat their slaves. A Hebrew slave would only be a slave for 6 years unless he chose to keep serving his master after the six years. If so he must pierce his ear to the master’s door. *** If a female is sold as a slave and she doesn’t please her master, she may be redeemed but not sold to foreigners. If she was married to his son, then she would be treated as a daughter. If he took another wife, the first wife should be taken care of with all the privileges of a wife. If she isn’t, then she can go free with out being redeemed. *** If a person accidentally kills another and there was no premeditation in it, that man must go to a city of refuge. But if a man kills a person with intent, then he must be put to death. Anyone who strikes or curses their father or mother must be put to death. Anyone who assaults another must pay for damages and the time he spent not being able to work. But a man who beats his servant to death must only be punished, unless they live a day or two and then he is acquitted because they are his property. *** In Matthew, Jesus nailed the scribes and Pharisees. He rebuked them for keeping people out of God’s kingdom and not entering themselves. They put more importance on a person’s gift than the reason they were giving the gift. He rebuked them for all their outward acts of piety when their hearts were full of extortion, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and lawlessness. They were blindly leading the people and making the laws so hard to follow that no one could be righteous in their eyes. He asked them how they expected to escape the condemnation of hell. They built monuments to honor the very prophets that their father’s killed. And they would continue to kill them… and him. The blood of all the prophets from Abel to Zechariah would fall on them and their generation. This would happen because they would kill the fulfillment of all the prophets. *** One day, God’s people will say, “blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” *** Lord, may our hearts be clean and pure. Thank you for the blood of Christ that makes us righteous.

Sat.’s Devo - War with the Amalekites

Read: Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:34-23:12: Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35 Moses and the children of Israel were still at Rephidim where God had brought the water from the rock, when the warriors of Amalie attacked them. Water was like gold in the wilderness. *** Moses told Joshua to organize and lead an army to fight them. As they fought, Moses stood on a nearby hill and held up his staff. As long as he held the staff up, they would be in the advantage but when he dropped his hands in exhaustion, they would begin to lose. The men sat Moses on a rock and Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses holding up his hands. As a result, Joshua and his army won. *** When it was over, God told Moses to write it down in a scroll as a permanent reminder and read this aloud to Joshua: “I will erase the memory of Amalie from under heaven.” God wanted Joshua to hear that for a reason, although it would be Saul that would fulfill this promise. *** They named the place Yahwah-Nissi which means “the Lord is my banner”. The Amalekites had raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord would be at war with the Amalikites generation after generation. Amalek means “perversion” and we are still fighting that stronghold. *** Moses had sent Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer back to their homeland to live with her father, Jethro during all the plagues. Jethro brought them to meet Moses. Jethro had heard of all they did to Egypt and their victory. Moses filled him in with what had happened since they left Egypt. Jethro understood that God was greater than all the other gods because of what God had done for Moses and his people. *** Jethro saw how all the people came to Moses all day long to judge between their disputes and solved their problems. He told Moses that he would burn out if he continued to carry the burden of all these people by himself. He suggested that he choose and mentor a group of men who would then mentor another group and they would divide all the people and give them a representative. They would go to them and leave the big problems for Moses. Moses saw the wisdom in this and did it. *** In the third month after they had left Israel they arrived at Sinai. God told Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves to meet with Him on the third day. He had boundaries set around the mountain so the people couldn’t cross the boundaries and come closer to the mountain. Whoever touched the mountain must die. *** In Matthew, the Pharisees saw that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with his proof of the resurrection in the scripture. So they asked him what was the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus said it was to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. Then he told them the second most important even though they didn’t ask. It was to love their neighbor as they loved themselves. He went on to say that on these two commandments all the law and the prophets hung. They could’t argue with him. *** Jesus asked them whose Son would the Messiah be. They answered “the Son of David”. Jesus asked them why David called God, Lord if he was his son. They couldn’t answer that. *** Jesus turned to the people and began to talk about the scribes and the Pharisees. He said they sat in Moses’ seat which was the judge of the law. He pointed out that they didn’t do what they preached. They put heavy burdens on the people that they couldn’t even do. They loved their position and their titles but they did’t deserve them. The people should not be calling them Rabbi or Father because those titles only belong to the Christ and God. *** The ones who claim to be great in the world will be their servants and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. *** Lord may we examine our doctrine and only hold on to what is true and right. Father God, you are our Father and Jesus, you are the Christ. We are your servants, your children and your friends.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Provision

Read: Exodus 15:19-17:7; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26 When the Israelites saw what God did to the Egyptians in the sea, Miriam grabbed a tambourine and led the people in praise and dancing. They sang, “Sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and the rider he has hurled into the sea.” *** They traveled three days looking for water and when they finally found water at Marah, it was bitter. The people complained and Moses cried out to the Lord. He showed him a piece of wood and Moses threw it into the water and the water became pure. God told them that if they listened to the Lord and did what was right in his sight and obeyed his commands that they would not suffer any of the diseases he set on the Egyptians. *** They came to the wilderness of Sin exactly one month from when they left Egypt. The whole community complained about Moses and Aaron because they had no food to eat. God told ones he was going to rain down food from heaven for them. It would be a test to the people. For five days they were only to gather what they would need for the day. On the sixth day they were to gather enough for two days because on the seventh day there would be no bread from heaven (they would call manna). *** As Aaron told the people this, God’s glory shone in a cloud. He told them they in the evening they would have meat, and in the morning they would have bread. That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning the dew evaporated and the ground was blanketed with a flaky substance. Moses told them to gather two quarts a person for their daily amount. Those who gathered more and kept it till the next day woke up to maggots. But on the sixth day, the extra they gathered did not spoil but kept for the Sabbath day. God told Moses that they must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. *** God told Moses to get a jar and preserve two quarts of the manna in it as a testimony. It would not turn to maggots. The people ate this manna for forty years until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. *** They came to Rephidim and there was no water. The people cried out against Moses and was ready to stone him. Moses went to the Lord for help. The lord told him to go before the people and strike the rock that was oat Mt. Sinai. Water would come gushing out and the people would have water to drink. Moses named the place Massah which means “test” and Mariah which means “arguing”. *** In Matthew, Jesus gave a parable about the kingdom of heaven. In his parable a king arranged a marriage for his son and invited many to the wedding party. Those invited made light of his invitation and some even seized his servants and treated them spitefully killing a few of them. When the king found out he was furious and told his servants to go out to the highways and byways and invite as many as they could until the place was filled. He provided wedding garments for all. But when the king came out he saw a man who chose not to wear his garment. When the king asked him why, he had no reply. The king ordered him to be bound and cast into outer darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then he said, “many are called but few are chosen,” *** This was the second time he had said that phrase. He said it in Matthew 20:16. The call of salvation is to all but only the “chosen” will respond to it. God knows beforehand who those are, but because he is just and fair, he offers it to all . No one can say he is prejudiced or unjust. *** The man who was thrown out was an imposter. He wanted the benefits of God without the covering of Jesus’ blood which is our garment of salvation. *** The Pharisees were constantly trying to trick Jesus and have a reason to arrest him. They asked him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus called them hypocrites because they were just like the unfair Romans. They put unfair taxes on the people just like the Romans. He asked them to show him the tax money then asked whose picture was on the coin. They said it was Caesar’s, so Jesus told them to render to him what was due him and render to God what was owed him. The people marveled at his answer. *** Then they asked Jesus a veiled question to see what he thought about the resurrection since that was such a “hot topic” among the religious sector. He explained that the scriptures taught that God was a God of the living, not the dead. Once again the crowd was amazed at his answer and the religious people were baffled. *** Lord, I thank you that you give us the right answer at the right time. Help us to trust you for our daily bread and know that you have prepared for this seventh day for us in advance. We put all our trust in you.

Thurs.’s Devo -The Great Victory

Read: Exodus 13:17-15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 6:16-19 God led the people by the way of the wilderness instead of through the Philistine’s land because he didn’t want them to face war right away. They went out of Egypt in orderly ranks. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him and they camped in Etham. God told Moses what was going to happen. Pharaoh was going to pursue them but God would gain honor over Pharaoh and his army. *** Pharaoh came with his army and chariots and found them by the sea. They were camping between two areas where their gods/demons occupied. On was Pi Hahiroth which means “the mouth of where wrath is kindled” and the other was Baal Zephon which was the Lord of winter or the north. *** When the people saw the army of Egypt coming they were very afraid and cried out to the Lord and complained to Moses. Moses told them not to be afraid because the Lord was going to save them without them doing a thing. God told Moses to lift up his rod and stretch his hand over the sea and divide it. The land would become dry and God would indeed harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they would follow them. Then God would gain his honor over the army of Egypt. *** The angel of the Lord moved behind them and became a wall to separate the Egyptians and the Israelite. It was dark on the Egyptian side and light on the Israelite side. Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea and God sent an east wind all that night. It parted the sea and dried the land between. The children of Israel went through the sea with a wall of water on either side. *** The Egyptians pursued but God troubled their chariots and took off their wheels so they had great difficulty making them work. Once they were in the full depth of the sea the Lord told Moses to stretch forth his hand and the waters came back on the Egyptians overthrowing them in the midst of the sea. *** The people of Israel saw all of this and feared the Lord. Moses taught the people this song of praise to the Lord and they all sang it and celebrated God’s great victory for them. In his song he predicted that all the people he would meet on the way to Canaan and the people of Canaan would greatly fear them. *** In Matthew, the chief priests and elders questioned Jesus authority to do what he did. So he questioned them about John the Baptist’s authority. They couldn’t answer him so he told them he wouldn’t answer them either. Then Jesus went on to give two parables about them. They were the son who said he would go to his father’s vineyard and work but didn’t. They didn’t fulfill what God had sent them to do which was prepare the people’s heart for the Messiah. In the second parable they were the ones who would kill the landowner’s son so they could keep their positions. *** Since they rejected the chief cornerstone of God’s kingdom which is Christ, that stone would crush them to powder. But the one who falls on Christ and willing offers his life to Jesus, will be given the kingdom of God. *** Lord, may we fall on you and be saved. Thank you that you fight our battles for us and we need only to have faith and obey. May we hear your voice and draw near to your heart.