Fri.’s Devo - The Kingdom of God

Read: Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 10:6-7 Aaron and his sons were finally ordained and ready to do their first service as priests. They were to offer a sin offering and burnt offering first for them selves and then for the people to make atonement for them. Everything went well as they offered they offered their offering. Then they began the offerings for the people beginning with the sin offering, then the burnt offering, then the peace offerings. Moses and Aaron took the blood into the tent of meeting and when they came out they blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat they had put on the altar. The people fell on their faces in worship. *** Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu each took their censers and put fire and incense on them and offered it to the Lord. This was not what the Lord had told them to do. The fire came out and consumed them and they died right there. *** Moses gave them a word from the Lord, He said, “Among those who are near to me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Aaron found peace in that. *** Moses had Aaron’s two nephews, Mishael and Elzaphan, carry out the bodies of Nadab and Abihu out of the camp. The people were commanded not to be angry about what the Lord had done but they were to mourn their deaths. *** What the Lord says next makes me wonder if Aaron’s two sons had been drunk. He told Aaron that he and his sons were not to drink any wine or strong drink when they came into the tent of meeting or they would die. They were to be holy and teach the children of Israel to be holy. *** Moses told Aaron and his surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar to take what was left of the unleavened grain offering and eat it in the holy place. They were to eat the breast and the thigh in a clean place with their families. First, they were to wave them before the Lord. *** Later, Moses asked about the goat of the sin offering and found that they had let it all burn. Moses was extremely mad because they were suppose to eat it to bear the iniquity of the congregation to make atonement for them. Aaron told him that they offered their sin offering and burnt offering, but after what happened they weren’t so sure the Lord would have approved if they ate it. Moses understood. *** In Mark, Jesus gives two parables to explain the kingdom of God. It is filled with seed or people that God scatters in the earth. They grow by themselves and multiply until the time of the harvest. He compares them to mustard seed. It is the smallest seed, but it produces the largest plant with large branches that brings shade and housing for many birds. *** In the next story, we have an example of what these parables mean. Jesus told his disciples to go to the other side of the sea. On the way there was a huge storm and they woke Jesus up thinking they were going to drown. He rebuked the wind and told the sea to be still. The wind stopped and the sea became calm. Then he asked them why they were so afraid. They marveled at what had just happened. *** When the reached the other side they immediately met a man insane with demons. Jesus rebuked the demons and sent them into a herd of two thousand swine who ran and jumped over the side of the hill. The herdsmen ran into the city and told the people what had just happened. They ran out to see for themselves and there was the demon-possessed man clothed and sane. This made them afraid of Jesus and they begged him to leave. The now sane and delivered man begged Jesus to take him with him but Jesus sent him home to tell the people there what God had done for him. 
 *** This man was the seed that began very small. No one wanted to be near him before, but now he would become a great evangelist who would spread his seed to many and the next time Jesus returned, the whole city would welcome him with open arms. *** Lord, may we be like the seed that produces a mighty tree that others can find hope and healing in our testimony.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Ordination of the Priests

Read: Leviticus 7:28-9:6; Mark 3:31-4:25; Pslam 37:12-29; Proverbs 10:5 When a person brought a peace offering, the priest would wave it before the Lord and then burn the fat on the altar to the Lord but the priest would get the breast for themselves. When a person makes peace with the Lord, everyone benefits. *** The priests were ordained by offering a sin offering for themselves so they would be clean. They were then to wash and put on their priestly clothes. Moses would anoint them with oil. They would lay their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering and then kill the bull. Moses would take the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar purifying the altar then pour the rest at the base of the altar to make atonement for it. All the fat would be burned on the altar and the rest of the bull burned outside the camp. *** Then the ram for the burnt offering would be killed and its blood thrown on the sides of the altar. This bull was to be completely consumed on the altar. *** Next, the ram of ordination would be brought in and Aaron and his sons would lay their hands on the head of it and it was killed. Moses would take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot. He would do the same to his sons. Then he would throw the rest at the base of the altar. *** All of this represents what Christ did for us. Christ stood for Aaron. We stand for his sons. Moses stood for God. When we become a Christian we accept everything Christ did for us. We die with Christ, and are raised to a new life. We are washed of our sins and everything we listen to, or put our hand to, and our foundation is now to be God’s will. Moses would take a loaf of unleavened bread (the Father), a loaf of bread with oil (the Holy Spirit) and one wafer (Christ) and place it on the fat and the thigh that would be offered to the Lord. He would put them in the priest’s hands and let them wave them before the Lord. *** When the priests gave a wave offering they would wave them up and down first then from east to west making the sign of the cross. *** Moses would take some anointing oil and blood and sprinkle it on the priests. They were to boil the meat at the entrance of the tent and eat it. All that was left was to be burnt on the altar. They were not to leave the tent of meeting for the whole seven days they were being ordained. *** This week represents our whole Christian life. Once we are saved, we have a “week” to live for Christ. When we die, no matter how long that takes, we will have completed our “week.” *** The eighth day represents what happens once we die. All the offerings are done again in commemoration of what Christ did for us. *** In Mark, Jesus made a great statement. He proclaimed that all who do his will are his family. Then he told them the parable of all parables. It is about the seed and the sower. Jesus explained the parable and the key to cultivating the seed was the heart. If the seed of God’s Word falls on a heart that wants to know God, it will prosper. It will grow according to how he walks in the Word. We choose how much of God’s Word we want to walk in. The more we walk in it, the more God will give us. *** Lord, may we walk in your Word and be doers of it, not just hearers. May we complete our week bringing a hundred fold into your kingdom.

Wed.’s Devo - The Thanksgiving Offering 2-18-26

Read: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4 If anyone deceives his neighbor in any way - lying, slander, etc., causes a breach of God’s trust in that person. What we do to others, we are doing to God. When the man realizes what he did was wrong and wants to repent, he must restore what it cost his neighbor and add a fifth to it. Then he is to offer the Lord a ram as a guilt offering to atone for his sin. *** Whenever a burnt offering was to be made, it was to be kept burning all night. The priest would put on his linen garment to shovel the ashes beside the altar. Then he was to change clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. This was to show that he was cleansed at the altar to go out in his everyday life. *** The grain offering was a handful of fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense. It was to be burned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The rest of the flour would be give to the priest to make into unlearned bread to eat in the Holy Place. It was not to have leaven. *** On the day that Aaron and his sons were anointed, they were to offer a tenth of an ephor of fine flour as a grain offering - half in the morning and the other half at night. The priests were to eat the sin offering because Christ became sin for us. If it was boiled in a clay pot, the pot was then to be broken. When we partake of Christ’s salvation, we must be broken. If it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that pot would be scoured and rinse with water. *** All sin offerings were to be burnt with fire. God wanted them to know that there was a way to totally get rid of their sin. *** If a peace offering is offered for a thanksgiving offering then he was to offer with his sacrifice: loaves of leavened bread along with unleavened loaves mixed with oil and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. The sacrifice would be eaten the day it was offered but if it is a vow or freewill offering, it could be eaten on the next day and what was left on the third day would be burned with fire. I think this has to do with your offerings and prayers you pray before you are saved. The leavened bread is the person’s sin that still remains. God still hears the prayer. The third day is the day of a person’s “week” that he is saved and becomes a new person. It is his resurrection from death to life. *** The people were to eat no fat or blood from any of the sacrifices. The blood stood for Jesus and the fat was the oil of the Holy Spirit. Those were the Lord’s and they forever remain. *** In Mark, Jesus had become famous wherever he went because he healed and delivered them from their demons. The demons identified him as the Son of God. *** Jesus would go up on the mountain to be alone with the Lord. He showed Jesus who his twelve disciples should be. Jesus sent them out to preach and gave them authority to cast out demons and preach the good news. The disciples were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot who would betray him. *** When Jesus went home, the crowds gathered so that he couldn’t even eat. His family took him and though he was out of his mind. The scribes agreed saying he was possessed by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. They claimed that that was how he could cast out demons. *** Jesus countered them with “How can Satan cast out Satan?” He explained that a kingdom would not stand if it was divided against itself. No one can enter into a house and rob it unless he first binds the man of the house. Then he can plunder him. *** Then Jesus told them that all sins would be forgiven except what they say against God’s Spirit. They were accusing Jesus of having an unclean spirit, thus they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. *** The scribes and Pharisees who spoke against Jesus were the house that was divided against itself. They were choosing their sides, and they were choosing to be on Satan’s side. *** Lord, may we be united with you. Thank you for choosing us, forgiving us and giving us new life. May we take the authority you have given us and cast out demons and heal the sick.

Tues.’s Devo - The Sin and the Trespass Offering

Read: Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 2:13-3:6; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 10:1-2 Today we read about the sin offering and the trespass offering and we will discuss the difference between the two. *** The sin offering was to be given when a person unintentionally sinned and then realized they had sinned. Their offering was their act of repentance to make things right between them and God. We are given four categories of people: the anointed priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or the common people. *** The sin of the anointed priest would bring sin on the people. He was to bring a bull and lay his head on the bull transferring his sin to the bull. He was to take the blood from the bull and bring it into the tabernacle and sprinkle part of the blood 7 times before the Lord in front to the veil leading to the Holy of Holies. He was also to put some of the blood on the horns of the incense altar. There rest of the blood was to be poured out at the base of the bronze altar in the courtyard. The kidneys, the fat and the liver were to be burned on the altar and the rest of the bull was to be taken outside the camp and burned completely. If the whole congregation of Israel signed unintentionally then realized their sin, they were to offer a bull and the elders were to lay their hands on the head of the bull and accept responsibility for the people. Everything else was done just like the sacrifice of the anointed priest who sinned. *** When a leader sinned he was to offer a male goat and lay his hands on its head. Its blood would only be put on the horns of the bronze altar. Its fat would be burned on the altar. *** If a common person unintentionally sinned, he was to bring a female goat and it was done like for the leader. The common person may substitute a female lamb instead of the goat. *** The priest and the children of Israel were different than the leader and the common person in that the priest and the children of Israel had a much greater intimacy with the Lord, so they had sinned against the very presence of God. The blood of their sacrifice had to be taken closer to where God’s presence was. God makes a distinction between us and the world. *** A trespass offering was given when a person violated someone’s property or someone’s reputation. *** In the first case given, a person witnessed the truth but did not speak in defense of the person which made him guilty of the sin. He must atone for his sin. Another situation was given where a person testified wrongly in a case then realizes his fault. Two sacrifices were made. One for the blood to sprinkle for cleansing and the other for a burnt offering to take the sin away. Some sins required restitution and they had to bring the shekel of the sanctuary. This was a guilt offering to ransom their soul. *** Doesn’t this make us so grateful that our sacrifice has been given, and our debt paid through the blood of Christ. All we have to do is bring our confession to the Lord and ask his forgiveness. He totally erases it from our slate. Thank you, Jesus! *** In Mark, Jesus passed Levi sitting at the tax booth and called him to follow him. Levi is also Matthew. He ate that day at Matthew’s house along with Matthew’s other tax-collecting friends. The Pharisees questioned why Jesus would eat with such sinners and he explained that it wasn’t the people who were well that needed a physician, but the ones who were sick. He came to call the sinners to him, not the righteous. He was speaking to them who thought they were righteous, but were the greatest sinners of all. *** For some reason, the Pharisees and even John’s disciples were fasting, but Jesus’ disciples were not. The Pharisees questioned Jesus about this also. Jesus explained that wedding guests didn’t fast when the bridegroom was with them. He would be taken from them in the future, and his disciples would fast then. Then he went into the scenario of sewing new cloth to old material that has holes. When the cloth gets wet the new cloth will shrink and tear away from the old material, making the hole even worse. And, Jesus explained that you wouldn’t put old wine into new wineskins because the new wine would burst the new wineskins. *** What Jesus was saying to the Pharisees was that they didn’t understand the things Jesus was doing because he was ushering in the new covenant that was different. If they didn’t change with it, they would not be able to grasp it. They were like the old cloth and the old wineskins. They were not able to adjust to the change because of their hard hearts. *** Jesus then demonstrated what he was talking about. His disciples ate the grain on the Sabbath because the Sabbath was made for man to rule, not for it to rule man. They had made the Sabbath all about rules so hard to keep that it was not restful at all. Jesus reminded them what David did when he was hungry. He ate food that only priests were to eat and it didn’t kill him. David had a relationship with the Lord that gave him access into His house as a priest. *** Jesus demonstrated what was to be done on the Sabbath when he went into the Temple and healed the man with the withered hand. This made the Pharisees so jealous and angry that they met to discuss how they could destroy him. *** Lord, may we enjoy the freedom we have in Christ. May we not be burdened with condemnation but quickly repent and apply the blood of Christ to our hearts. May we live in joy and peace with God and with man.

Mon.’s Devo - Leviticus

Read: Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18 Leviticus was the first book taught to children. It tells us about God’s character and his will, especially in the area of holiness. They wanted their children to be educated in the sanctity of God and their responsibility to live holy lives. The word “Leviticus” means “and He called.” *** God gave them different offerings for different purposes. Today we read about the burnt offering, the grain offering and the peace offering. These offerings are types that picture the work of Christ. The burnt offering was also called the whole offering because the animal is completely consumed on the altar, just as Jesus was completely consumed on the cross. Jesus held nothing back and his death completely dealt with sin. The person offering this would give it of his own free will. He was to lay his hand on the head of the offering to transfer his sin to the animal. The person along with the priests would kill the animal and the priests would sprinkle its blood on the bronze altar which stood for the cross. Even the skin was burned on the fire. *** The grain offering was given to obtain favor from the Lord. The grain offering came from the fruits of their labor much like the tithe we give. When we tithe, God rebukes the devourer from us and we are blessed with his favor instead. *** The grain offering was mixed with oil that represent God’s Spirit. Aaron and his sons got to keep some of this offering. There was to be no leaven or honey in this offering, but there was to be salt and frankincense. Leaven represents sin and honey represents man’s strength. The salt was a preservative meaning everlasting and the frankincense speaks of Christ’s death which was a sweet savor to God. *** The peace offering was to offer appeasement of guilt, and to pay the penalty for their sins. It was to bring them peace and to make peace with God. They would lay hands on the animal transferring their guilt and sin to the animal then the priests would sprinkle its blood on the altar and remove its kidneys and all the fat and burn them on the altar. The fat and the blood was the Lord’s. They represented the Holy Spirit and Jesus. *** In Mark, Jesus went into Simon’s house and healed his mother-in-law. She stood for his mother “in the law” - the nation of Israel. She immediately got up and served them. When Israel is healed, that is what she will do. She will serve and bless all the nations. *** Jesus then went out and healed many who were sick, and filled with demons. Early in the morning he would go and pray. When Simon found him he told him that everyone was looking for him. Jesus didn’t stay long in any town because he wanted to spread the good news to as many as he could. *** Jesus healed a leper and Jesus told him not to tell others but to go straight to the priest so they could see the proof. They had to be given the opportunity to repent also. Instead, the leper went around telling people what had happened which made it very difficult for Jesus to travel freely. He had to go to the wilderness to preach because of the notoriety. *** Jesus finally returned to Capernaum and so many came to see him that the room was filled to the max. A paralytic was brought and when his friends saw they were not going to get inside, they went on the roof, removed the shingles and lowered him before Jesus. Jesus was so impressed by their faith he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man. The scribes who were there were very offended that Jesus thought he could forgive sins. Jesus asked them which was easier to say to the man, his sins were forgiven or to get up and walk. Because he was the Son of Man with the authority to forgive sins, he could also tell him to get up and walk. He turned to the man and commanded him to get up and walk and he did. Everyone was amazed. *** Lord, thank you for being our healer and our savior. Thank you that you are our burnt offering, our grain offering and our peace offering. We gratefully and humbly enjoy all the benefits of your sacrifice on the cross.

Sun.’s Devo - Mark

Read: Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Procures 9:11-12 Everything needed for the tabernacle and the priest’s garments were finally finished. A detailed description was given us again of the garments of the high priest and the furniture of the tabernacle. As the tabernacle was being assembled, the furniture was brought into the rooms. *** Everything was completed on the first day of the first month of the second year. When it was all in place, the cloud covered the tent and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The glory was so strong, Moses was not able to enter it. Whenever the cloud rose and moved, the people would pack up and begin to move with it. If the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, then they stayed. The cloud led them by the day and became a fire at night. ***Today, we begin Mark’s writing’s about Jesus. Matthew had been written to the Jews and its theme was the kingship of Jesus. Matthew’s symbol was the lion. Mark was written to the Romans and his theme was the servanthood of Christ. He was represented as the ox. It is believed that Mark was very close with Peter and wrote this after Peter was martyred by Nero. The church lived in constant threat of death. *** He begins with Isaiah’s prophecy of John the Baptist who would be a voice in the wilderness proclaiming to the people to prepare their hearts for the Lord. He baptized the people with a baptism of repentance to forgive their sins. The people in Judea and Jerusalem went out to the Jordan to hear him preach. They were forgiven of their sins and baptized. John spoke of the one who was coming who would be much greater than him and he would baptize with the Holy Spirit. *** Jesus came to John to be baptized and when Jesus was lifted out of the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended on him like a dove. A voice from heaven was heard which said, “You are my beloved son; with whom I am well pleased.” *** Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. He was also with wild animals and angels. *** John was arrested and Jesus began proclaiming the kingdom of God was at hand. He also told the people to repent and believe what the prophets had foretold. *** Jesus chose Simon Peter and Andrew, two brothers who were fishermen. Jesus told them to come and follow him and he would make them fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed him. They walked a little farther down the shore of Galilee and saw two more brothers, James and John who were mending their nets with their father. Jesus told them to also follow him. They dropped their nets and followed. *** Jesus led them to Capernaum. It was the Sabbath so they entered the synagogue and Jesus astonished everyone with his teachings because he taught with authority. He spoke like he knew what he was talking about, not like the scribes. *** A man with an unclean spirit cried out asking if he had come to destroy them. He recognized Jesus as the holy One of God. Jesus rebuked him and told him to be quiet and come out of the man. The unclean spirit came out with convulsions and yelling. Everyone was amazed at what they saw and his fame spread throughout Galilee. *** Lord, may many hear the call to follow you and drop what they are doing and follow. May we also follow the Holy Spirit who is our cloud and our fire. Thank you for your power to save.

Sat.’s Devo - The Furniture of the Tabernacle

Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8 Bezalel built the ark to hold the covenant. It would be made of wood and covered with gold. It would be carried by poles that would go through two rings on each side. He hammered gold to form two cherubim whose wings would overshadow the mercy seat. This would be the place the high priest would come and receive God’s mercy for himself and for the people. He made an incense table much like the mercy seat but smaller and taller. This would be where the priest would offer incense to please the Lord. This stood right outside the curtain that lead to the Holy of Holies. When the Temple was built, this was the table where Zechariah was offering incense and the angel appeared to him and told him of his son, John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-17). *** In the Holy Place sat the incense table, the large menorah, and the table of shewbread. The large menorah was made of beaten gold and resembled an almond tree with branches. Three branches came out on both sides to form seven in all. The branches had knobs to represent the almond bud and the almond flower which held the cup to hold the oil and the wick. This was the whole process of becoming a priest. First you were planted by the Lord, then you produced a bud, then matured into a flower. This was the same thing that happened to Aaron’s rod when the Lord chose him as his priest. As priests to the Lord, we go through the same process. *** Outside the tabernacle in the courtyard was where the bronze altar stood. It was made of bronze and had a gutter around it with a downspout on the right side. This was where the priest would offer the burnt offerings given by the people. This altar stood for the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin. All the people could watch their sacrifice be accepted by the Lord. *** Beside the bronze altar was a bronze basin where the priest would wash their hands and feet before and after they ministered as priests. This stood for our continual cleansing of our sinful nature which we do by confessing to the Lord and letting his blood cleanse us. *** In Matthew, it was the third day after Jesus had been sacrificed. Both Mary’s came to the tomb. There had been an earthquake and the angel had rolled by the stone and was sitting on it. He was glorious. The guards had been slain in the spirit and were lying on the ground. The angel told the women not to be afraid, but Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel invited them to come and see where he had been, then go tell the disciples what had happened. As they were leaving, Jesus met them and told them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. *** Some of the guards got up and went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They paid them off to lie and say that the disciples had come and stolen his body. *** The eleven of Jesus disciples went to the mountain Jesus had told them to meet him in Galilee. Jesus told them that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. They were to go in this authority and make disciples of the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were to teach them all he had taught them. He would be with them till the end of the age. (We are at the end of that age.) *** Lord, may we walk in Jesus’ authority and make disciples of the nations. May we live all Jesus taught and be an example to those around us.