Sat.’s Devo - God’s Feasts

Read: Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19 God gave them special days to celebrate so they would always remember what he did. The first was the Sabbath to be observed every seven days. It was to be a constant reminder of God’s day of completion. Our lives are like a week. We are born on the first day, get saved on the third day and die on the seventh to complete our lives. These days differ with each person. *** God also divided the year into feasts to show us his plan for the world. On the tenth day of the first month it was the Lord’s Passover. Jesus was crucified on this day. On the fifteenth day of the same month was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They were to eat unleavened bread for a week and every day present a food offering to the Lord. On the first and seventh day they were not to work. This day represents how Jesus lived his life sinless from the day he was born to the day he died. When we become Christians, we live in unleavened bread where we are cleansing the sin from our lives. This is called sanctification. *** The next feast is First Fruits. When they harvested their wheat they were to bring the first fruits of their harvest to the Lord and the priest would wave it before the Lord. Jesus rose on this day being the first fruit to rise from the dead. *** Fifty days or seven weeks later from the day after the Sabbath, they were to bring two loaves of bread to be waved along with seven lambs and one bull and two rams. In addition they were to bring a grain offering, drink offering, food offering, sin offering and a peace offering. The priest would wave the bread of their first fruits to the Lord. This represented the fruits of their labor. This feast was called the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. It would represent the day God sent his Holy Spirit in Acts Two to dwell with us. *** In the seventh month on the first day they were to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. It would be a solemn day of rest beginning with the blast of trumpets. This will be the first trump and is a call to repentance. The gates are open wide for those to come to repentance. *** On the tenth day of this 7th month was the Day of Atonement. It was the most holy day of the year. On this day the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and offer blood on the altar to pray for the nation. When this day is fulfilled, the gates to heaven will be shut and no one will be allowed to come in after this day. *** On the fifteenth of this month will be the Feast of Tabernacles where they will celebrate living in booths they make from certain branches of trees. This is to remind them that all their lives they were living in temporary bodies and temporary houses. This is to remind them that God will one day dwell with us. This day marks the end of the world as we know it. *** On the eighth day of this feast they were to hold a holy convocation and do no work. This will be the day the world begins again in the new earth. *** In Mark, Jesus is on his way to be crucified and his disciples are discussing who will be greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus knew what they were saying and told them that if they wanted to be first in his kingdom they would have to be willing to be a servant, now. Life is preparation for eternity. Life is our test. *** Jesus explained that those who do something good in his name are doing it because they believe in him. If they believe in him then they believe in God because he came from God. If they do some mighty work in his name they will not speak against him. The smallest act done for Christ’s followers will be rewarded. But, if anyone causes an innocent person to sin, they will be judged harshly. *** Jesus taught in Matthew that we are the salt of the earth and now Mark tells us that the salt is fire. It is the fire of trials and sacrifices. Trials and tests are what makes us effective. *** Lord may we respond correctly to our trials and learn patience, compassion, mercy and love from what we go through. May we grow to love our enemies and may we bless those who bless us. May we be a blessing to you.