Old Testament
1. Sabbath is for rest.
2. Purification offerings..."to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the Lord once each year."
3.Making sacrifices on your own, without the priests or th
4. "...for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible."
- Blood given in exchange for life, for purification- the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the clothing of Adam and Eve. A blood sacrifice is required to "get right" with God, to get back ito relationship...to keep us from being separated.
5. Forbidden sexual practices. Does it not seem incredible that God has to list so many ways not to have sex? Incest, homosexuality, bestiality. These practices were apparently the norm in Canaan.
6. Why is God making all these rules?
- We need to realize that God was acting to train and to discipline His people. He was working with them, to give them a sense of their own identity as His people: to help them realize constantly the privilege- and responsibility- of fellowship with Him.
- There was a tremendous danger that these people would forget their God. Sinai demonstrated how quickly and easily they forgot. Now, however, He begins to establish a pattern for daily life in Israel, so that it was almost impossible to forget God...almost.
- Each meal served was a reminder. The presence of priests were reminders. The Sabbath was a weekly reminder; the festivals were annual reminders. He is trying to constantly remind them of their special relationship with Him.
New Testament
7. The faith of a Gentile woman
- What's happening here?
- The disciples, the crowds and the Pharisees had seen Jesus' miracles and had heard His teaching, and still held back. They would not eat this spiritual food spread so generously on their tables. But this woman had believed! Driven by her need, she came to Jesus and acknowledged Him as "Lord." She knew He could healand expected Him to be gracious even though she had no claim on His grace.
- This is the key. We must recognize Jesus as Lord. We must come to Him, recognizing that we have no claim on His grace, but expexting Him to be gracious. When we do, Jesus Himself will heal our diseased hearts and bring new life.
8. Jesus heals the deaf man
- This same Jesus changes out hearts and opens our spiritual senses. Those who come to Him with faith, acknowledging Him to be Lord, will be spiritually healed and made truly well.
9. Jesus feed the 4,000
Psalm
10. "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!"
- This isn't just about money. It's about poor in finances certainly, but also about the poor in spirit. Do we reach out to help the poor in spirit? Those who have lost their way? Depressed? Hurting? Confused? Are we a shining beacon to help guide them back home? Or do we hide our light?
11. "All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst." Do you whisper or gossip about others? Do you listen? Do you laugh?
12. "You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever."
- The Lord preserves us, because He wants us to return to His presence...to relationship.
Proverbs
13. "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives..." and the lives of others.
See you next post...
No comments:
Post a Comment