Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 10:4-7.

“4 Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp.”  5 So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said.  6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the congregation.  But your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the Lord has brought about.  7 You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die;  for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.”  So they did according to the word of Moses.”  Leviticus 10:4-7.

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We remember from the prior Scripture that “… fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them (Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron), and they died before the Lord.”  Leviticus 10:2.

Like Aaron, we may have relatives that do not know the LORD.  Bad things may happen to them.  We may mourn both that they do not know the LORD and that bad things may happen to them.

But, we must continue to walk with the LORD.  We must continue to do His work.

It is interesting to note that despite the fact that fire consumed Nadab and Abihu, today, we read that they were “still in their tunics”.  Verse 5.  If God could perfectly control the fire that it could consume their bodies inside the tunics but not the tunics, then we can have hope that although we may be surrounded by the wicked (even wicked relatives), God can cause us to walk with Him and continue His work.

And, we notice what Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the congregation.  …  You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die;  for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.”  To paraphrase, the LORD was commanding through Moses to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar:  “Continue walking with Me!  Continue working for Me!”

“1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.”  Psalm Chapter 1.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 10:1-4.

“1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.  2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.  3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying,

‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.’”

So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.”  Leviticus 10:1-4.

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Lest we think only Nadab and Abihu could fall, we need to remember the story of Moses and Aaron at the waters of Meribah so that we be careful to treat the LORD as holy.

“1 Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month;  and the people stayed at Kadesh.  Now Miriam died there and was buried there.

2 There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron.  3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!  4 Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here?  5 Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place?  It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.”  6 Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces.  Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them;  7 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

8 “Take the rod;  and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water.  You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.”

9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him;  10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock.  And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels;  shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”  11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod;  and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.  12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”  13 Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them.”  Numbers 20:1-13.

Rather than follow the LORD’s instructions to speak to the rock, Moses spoke to the assembly.

Preachers and teachers think they can achieve what they want primarily by speaking to the congregation rather than depending on God’s instructions and power to bring about what is needed.  We too trust man’s free will to bend to our wise and eloquent words more than we trust God.

Rather than follow the LORD’s instructions to speak to the rock, Moses struck the rock twice.

So to speak, we too are eager to strike the rock twice, rather than just speak to the rock, in the sense that we trust our works more than we trust God’s power through our prayers to God.

Simply, we trust man more than we trust God.  We think we have better fire (using an analogy drawn from the story of Nadab and Abihu) than the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Let us learn from today’s Scripture and from the example of Moses and Aaron to treat our LORD as holy as we should.

“4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.”  Psalm 96:4-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus Chapter 9.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+9&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“1 Now it came about on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel;  2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a calf, a bull, for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without defect, and offer them before the Lord.  3 Then to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without defect, for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the Lord will appear to you.’”  5 So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole congregation came near and stood before the Lord.  6 Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.”  7 Moses then said to Aaron, “Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the Lord has commanded.”  … (Then all the offerings were made.)  ….

“22 Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings.  23 Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting.  When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.  24 Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar;  and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”  Leviticus Chapter 9:  Verses 1-7 and 22-24.

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How can one adequately describe the glory of our LORD?!  “… The whole earth is full of His glory.”  Isaiah 6:3.

“1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.”  Psalm Chapter 96.

As we read this Psalm Chapter 96, we meditate on these elements of the glory of our LORD and our proper response.

Some of the elements of the glory of our LORD include “good tidings of His salvation”, “His wonderful deeds among all the peoples”, “the Lord made the heavens”, His “Splendor and majesty”, His “Strength and beauty”, “The Lord reigns”, “the world is firmly established”, His “righteousness”, and “His faithfulness”.

As we meditate on these elements of the glory of our LORD, we recognize with delight the important part of this glory of our LORD that “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, is. 

In sharp contrast with other doctrine which emphasizes man and man’s free will and man’s choice, “TULIP” emphasizes that salvation belongs to the LORD.  It is “His salvation”.  It is “His wonderful deeds”.  “The Lord reigns”, and TULIP proclaims His sovereignty ending with the “P” of “TULIP” which is “Preservation of the Saints” which proclaims “His faithfulness”.

So, why do we act as if we are embarrassed by TULIP?  Why do we hide it and minimize it? 

“2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”  Psalm 96:2-3.

“7… Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9 Worship the Lord in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns …”  Psalm 96:7-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 8:14-36 which covers the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests.  As part of the ordination, there were various offerings, anointing of Aaron and his sons, and other actions as commanded by the LORD.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+8&version=NASB

I quote the following verses to show some of these actions of the ordination.

“22 Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.  23 Moses slaughtered it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.  24 He also had Aaron’s sons come near; and Moses put some of the blood on the lobe of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.  Moses then sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar.  …

30 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him;  and he consecrated Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.

31 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the flesh at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and eat it there together with the bread which is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’  32 The remainder of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn in the fire.  33 You shall not go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day that the period of your ordination is fulfilled;  for he will ordain you through seven days.  34 The Lord has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf.  35 At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded.”  36 Thus Aaron and his sons did all the things which the Lord had commanded through Moses.”  Leviticus Chapter 8:  Verses 22-24 and 30-36.

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We see all these actions of the ordination to prepare Aaron and his sons to be priests.  The LORD surely is “Holy, Holy, Holy” to require all these actions. 

And, we need that reminder, because how often do we try to come in His presence without proper preparation and reverence!

Here is the prophet Isaiah’s vision.

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings:  with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.  Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:1-4.

“You, even You, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?’  Psalm 76:7.

“3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”  Psalm 97:3-6.

But, there is hope!

There was hope for Isaiah who had that vision.

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”  Isaiah 6:6-7.

And, there is hope for us.

“Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:18-22.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 8:1-13.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting.”  So Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting, Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded to do.”

Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water.  He put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him.  He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.  He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.  He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.  Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.  Next Moses had Aaron’s sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with sashes and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Leviticus 8:1-13.

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In today’s Scripture, we see quite a magnificent spectacle of Aaron clothed in all the priest garments and anointed with oil.  But, something much more glorious is in store for all of God’s people who are called the “royal priesthood”.  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on how we, the “royal priesthood”, are clothed in righteousness and anointed with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the excellencies of God.

“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God;  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10.

“1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the priests of the Lord;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.”  Isaiah 61:1-6.

Here is a link to Calvin’s Commentary on Isaiah 61 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom16.xiv.i.html

Here is a partial quote from it.

“As Christ explains this passage with reference to himself, (Luke 4:18) so commentators limit it to him without hesitation, and lay down this principle, that Christ is introduced as speaking, as if the whole passage related to him alone. The Jews laugh at this, as an ill­advised application to Christ of that which is equally applicable to other prophets. My opinion is, that this chapter is added as a seal to the former, to confirm what had hitherto been said about restoring the Church of Christ; and that for this purpose Christ testifies that he has been anointed by God, in consequence of which he justly applies this prophecy to himself; for he has exhibited clearly and openly what others have laid down ill an obscure manner.

But this is not inconsistent with the application of this statement to other prophets, whom the Lord has anointed; for they did not speak in their own name as individuals, or claim this authority for themselves, but were chiefly employed in pointing out the office of Christ, to whom belongs not only the publication of these things, but likewise the accomplishment of them. This chapter ought, therefore, to be understood in such a sense, that Christ, who is the Head of the prophets, holds the chief place, and alone makes all those revelations; but that Isaiah, and the other prophets, and the apostles, contribute their services to Christ, and each performs his part in making known Christ’s benefits. And thus we see that those things which Isaiah said would be accomplished by Christ, have now been actually accomplished.  …”

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:28-38.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+7&version=NASB

We will focus on the following verses.

“31 The priest shall offer up the fat in smoke on the altar, but the breast shall belong to Aaron and his sons.  32 You shall give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifices of your peace offerings.  33 The one among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat, the right thigh shall be his as his portion.  34 For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their due forever from the sons of Israel.

35 ‘This is that which is consecrated to Aaron and that which is consecrated to his sons from the offerings by fire to the Lord, in that day when he presented them to serve as priests to the Lord.  36 These the Lord had commanded to be given them from the sons of Israel in the day that He anointed them.  It is their due forever throughout their generations.’”  Leviticus 7:31-36.

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Our LORD’s concern for the priests is abundantly clear for all of His provisions for the priests and for His emphasis of it in today’s Scripture.  This concern should be comforting for us all as the “royal priesthood”.  And, it should also be comforting to those who work full-time as ministers, missionaries, and other church employees.

As for us all as the “royal priesthood”, here is another example of God’s concern and care for you so that “you may proclaim the excellencies of Him”.  See 1 Peter 2:9.  “For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  …”  Psalm 95:7.  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield;  The Lord gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.”  Psalm 23:5.

As for those who work full-time as ministers, missionaries, and other church employees,  “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?  So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14.

We know of God’s concern and care for us.  But, it is good to be reminded of it.

From time to time, particularly when I am experiencing financial troubles, I read “Letters to Harry” now known as “Gold Mining”.  Here is a link to them at my web site – https://reformeddoctrine.com/covenant-protestant-church-and-quotes-for-the-day/  Here is one of my favorites.

GOLD MINE 3: RUTH 2:12
MAY THE LORD REWARD YOUR WORK AND MAKE YOUR WAGES FULL

August 21, 1992

Harry:
I am still struggling financially.  This is a hard fight.  “God give me faith”:  I pray.  The Lord must think that I can bear a lot and have a lot of faith.  I think it is more than I can stand through the flesh, but I trust God for strength.

My daily devotion today covered the book of Ruth.  God particularly gave me Ruth 2:12:  “’May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.’”

What struck me was the focus on the LORD:

1. “the LORD reward your work”

2. “your wages be full from the LORD“

3. “the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge”.

The LORD is able to make me stand.  He has helped me in the past and delivered me.  He can do it now.  He can do it later, even when I think it is too late.  But He will rescue me. Psalm 91:15.

Yours truly,                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bill

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:19-27.

“19 ‘Also the flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten;  it shall be burned with fire.  As for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh.  20 But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, in his uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from his people.  21 When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep or a goat. 24 Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is offered to the Lord, even the person who eats shall be cut off from his people.  26 You are not to eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your dwellings.  27 Any person who eats any blood, even that person shall be cut off from his people.’”  Leviticus 7:19-27.

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Today’s Scripture leads us to remember what it is to be cut off from God’s people. 

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:1-3.

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”  Ephesians 2:11-12.

“… you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,”  Colossians 1:21.

But, there is hope! 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  Ephesians 2:13-16.

“yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ”  Colossians 1:22.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:1-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%207&version=NASB

We focus on the following verses.

“‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering;  he shall not leave any of it over until morning.  But if the sacrifice of his offering is a votive or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what is left of it may be eaten;  but what is left over from the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.  So if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings should ever be eaten on the third day, he who offers it will not be accepted, and it will not be reckoned to his benefit.  It shall be an offensive thing, and the person who eats of it will bear his own iniquity.”  Leviticus 7:15-18.

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There was a share from the offerings for the priests to be eaten by them.  Today’s Scripture focuses on the timing of when it should be eaten and reminds of at least two things.  We are reminded of God’s commands for consumption of the manna and for consumption of the Lord’s Supper.

First, regarding the manna, “This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat;  you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’”  The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little.  When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.  Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.”  But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul;  and Moses was angry with them.  They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat;  but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.”  Exodus 16:16-21.

God commands and leads us to trust Him that He will timely provide for us on a daily basis.  God does not want us to hoard and trust only ourselves.

Second, regarding the Lord’s Supper, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you;  do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood;  do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.  But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.  The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.”  1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

God commands us and leads us to eat the Lord’s Supper together (communion with God and communion with each other, all together) during the time of the worship service.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 6:14-30.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+6&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“16 What is left of it Aaron and his sons are to eat. It shall be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place;  they are to eat it in the court of the tent of meeting.  17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their share from My offerings by fire;  it is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.  18 Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it;  it is a permanent ordinance throughout your generations, from the offerings by fire to the Lord.  Whoever touches them will become consecrated.’”  …

26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it.  It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting.  …

29 Every male among the priests may eat of it;  it is most holy.  …”  Leviticus Chapter 6:  Verses 16-18 and 26 and 29.

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We see a share given for the priests in today’s Scripture.

And we see the principle applied to ministers of the gospel.  “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?  So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14.

We see David defended even though he took some of the consecrated bread and this principle applied to also defend Christ’s disciples for their actions on the Sabbath.  “And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.  The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;  how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”  Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:23-28.

But, Jesus Christ, this Son of Man, this Lord of the Sabbath, provided much more as we consider the Lord’s Supper this Sunday.

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;  if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;  and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”  So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”  John 6:51-56.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it.  The priest is to put on his linen robe, and he shall put on undergarments next to his flesh;  and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire reduces the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar.  Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.  The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it.  It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning;  and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.  Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar;  it is not to go out.”  Leviticus 6:8-13.

“for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:29.

“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”  Malachi 3:3.

“… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor;  and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12.

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”  Acts 2:3-4.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3:10-13.

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29.