So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 3:40-51

So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 3:49-51

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today 3:40-51, where the Lord commands Moses to take a redemption price from among the firstborn (above and beyond the firstborn of the Levites).  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God commands Moses to collect a redemption price for each firstborn from among the people of Israel above and beyond the count of the firstborn from among the Levites - see vv39, 43, 46-47. This price - 1,365 shekels (273*5) is then collected and provided to Aaron and his sons.  God holds with high regard the role of the priesthood in church and seeks for the priesthood to be supported by offerings and this is carried over from the Old Testament (see Leviticus 7, Numbers 18, and Deuteronomy 18) to the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 9:13-14).  Such support allows the priesthood focus on their God-given duties without minimal distraction.  This is emphasized in v41 and v45 where God says the "the Levites shall be mine," implying that God is reserving them from among all of Israel for a special purpose.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The designation of the priesthood as mediator between God and the people first started in Exodus 20:19 where fire, smoke, thunder, etc. at Mount Sinai terrified the people and they pleaded with Moses to intercede and speak to God directly on their behalf.  The New Covenant based on Jesus' shed blood did away with this as believers can now go Jesus directly without the need of any intervention.  The role of a lead pastor exists now for teaching and shepherding the church and should be viewed as such.  However, many church attendees overemphasize the role of the pastor in their own personal relationship with Jesus.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid overemphasizing your pastors' role in your personal relationship with Jesus.  Claim the promise that you can approach Jesus with confidence (directly).  Support your lead pastor and church leadership.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and I know I can approach You directly and with confidence.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out for me daily.  I know these never cease.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9

 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 9:1-18. Main idea of the text from the commentary*: "To advance the gospel, we joyfully and readily give up our rights."  The introduction* then describes how - quoting J.D. Greear - Paul shared from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 how the Good News of Jesus Christ, or the gospel "was of first importance," explicitly implying for Paul and for all believers that "[t]he salvation of others mattered above all other issues. The gospel above all was the decisive factor in all his decision making. Setting aside personal rights and preferences mattered nothing to him if it meant Christ could use him to save just one more person."  The commentary* then unpacks the text in two divisions:

1. There Is a Right to Compensation for the Minister of the Gospel (9:1-14): Paul connects 1 Corinthians 8 to 9 by sharing that he "will not do anything to cause a brother or sister to stumble in the faith, even if he has the liberty and right to do that thing. That includes eating food sacrificed to a lifeless idol (ch. 8) and receiving compensation for preaching the gospel (ch. 9). Chapter 9 is a personal example that drives home the point Paul is trying to make in chapter 8. He builds a compelling argument for the right of financial compensation for anyone who preaches the gospel and ministers to the church. His argument is filled with rhetorical questions (fifteen altogether) and illustrations."
   
2. There Is a Compulsion to Preach the Message of the Gospel (9:15-18): The commentary* then describes how even though issues such as abortion, the sanctity of traditional marriage, care for the poor, are important - taking the gospel into the world is a "necessity" for those called to preach.  When God lays both a gift and a calling on someone, the call must be answered in the affirmative!  It is then described how Paul "sets aside a claim to compensation "to preach the gospel free of charge....[with the pleasure of doing so as] his reward (vv. 17-18)."
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good to me - giving me the gospel and providing a church home, church leadership, brothers and sisters in Christ from the church, etc. to disciple me in understanding Your Word for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  Help me support my church and church leadership.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 13:7-14, and my unaided observations of the text. Here, the text offers a number of instructions from the author of Hebrews, including:

• Model the faithfulness of your leaders, those who have taught You from the scriptures (v7)
• Beware of false teachings, particularly those that seek to follow trends or how cultures change over time - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (v8-9a)

It is less clear the instructions with regards to food in v9b-13.

With regards to v14:

• Once again, the author of Hebrews reiterates a point previously raised that we owe an allegiance first not to an earthly kingdom or country, but to a Heavenly one.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me excellent leaders that have taught and modeled scripture and faith for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.

Isaiah 61-63

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.  Isaiah 62:6-7

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 3 (of 5) of week 22, which looks at Isaiah 61-63.  Day 3 focuses on initial observations of Isaiah 62.  This chapter looks forward to end times when Jesus will come again and how the church must be prepared - saving as many as possible.  This commentary assists with observations and applications, including:

• to pursue with relentless passion the work of the church; this forces believers to be holy ourselves (1 Peter 1:15) as we are "challenge[d] to be just as zealous for the holiness of other Christians, to be energetic in the work of the church"; the challenge here is "to love the Bridegroom with undivided love, to put away all idols and worldly affections."
• leaders are challenged to "oversee the doctrinal and practical lives of the flock" and to practice "relentless intercession" on behalf of the church and others; leaders should not grow weary
• we are encouraged to see the "missionary thrust" of this chapter as the church is called to build a path for the world to approach God as its Savior (v10)

This morning's reading has convicted me greatly as I know there is work ahead of me to ceaselessly support the work of the church.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me - You give me the Holy Spirit so that I have strength to carry on with Your mission - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great - pursuit of idle comfort vs Your mission - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Leviticus 6-7

Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter seven - Serving God in God's Way - covering Leviticus 6:8-7:38, looking specifically at the theme - We Provide for Worship Leaders. Here, the commentary focuses on how throughout v6:8-7:38 - specifically 6:16-18, 6:29, 7:5-8, and 7:11 - God commands the Israelites to set aside portions of the various sacrifices for the priests.  The commentary then turns to believers who are to see how, even though the Old Testament sacrificial system was done away with Christ's sacrifice on the cross, God still seeks for us to support our worship leaders. During the period of the Old Testament when Leviticus was written, priests' only means of sustenance and provision was through their role in the tabernacle and temple.   The commentary points us to 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 where Paul "repeats" this call for worshipers to support worship leaders; similarly, Paul writes about how elders should be afforded the same support in 1 Timothy 5:17-18. We are urged to see how Paul uses Deuteronomy 25:4 and 24:14-15 as the scriptural basis for what he writes in 1 Corinthians 9 and 1 Timothy 5. 

The commentary closes by ensuring that we are clear that "God does not command us to support Him" as "nowhere does the Bible imply that God needs or lacks something...He commanded sacrificial offerings not because He needs anything from us, but because we need the sacrifice to take the penalty for our sin so we will be allowed to come into His presence to be reconciled to Him."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is so full of compassion and mercy for me - You have placed great pastors in my life who have encouraged and supported me - I am grateful!  Yet I am undeserving for how You have blessed me in this way and in all ways....I have been critical of pastors my criticism is sinful...please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me support my pastors.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.