Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Leviticus 19-20

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter seventeen - Holiness and Love - covering Leviticus 19-20, looking specifically at the fifth and final theme for the chapter - Our Holiness Requires Living by Distinctions.  Here, the commentary looks at ways in which God seeks for us to be unique and set apart from the world. We are referred to the many passages in Leviticus that contrast acceptable versus unacceptable sacrifices, clean versus unclean food, and ways of life and behaviors that are designed to express our holiness - see also my post yesterday as an example of the latter.  The commentary highlights several scriptural examples in Leviticus 19-20 that reinforce how we are to be set apart (and holy).

First, the commentary looks at how we are to see the distinction between sacred and secular. Leviticus 19:19 is used to point out how God used "mixing of fabrics in the priestly garments and the mixing of spices in tabernacle incense" in the tabernacle, but did not allow similar mixing in secular life (see also Deuteronomy 22:9-11).  The commentary points out God allowed mixing in the tabernacle because it was special.  We must see how "[s]ome things are special and holy...so we treat [them] with respect", including God's Word and worship. Although the ceremonial laws do not apply with the New Covenant with Jesus, the sacred nature of of certain aspects of our journey with Christ still apply such as the Bible, and worship.

Second, the commentary points out a distinction between marriage and singleness, including "the sanctity of marriage." God paid special attention to this here in Leviticus 19-20 as the Israelites were about to enter the promised land that was surrounded by sexual behavior God did not want for the Israel.  He sought for the Israelites to be set apart, and He still has this desire today.  

Third, and finally, the commentary points out how our holiness "is defined by the distinction between falsehood and truth.  Looking at Leviticus 19:23-31 and v26-31, God sought for the Israelites to praise the One True God and to avoid the falsehood of "pagan religions" common at the time, particularly in Canaan and the neighboring lands.  

We are encouraged to explore a book entitled My Heart-Christ's Home, where Robert Munger provides a great analogy of a house to demonstrate how God seeks for believers to surrender all aspects of our lives over to Jesus.  See a short summary of this book here. This is how we are to become set apart as God sought for the Israelites (and all believers).

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who and who has come to live in the house of my heart and I am so thrilled that You have - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You have entered my life.  My sin continues...worry, etc. 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.

So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.

Acts 13

So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. v51

It is clear that believers are to set apart from the rest of the world...just as the Israelites were God's chosen people and commanded to live a certain way so to be "set apart".  Jesus wants His followers to be a light...clear to those who see them:  

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Paul and Barnabas wanted no part of the Jews' who witnessed the works of Jesus and heard heard his words and teachings yet failed to believe.  Their response according to John McArthur "is clear that they considered the Jews at Antioch no better than heathen. There could have been no stronger condemnation."*  We are to be set apart...and Paul tells us how in Romans 12:2:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your will and Your ways are Truth and "no word of [Yours] will ever fail".  You have never failed me and You never will.  I trust You Jesus and I love You...yet I still struggle with sin and I desperately need You in my life.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, prideful, and harsh with my words and action.  My list of sin is ever longer...I am deeply sorry Lord - Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me apply and be obedient to Your message for me today. 

*MacArthur, John (2005-05-10). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Location 48398). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

John 10

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? v34-37

Jesus continues to respond to the Jews challenging Him (v22-42) and just as He uses scripture in Matthew 4 to respond to Satan, Jesus uses Psalm 82:6 to respond to the Jews.  

MacArthur writes: "Kings and judges are set up, ultimately by the decree of God.  God, in effect, invests His authority in human leaders for the stability of the universe (Romans 13:1-7).  But God may revoke this authority (v7).  Jesus, in quoting this phrase ("You are gods") in John 10:34, supported the interpretation that the gods where human beings.  In a play on words, He claims that if human leaders can be called gods, certainly the Messiah can be called God".

In the defense against both sin and others who attempt to question or blaspheme our faith, scripture is our best defense.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You ARE The Word and The Word IS You - and I am grateful that I have Your Word to help me stand firm in my faith!  Thank You Jesus!  I am deserving of such love and blessings.  I worry.  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. 

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Leviticus 11

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

This evening, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter eleven - Eating for God's Glory - covering Leviticus 11:1-47, looking specifically at the third theme - We Seek to Reflect God's Holiness.  Here, similar to my post yesterday where the focus in the commentary was to be set apart, the focus tonight is the why God wants us to be set apart. Although, my post from a couple of days ago was clear that we don't need an explanation from God to be obedient, here the commentary offers one with regards to why God wants us to be holy.  The commentary encourages us to look at v45 where the sequence is important: first, God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to be their God; second, therefore the Israelites, and believers in Christ by extension, are to be holy because God is holy. For believers in Christ, we are, like the Israelites, redeemed first, then God sanctifies us over the period of our earthly life - making us into more of His image until the day when we meet Jesus face to face in Heaven when we are glorified.  The commentary says it well - when God comes into our lives and hearts the expectation is that now that He has made us new (reborn) and given us a new identity, we are act accordingly. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has redeemed me and I know You have sanctified me - and I have seen the miraculous work You have done in my life and I know You are not done.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of what You have done for me.  I worry.  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.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Leviticus 8

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter eight - Are You Ready to Serve - covering Leviticus 8:1-8:36, looking specifically at the theme - Seek Purification to Serve.  Here, the commentary focuses on the Old Testament sacrificial system of purification, how Jesus as the New Testament High Priest needed no purification, and how God seeks all those who serve Him to be pure.  To start, the commentary refers to v8:6 to describe how God directed Moses to purify and wash Aaron and his sons for their work in the priesthood.  The commentary then pivots to how in the Second Covenant and New Testament believers have Jesus - the Great High Priest who knew no sin and therefore required no washing or purification (although John the Baptist baptized - see accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke). We are pointed to Hebrews 4:15 and 7:26-27 where Jesus is described as perfect and sinless.  Finally, the commentary states how Jesus was able to serve because He was "always clean morally and spiritually, so He was always ready to serve Him.  As this chapter of the commentary focuses on believers serving the church and Jesus, if we are to serve, we are urged to "confess our sin and allow God to forgive us[, as] God requires us to be clean in order to serve Him....God wants clean vessels to carry His living water to thirsty people."  On this point, the commentary points us to 2 Timothy 2:20-21.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who lived a perfect sinless life but You nonetheless willingly died on a cross so that I could have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving.  I continue to sin, harshness towards others, etc. and need cleansing and purification.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from it 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.   

The Lord also said to Moses, “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”

Numbers 3-8:4

The Lord also said to Moses, “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.” Numbers 3:11-13

Day 34 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's call to the Levites to serve in the priesthood and tabernacle service - offerings are then made to consecrate the tabernacle and then by each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

God calls each of us to roles in His service.  We all have skills and abilities and a role in God's plan.
 
See also 1 Corinthians 12 and previous posts on spiritual gifts.

We must also understand that all of our skills and abilities come from God and they belong to Him - see also post from a few days ago.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I am grateful Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me 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 to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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 all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. v6-7

It's no doubt difficult to suffer any kind of trial, yet Peter encourages us to think of how our suffering serves both us and Christ.  We are refined through suffering and we share in the suffering of Christ with whom we will share eternity.  We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus while we live in our earthly bodies and bring others to Him by demonstrating how we are "set apart" or holy.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” v15

 

The call for us to be set apart is elsewhere in scripture - see here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Holy and You lived a perfect live, then You suffered and died for me...of course You did not deserve such punishment yet You willingly laid down Your life for me...thank You Jesus!  What an amazing gift.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  I am lazy and selfish.  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 do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  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.  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.

Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

Numbers 8:5-22

Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. Numbers 8:14

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 8:5-22, we see the Lord give instructions to Moses to cleanse the Levites and consecrate them for service in the Tent of Meeting.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God alone cleanses people from sin - we must go to Him.  We no longer perform all the ritual washings, sacrifices, and rites per the first covenant as with the second covenant based on Jesus' shed blood, we simply go before God, confess our sin and ask for forgiveness and repent/turn to him.  God also seeks for His people to be set apart - to be a light in world filled with sin and darkness.  He is holy so He seeks for His people to be holy.  Believers are also set apart for a purposed designed by Him - to be used in His service. In this case it is the Levites as the priesthood in the Tent of Meeting, but with the second covenant, all believers are used in His service. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The text refers to the Levites as belonging to God (vv4, 17).  All believers belong to God as we've been redeemed and purchased through the shed blood of Jesus - see also 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23.  As such, our lives should be lived in His service - just as the Levites served to intercede on behalf of Israel to God (v19), we exist to glorify God. 
• 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 the earthly influences that can drag into a life of sin and darkness. Claim the promise that God offers forgiveness and freedom from the sting of sin and death. Follow the example of the many in scripture who lived to serve and bring glory to Him.  Be holy because He is holy.       

Comment and discuss this post

 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and You purchased me and all believers with Your shed blood.  You offer freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn 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, energy and strength.  Please continue to 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. 

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 7

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. v26-27

In describing Christ as a high priest, the author of Hebrews gives a great summary of some of the key attributes of our Lord and Savior.  More than anything, I am struck by how Jesus "truly meets our need".  Truly is defined as "with exactness of construction or operation" - in essence our need is met perfectly and only by God (see John Piper post here).  Note how the author uses the word need in the singular - implying that salvation is our greatest need above all (see also a Biblical worldview of Maslow's hierarchy of needs discussed here).  

While believers can acknowledge that we all sin and need a Savior (and that Jesus is that Savior) it is nonetheless important to examine our priorities and to remind ourselves of the primacy of our relationship with Jesus.

Jesus meets our need.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a a great God who meets my need - You do this solely and perfectly - thank You Jesus! I need You daily.  Yet I am undeserving of how You feed and sustain me.  I sin...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.

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

1 John 3

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. v13

God wants us to be different...to be set apart.  Others should see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.  If are to be different, to be set apart, then it should not come as a surprise if the world rejects us.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Others should see the Light in us:

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed, the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and I have no path to the Father but through You.  I DO desire You.  And I want to please and glorify You and bring others to You.  I want to be a Light just as You are a Light.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour out for me and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry..and am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.  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.

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Hebrews 6:13-10:18

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:26-27

Day 358 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - today I continue with the book of Hebrews. Today's scripture reading has the author describing Christ as a perfect priest, and the superiority of Christ's covenant and sacrifice. 

As I posted yesterday, we have a God and a Great High Priest who can empathize with us and He is approachable - He wants a relationship with us.  Today's scripture includes verses that strengthen and re-emphasize these points by highlighting how God meets our needs.   This post from DesiringGod.com provides additional commentary using these verses from Hebrews and other scriptures.  

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always near to me, always available to me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of a God who loves me as You do.  I often neglect my relationship with You or fail to place You as a priority in my life - 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 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.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Romans

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-6

Today, I started a new study based on what my Friday morning men's group will be starting - a study on the book of Romans.  As a companion to this study, based on recommendations from others I respect, I am using a commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook).  This commentary, authored by Tony Merida and edited as well by Merida, David Platt, and Daniel Akin, is part of the Christ-Centered Exposition series available from Christianbook.com. I am careful as I approach this study as John Piper has referred to this book (in terms of his ability to offer a sermon series on the book) as both the "greatest letter ever written" and "daunting" with the daunting aspect being a key reason for the care and caution as I proceed. 

The commentary emphasizes three key themes as background for Romans:

1. it is a "Gospel-saturated letter"
2. it is a "community-building letter"
3. it is a "missional-letter"

On (1) the commentary states that "the gospel frames the letter" and Paul uses Romans to defend "the substance of the gospel, and he also describes how the gospel should shape Christian living and fuel Christian mission." The commentary goes on to state that "[i]n today's pluralistic, relativistic, skeptical world, there is great confusion regarding the nature of God, sin, and salvation. There is also a great need for professing Christians to grow in theological discernment."

On (2) the commentary describes division in Rome among Jewish and Gentile Christians and this "gave Paul an occasion to create a glorious, multi-ethic vision for the people of God." My commentary also states that this division and Paul's occasion to address it should encourage us to "pray for the Lord to help us love our (diverse) brothers and sisters better."

Finally, on (3) the commentary describes how Paul uses Romans to seek "support for his mission to Spain." See also Romans 15:24-29. The commentary indicates that Paul hopes to "unify the Christians in Rome so that they may be a home base for his mission to Spain."

Tomorrow I will being to unpack Romans - starting with Romans 1:1-7.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God indeed and You are worthy of my full attention - indeed aggressive attentiveness!  I have tasted and seen Your glory and it is amazing indeed and You have transformed my heart and life as a result!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving of these and all of the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry, and I am easily distracted by the world.  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.

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 7

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. v26

We often may think about our earthly pastors or those within our church and whether our needs are met for sermons that inspire or brothers and sisters in Christ who are able to encourage and support us - yet our focus should be on Jesus - He is the one who truly meets our needs!

See also:
John 4
Matthew 6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You provide for all of my needs - spiritual, physical, etc.  All I need is You - yet I often seek other sources of provision.  I am weak.  I know You love me knowing everything about me including my sin.  I am deeply grateful for this but undeserving of such love.  Please forgive me for being distracted.  I do want to love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me seek only You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa, comfort, strength and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Please help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. v15

This story demonstrates the power of Satan, hate, and how a hardened heart leads to sin.  The Jewish leaders KNEW that Stephen was innocent AND that He was set apart in ways that God wanted the Jews to be set apart.  Yet despite this, the Jewish leaders hardened hearts led them to kill Stephen.

We must fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great beyond description.  I have personally seen Your might in my life and in the life of others.  Just recently You brought my mom to belief in You.  This is ONLY something You could have done.  Amazing.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, harsh with my words, prideful, arrogant, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith and help me avoid a hardening of my heart - help me fix my eyes on You and the renewing of my mind.

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

 Numbers 1:1-19

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:17-19

I've completed my study of John and start a study of Numbers, as I alternate between Old and New Testament studies.  In the text today, God organizes the people of Israel according to tribes, taking a census, and establishing leaders among the tribes as they set off from Mt Sinai into the wilderness with the promised land as their destination.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God takes a census, as He organizes the men of Israel to lead the people to the promised land.  Leaders (to assist Moses and Aaron) are named as God sets apart specific people for the roles they will play in the journey He sets before them.  Similar to Israel, all of us (speaking to believers) are on a journey heading to the promised land, and this is Heaven.  This is where our citizenship and allegiance lies and it is the home God gives us.  Earth is temporary and it and us will fade away as God's kingdom in Heaven is permanent. God puts people over us to lead us on this journey and we must faithfully follow God and the leaders He appoints over us.  This organization and unity is key if we are to function as God intends.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Each of us as believers is set apart for a specific role, whether we are a leader or not we have a function.  No one is left out nor is anyone less worthy.  See also 1 Corinthians 12 where the text describes how the church is organized of members with different spiritual gifts and how they all work together - even when one is weaker than the other. Moses, Aaron, the tribal leaders, and all of Israel has a role on our collective journey to the promised land. The leaders did as the Lord commanded (v19) so we must do as well. 
• 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 focusing on self on your journey to the promised land (Heaven) but instead seek God's will and be humble to follow those set above you to lead you. Claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven - our home.  Follow the example of those who followed leaders set above the people in Israel in the Sinai wilderness - be humble and and follow according to the role God gives you.  As we go on our journey support, encourage, pray for, and be unified with other believers.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the leaders who faithfully serve our church and me as they lead me in my journey to the promised land.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide leaders to guide and serve me.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me understand, 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 continue to 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. 

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.

Numbers 5:1-4

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell. Numbers 5:3

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:1-4, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions that unclean people are to be put outside the camp so as to not defile them in the midst of where God dwells.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: While much of the Old Testament focuses on external cleanliness, this interview with John Piper clarifies that we should be careful not to make the mistake assuming that "in the Old Testament impurity was only external, while in the New Testament impurity is internal."  God cares about your heart - see Hosea 6:6,1 Samuel 15:22, and more directly when Samuel seeks a new king among Jesse's family and seeks someone with a righteous heart directed toward God - see 1 Samuel 16:7.  God has always been more concerned with an upright heart vs external action.  God also cares about those who, according to Old Testament law, are unclean.  One of the intents of ceremonial law was to set apart Israel from other nations.  Yet with the doing away of ceremonial law with the New Covenant based on Jesus' shed blood, we should no longer see any distinction between those deemed clean and unclean as all are unclean and only clean through confession and forgiveness in Christ. See Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: With the New Covenant, being set apart is through salvation and regeneration.  This means the church should not be shunning anyone based on any external appearances, etc.  God wants us to share the gospel with everyone. 
• 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 focus on external behavior.  Claim the promise that Jesus cleans both the heart and ultimately and for eternity our physical body. Follow the example of those in scripture (e.g. David per 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) who had a heart for God.  Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus for cleansing me from the inside out.  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 continue to 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.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 7

Oh how I find myself stressed out about work - how weak am I and how unfaithful am I to misplace my hope and rest in earthly matters.  Lord forgive me!

I read here how You truly meet our needs and how right this is:

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Without you we are both slaves to sin and slaves to the fear of death; with you we have the eternal hope of our sins getting washed away and eternal life in Heaven with You.  And as part of this great package we ALSO get God's rest, the rest one can find by "fixing" our eyes on Jesus.  THIS  does truly meet MY needs that's for sure.

This then becomes a matter whereby we must have patience, fix our eyes on Jesus, and to grow in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord, You ARE perfect, and You DO truly meet ALL our needs.  Yet  I place hope in jobs, and in earthly matters.  Please forgive me Lord and help me place all of my hope in You.

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)....Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Mark 7:18-19, Acts 10:15

Portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)....Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Mark 7:18-19, Acts 10:15

Day 61 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on directives from God through Moses (Moses' Laws) for dietary regulations.

God explains the purpose of these laws as follows:

You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.  Leviticus 20:25-26

With God sending His Son to fulfill prophecy and the law (see Matthew 5 and John Piper post here), God did away with the rules of clean and unclean food.  This becomes explicit in both Mark and Acts:

Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:18-19 

Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Acts 10:15

While written for Thanksgiving, this post at DesiringGod.com also sums it up nicely.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has come to both fulfill the law but also to save me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your death on the cross and Your compassion and grace.  I sin...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.

...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Haggai 2

...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” v23

The Israelites were God's chosen people.

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.  Deuteronomy 7:6

When Jesus came to earth, although the Good News would be open to all, only those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior would be saved or set apart.  WE would choose God.  Others would be thrown into the fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Luke 3:17

As I posted yesterday, our relationship would not be based on deeds but instead on faith.  Also, Jesus sets us apart, knowing everything about us, including our sin.  Yet He still chose us and He still loves us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

My Prayer: Lord, You are a gracious God full of love, compassion, mercy and patience for me.  Thank You!  I am not worth such love.  I worry too much. Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Leviticus 10

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Isaiah 6:3

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting with chapter ten - Our Response to God's Holiness - covering Leviticus 10:1-20, looking specifically at the theme - God's People Approach God as Holy.  Here, as the commentary begins a new chapter looking at Leviticus 10, the introduction to the chapter focuses on the contrast between Moses and the priests in Leviticus 8-9 vs that of Aaron and sons Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10.  The commentary points out how, in Leviticus 8-9 scripture states that Moses and priests did exactly as the Lord commanded twelve times. Yet in Leviticus 10:1-2, Nadab and Abihu offer "unauthorized fire" to the Lord "[a]nd fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord."  The commentary points us back to Leviticus 8, where in v8:35, Moses warns "Aaron and his sons to obey the Lord, 'so that you will not die.'"  The commentary also points us to v10:3, where Moses further explains to Aaron that "[t]his is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified."  We are urged to see God as sanctified, holy - as "set apart" - implying that we are to avoid treating God as like us, or as a better version of us - both of which are not only not true, but sinful to believe as such!  The commentary refers to theologian A.W. Tozer and his book The Knowledge of the Holy, where he writes: "[w]e cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness by thinking of someone or something very pure and then raising the concept to the highest degree we are capable of.  God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable."  The commentary then provides a number of scriptural examples that refer to God as Holy (Isaiah 6:3), His Word as Holy (Romans 7:12), and all of His attributes as Holy (Psalm 98:1) - of course this is not an exhaustive list.  The commentary then closes the first subheading or theme - God's People Approach God as Holy - by exhorting all believers to treat worship with the reverence God is due; God is Holy so we must approach God carefully and with awe and reverence.  We must avoid worship that is "unauthorized" as  Nadab and Abihu did.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Holy, Your Word is Holy and everything about You is Holy!  You are perfect in all Your ways, and You love me.  You are worthy of my awe and white hot worship!  Yet sometimes I fail to treat my worship with the awe and reverence You desire.  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 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.