Being human, we are often “me centered” and we tend to forget really important things. When this forgetfulness moves us away from God, we need to find ways to remember.
The Lord did not want Israel to ever forget that he, the Lord of salvation, delivered them from slavery in Egypt. God delivering Israel was like God taking his own son out of Egypt. Literally, we see this in God sparing the firstborn sons of Israel on the night of Passover
Read More holiness, remember, sacrificeNot many people face severe outcomes like this when given the choice whether or not to follow God. Rarely is there immediate judgment for choosing not to follow God. Yet we still disobey, and willful disobedience will have its consequences.
Because of the violent nature of God’s response in this passage to the worship of idols, it is easy to overlook the third form of punishment declared by God.
Read More judgment, sacrifice, discipline
It’s easy to compare ourselves to others. It’s especially easy in a world where we can post our latest photos and status updates for everyone to see. We’re constantly confronted with other people’s promotions, amazing getaways, and adorable toddlers. Sometimes, we even feel a need to compete.
Read More sacrifice, serving
Where many psalms express human praise and petition, Psalm 50 articulates God’s perspective. He arrives in a storm cloud to assess the “State of the Union” with his covenant people. Not all is well.
Many of the Israelites are relying on the rituals of sacrifice, less as an expression of real relationship than as a system of attempted bribes.
Read More sacrifice, thankfulness, feast
Read Reflect How do we know when someone is a true believer in God? When he/she obeys God. Now keep on reading … Intuitively most of us don’t like the word “obey”. When we hear it, we shut down. When we read it in the Bible we often think it’s a strident, harsh, cold, or […]
Read More obedience, blessing, sacrificeNothing costs more than sin.
When Adam and Eve rebelled in the garden, death invaded their bountiful life. The seed of their sin passed to each successive generation, thwarting God’s plan for abundant life – a close relationship with himself.
Read More forgiveness, sacrifice, lamb
How do I know his will for my life? Romans 12 tells us how to become better listeners to God who has a perfect will for us. Paul, the writer of Romans “begs” his readers to “offer” our bodies as living sacrifices to God. Paul writes that this is our most reasonable response in light of God’s goodness or mercy.
What is God’s mercy?
Read More change, sacrifice, God’s will, morphNow that the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, there was also the need to re-populate the city, so that it was more than an empty walled fortress with the Temple in its midst. The leaders led the way by setting the example of relocating. Of the rest of the people, it seems that some volunteered
Read More service, sacrifice, provision, vocational ministry
The discussion of love continues for John . . . it may seem perplexing . . . why does John care so much about love. What’s the big deal?
It’s hard to know what was the personal, social climate in the first century. Did the normal person feel as isolated as we do? Did they feel a sorrow to their loneliness?
Read More love, sacrifice, relational depth