The Book of Leviticus tweeted

 Condensing the Bible into a tweet, chapter by chapter. A condensed commentary for the 21st century!

The Book of Leviticus…

 

 Leviticus 1. Blood, gore and death. Not nice. But in the animal sacrifices, a reminder of the perfect sacrifice that was to come at Calvary.

 Leviticus 2. The people brought the offerings. We exalt, honour and worship God. Not the other way round.

 Leviticus 3. The sacrifice had to be without defect. Only a perfect offering would suffice. A picture of Calvary when God gave his very best, his own Son.

 Leviticus 4. Blood is mentioned 10 times in 35 verses. Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins.

 Leviticus 5. An individual sinned, he was guilty. He had to make amends. You can’t blame others for your own wrongdoings. Personal responsibility.

 Leviticus 6. The laws given are very precise. People function best when they know what is expected of them and where they stand.

 Leviticus 7. The offerings involved the priest. God puts people in position, it’s part of the structure and organisaton of the kingdom.

 Leviticus 8. Although there was lots of ritual involved, ultimately the priesthood was about call and obedience.

 Leviticus 9. The priest stood in the gap between God and man. A picture of the one that was to come. The Great High Priest.

 Leviticus 10. Nadab and Abihu discovered that man’s way leads to destruction, even if it is with good intention.

 Leviticus 11. Dietary instructions and rules for touching carcasses. Food and hygiene isn’t a modern thing.

 Leviticus 12. Although purification times were different for the sexes, the offerings were the same. Equality in value.

 Leviticus 13. Contagious diseases were to be quarantined. If we don’t isolate ourselves from negative things around us they will destroy us.

 Leviticus 14. Drastic measures for serious infections and sacrifice needed for closure. A picture of sin and Calvary.

 Leviticus 15. Detailed rules for personal hygiene. Man discovered germs in the 19th century. He was just catching upon what God already knew.

 Leviticus 16. Atonement was made once a year. But when Jesus went to Calvary his death was ‘Once and for all’. The incomplete became the complete.

 Leviticus 17. In order to be acceptable, the sacrifice had to be in the right place. God’s place. Salvation is on His terms and not ours.

 Leviticus 18. Boundaries laid down for sexual relationships. God isn’t anti-sex. Just that there are common-sense conditions involved.

 Leviticus 19. Lots of rules laid down, but with a purpose. Whether individually or corporately we need guidelines to function properly.

 Leviticus 20. Penalties are severe but once you relax it’s easier for compromise to creep in. Tough deterrents make people think twice.

 Leviticus 21. Priest’s call demanding. Ministry not something to be entered into lightly. And with the priesthood of believers, that’s for all.

 Leviticus 22. Lots of rules regarding sacrifices. Had to be just right, anything else not acceptable. To connect with God we have to do it his way.

 Leviticus 23. The Feasts involved offerings. Too many people want to get but not give back. Not only from God but others and life in general.

 Leviticus 24. Penalties for crimes seem harsh. But there is a choice. Don’t offend in the first place. Then you don’t have anything to worry about.

 Leviticus 25. Even the land is more fruitful after rest. How much more does that apply to human beings. You are more important than a field.

 Leviticus 26. Although there will always be external situations beyond our control, the bottom line is that obedience equals blessing.

 Leviticus 27. Formulae laid down. Whether on a corporate or individual level, we always function better when we know where we stand.

 

 

 

The Book of Exodus tweeted

Exodus 1. Original cast has passed on and now it gets tough for the Israelites. The comfort zone of friendly relationships can suddenly go.

Exodus 2. In midst of oppression God raises a deliverer to rescue his people. When in despair, hold tight, there’s a Moses round the corner.

Exodus 3. Although they don’t know it yet, freedom is just around the corner. Don’t give in or you might miss out on your deliverance.

Exodus 4. He had a stutter, a stammer, wasn’t a good communicator and lacked confidence. But because he was faithful to his call God used Moses.

Exodus 5. Thing often get worse before they get better. The darkest hour is the one before dawn.

Exodus 6. When first promised deliverance, Israelites were excited. But because it didn’t happen in 5 minutes they don’t want to know. Be patient.

Exodus 7. Even though the going was tough, God was still in control. He sees the big picture. We might lose a battle but the war is ours.

Exodus 8. Pharaoh makes promises, breaks them and plays mind games with the Israelites. Deceptive people can never be trusted.

Exodus 9. Stubborn, hard hearted and devious. Dealing with people like Pharaoh can be draining. But it is possible to stay focused.

Exodus 10. The stand-off between Pharaoh and Moses and Aaron is tense. Sometimes life can be like that. We need to stay calm and rational.

Exodus 11. Situation is desperate but as readers we have the benefit of knowing God was in control. Not always appear so, but God is sovereign.

Exodus 12. The lamb is slain and the applied blood offers the only hope of salvation. Wonderful Christological typology.

Exodus 13. To enter our destiny we need to be fulfilled in the present. And to do that we need to remember where we have come from.

Exodus 14. In spite of deliverance, moment the Egyptians appeared the Israelites grumbled. Some people go to pieces instantly something happens.

Exodus 15. Starts with ecstatic praise ends with grumbling. We need to hold on to positives otherwise we become negatives. It’s easy to do.

Exodus 16. It’s so easy in tough times to want to go back. But if we were relieved to get out then, why is it going to be any different now.

Exodus 17. In spite of living in the miraculous, Israelites continually moaned. Need to be thankful for what we have it’s the key to contentment.

Exodus 18. We want to burn on not burn out. Don’t try and do everything ourselves but look for the right people to delegate, get them involved.

Exodus 19. God chose Moses to work through. The partnership of the infallible and the fallible. He still uses people today.

Exodus 20. Ten commandments introduced. Simple and straight-forward but if put into practice by everyone would transform our nation overnight.

Exodus 21. Laws are introduced. When laws are just and fair they produce civilised societies.

Exodus 22. Laws are laid down for the Israelites. It’s about taking personal responsibility for our own actions. We can’t keep blaming others.

Exodus 23. Justice plus fairness plus no compromise equals blessing. Biblical mathematics.

Exodus 24. To enter the glory of God, Moses had to climb the mountain. The road to blessing is often an uphill struggle. But it’s worth it.

Exodus 25. God gave the instructions but the materials were collected by the people. The balance of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Exodus 26. Inside tabernacle gold everywhere but outside just saw animal skins. Only when you enter relationship with God you see the beauty.

Exodus 27. Lots of bronze around altar. Bronze speaks of judgement. Before we can enter holy place we have to deal with sin at altar of Calvary.

Exodus 28. To be chosen is to be privileged. But with privilege comes responsibility. There is order and submission. We do it his way not ours.

Exodus 29. Lots of detailed procedure. The ministry isn’t something to be entered into lightly. There is responsibility.

Exodus 30. Exact dimensions, ingredients and materials. There’s precision involved when God is at work. It’s not random, by chance or accident.

Exodus 31. When God calls he provides. The provision for the vision.

Exodus 32. Aaron said he threw gold on the fire and it turned into a calf. People say ridiculous things when they’re found out. Lies, deception.

Exodus 33. God knows the beginning from the end. That’s why he’s the Alpha and Omega. But we don’t. That’s why we need to trust and obey.

Exodus 34. Moses was 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai. Sometimes the answers don’t come immediately. We need patience and a long-term mentality.

Exodus 35. The people brought the materials and did the work. Sometimes we think we can sit back and stuff just happens. Lazy man theology.

Exodus 36. ‘They made’ found numerous times. Some people expect things to just happen. God isn’t a magician. We have responsibility.

Exodus 37. Once we come through the bronze of repentance we find the gold of relationship.

Exodus 38. Weights, measurements and statistics, everything is precise. God isn’t just interested in the big picture, he cares about the detail.

Exodus 39. God gave the instructions and the people followed them. It always makes sense to follow the manufacturers guidelines.

Exodus 40. Moses did everything God commanded. A command isn’t an optional extra. Total obedience equals total blessing.

 

You don’t hold a grudge, the grudge holds you

‘So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him’ Mark 6:19

 We often talk about holding a grudge but in effect, as the title of this short devotion implies, it’s actually the other way round. The grudge holds us. And the longer we hold on to it, the greater the hold it has on us. Slowly and surely it kills us by emotional strangulation. Like everything else that is negative it leads to other othings. In this instance it led to Herodias wanting to kill someone.

The verse tells us that she nursed her grudge. And that’s what people who hold them do. They feed the resentment, change its nappy, pamper it and ensure it has the perfect environment to grow in. And then when it does reach maturity it becomes a monster that takes us over. Let go. It’s not worth it.

Keep going, don’t quit

‘Blessed is the one who perseveres’ James 1:12

I went fishing yesterday and was very surprised to find that the lake was totally frozen. I tried breaking the ice but that wasn’t working. There was no option other than to go home. Then I noticed a few mallards swimming. There was a tiny patch of open water in the far corner of the lake.

It wasn’t a good fishing spot and I’m sure many other anglers would still have gone home anyway. But I decided to head over there as I’m a believer that as long as your bait is in the water you have a chance. No matter how remote the possibilities of catching, they will always be greater than if you are sat at home.

And within minutes I had three runs from fish! It shows that we should never give up and even though 99% of the water was frozen, there was still 1% that wasn’t. And in life, the same principle works. Even though the odds are stacked against us by 99%, we should still cling to the 1%. And who knows. Well one thing’s for sure, we’ll never succeed if we quit will we? Keep going.

Shock horror, fishing not mentioned once

Luke 12:34 ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’

The other day I was thinking about the most eventful moments in my life; perhaps defining events or just memorable moments. I mentally listed what came to the fore, and apart from the time that I became a Christian (there was a definite time in my life when that happened), everything included my family.

I thought of the day I met my wife and the first glimpse I had of her on our wedding day as she walked in the church in her dress. Then there was the birth of our daughters, in particular our eldest, as that was special in the sense she was first.

I also recalled our very first night in America. We only had one daughter then and she was just a toddler. We had travelled across the Atlantic, beginning our USA adventure and we were in a Maryland backyward with fireflies and crickets. And the humidity that I had never experienced before.

I remembered our time in South Africa. My youngest daughter telling us there were monkeys outside the house. Yes, we knew they were in the bush. No she said, they’re here.  And there she was rolling oranges to them just a few metres away. Then our first time in the Kruger National Park, having to stop every time we saw a ‘pala’. Which was here word for the numerous Impala.

I could go on, so many memories etched forever on my heart. And as I said, all except one  revolving around people and in particular my family. And what may surprise people who know me  – although it didn’t catch me out (no pun intended) - is that there wasn’t a single fishing moment that came to mind. I’ve got loads if I focus on angling itself, but when you bring it into the big picture of life, it’s not that important really is it?

The Bible tells us that where our treasure is, that’s where our heart is also. Maybe do the same thing right now as I did, and ask yourself what are those really special events in your life that immediately come to mind. You might surprise yourself, perhaps even shock yourself; but either way it is a good excercise to see where your heart really lies.

To obey, or not to obey, that is is the question

Psalm 19:7 ‘The law of the Lord is perfect….the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy’

In the last day or so while out driving I’ve seen young children on the front seat of a car, seat belts not being used, five people crammed on the back seat, people driving lorries with one hand because the other one held a mobile phone while they talked and cars seriously shooting a red light.

What do they all have in common? They are all breaking the law. Either they don’t care, somehow think that they will be fine or else they just take a risk. Or perhaps they think that particular law is irrelevant and unnecessary so they are justified in ignoring it.

But the reality is that these laws are there for a reason. They protect us from others and sadly from ourselves at times. And while in some cases you can perhaps argue that certain laws created by man are nonsense - and you may even have a point - when it comes to God it’s a different thing altogether.

Through the pages of the Bible we read guidelines laid down that are ultimately for our well-being. Stick to them and we will stay on the right path; stray and we will get ourselves in all manner of messy situations. The choice is ours. To obey or not to obey, that is the question.

Mercy, peace and love multiplied (video)

Jude message 3.