No, God doesn’t need any help. He has his own plans and his own ways of doing things. And they’re usually not according to our expectations.
But if people are watching and things don’t move according to popular expectations, then we’re in trouble. Or we think that God’s reputation will be on the line. God is not worried about his reputation – why are we?
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu wanted to make sure they looked authentic before the people. Instead of waiting for fire from heaven to come down and burn up the sacrifice, they offered their own solution. They decided to add their own fire to the sacrifice. They got the desired effect. But God was not pleased (Lev 10:1-3).
Allow God to work at his own pace. He doesn’t need us to help him out. When we allow God to move as he pleases, He will be glorified and pleased.
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Category: Inspiration
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Really?
Whenever you think that you’re beyond sin, you’re on dangerous ground. At that point, you step into the realm of deception where Satan distorts your thinking. Then you fall into sin and conceal it to present such a public image of yourself that you have falsely created.
For Israel, God was adamant that they regularly offer sacrifices for their sins. Beginning with the leaders and all the people, everyone had to offer Sin Offerings. This constantly reminded them of their sinful condition and continual need for God (Lev 9).
But we have forgiveness through the one-time sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This is why we no longer do animal sacrifices. But like Paul, we must remind ourselves: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim 1:15).
We are now free from the control of sin. And yes, sin is no longer an issue for us. But watch it. Don’t be deceived.– – –
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Yes…and to God. More than a profession, leadership is a calling and commitment to God and to people. When Aaron and his sons were ordained and consecrated as priests, it was before the Lord and his people.
When the task of leadership becomes difficult and you get weary, you don’t have the option to quit. You’re answerable to God. Better options may be presented to you by well meaning people in your life, but you’ve got to listen to God.
Ultimately leadership is a commitment to God – for life.
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Many people I know who have been called by God for ministry has experienced severe trials in various ways. It seems that God’s call implies a call to suffering in various ways.
Jesus called Peter to join him as he walked on water in the midst of a severe storm. Although he was able to walk just like Jesus did, he began to sink as a result of fear and doubt. Then Jesus took him by the hand and they both walked to the boat on the water. What a lesson for Peter about faith.
Jesus could have first calmed the storm before calling Peter on to the water. But no. Peter could only learn to trust Jesus in the midst of the raging storm.Do you feel called by God? Watch out!
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It’s not that God is in need of anything. But giving is an expression of our trust, love, dependence on God, and many other things. Giving has always been an integral part of worship.
But giving while you’re in need is quite a different story all together. Giving when you have a limited supply represents the condition of one’s heart.
The worship practices of the Israelites were established during their wilderness travels. All that they had were in limited supply. Yet their hearts had to be open to God to give out of their need (Lev 7:38).
Of course God doesn’t need it. We are in need of giving it even out of our need.
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Thinking of the profitability of sin can be quite interesting, but it seems like the thief had to return the stolen item along with an additional 20% as penalty (Leviticus 6:5). In essence, the victim will make a 20% profit on his loss. If this law was carried out with diligence, it would be advantageous for victims of theft.
In a similar note, no one was to benefit from the sin offering. This offering was to be entirely burned up to ashes. For other types of offerings, only a portion was burned up on the altar, and the rest was for the priests ministering in the tabernacle.
The sin offering was intentionally handed in a totally different manner (Leviticus 6:30).
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Because the guilty are guilty, and God is a God of mercy. These two realities must be juxtaposed to provide a Godly balance to our lives. Without understanding both, we run the risk of two extremes.
Ignoring the guilt of sin sets us on a dangerous track. We’ll begin to re-define our sins and continue to suffer the consequences of our guilt. Things will begin to grip our lives in unexpected ways. We’ll try everything in our ability, but nothing will provide relief or an answer.
On the other hand, when God’s mercy is ignored, we’ll get into a judgmental and legalistic mode. This is equally destructive as ignoring guilt. Once we’re on a judgmental track, God is no longer part of the equation. Our works become the primary valuation for our lives. Thus we forget reality. The reality that says we are guilty and God is merciful.
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Beginning with the top leaders, God gives an opportunity to receive forgiveness (Lev 4). There seems to be nothing – done by anyone – that would catch God by surprise. Any sin by anyone could be presented to God and forgiveness would be granted.
What a merciful God! He graciously put up with such a “stiff-necked” people (Exo 32:9). Although they were prone to fall away from the ways of God, he continued to be merciful. There was never a lack of opportunity for receiving forgiveness.
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Why do you do what you do? If it weren’t for the relationships in your life, would you be doing those things? Actually, there may not be much meaning to the things you do if it were not for relationships.
When the people of God brought offerings to God, they were to add salt, which represented the covenant relationship they had with God. There was a clear statement that they were to offer salt with all their offerings (Leviticus 2:13). Every offering they made to God had to be done for the sake of the covenant relationship.
Why do you do what you do? Because of relationships. Think of every activity you do during the day. They are all connected to relationships with others in your life, and ultimately for relationship with God.
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What a bold step it would have been to walk past your neighbors and friends with a bull in tow as you walk toward the temple to confess your sins.
People might ask: “Hey, where are you going with that bull?”
Answer: “Well, uh, I’m on my way to confess my sin.”
Question: “What did you do?”
Reply: “Never mind.”
Confession of sins was a public matter in front of people who know you. Even when they got to the temple, there might be people who know them. As they wait in line for their turn to offer the burnt offering for sin, people who know them would see them and might ask the same question as others: “What did you do?” Or, they might ask others: “What did he do?”
The reason we don’t do this public thing is because Jesus did this for us publicly. He walked down the streets of Jerusalem – but not with an animal for sacrifice, but his own body as a perfect sinless sacrifice for our sins. The one perfect sacrifice that was sufficient for all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
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