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On understanding and love…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 19:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

This morning Matt 7:1 (Judge not, lest ye be judged) and John 8:1 (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone) are still rattling around in my head. And as much as I say that I understand and agree with these two verses, living them is another matter.

Leviticus 19:3 “ ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.

Especially with people we care about, especially with people we love, when they are not living the way we think they should, the way that we think is right and good, judgment happens, stones get thrown, even if only in the recesses of our own minds. 

Leviticus 19:4 “ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.

Precious Savior, I am struggling this morning to love and not to judge. Help me to understand how to love and not condone, how to love and not condemn, how to love others as You love me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Leviticus 19:5 “ ‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.

Have a blessed day. 

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Love like Jesus…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 18:25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 

Commentary makes this entire chapter seem so cut and dry, positing that all of these things are sins and should cause “strong social disapproval–amounting to exile”. But, again, we have Jesus saying in John 8:7 that only the sinless should cast the first stone, all while very pointedly not throwing stones Himself. 

Leviticus 18:26-27 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the foreigners residing among you must not do any of these detestable things, for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 

John 3:16 is a powerful, beautiful, and oft quoted verse of scripture, but John 3:17 is not nearly as oft quoted and feels especially appropriate today: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” If Jesus is loving and not condemning, then why aren’t we?

Leviticus 18:28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.

Precious Savior, I firmly believe that You call us to be Your hands and feet and heart in this world, that You call us to love Your people and not to judge them. Help me to do just that. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Leviticus 18:29-30 “ ‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’ ”

Have a blessed day. 

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God calls us to love…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 18:22 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

What comes to mind as I read today’s verses is that white slave owners in the south also used scripture to support the practice of slavery. The Bible can be (and often has been) used to justify so many things, especially exclusion and hate, and God calls me to not participate in that travesty of His word.

Leviticus 18:23 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.

God calls us to love Him and love others (Matt22:37-39). Jesus calls us not to judge unless we are without sin (John 8:7), and cautions us that if we judge, we will also be judged (Matt 7:1). He reminds us that there is only one thing worth worrying about (Him) and we should choose what is better (Him) (Luke 10:42). 

Leviticus 18:24 “ ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 

Precious Savior, I can use Your word for good, to shine Your light, to lift others up, to show Your love, or I can use Your word as a weapon, to separate and ostracize, to make others feel unwelcome and unworthy. Help me, always, to choose good, to choose love, to choose You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Leviticus 18:25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Have a blessed day. 

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On sin and stones…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 18:18 “ ‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.

I used to think that if a couple got divorced, they just quit trying…..until I had a friend who’s husband cheated on her and left the marriage (including the children), refusing any sort of therapy or reconciliation attempt. 

Leviticus 18:19 “ ‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.

That incident reminded me that I know nothing but what I can see about most people, marriages, relationships, etc. And it brought to mind John 8:7, where Jesus says of a woman caught in the act of adultery and brought before Him for judgment (and as a trap), “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Leviticus 18:20 “ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.

Precious Savior, Judging others is so incredibly easy, especially if we have no skin in the game and can judge solely based on appearances. But when we take a look at our own lives, every single one of us has sin cluttering up the corners. Help us to focus on becoming better individuals ourselves instead of casting stones at others. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Leviticus 18:21 “ ‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Have a blessed day. 

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It is finished…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 14:49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop.

The ritual described here is the same ritual used with the cleaning of the leper earlier in this chapter. I know because just the mechanics of the ritual (“take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times” v51) strikes me as insanity.

Leviticus 14:50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot.

I just don’t see a live bird consenting to being dipped into the blood of a dead bird (or into anything for that matter) once, much less seven times. So it makes me wonder if this is another situation where what’s really important is the number seven, often associated with completeness, perfection, fulfillment in the Bible. Viewed in this light, it could be the finality of the cleansing ritual and the cleansing itself. As Jesus says in John 19:30, “It is finished.”

Leviticus 14:51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.

Precious Savior, There is so much I do not know, do not understand about Your Word. Thank You for allowing me insights to ponder as I read and study Your Word. Draw me closer to You each morning. Amen.

Leviticus 14:52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn.

Have a blessed day.

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He is still with us…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 9:22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

The fire in verse 24 was a physical sign that God was with them. How amazing must that have been. For those of us consumed with doubt and fear, anxiety and worry, to have that physical reminder that He is with us is a beautiful gift.  

Leviticus 9:23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 

What I have to remind myself is that, even without that physical reminder, HE IS STILL WITH US. And if I can calm my anxiety and really pay attention to my surroundings, I can see evidence of His presence everywhere, in every situation.

Leviticus 9:24a Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that You are Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matt 1:23). You are not a distant, uncaring God. You collect all our tears in a bottle (Ps 56:8). You understand our pain (Ps 34:18) and know our hearts (Ps 44:21). Blanket us with Your peace so that we are neither troubled nor afraid (John 14:27). Draw us nearer. Amen.

Leviticus 9:24b And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Have a blessed day. 

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On light and hope…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 37:18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 

Today’s scripture has me thinking about light and darkness and how completely even the smallest light can disrupt even the deepest darkness. Don’t believe me? Look at a small blue pinprick of light in the middle of the night in a dark room–that tiny light casts an incredible glow. 

Exodus 37:19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 

John 1:5 says “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” That light is God. Even in the darkest night, God’s presence, His power, His goodness overcomes the darkness, obliterates it. And His light gives us hope.

Exodus 37:20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for helping me to understand the power of light and hope. Thank You for the knowledge that You are the light in the darkness, always, that You will keep the darkness from overcoming us, that even a small ray of Your light, Your hope, is all it takes. Help me to always hold on to Your Hope. Amen.

Exodus 37:21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all.

Have a blessed day. 

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The act of hallowing and the oil of anointing…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 29:5 Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. 

Today finds me still thinking about the act of hallowing and the oil of anointing. I am reminded of Mary of Bethany who poured expensive nard on Jesus’s feet and wiped it with her hair (John 12:1-8). Commentary (and Google AI) both talk about this anointing as preparation for His burial, but today has me pondering.

Exodus 29:6 Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred emblem to the turban. 

What if this scene in John was part of Jesus’s hallowing, His “setting aside as holy,” like the priests from yesterday’s verses? The act is lowly, dirty, and humbling for Mary, but it is absolutely hallowing for Jesus. Or perhaps it could be both a hallowing and a preparation for what’s to come. 

Exodus 29:7 Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the idea of this connection between the Old Testament and the New, between Aaron’s line of priests and Jesus, the Son of God. Thank You for the ability to see and ponder connections and for the depth it adds to my faith. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 29:8-9 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics and fasten caps on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons. The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.

Have a blessed day. 

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Fighting for you…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 14:25a He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! 

Oh the surety of knowing that the Lord is fighting for you. Based on the dialog, the Egyptians know with certainty, without question, that the Lord is fighting for the Israelites. Interestingly, in several conversations about God, Jesus, and their commandments lately, the idea that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 100% for preserving the sanctity of human dignity has come up.

Exodus 14:25b The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Think about the women at the well. She is so outcast that she comes alone in the middle of the day to get water from the well. Jesus knows that she has had five husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband, and yet, he breaks all kinds of social rules to treat her with dignity and respect, allowing her to know the deep, fierce, profound love He has for her, for all of us.

Exodus 14:26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 

Precious Savior, It is so easy to use You as an exclusive badge of honor, but that is not who You are. You love each and every one of Your children, regardless of their mistakes and missteps, regardless of whether they recognize Your sovereignty. You want a relationship with us all, simply because we are Your beloved children. Thank You. Help us to show that kind of all-encompassing love to ourselves and each other. Amen.

Exodus 14:27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.

Have a blessed day.

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Christ’s peace…. (devo reflection)

Genesis 33:5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

At the end of today’s verses, Esau says, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” Unfortunately, we live in a world that often says, “I have plenty, but I want more, deserve more, need more.”

Genesis 33:6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. 

Commentary remarks on Esau’s peace and contentment, even without the birthright blessing. That kind of contentment, of peace, can only come from God. The world will loudly insist we need more, even if we have enough. Our fear of scarcity tells us we can’t share, even if we have plenty.

Genesis 33:7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

Precious Savior, in John 14:27 You say, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Thank You for understanding this fear that the world propagates. Help me to live Your word, Your peace, instead of the world’s fear. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 33:8-9 Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

Have a blessed day.