Category: Leviticus

Leviticus 10:1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
When I read the beginning of this chapter, my first thought was that I am so glad that we CAN approach God on our own because of Jesus’s sacrifice. But commentary gave me pause with the comment: “Whatever their exact motivation, it wasn’t holiness unto the LORD.”
Leviticus 10:2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Yes, we can approach God without the aid of intercessors, but the purpose must be to glorify God, to draw closer to Him. You might wonder what other purpose there could be, or like me, you might instantly be put in mind of people who try to use God as a weapon, people who try to put God in their back pocket, people who claim intimate knowledge of the mind of God and condemn and judge in His name because of it. Glory to God does not come from such behavior.
Leviticus 10:3a And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’” 
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that we CAN come to You but that our hearts must be in the right place, our purpose must be pure—we must regard You as holy and seek to glorify You. Draw us closer. Help us shine Your light. Amen.
Leviticus 10:3b So Aaron held his peace.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 8:22 He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
Commentary explained verses 23-24 in the following way: “They should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their thumb. They should walk differently because the blood was on their toe.” This idea really struck me and put me in mind of the mindfulness and intentionality I wrote about yesterday.
Leviticus 8:23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of His right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
My relationship with Christ should change me in the best possible way. It should cause me to think of my life, my interactions, in terms of His will—What would Jesus do? How would Jesus act in this situation?How can I walk in such a way that others can see Him, His love, through me? 
Leviticus 8:24a Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this perspective. Help me to live differently because of my relationship with You. Help me to be mindful and intentional and to listen, work, and walk in Your love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 8:24b … Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar.
Have a blessed day. 

Leviticus 7:1 “‘These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy….’”
These verses, to me, speak to intentionality and mindfulness. Paying attention. Being aware. Cultivating purposeful and deliberate practices instead of mindlessly going through the motions. Intentionality and mindfulness are important practices today when it comes to our relationship with our Savior.
Leviticus 7:11 “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the LORD….’”
I used to have an index card on my desk at school which said: My goal for today…to abide with Christ. Even that little physical reminder helped me to remember to be intentional about staying mindful of His presence. It is so easy for the world’s noise and chaos to creep in if we don’t remain mindfully vigilant. 
Leviticus 7:37 These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering and the fellowship offering…..
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder of the importance of being intentional and mindful when it comes to our relationship with You. Help us to abide in You today and every day, Lord. Keep us mindful. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 7:38 … which the LORD gave Moses at Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the LORD.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 4:2 …’When anyone sins unintentionally…’”
Commentary states “The idea is not so much an accidental sin, but a sin committed by a person who basically loves God” as opposed to flagrant and intentional sinning. Regardless, these chapters show that atonement for sin was a bloody business with utterly no profit, and for the tender-hearted, also a sad one.
Leviticus 4:4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the LORD.
Any sacrifice had to be from the first-fruits of the livestock—without blemish. No part of the sacrifice could be used by the one offering it for any other purpose. You couldn’t keep the hide or any of the meat. There was a lot of blood—to cover the sin. And before the process began, you had to lay your hands on the animal’s head to identify with it, to transfer your guilt to the animal taking your place.
Leviticus 4:5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and carry it into the tent of meeting.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this understanding of the process of atonement. Thank You for sending Your Son, Yourself, as the ultimate sacrifice, so that we always have a way back to You. Thank You for loving us enough that You willingly paid the price for our sins, so that we could be restored to You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 4:11-12 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh…he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean…and burn it in a wood fire on the ash heap.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 3:1 “If your offering is a fellowship offering….”
Today’s scripture put me in mind of all the ways we can give to God of our time and talents. Money is certainly one way, but there are so many others. I love this idea of friendship, of fellowship, as an offering to God. It puts me in mind of “Buddy Benches” on elementary playgrounds and the idea of befriending others, especially those who are outcast or on the fringes, as an extension of God’s love.
Leviticus 3:3 “From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the LORD….”
It also puts me in mind of the cooking and baking I do for those who are sick or have had babies. It’s such a small thing to cook a meal, but it can be a tremendous gift for someone who is struggling or exhausted. And I always pray for those who will receive it as I’m putting it together. I think that extension of friendship and fellowship makes God smile.
Leviticus 3:5 …”it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the myriad ways we can offer ourselves to You and Your people. Help me to make a habit daily of extending a friendship offering to You, to Your people. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 3:16 …a pleasing aroma…
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 2:2 …an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
I am struck this morning by the sensory nature of this experience. I don’t think it is by accident. The rich visual details of the wood, the metal, and the linens in Exodus and the details about the aromas and tastes in Leviticus tell me that God wants our time with Him to be a rich, immersive experience. 
Leviticus 2:9 …an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
And for some reason, the level of detail in His instruction now makes me chuckle because I know He’s talking to me and those like me who want to be sure we dot every i and cross every t because we love Him so deeply and we just want to do things right so He understands the level of our feelings.
Leviticus 2:13a Season all your grain offerings with salt….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the nature of Your immersive, all-encompassing love for us. Thank You for Your detailed instructions for those of us who need them and for calling us to Yourself, even though we fall so very short. Thank You for this gift that is a life lived in You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 2:13b …add salt to all your offerings.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 1:2 …”When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or flock.”
The idea of animal sacrifice is difficult for me. I understand the rationale—if God’s laws were broken, reparation must be made by the one who broke them. I understand that the sinner, the one who broke the law, had to kill the sacrifice. I understand the sacrifice had to be from the first fruits of the sinner’s stock—a choice animal without blemish. All of these things were so that the price for sin cost the sinner something personal.
Leviticus 1:9 …It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
But I’m just not sure I could do what was to be done. I don’t think my heart could handle taking that innocent life, even the life of an animal, especially if it was because of my own wrongdoings. Then I think of what Jesus did for me. He offered Himself in my place—innocent, blameless, undefiled. He took my punishment so that I could have a restored relationship with God. I am awed and humbled.
Leviticus 1:13 …It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your overwhelming love of me. Thank You that You want so much for me to be restored to You that You paid the ultimate price for my sins. I don’t deserve that gift, but You give it freely anyway because of Your deep love. Thank You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 1:17 …It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Have a blessed day.