THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 11-15 “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.” (Leviticus 15:31) These chapters contain the purity laws, distinguishing between ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’. The laws are put in a religious context but…
Author: Norm
In spirit and truth!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 8-10 “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” (Leviticus 9:6) Why does God have to make it so tough for the people to worship Him? Aaron loses two sons because they did it wrong, yikes. And yet, it…
‘All in the family!’
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:46-50 “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50) At what point did Adam and Eve’s family stop being related? Aren’t we all still related, especially through our common connection to God? The idea of ‘image-bearer’ conveyed a family connection (see Genesis 5:1-3)….
Who or what lives in you?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:43-45 “Seven other spirits more wicked than itself…” (Matthew 12:45) I don’t know exactly what evil spirits are, but I know what they do. Their primary power is deception, negative voices that whisper their lies. What Jesus describes is how deception increases, and bondage magnifies. The Enemy uses what it can to…
When we should get literal!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:38-42 “The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40) Did Jesus rise IN three days (Matthew 26:61), AFTER three days (Matthew 27:63), ON the third day (Matthew 20:19) or after EXACTLY three days and nights (Matthew 12:40)? The phrase ‘three days and three nights’ is a…
Words have power – for good or evil!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:33-37 “By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) God created us in His image, and part of that is creating this world with words. We do not create ‘out of nothing’, but we do create from what God has created. Adam’s task…
Talk it through with Him!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 16 “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” (Psalm 16:7) Do you talk through your struggles or challenges with the Lord? David is wrestling with God in the middle of a crisis. He is affirming the Lord as his guide and helper Who will…
Undying love!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 4-7 “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” (Leviticus 6:13) God wants His people to know the seriousness of sin, and the need for mercy. As I read it, when wouldn’t I be offering sacrifices like this, for sin and guilt. But the ONE…
A pleasing sacrifice!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Leviticus 1-3 “It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” (Leviticus 1:17) I was raised to think that all these sacrifices were normal. They were normal in those times, but they disturbing to our modern sensitivities. All those animals killed to please God, “an aroma pleasing to…
Beyond forgiveness?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 12:30-32 “Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:32) Some people are desperately convinced that they have committed this sin. And yet their sorrow suggest otherwise, for sorrow is a fruit of the Spirit in them. Its got to be more than one time saying something against…