"If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands..."
Leviticus 26:3
Leviticus 26:3
My Take Aways
Something Old:
Leviticus 26:18,23,27
Grace abounds...
Something New:
Leviticus 26:44
I will not cancel my covenant...
Regardless of what His children do He keeps His word.
Something to Do:
Just obey...the blessings are much better than the alternative.
30 Comments:
My nugget of truth
Lev 26:44 But despite all this, I will not utterly reject them...
He will never leave us or forsake us.
Good Morning Everyone ~To be able to wake up and head for God's Word, and then to meet with you all. Are we blessed, or what? (thank you Jesus!)
Loved your lesson this morning, Wendy. Something Old: Wow, numerous blessings are listed for obedience as well as out-right warnings for those who disobey God's Word. The part that hit me-if we obey, He said, "I will live among you...I will walk among you" (Lev. 26 11 & 12). And when we are acting in disobedience: "I will turn against you" (26:17).
My New:
Christ was revealed to us today in our reading: "As the Tabernacle (dwelling place, place to love) to be sent to dwell among us."
John 1:4, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
To Do: The same truths apply to us today. "...this is the new covenant...I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people" (Jer. 31:31-34).
Our gracious Father displays loving and faithful compassion to us, ---sinner's who are blessed to receive His forgiveness. I so want to live out his instrutctions that He has placed on my heart. Like you said dear Wendy, to keep, to attend to carefully, to guard!
Lord, I seek to know you more throughout my day. May You be in my thoughts all day long. May it be You that I desire to please. May I trust in You from beginning to end. Amen.
Looking forward to reading your golden nuggets later on. Prayer's coming you way, Lori
My nugget is Lev 26:44: "I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies".
I became a believer as a teen...always knowing that Jesus had saved me. But soon after I fell into worldly behavior. Late in my 20's I started to renew my faith walk. But during those "exile" years God did not reject me. This makes me incredibly thankful to Him, and secondly it helps me not to judge others who are in exile right now. I have been there.
Living in His grace
Morgen
What a blessing to read The Word and hear your message each morning, Wendy! Thank you to everyone who comments!
I am so thankful for His grace and His faithfulness! The light you bring to John 14:15, Wendy, is AWESOME! WOW! Love is something that keeps coming up in everything I read lately and something I know the Lord is really working on w/me this month. I am excited to see where He is going with it and how He works it out! Thanks for adding to this journey!
Bethany
Wendy - you take the most difficult passages and make them come alive with meaning! Thank you for your obedience to the Lord as you teach each of us how to also surrender to Him each day.
As I read Lev. 26: 27-33 I thought of the earthquate in Haiti. I know that voodoo prevails there, and I just found a really good article that implies that perhaps they were punished because of the widespread belief in the spirit-world and pagan beliefs:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5idZiVQhHcyG1gpBjzXaAmmk4_OtAD9DQV1680
It struck me that while we can't know if the Lord rained destruction on them for having other "gods" as He warned the Israelites in Leviticus - it is frightening to think that perhaps there was that connection.
Lord - let us walk in Your obedience and do more than just obey your commands. Let us overwhelmingly want to do Your Will and want to surrender to You day by day. Thank you again for that precious nuggest today Wendy.
Dear FIGs,
Something is going on in my today. I read the reading last night, I meditated on it, I re-read it this morning... I didn't watch the vlog until afternoon, I have gathered nuggets and I recongnize the truth, but for some reason, I am so heavy-hearted! I don't know why. I have prayed about it. I think this is one day where I have to walk in faith and obedience even if my engagement is not totally there. Maybe God is working in me today in a different way.
So; Christ revealed for me today: Lev. 25:47b-49a If any of your fellow Israelites fall into poverty and are forced to sell themselves to such a foreigner or to a member of his family, 48 they still retain the right to be bought back, even after they have been purchased. They may be bought back by a brother, 49 an uncle, or a cousin.
Jesus bought us back and we are adopted bothers and sisters in Christ. "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. " (1 Cor. 6:19-20); You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Cor. 7:23) and Eph. 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Amen Lori and Wendy for focusing on Lev. 26: 3-12. I was swallowed up by 14-43. They tell of the years of exile (Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel) and the hardships the people will face; the horrible things that will come to pass and the great separation. \
But thankyou God (and Amen Morgen) for verses 44 and 45!
“But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the Lord their God. For their sakes I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of all the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord.”
I need this to soak into me, like a gentle rain on hot, dry land.
Psalm 63:1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Karen, Basel
Good morning, friends,
Before rushing off to morning recess duty, I want to say that today's reading reminded me of the current threat to Israel by Iran via nuclear destruction. So my nugget today is that all government leaders need our prayers to have the wisdom to deal with this awful threat, and that the people of Israel also need our prayers.
Wendy, thanks for leading us to John 14-15 and those comforting words. If you haven't yet seen Marybeth Whalen's Proverbs 31 devotional today, it, too, is very comforting.
Peace,
Michelle in New England
Wendy
I LOVE LOVE:
Obedience is more than not sinning, it is having the overwhelming desire to walk in his presence every moment-w/o fear and the pressure of perfect performance.
That is so great and I will love sharing that with my kids at some point today.
I love how you lived it out today too by not worrying about a "perfect performance" with your dog barking and your cell phone ringing-you just kept right on in obedience.
Thank you Wendy!
Kimberly
Good Morning,
Lev. 25 allowed any Israelites who fell into slavery to be bought back and set free in the Year of Jubliee. This reminded me of the book of Ruth-Boaz was the "kinsman redeemer" for Naomi and Ruth. He bought them back. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer, who bought our salvation with His blood. Praise to His Name!
Since we can read ahead, we know about the disobedience of Is. and their captivity with Babylon, Syera,Meede, Persia, etc. This was because they forsoke the worship of Jehovah and worshipped pagan gods.
Help me Lord to not have anything put before You or more important than You. May we learn from the Isrealites, Americans.
Go with Jesus,
Linda from Ark.
Good morning all!
I camped out on the idea that God did NOT want his children to be slaves, they were (Lev. 25:42) "MY SERVANTS, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, so they must never be sold as slaves." Again in Lev. 26:13, "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high."
I was so struck by the idea that God did not want his children to be slaves -- that he had broken that yoke so they could walk with dignity. God does not want ME to be a slave to sin...he has broken that yoke so that I could walk with dignity -- my head held high, confidently looking at my King, not bowed down under the shame and disgrace of my sin. Praise Jesus! Rom 6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
Sisters, we are Daughters of the Most High King...bought with a precious price!! We are not slaves to sin...hold your heads high and walk in the dignity that He has given us!
Have a great one!!!
Tiffany
Interesting insight on the concept of obedience. I had never really thought about it in that way. Definitely something to ponder in the coming weeks.
Chip
Blessings of this Thursday to all!
Something Old:"five of you will chase a hundred and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand" Lev 26:8
**God's army - powerful in him**
Something New:"I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze. All your work will be for nothing for your land will yield no crops and your trees will bear no fruit." Lev 26:19-20
**iron sharpening iron**
To Remember: "I will give you peace in the land and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear." Lev 26:6
**thank you, Jesus!**
Lord this morning I pray for my sisters that you:
*teach us your decrees - we will keep them to the end.
*give us understanding and we will obey your instructions - we will put them into practice with all our hearts
*make us walk along the path of your commands, for that is where our happiness is found
*give us an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money
*turn our eyes from worthless things and give us life through your word
*reassure us of your promise made to those who fear you
*help us abandon our shameful ways for your regulations are good
**we long to obey your commandments!
**renew our life with goodness
Psalm 119:33-40
Praising and blessing His holy name always and in all ways,
Liz
Alaska
God gives us another glimpse into how special His people are to Him. Obey Him - He wants to bless us. Worship Him only, put no other before Him - He wants to bless us. He broke the yoke of slavery so we can walk with our heads held high! As Lysa Terkeurst said in a recent Proverbs 31 devotion - We were made for more! And when we stumble He makes provision for that too - He does not forget His eternal covenant, He does not reject us - He is our God.
May we walk with our heads held high today because we belong to the King and may our hearts be surrendered to Him and Him alone.
~Val
Perfect grace from a perfect God...I love that, Wendy.
Today's reading reminded me of the very first bible verses that really jumped out at me when I started reading the bible a few years ago:
1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
After all the feasts and sacrifices we are to bring - well, sometimes we get legalistic. What He wants is our obedience because then it is coming from our heart instead of just going through the motions.
All the mention of "seven times" caught my attention, too. There were four instances, I think. Chuck Missler did some math on that and came up with the number of days from the sieges against the city to May 14, 1948 when Israel became a nation again. It's all mind blowing. He may have that in his book 20/20 or Prophecy 101. Anyway, all that to say that when God says He will do something, He will do it ~ whether we understand the Math or not!
Liz, that is a great prayer.
Lots to ponder today...
Have a blessed day, everyone!
Hi Everyone,
My thoughts were right on with the video blog today. God lays out the blessings and the punishment. Looking we think, "why would they even choose to go off the path God had for them?" But yet they do as we will see as we read on. But how much am I like that as well? God lays out in His Word our blessings as well. He tells us in His Word what life will be like if we follow Him, but how often do I still go my own way and not obey what He says? I think Lev 26:19 has the answer, MY PROUD SPIRIT." I am so thankful for God's grace today and that even though I may choose my own way instead of His He will not cancel my covenant with Him (Lev 26:44). His grace covers me. I pray for the overwhelming desire to walk in His will every moment, humbling myself and not walk in pride.
Hope everyone has a blessed day. I am getting back on my feet. I actually made it to the grocery store today :) I have tons on my to-do list but just taking it one day at a time and going to make sure I take time for my reading each day first. Just fyi, if anyone is interested Joyce Meyer has a great guest on her show today talking about saving money with coupons and at the grocery store. I have already taken some of her advice and emailed some companies of products that my family uses for our special diets that they never run coupons for in the paper.
Have a great day!
Brandee, TN
Grace and Peace: I'm reading Chuck Missler's book right now and he does the "seven" calculations in it - "Learn the Bible in 24 Hours" .....I just happened to be reading it today and it blew my mind!
God designed the Bible and His fingerprint is all over that baby!!
Morgen
ps...quoting Chuck Missler: "God will reveal Himself to you as a response to obedience. The revelations of God throughout the OT always FOLLOW obedience, they do not precede it."
Another good reason to obey Him.
Hello,
This is my first time commenting, but I've been following along with the study. I'd like to share some of the insights God is showing me through the readings.
For the past couple days I've felt the "nudge" of God to make a certain sacrifice in my life. This wasn't anything major, in fact to the average person, it probabaly wouldn't be a big deal. Let's just say it's a certain food and to me, it's a HUGE deal! Well, each time I had this food, I'd feel the "nudge"--you know what I'm talking about--that feeling like I shouldn't be eating this. Instead of putting it away I'd finish it and then think....no that CAN'T be from God, why would he care what I'm eating as long as I'm healthy?
Yesterday I actually made a promise to God-a vow of sorts-to NOT eat this food until I felt He was giving me the ok. So today, I sacrificed-JOYFULLY-this food to Him. Guess what? Once I made this promise to God I let Him help me and it's so much easier. Between yesterday's and today's reading on obedience I know God was speaking to my heart....that I wasn't putting Him first.
-Amy V.
I just love GRACE!! I love your teaching on obedience, Wendy!! Thank you!!
My mom always says, "You know, I am following God and doing everything I want to do. I don't envy your sin at all. Being close to God means so much more."
Amy V, welcome and PTL for your obedience!
Morgen, Learn the Bible in 24 hrs is the book Chuck Missler used for the Koinonia class I just finished (overview of the OT). Doesn't that just blow your mind? I'd like to take more classes from him after I finish the Bronze (yes, we get medals) track.
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for your comments yesterday. Was glad to hear more of you enjoy the garden article.
Linda from Ark. I did cut down on my gardens also last year. Our sons always kept up the vegetable gardens...They are getting older now and have jobs of their own...I still very much enjoy the flower garden and the show they give me each yr.
Jacque our sweet sister here is a hug...Hold on and hang in there. Prayers just went up for you and your son.
My Nugget: "Show your fear of God."
Leviticus 25:43, "Show your fear of God by not treating them harshly.
My new : The Sabbath Year. I read this here from an article on biblestudy.org found it pretty interesting.
If our nation observed the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, it would be tremendously blessed, instead of cursed like it is now. There would be no crushing debt nor an imbalance of the very rich and the very poor. Land values would be relatively stable, and inflation and depressions would not occur. The Law of God would be taught in detail every seventh year, which would result in good government and prosperity. But we will have to wait for the millennium for the good results of national obedience to the Almighty's laws.
When is the Jubilee year? When is the Sabbatical year? The issue is of major importance. Israel went into captivity for not obeying this law. If God will send modern Israel into captivity for the same reason as ancient Israel, knowledge must be increased, and Israel must be warned, Amos 3:7, Daniel 12:4, John 7:17. We look forward to the time when we will understand, and witness the fulfillment, of the Land Sabbath and Jubilee year.
Written by: Richard Nickels
Had just a glympse of another nugget: Punishment for Disobedience, brought me back to Job for just a second. Keep me humble!!!
*Job 28:28 And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
"Show your fear of God"
My to Do: Keep fearing the Lord through obedience. Continue with Rich Soil…..Luke 8:15, “But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Jesus, grant me the grace of a generous and good heart to embrace the word you sow in me. Amen.
Rhonda
Wendy, I love your definition! Thanks!
I made a list of all of the blessings that were in today's reading as rewards for obedience. They range from the very physical like having enough to eat to safety from enemies and wild animals to control of the weather to spiritual peace. Most of all, God promises then to dwell with the obedient and be their God. Why would we ever want to disobey? Yet it's so easy to do ... may we all nurture that overwhelming desire to obey with our whole hearts!
PS - Several people commented about countries, including the US, facing consequences now from mass disobedience to God. I just finished reading a series of books that explores that theory as well as lots of 'what-if' end times theories, and they were really good. It's called 'The Last Jihad' series by Joel Rosenberg if anyone's interested.
Amy V -- welcome! I loved your first comment, and look forward to you sharing more of your thoughts and insights.
I, too, was inspired to give up a certain food as a result of this week's readings. And because I am doing it as both a sacrifice and a sign of obedience to God, it has been easy!! I'm feeling good about! Jesus says in Matthew 25:21 "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." I know God has noticed our efforts, Amy, and he is pleased. :)
Peace,
Michelle in New England
Hi All,
I have missed you on my unintentional break from commenting! I have been reading, but it is FAR from as full as it gets with this study.
Amy & Michelle, I TOO have given up a few things, one was a sin-gateway, and the other was a food idol. And I like that you pointed out, Amy, to sacrifice it JOYFULLY. I am struggling to joyfully sacrifice my food idol. Thank you for that thought and the accountability it brings. Also, glad you're here!
My old heard new:
Lev 26:14-46 God doesn't want to punish us. He loves His children and gives us chance after chance after freakin chance! I can't even wrap my mind around the grace that he bestows on me/us.
My new:
Lev 25:35-38 God wants us to be in community with each other. If we see a brother/sister in Christ suffering or struggling, we are to reach out to them, "showing our fear of God by letting him live with you like a relative" because we are all family in Him.
Nugget:
Well you guys have brought out a ton more, but my original was that God is relational, and wants a relationship with us, His people. Even when we betray Him and disobey His laws, He loves us enough to forgive us and keep his covenant with us, even though we do nothing to deserve it. In addition to having relationship with us, He wants us to have relationship with each other. He made us that way. We are to embody that love because we love and fear Him, and the way we show that to Him is to love each other.
Thanks for the additional insight all - Morgen, liked the exile bit, I too have seen that he was with me, even in my own exile; Also all the insights on obedience are awesome. I have a whole page of notes to reflect on.
Bless you all!
Olivia
Thank You Lord. WOW...
What really stuck out to me was:
I wont have perfect performance.
Walk in the center of his will every moment.WOW.
We have perfect Grace because We have a perfect God! Amen! WOW!
WOW! I am speechless.
Hi All,
Got more of a chance to read everyone comments. Day was kind of hecktic. Morning was so broke up. Getting more snow here Kids had 2 hr delay...
Wendy, Loved Kims encouragment to you with all the distraction you had with the great job of keep kept it together. Also today here it is a whole 18 degrees. I will take the 30 degree.
Liz,
What a wonderful and thoughtful prayer for all of us. I truly embraced it.
Morgen, Exile...Thank You very much for the insight about it...really loved how you put this (helps me not to judge others who are in exile right now). I been there a few times. Not easy.
Karen hope your heavy heart feels lighten. Let it go...Pause for a moment, breathe deeply and allow yourself to grow still. Be aware of the presence of God who responds to you with love and compassion.
Lots to take in.
Have a great evening everyone.
Rhonda
Hi Wendy and all the gals and guys!
I'm being brave and finally posting a comment. Wendy, I found this on the proverbs 31 website and I'm so glad. I am learning so much from you and the others posting comments. I have never read much of the bible much less through the whole thing. Thank you so much for leading us in this bible study.
I was not taught to read scripture being raised Catholic. I actually, as Mathew West would say, was just "going through the motions."
I repeated prayers over and over, sat in church listening and taking communion not understanding what it really meant. It is amazing to me all the comments on the meaning of blood. Before communion(the body and blood of Christ) I would say, "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world," and it recently hit me how significant this was. I never understood what an honor it was to take communion. I just did without thinking about it. How sad! Seems amazing that I could have gone to a parochial school for twelve years and not have understood the point. I have always been a believer, but I have not been saved.
God has been trying to reach me and I'm ready to have a relationship with him. Even through all of this I know God has always been there. There is no way I could have gotten to this point without him. My husband and I are now attending a bible church and I have already noticed a positive change in myself and our marriage. I am so excited to be a part of this bible study and learning and growing with all of you.
Thank you and God bless
Kristin-Wisconsin
Kristin-Wisconsin,
***Welcome!!!
Your comment has touched my heart. Thanks for being brave. Your story reminds me so much of myself. I was born and raised Catholic. and was just going through the motions....not understanding the meaning to alot of it....but today I look at it as being my fault. I was put through some very rough trials....before surrending. Now just speaking for me here when I was younger I had no interest in church going stuff I could of cared less. Looking back at it today I was not getting nothing they were trying to teach me. It was all way over my head. Today I find everything so interesting and am looking up things on my own I want to learn so much more. The 7 sacarments we make....Boy the meaning they have behind them to me today. We are blessed to have them. A couple of years back when my children were younger I taught catholicism to the 3rd grade. I was learning so much myself those years....I believe though.. my younger years my parents taking us to church show
me the beginning foundation for my beliefs.
Our diocese mails us a Faith Magazine about 4 time a year. Our Last issue had in it a couple of people on "Why I came back" to the catholic church. Wish you could read them. The one gal stated "As I started experiencing some of the weaknesses of the Protestant tradition, I BEGAN TO LOOK WITH NEW EYES AT THE CATHOLIC FAITH."
This is her last paragraph "I'm grateful for the people that I met and for the ministry I received in the Protestant churches. I learned a love for the scriptures, and I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, I wish I understood when I was younger that all of that is available with the Catholic Church and even more because of the Eucharist and the sacraments. it was there all along, but I didn' see it. While the baptism in the Holy Spirit was a very powerful experience, receiving the Lord in the Eucharist after so many years was very emotional. I wept, but it produced in me a sense of peace at a deep level I felt like I was home. I later told my husband, referring to the Catholic faith, that this is where I will live and die."
Kristin I too have learned about scripture from other souces. Blessing to Wendy and our sweet Sisters here whom have a hunger for God....I just started to leave some comments myself.
Welcome again...
Rhonda
I too loved the statement from Lysa's book that you shared Wendy...Obedience is more than not sinning, it is having the overwhelming desire to walk in his presence every moment-w/o fear and the pressure of perfect performance.
The promise that I saw at the beginning vs 12 that held my attention is "I will walk among you." How comforting to know that my heavenly Father is walking among us. Another verse that jumped out at me was "I broke the yoke of slavery from your necks..." How many times have I felt like I have become a slave to the daily grind and the constant hustle and havoc that grinds on my patience. But praise my Father, because he says he has 'broken that yoke of slavery to sin' thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus that I am made free!
God remembered His covenants with their ancestors. I love the word "covenant" in the Bible. It is one of my favorites. That unbreakable promise that God made with their ancestors, He hasn't forgotten!
This Bible study is such a blessing. It is the bright spot of my day. It is an answer to prayer and I am loving how the Scriptures are coming alive through each of you and especially Wendy. Thank you daily for your committment to sharing from your storehouse of what God shares with you.
Oh, Wendy, thank you for the information on the book What Happens When Women Say Yes To God. Sounds like it would be a wonderful Bible Study tool or book.
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