The Lord Spoke to Him

Daily Reading: Leviticus 1-2

Scripture Focus: The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel... (Leviticus 1.1-2a)

Devotional Thought: Here we go! We are starting on a journey through Leviticus. You may wonder what in the world all these purification laws and ritualistic regulations have to do with the Christian. As we go through these chapters, I hope you will see the abiding truth behind these Old Testament practices.

Leviticus starts with God calling out to Moses from the tent of meeting. What a great image! There was a place where Moses could go and meet with God! And, God would take the initiative to speak to him from that sacred place. Do you have such a time and place in your life? Leave space for God and he will speak to you.

Lest Moses would get 'lost' in contemplation and spiritual ecstasies, God made it clear that this encounter with him was about more than God and Moses: "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them..." Too often we can get the idea that "Me and Jesus got this good thing going..." We feel that's what it's all about. I do want to have a good thing going with Jesus, and I want you to have the same. But, there is more to it than that. There should arise out of our conversations with God a concern for God's people. If our Christianity does not result in service and sacrifice in the church, it is something less than what God intends. Jesus knows of no "Churchless Christianity." That is an idea fabricated by folks who don't want to get messy with other peoples' stuff. It is a lie of Satan designed to diminish and cripple the Church.

Take time to go to church, to listen to the Lord, and to serve his people! God will bless you for it!

Prayer: Father, thank you that you were concerned for not just Moses, but for the people of Israel. Help me to take that principle and apply it to my relationship to your people. In the name of Jesus, who died to make the church holy. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. 27 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. 31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (Psalms 104:24-35)