GOD understands

Leviticus 10: ¹⁷ “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in a place that is near the Holy Room? The offering is very holy. It was given to you to take the people’s guilt away. It paid for their sin in the sight of the Lord. ¹⁸ The blood of the offering wasn’t taken into the Holy Room. So you should have eaten the goat in a place that is near the Holy Room. That’s what I commanded.”

¹⁹ Aaron replied to Moses, “Today the people sacrificed their sin offering to the Lord. They also sacrificed their burnt offerings to him. But a terrible thing has happened to me. Two of my sons have died. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” ²⁰ When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.

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Working “too hard” for the LORD becomes a problem as well. The joy of servant-hood quickly turns into complaints when I work too hard. GOD wants me to be joyful when I serve and understand when I need a “short” break so I can be refreshed to serve again.

GOD wants me to come clean

Leviticus 8: ² He said to Aaron, “Bring a bull calf for your sin offering. Bring a ram for your burnt offering. They must not have any flaws. Offer them to the Lord

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GOD doesn’t want stolen money from me. HE also doesn’t want “pretend” service to HIM that aggravates others and pushes them away from HIM. HE wants me to have “clean” sacrifice. HE wants me to earn money the way HE dictates and give generously as HE blesses.

HE wants me to serve out of love, not hatred for “those” people or disdain for “that” person. HE wants me to come to HIM as clean as I can.

Follow the instructions!

Leviticus 8: ³⁴ The Lord commanded what has been done here today. It was done to pay for your sin. ³⁵ Stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Stay here day and night. Do what the Lord requires. Then you won’t die. That’s the command the Lord gave me.”

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As I completed assembling the cabinet I noticed a few parts left over. I had failed to read the instructions and had to reassemble the cabinet. GOD wants me to read HIS instructions daily to understand how to cope with life. HE wants me to “do what is commanded” to show gratitude for JESUS taking the punishment for my sins!

If I see it I’m guilty too?

Leviticus 5:1“‘Suppose a person has been called as a witness to something he has seen or learned about. Then if he does not tell what he knows, he has sinned. And he will be held accountable for it.

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“Stand right here” the guy said. As I stood there he proceeded to remove his old raggedy clothes and grab new ones from the rack of the store we were in. He then walked right out the front door. I had watched shoplifting and now I was an accomplice to his misdemeanor.  I didn’t tell anyone!

• GOD says to tell someone about a crime I witness.
• GOD says HE will protect me even though it may seem dangerous to tell.
• GOD says HE is for me, who can be against me.

It truly takes courage to “tell” but it’s worth following what GOD says.

• Did you witness something someone should know about?
• Are you afraid to say something?
• Can you mention the wrong to someone without being a gossip or mean spirited?
• Won’t you mention what you saw today?

I’m not wrong am I?

Leviticus 4: ²² “‘Or suppose a leader sins without meaning to. If he disobeys any of the commands of the Lord his God, he is guilty.

²³ “‘But suppose he is made aware of the sin he has committed. Then he must bring an offering. It must be a male goat. It must not have any flaws. ²⁴ He must place his hand on the goat’s head. He must kill it. He must do it at the place where the animals for burnt offerings are killed in the sight of the Lord. His offering is a sin offering.

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²⁶ “‘He must burn all of the fat on the altar. He must burn it in the same way he burned the fat of the friendship offering. When he does, he will pay for the sin of the leader. And the leader will be forgiven.

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Spray painting the dented car and parking it in the garage was my cover-up. Hiding the Playboy magazine in fishing magazine cover was my cover-up. Going into the men’s washroom and sleeping on the job was my cover-up.  I didn’t want the consequence, I wanted to get away with what I was doing.

• GOD wants me to admit when I am guilty so there can be forgiveness.
• GOD wants me to acknowledge I deserve consequence for my sin.
• GOD wants me to believe that my sins are forgiven.

When JESUS was murdered by people who attend church regularly, HE did it without complaint that HE was being falsely accused. HE died specifically for my sins and said “It is finished” meaning no more has to be done.

It is sometimes hard to grasp that ALL my sins are forgiven, no matter how many times I commit them or how heinous they are. GOD said “MY grace is sufficient” which shows HIS love is extreme.

BUT GOD does have a condition. HE wants me to acknowledge I deserve consequence and accept HIS forgiveness even when I think HE can’t possibly forgive me another time. GOD forgives me and that is the GREAT NEWS!

• Do you think everyone else is sinning and you aren’t?
• Do you find yourself talking about what other people are doing and not admitting what you are doing?
• Do you realize that if you confess your sins GOD is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness?
• Can you believe GOD even forgives “that” person? 

Being friendly

Leviticus 3:  “If your offering is a Peace-Offering and you present an animal from the herd, either male or female, it must be an animal without any defect.

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Caller ID is the greatest invention for business. I could see my coworkers’ number appear numerous times but I was too busy to answer the call. When I would see him in the hallway, my empty promise to call him would be repeated again and again.  I was actually brushing this person off and the priority was lowered because others were important.

• I’m not being friendly when it’s all about me.
• I’m not being friendly when the other person is the only one reaching out.
• I’m not being friendly when I make excuses for not being friendly.

Friends can hear the words “I apologize” and keep moving forward with the relationship, so I must take the first mending step. Friendships should not be built on what the other person does for me, rather who they are to me.

• GOD wants me to present a Peace Offering to mend relationships for HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to seek forgiveness when I have done wrong.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM to work on my heart rather than wanting HIM to work on “that” person’s heart. 

I have heard it before, in order to be friendly, I must learn how to be friends with people. I should learn what they need and meet them where they are. I should bring peace so they can see the great plan GOD has for us.

• Are you at odds with someone?
• Do you treat others different because of something they said or did?
• Can you ask GOD to work on your heart?
• Can you seek peach for the purpose of GOD growing “that’ person?

Where do good things come from?

Leviticus 1: ² “‘He must take it to the priests who are in Aaron’s family line. A priest must take a handful of the fine flour and oil. He must mix it with all of the incense. Then he must burn that part on the altar. It will be a reminder that all good things come from the Lord. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.

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Tears flowed from my eyes as my coworkers and family gathered together to celebrate my award. “I” had worked hard and “I” stayed up many nights making sure “my” project was complete and right. I was invited to a dinner with the CEO and many of the top executives.  “I” did it!

• Sometimes I forget to thank GOD for my abilities and talents.
• Sometimes I forget that GOD is the one who raises me up.
• Sometimes I forget that GOD has the right to tear me down.
• Sometimes I forget that it’s not about me but it’s about GOD.

GOD wants me to remember that all good things come from HIM, even trials. Yes, trials are good because they can strengthen me where I am weak. I must recognize GOD as being the ultimate giver and forgiver. HE put rules in place to remember HIM because mankind would easily forget who and what HE is.

• GOD wants me to remember that all good things come from HIM.
• GOD wants me to remember that I need a savior as often as I can.
• GOD wants me to remember to sprinkle a little “salt” on the world as a reminder of HIS everlasting covenant.

It’s easy for me to think I accomplished all that I have accomplished. BUT GOD wants me to recognize that everything I do has to go through HIS will. I can do nothing without GOD.

• Do you think you accomplish things on your own?
• Do you believe you lack talents because GOD forgot to give them to you?
• Can you recognize that GOD made you perfect?
• Won’t you stop thinking the situation you are in is bad and see GOD has a perfect plan for where you are?