Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday, February 8, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Leviticus.

Today's Message: Special People
All Christian's are Special People and are representatives of Christ. Therefore, it is of great importance that we live our lives the way that God has instructed us to do so.

Today's Bible Reading: Leviticus Chapters 19-21
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if the link does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2019-21&version=9

Of all the nations in the world, God chose Israel to be a special people unto Him, but He expected them to observe His statutes. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will............And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:1-5,33-37).

The priests were to represent the Lord God at all times, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:......................But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. " (21:1,4-6). As Christians we must set the example and abstain from any conduct that may influence others to be less than their best for Christ. "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6).

Even their own personal lives and family had to be right with God, "And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire. And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him." (Leviticus 21:9-15). As a representative of God, any priest who disregarded the qualifications for service was cut off from His presence. The priest was the spiritual role model who had the power to influence the entire congregation to sin.

Today, all nations are included as being a part of God's special people and just as the Israelites were expected to live the way God instructed we are too. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." (I Peter 2:9-16). Yes, we are saved by the blood of Jesus and all who repent are forgiven no matter how many times we sin, however, we still need to live for the Will of God. How different our lives would be if we really loved doing the will of God, more than doing our own.

The Old Covenant was meant to teach the Israelites the necessity of obedience, but it also revealed that all these rules and Commandments were given to them by a loving God who desired that they gain the best out of life. The New Covenant does not provide any substitute for obedience, but it does empower the Christian to live their lives in obedience to Jesus Christ. "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:6-13).

Jesus Christ is Revealed: As the source of true guidance, in contrast to evil guidance through spiritualist mediums
"And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you." (Leviticus 20:6-8). Jesus, whois the Truth also sent us the Spirit of Truth who guides us into all truth.

Today's Psalm: 29:11
"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We recognize that our endurance and persistence are attitudes derived from a faith filled life with You. Our endurance is realized by continuing this race though others may drop out making us feel like we run alone. Our persistence is marked by our determination to finish the race though struggles weigh us down and doubts cloud our vision. Thank You for maping the race out for us by showing us the great examples of those who cheer us on as we participate in this Christian race. They finished their race on earth through their enduring faith, though they experienced opposition from sinful men. We endure hardships and struggles as discipline from You, our loving Father, that we may share in Your holiness. We look forward to the harvest of righteousness and peace that comes as a result of our persistence in this spiritual marathon. Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees as we repent of the sin that entangles us. We lay aside everything that drags us down or tempts us to give up and we put our trust and faith in You to reach the finish line. In Jesus' name..........Amen.

Have a wonderful day/night and have a blessed week.
God Bless,
Christina

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