Week of May 19 through May 25
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Jeremiah 31:27 – 34—A New Covenant.
Tues. – Ephesians 2:1 – 10—Saved by Grace.
Wed. – Luke 22:7-20 – A New Covenant.
Thurs. – Nehemiah 8:1-12 – Hear the Word of the Lord.
Fri. – Nehemiah 9:2-18,32 – Remember God’s Salvation.
Sat. – Hebrews 8 – A Better Covenant.
Sun. – Nehemiah 10:28-39 – Revitalized Worship.
Joel was steps away from summiting a peak. Just then, he stepped hard between two big rocks, and his ankle twisted. He went down to his hands and knees in pain. His ankle was broken.
The doctor gave him specific instructions on how to take care of his ankle. However, Joel continued hiking on it, despite the doctor’s warnings. Eventually, he slipped while on a hike and tore something in his knee. It added months to his recovery.
Joel had instructions to restore his ankle, but he chose not to follow them. In Nehemiah, we read that Israel was also given instructions from God to restore their broken relationship with Him.
Many have said they like Jesus or the idea of Jesus, but choose to live their lives according to their personal convictions. However, God asks us to obey his commands. John writes, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (1 John 2:3). If we keep God’s commands, we live in right relationship with Him. But if we step out of obedience to Him, like Joel who didn’t obey his doctor’s orders, we too will likely experience self-injury and distance ourselves from the healing blessings of God. It is vital that we remember His commands, reevaluate our living accordingly, and return to obedience through repentance as often as possible.
Lesson 13 – May 25 – A Covenant Renewal
Obedience Is Hard
As the sermon began, I settled into my seat to listen. Recently, I had spent a good deal of time thinking about obedience. As the pastor spoke, the message hit me: Obeying God is hard. I don’t like to think about my sin, but obedience requires a level of internal recognition, requires me to recognize that I have selfish desires I need to overcome. It is easy to say that I love my spouse, but it’s a lot harder to do the unselfish things, like be the one to stay up with our child, when all I want is sleep. It is easy to say that I love my neighbor, but it’s hard to spend my day off helping him to move. “It’s easy-to go about life as if you are the center of the universe,” said my pastor. As I processed those words, I found myself offering excuses. But as John says, “Let us not love with words. . . but with actions” (1 John 3:18). I don’t think obedience has ever been easy.
Obeying God can be hard! That’s something I’m not proud to admit. But obedience produces the fruit of life, and I can obey God because Jesus has set me free from the enslaving powers of sin. There is life and something good on the other side of restoration.
Lord, we are thankful for Your steadfast love and mercy. Because of Your desire to restore, You sent Your Son to die for us and to pay our ransom. Help us identify times when we doubt that Your way is best. Protect us from temptation, and give us the strength of soul to hold on to Your precious Word so that You may restore us from the destructive paths of sin. Thank You for being for us. Be with us as we go. Amen.
Week of May 12 through May 18
Something to think about this week: Ways we can support one another and the ministry of our church.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 30 – Joy Comes with the Morning.
Tues. – Colossians 3:12-17 – Songs of Gratitude.
Wed. – 2 Corinthians 1:2-14 – Blessed Be the Merciful, Consoling God.
Thurs. – Psalm 95 – Enter God’s Presence with Thanksgiving.
Fri. – Philippians 3:1-14 – Serve in the Spirit of God.
Sat. – Ezra 1 – The Exiles Return.
Sun. – Ezra 3:1-6,10-13 – Building a New Foundation.
Number One way to support your church: Be There!
Lesson 12 – May 18 – Worship Is Restored
Worship God to Battle Fear
What if! am mocked for expressing my faith in Christ Jesus? What if people don’t like me? What if something bad happens? What if I die? These questions can tempt believers to fear. Fear has a way of grabbing our hearts and immobilizing us. In moments of fear or distress, it sometimes doesn’t make a lot of sense to worship God. Instead, we strain with our whole beings to fix the issue, to bring resolution to the situation, to do something! Or, we simply try not to think about the issue at all.
To pause and worship can feel nonsensical in the midst of trials. At least, it feels that way until we realize that we can’t fix our problems ourselves. As we come to realize that so many circumstances are out of our control, the idea of worship starts to make more sense. We must lay our quaking hearts at the feet of Jesus.
When we worship God, we are often reminded of the bigger context of our lives and gain the courage to face our fears. We remember who God is and who we are in Him. God is good (Ps. 100:5). He is in control. God is for us and not against us (Rom. 8:31-32). Our lives are secure in Him (Phil. 1:3-6). Death no longer has the last word upon our lives (1 Cor. 15:54-55). Through worship, we are bolstered with courage to face all kinds of fear. It is not that the feelings of fear necessarily go away, but that worship equips us with the courage we need to endure the fearful contexts that surround us.
God, You are faithful. You will never abandon us, even when we feel like we’ve lost everything. Thank You for Your boundless faithfulness. Remind us of Your unfailing love, and give us the strength to worship even in our pain. Amen.
Week of May 5 through May 11
Something to think about this week: How God might respond to our offerings, as God responded to the offerings of David and Solomon?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Ezra 6:13-22 – A Joyful Celebration.
Tues. – Psalm 18:1-15 – God Heard Me in My Distress.
Wed. – Acts 7:2-16 – God in Mesopotamia.
Thurs. – Acts 7:30-41 – God in the Wilderness.
Fri. – Acts 7:42-50 – God Needs No Temple.
Sat. – 2 Chronicles 6:12, 14-27 – Hear Our Prayers, 0 God.
Sun. – 2 Chronicles 7:1-7, 11-12 – God’s Glory Fills the Temple.
The temple from 2 Chronicles 7 was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC, and a less grand version was built when the exiles returned (see Ezra 3, the reading for next week). The Romans eventually destroyed the second temple (expanded by King Herod) in 70 AD, and it has never been rebuilt. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s presence directly filled His people as His glory moved from the temple to the lives of believers. Those who trust in Jesus now carry His presence to whomever they meet, representing God’s character to the world around them.
Lesson 11 – May 11 – Solomon Dedicates the Temple
Without a Doubt
I recently had a conversation with someone who struggles with doubting God. She has been a Christian for many years, but there are times when she wonders if God exists and questions, if He does exist, whether He loves her. These doubts are in spite of the memories she has of God’s very real presence in her life.
The day Solomon dedicated the temple would have left no room for doubt. Anyone who was there not only felt but even saw the glory of God descending. Everyone there couldn’t help but worship because God was present.
And yet, after that, the Israelites would have gone home to their daily lives. The reality of God’s glory at the temple would have faded into a memory. Doubt could have crept in.
As a believer in Jesus, I know that I have the very presence of God dwelling in me (1 Cor. 6:19). But I do not always feel this amazing truth.
In my conversation with the woman who struggles with doubt, I reminded her that God is always asking His people to remember Him and the things He has done. I told her that
when I struggle in my faith or when I’m in a dry season, I take time to think about how God has been near to me in the past. Stopping to recall my experiences with God sparks truth in my life and leads me to worship because I know that God dwells in me, even when I don’t feel Him.
God has always provided a way for His people to be near to Him. He was in Eden, at the tabernacle, in the temple, and now in us! Even in my moments of doubt or seasons of apathy I can take comfort in the knowledge that God is always with me.
We can go out this week, strengthened in this truth and comforted by the fact that we can sit in God’s presence because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. No matter how we are feeling or what we are going through, we have a God who is with us, who loves us, and who offers us His presence.
Thank You, God, for Your word and the reminder of Your presence in the lives of Your people. Please guide each of us this week through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Week of April 28 through May 4
Something to think about this week: Read 1 Chronicles 21:14-30 and think about how we might apply this Old Testament story of sacrifice.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 86:1-17 – Answer Me, 0 Lord.
Tues. – 1 Peter 5:1-11 – Be Alert.
Wed. – Lamentations 3:19-36 – The Lord Will Not Reject Forever.
Thurs. – 2 Peter 3:1-10 – God Patiently Waits for Repentance.
Fri. – 2 Peter 3:11-18 – Live the Godly Life.
Sat. – 1 Chronicles 21:1-13 – A Presumptive King.
Sun. – 1 Chronicles 21:14-30 – A Costly Sacrifice.
Lesson 10 – May 4 – David’s Sacrifice
Seeing the Heart
Stacey was a college freshman. One week before her first day of speech class, the professor sent a message to all of his students telling them to prepare a five-minute, persuasive speech. Stacey hated public speaking. She spent the week dreading the task and wracking her brain about what to say. Finally, it came to her: “I’ll give a speech about how horrible it is to give a speech.”
The day arrived, and Stacey’s stomach turned with anxiety as she entered the classroom. She stood up, gave her speech, and soon it was over. She worried what her professor would think, but it was done. Eventually the grade arrived, and Stacey had earned an “A.” The professor noted that he could tell that the speech “came from the heart.” She meant what she said when she communicated that speeches are horrible. In fact, he found her argument highly persuasive.
Like Stacey, David in 1 Chronicles 21:14-30 meant what he said. When David told God he was sorry, he spoke from a changed and repentant heart. He took responsibility for his actions and wanted to make them right. He didn’t only go through the motions, merely saying the right words.
God saw David’s altered heart through David’s desire to repent. Then God relented from punishing David and Israel any more. When we make mistakes, God wants us to desire change within ourselves. The sacrifice God deserves is a living sacrifice a life changed and reoriented toward God’s own heart.
Father God, You are truly worthy of all that we have to give You. Thank You for who You are and all that You have done for us. May we live this week as a living sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable to You. Amen.
Week of April 21 through April 27
Something to think about this week: Ponder the different types of people who ask us to trust them. Do they deserve it?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – John 1:29-36 – Here Is the Lamb of God!
Tues. – Psalm 118:1-14 – The Lord Has Become My Salvation.
Wed. – Psalm 118:15-29 – Live and Not Die.
Thurs. – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Worthy Ransom.
Fri. – Psalm 99 – Celebrate God.
Sat. – Revelation 21:9-27 – Live in the Light.
Sun. – Revelation 5:1-10 – The Slaughtered, Conquering Lamb.
Lesson 09 – April 27 – The Lamb Is Worthy
The Public Spectacle
Among the greatest paradoxes of Christian faith is this: Jesus triumphs through suffering instead of fighting. When He dealt the decisive blow to the powers of darkness, it was not through violent force. It was through willingly laying down His life. His death on the cross looked like a defeat, but it was what God used to defeat death and make a way for people to be part of His kingdom. On the cross, Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities” and “made a public spectacle of them” (Col. 2:15). Death no longer has the final word for any person: in Jesus, a power greater than death has triumphed. And now Jesus gets the final word. The paradox is also present in Revelation 5, when the Lion of Judah appears like a helpless lamb who has already been killed. But He is worthy because He was slain (Rev. 5:9). His victory came through sacrifice, for He gave of Himself for the good of others.
People attach their hopes to all kinds of things, longing for the world to be made right. In Revelation 5:1-10, Jesus is revealed as the one worthy to deliver creation from the powers of darkness. Jesus is worthy of worship because He is the lamb who was slain, triumphing over death. On the cross, He gave of Himself in love for the good of others, bringing salvation to all people and establishing a kingdom from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). Now Jesus is enthroned as king, and life in His kingdom means that we must wait for His rule to be revealed to all creation, in God’s timing.
Jesus is worthy of worship—of a life devoted to Him. He defeated the powers of darkness through self-giving love, not a grandiose display of force. Will I acknowledge Him today?
Jesus, You are Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank You for what this lesson reveals about who You are and what You have accomplished. This week, meet each of us where we are—in joy or sorrow, faith or doubt, conviction or skepticism. Give us wisdom to understand what it means to live as part of Your kingdom. And may Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Week of April 14 through April 20
Something to think about this week: Ponder the meaning of “victory” as you prepare for Easter.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 71:12-24 – I Will Rise Again.
Tues. – Hebrews 2:1-13 – Made Perfect through Suffering.
Wed. – Genesis 22:1-14 – The Lord Will Provide.
Thurs. – Matthew 26:17-30 – Servanthood, Suspicion, and a Sign.
Fri. – Matthew 27:38-44, 45-54 – Darkness, Despair, and Death.
Sat. – Psalm 49:1-15 – Ransomed!
Sun. – Matthew 28:1-10 – He Has Risen!
When Jesus overcame death, He took back the victory from Satan. How should we celebrate Christ’s victory today?
Lesson 08 – April 20 – Christ Dies and Rises to New Life
Matthew presents his account of Jesus’ death on the cross as a struggle between two ideas of what it means for Jesus to be “the Son of God.” For the onlookers and religious leaders, the Son of God was supposed to look strong and powerful—able to save Himself and avoid death. But for Jesus, it meant giving up His life, allowing Himself to be killed to save others.
To first-century observers, those who mocked Jesus seemed to have a point: Why would God allow His beloved Son to be killed? How can Jesus be God’s chosen king if He dies at the hands of Roman soldiers (who were representing the oppressive foreign powers that ruled over the territory)? That doesn’t sound like much of a victory.
But all the while, God was in control and fulfilling His plan of salvation. Matthew demonstrates God’s sovereignty by giving several allusions to the Old Testament to show that Jesus’ death was part of God’s plan. From the lips of a Roman centurion comes the key message, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54).
Death has had its way with the world ever since the introduction of sin. Death topples every opponent. There hasn’t been a man or woman who hasn’t, or who won’t, witness this unstoppable force. The rich and powerful die right alongside the poor and weak. Death was undefeated.
That is, until the day when Jesus, Son of the living God, overcame death and rose from the grave. On that day, Jesus became the victor. He was the first to defeat death, and He alone can grant victory over death, the so-called unstoppable force.
Thank You, Lord, for helping us to understand what Your sacrifice means. We thank You for surrendering Your life on the cross, so that You might defeat death for us. We are humbled to think of how You treated our needs as greater than Yours. We ask You to help us share the good news and the joy we have found with others. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Week of April 7 through April 13
Something to think about this week: When you read 1 John 2:1-6; 4:9-17 note the number of occurrences of the word love.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Isaiah 59:1-8 – Our Sins Separate Us from God.
Tues. – 1 Peter 2:19-25 – Healed by Christ’s Wounds.
Wed. – John 3:1-15 – The Promise of Eternal Life.
Thurs. – John 3:16-21 – God So Loved the World.
Fri. – Romans 3:19-31 – Atonement through His Blood.
Sat. – Romans 5:1-15 – Reconciled to God by Christ.
Sun. – 1 John 2:1-6; 4:9-17 – Atonement through God’s Son.
Lesson 07 – April 13 – Christ the Atoning Sacrifice
Faith, hope and love are powerful, but the greatest is love (1 Cor. 13:13).
God showed how much He loved the world by sending His Son. Believers love one another in light of the love that God first showed; we love because God loved.
When you think about God as the creator of heaven and earth, it can be overwhelming to realize that He loves you. How do we respond to that fact? We pass along His love to others. We love others as He first loved us.
As the text of 1 John says, God expects us to love one another as an outward sign of God’s love. Love that “waits” is the kind of love that expects something in return. If we want to feel confident before God, we can ask Jesus to be our advocate in heaven, to take away our sin and make us whole.
Thank You, Lord, for how You have loved us. You sent Christ to die for our sins; that is a love beyond our comprehension. Help us learn to love like You do, by taking the initiative to love those around us. Help us see the needs of others and to act, even when it seems inconvenient or undeserved. Help us to reveal Your love to others. Amen.
Week of March 30 through April 6
Something to think about this week: Ways that Jesus might be like and unlike the priests of Israel’s past.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 96 – Enter God’s Courts with an Offering.
Tues. – 1 Peter 3:18-22 – Christ’s Suffering and Exaltation.
Wed. – Isaiah 52:13-53:3 – The Suffering Servant.
Thurs. – Isaiah 53:4-12 – Light out of Anguish.
Fri. – Mark 10:35-45 – A Ransom for Many.
Sat. – Hebrews 9:23-10:4 – Christ in Heaven on Our Behalf.
Sun. – Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25 – Confidence in God’s Presence.
My mom has been with Jesus for five years. I love reminders that bring sweet memories of her back to me. She was a simple person who loved God. She didn’t recite much Scripture, but one verse she knew and repeated often: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you (James 4:8 KJV). It had to be recited from the King James version, of course; that was what Mom knew and loved.
Today we can indeed draw near to God in confidence, all because Jesus created a pathway for us, through His sacrificial death. I thank God that we don’t have to offer repeated sacrifices for sin as required in Moses’ time. We don’t have to find suitable animals for an offering, since no offering could be more suitable than Christ.
Jesus did it all! He paid our sin-debt, once and for all. What an amazing, selfless gift He gave to all who trust in Him. What a gift to know we don’t have to feel guilty for our sin; it is gone, forever. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).
I thank God for His sacrificial love and eternal salvation for us, through faith in Jesus. Draw nigh to God, for He’s waiting to welcome you.
Lesson 06 – April 6 – Christ’s Once-for-All Sacrifice
A Job Done Well Doesn’t Need Repeating
“If you want something done well, do it right the first time.” That’s what my father used to say. As a landscaper who specialized in building retaining walls, a big part of his job was fixing the faulty work of others. Weather has a way of testing what we build; unless someone takes the time to dig deeply into the soil to prepare a firm foundation, nothing can keep a wall from falling—even a wall built of heavy stones.
We often forget that it was God who created the old system of sacrifice. The ancient priests weren’t doing the wrong things, but it was a system of endless repetition. Priests of Israel were always flawed and sinful, so how could their work be effective? Jesus wasn’t like them at all. He wasn’t even a priest who worked in the physical temple of Jerusalem, but His work went to the foundation of the problem. He entered the heavenly sanctuary, where He offered a perfect sacrifice—the firmest foundation of all. And He sat down because the job was done.
There is nothing that we need to add, no work that we could offer in return. But it is our responsibility to proclaim Christ to the world. While we wait for the day that Jesus puts an end to evil, we continue in the “love and good deeds” that encourage one another (Heb. 10:24). Our confidence isn’t based in what we do; it is based in what has already been done. We can be confident that Jesus does things right the first time.
Father, You know the doubts of our hearts and the worries that we face. There are times when we don’t feel worthy to be called Your people. And yet, You have called us, given us a holy identity, and told us to come to You with confidence—confidence that comes because of Jesus’ complete and perfect sacrifice. Give us the strength to believe this is true and the desire to share our joy with others. We pray in the name of our priestly advocate, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Week of March 24 through March 30
Something to think about this week: Leviticus 16:11-19. What is atonement?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Psalm 40:1-8 – Delighting to Do God’s Will.
Tues. – Psalm 40:9-17 – Safe in God’s Love and Faithfulness.
Wed. – Hebrews 9:1-14 – A Preferred Sanctuary.
Thurs. – Hebrews 9:15-22 – Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice.
Fri. – 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 – Vertical and Horizontal Reconciliation.
Sat. – Leviticus 16:1-10 – Approach God in Awe.
Sun. – Leviticus 16:11-19 – Cleanse the Sanctuary.
Atonement is a hard concept to define for readers. It is a form of ritual reconciliation, which is restoring a relationship that has been damaged. Theologically, atonement means bringing reconciliation between people and God.
For that reconciliation to happen, however, the issue of sin—as well as the physical and spiritual death that came as a consequence of sin—needs to be addressed. The Hebrew word used frequently in this context is kipper, which means “to cover.” This helps to explain why, with the Old Testament sacrificial system, sin was not actually removed but covered over by sacrificial blood.
God’s eventual plan to deal with sin was not only to cover but to remove it. The sacrifice of Jesus is able to do more than merely cover over sin. As John shows, Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Lesson 05 – March 30 – The Day of Atonement
Cleansing through Atonement
God’s detailed instructions to Aaron for cleansing from sin sound completely foreign today. The word atonement is not part of our vocabulary and everyday speech. What does it mean to “make atonement for sin”? God wanted Aaron—and His later worshipers, like us—to repent and take account of the wrong that has been done. God created people with free choice, which Adam and Eve exercised when they made a choice to disobey God. All people are born with this tendency to do what is wrong, to want their own way. And they fall short of following God’s perfect plan for how they should live. Therefore, they cannot make right the wrongs committed against God. God’s ultimate plan to deal with sin requires a righteous sacrifice to make amends and to reconcile His people to Himself.
The Scripture text doesn’t list all the specific wrongs people had done against God. In fact, it implies that our listing would be inadequate. It’s easy to allow unholy things of the world—thoughts, words, and actions—to creep into my life. I oppose God whenever I turn away from Him in rebellion, intent on doing things my way instead of God’s way.
The difference between the sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the new covenant is that Jesus offered a sacrifice for sins, once and for all. As one who did not sin, He was able to completely take humanity’s sins upon Himself and fully become the perfect sacrifice. When Jesus, God’s righteous Son, died on the cross, the curtain concealing the most Holy Place ripped in two. When I accept and trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death to cover my sins, God sees me as righteous; and I have access to the presence of the Holy God.
Holy God, help us recognize, confess, and lay our sins before You on the altar. Thank You for dealing with sin through Jesus’ sacrificial death and the cleansing from sin.
Thank You for Your offer of righteousness and gift of eternal life. Help us to extend to others the mercy You have given us. Amen.
Week of March 17 through March 23
Something to think about this week: In Leviticus 1:3-17, why does God ask His people to give animal sacrifices?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – 1 Peter 2:1-5 – Building a Spiritual House.
Tues. – Psalm 141 – Prayer like Incense.
Wed. – 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 – The Fragrance of Knowing Christ.
Thurs. – Zephaniah 3:14-20 – God’s Delight.
Fri. – Romans 12:1-8 – A Holy and Acceptable Sacrifice.
Sat. – Romans 12:9-21 – Worship through Loving Genuinely.
Sun. – Leviticus 1:3-17 – An Acceptable Offering.
Lesson 04 – March 23 – Offering a Sweet Aroma to God
What We Sacrifice
For every sacrifice, God demands that His people give their best. God doesn’t want His people to give something that they wouldn’t miss. After all, that wouldn’t be a sacrifice. His people needed to follow God’s instructions and enter His presence with clean hearts.
Reflect on your own sacrifices. Are you giving your best? Is there something that you’re holding back, something that God might ask you to give up?
Romans 12:6-8 ERV
We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace God gave us. Whoever has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in a way that fits the kind of faith they have. 7 Whoever has the gift of serving should serve. Whoever has the gift of teaching should teach. 8 Whoever has the gift of comforting others should do that. Whoever has the gift of giving to help others should give generously. Whoever has the gift of leading should work hard at it. Whoever has the gift of showing kindness to others should do it gladly.
Christ’s death has put an end to animal sacrifices, but the desire to please God is something we can all do—not because we gain atonement through anything apart from Christ’s sacrificial death, but because God asks us to offer our lives. The apostle Paul says, God can use us “to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:15).
Lord of heaven and earth, we know that You don’t need us, but we need You. We confess that, from time to time, we hold tightly to our time and resources. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, make us unblemished in your sight, and lead us to walk with You in every way. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Week of March 10 through March 16
Something to think about this week: Per Exodus 29:1-9, 35-37, what kind of clothing would be necessary for priests, who would be entering the presence of a holy God?
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Hebrews 5 – A Compassionate High Priest.
Tues. – Leviticus 8:1-13 – A Chosen High Priest.
Wed. – Leviticus 8:14-23 – A Cleansed High Priest.
Thurs. – Psalm 133 – A Chaste Priest.
Fri. – Hebrews 7:1-14 – A Commendable High Priest.
Sat. – Hebrews 7:15-28 – A Continuous High Priest.
Sun. – Exodus 29:1-9, 35-37 – A Consecrated High Priest.
Lesson 03 – March 16 – The Ordination of Priests
Blessed to Be Holy
My Grandma used to tell stories about how easy we have it: she didn’t have indoor plumbing or washing machines.
Later, my mom would tell stories about how she had to quit school during the great depression. Her family was poor, and she didn’t have appropriate clothes to wear to school.
When I was a parent, I told my kids that I “suffered” as a child, since my family had a single bathroom for five people. We also had one phone, and it was attached to the wall!
It is easy to take things for granted. Life wasn’t always as easy as it is now, with so many conveniences like cell phones, microwaves, air fryers, remote controls.
We take our spiritual blessings for granted, too. As I read today’s Scripture, I was reminded of the very detailed requirements for a high priest to approach the altar for the forgiveness of sins. God is holy and requires His representatives to be holy: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Let us not take the gift of salvation for granted. Jesus God in the flesh paid for our sin once and for all, when He gave His life. His sacrifice ended the animal sacrifices. Our life of prayer and worship should reflect a repentant heart and a commitment to follow Christ in all we say and do. That is enough.
Thank You, Lord, for sending Your great high priest, Jesus, as a final sacrifice for our sins. Thank You for continuing to make each of us more holy, and more like You. Please show us where we are resisting You, and help us fully pursue Your holiness. You, God, are holy beyond our comprehension. Amen.
Week of March 3 through March 9
Something to think about this week: Special spaces for spending time with others. (For example: a living room for meeting friends or a table for sharing meals)
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Mon. – Ezekiel 14:1-11 – They Will Be My People.
Tues. – Psalm 26 – Desire for God’s Presence.
Wed. – Ezekiel 43:1-12 – God’s Glory Fills the Temple.
Thurs. – Ezekiel 44:15-27 – Who May Draw Near?
Fri. – John 2:12-22 – The Temple of Christ’s Body.
Sat. – John 4:13-26 – Worship God in Spirit and Truth.
Sun. – Exodus 25:1-9; 26:1, 31-37 – Prepare a Sacred Space.
Lesson 02 – March 9 – A Space for God
After God liberates the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and gives them the covenant, He instructs Moses to collect offerings for construction of the tabernacle. Exodus 25-26 provides details of the design, materials, and dimensions of this portable sanctuary. Israel’s commitment to worship and serve was being formalized by these instructions, for their God had miraculously delivered them. The text introduces and develops the concept of sacred space, a place for God to be among His chosen people. The text also shows a meticulous precision of design. The intricate descriptions of the tabernacle elements serve as a blueprint for construction, and they draw attention to the Israelites’ spiritual understanding as they come to know God as creator of an ordered cosmos. Their attention to detail underscores the importance of reverence, order, and devotion in their relationship with God.
Construction of the tabernacle allows God’s glory to travel with the Israelites through the wilderness. Through the visible manifestations of His presence in fire and cloud, Yahweh shows His intention to dwell with His people and protect them from harm.
God gave Moses detailed instructions to build a tabernacle for His presence. The builders were to follow the exact pattern from God. And now, under a new covenant, God still has a plan to dwell within the hearts and lives of His people. The challenge, for those who choose to follow Jesus, is to live in such a way as to reflect God’s indwelling Spirit in our lives.
Holy God, we thank You for Your desire to dwell with Your people. Help us to invite and experience Your presence in our hearts and lives. Help us to honor Your holiness in the way we live. Show us how to reflect Your indwelling Spirit to those around us so that they also might come to know You, our merciful God. Amen.
Week of February 24 through March 1
Read Exodus 19. Consider what it means to be “holy.”
26I have separated you from other nations to be my own special people. So you must be holy because I am the Lord, and I am holy.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
20 In a large house there are things made of gold and silver. But there are also things made of wood and clay. Some of these are used for special purposes, others for ordinary jobs. 21 The Lord wants to use you for special purposes, so make yourself clean from all evil. Then you will be holy, and the Master can use you. You will be ready for any good work.
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. 16 In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Lesson 01 – March 2 – A Kingdom of Priests, A Holy Nation
Exodus is the second book of the Bible and part of the Pentateuch, the five books of Torah. The Torah tells the story of the world’s creation, humanity’s failure as agents of God’s order, and God’s rescue plan through covenants with Abraham and the children of Israel.
After bringing them to the foot of Mount Sinai, God gave the Hebrew people a covenant, one summarized in Ten Commandments. Exodus 19 takes place at this transformative moment in Israel’s history. The Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt; and they had entered the wilderness, led and protected by God. At Mount Sinai, they would meet their divine protector.
What Is Holiness For?
As both the Exodus story and the apostle Peter make clear, salvation comes before the call to holiness. God does not save Israel because they are holy—Israel is declared holy after they are saved and rescued (Ex. 19:4-6). Peter reminds the church that holiness is a proper response to their salvation (1 Peter 1:9, 16). But what is holiness for?
Some people may think the purpose of holiness is to earn salvation. Others could say achieving holiness is its own reward. Both ideas, however, miss the point: Israel’s holiness is intended for worship and mission.
In Exodus 19, God explains to Israel two purposes in making them a holy nation: to “bring you to myself” as “my treasured possession” and to be a “kingdom of priests” among the nations (vv. 4-6). Holiness makes Israel fit for a relationship with God—to worship Him—and with the nations—in mission to them. To see holiness only in relationship to salvation or purity misses that they are expected to do something with the holy status they have been given.
In 1 Peter 2:9, this same holy calling is extended to the church: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” God declares and calls the church to be holy so that they will proclaim His glory. This proclamation is an act of worship and mission. We can feel empowered by God’s call: be holy! It is what He created us to do, to love our creator through acts of worship and to love our neighbors by serving them.
We tend to think of holiness in one way, as a standard of morality. But in the story of Israel’s calling, God says that they shall be “holy,” specifically because God has identified with them and called them. Like the Israelites, God has a plan and purpose for our lives. God has identified with us and dwells with us. While a calling to “be holy” might feel like a weighty responsibility, people who walk with God have a joy that does not feel burdensome. Jesus says to those who are burdened, “Come to me,. . . and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—You are the Holy One in our midst. We have no holiness apart from You. But You were pleased, on account of Your Son, to send us Your Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Holiness—to make us fit for relationship with You and for partnership in Your mission. Give us the wisdom and the strength to be holy as You are holy. Amen.
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church 