February 19th One Year Bible Readings

Leviticus 7:28-9:6 ~ Mark 3:31-4:25 ~ Psalm 37:12-29 ~ Proverbs 10:5
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - I found Leviticus chapter 7 verse 36 to be powerful as we read about a portion of the offerings going to the priests: "The LORD commanded that the Israelites were to give these portions to the priests as their regular share from the time of the priests' anointing. This regulation applies throughout the generations to come." I think this is something for us to consider today - most of us realize that a portion of our tithes and offerings to our churches goes to support our pastors, priests, ministers, clergy.  And I believe this is rightly so.  These clergy are doing holy work in our churches today.  And I know from first hand experience from my past that church ministry work is not easy work.  Yes, oftentimes it is joyful work and the most amazing & fulfilling work you can imagine.  But, other times it can be really tough work as you can find yourselves on the front lines of spiritual warfare and working with people at very low points in their lives.  So - I guess I say all of this to encourage you to not begrudge your clergy in your church for getting paid for their work.  Aaron and his sons were "paid" here in Leviticus - and I think it is still proper for clergy to be paid today.  (and trust me - most clergy that I know do not get paid an exorbitant amount by a long shot... :)   I guess, while I am on this subject, I am also a bit familiar with the house church model today - and I do believe there are some leaders in this movement that are probably not getting "paid" financially.  And I think this is great if you can sustain the model.  But, personally, I wouldn't fault house church leaders for receiving compensation either.  It is holy work that our clergy do. I think fair compensation for this work is fair.  What do you think?

Today in Leviticus chapter 8 we read about the Ordination of the Priests.  Many of you will recall that we read something very similar to this chapter earlier this year in Exodus chapter 29 - click on this link to review Exodus 29.  In verse 14 today we read: "Then Moses brought in the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head."

Great commentary about Priesthood in the Old Testament is online at bible.org at this link.

New Testament - Mark chapter 3 verses 33-35 make an impact on me each time I read it: "Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he looked at those around him and said, "These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."  This last sentence is a powerful proclamation from Jesus.  If we are obedient to God's will in our life we are brothers and sisters and mothers of Jesus.  Pretty amazing to think about!  Jesus is not only our savior - but our brother.  And later he calls us friends.  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary puts it this way - "It is a great comfort to all true Christians, that they are dearer to Christ than mother, brother, or sister as such, merely as relations in the flesh would have been, even had they been holy. Blessed be God, this great and gracious privilege is ours even now; for though Christ's bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us, his spiritual presence is not denied us."

Mark chapter 4's parable of the Farmer scattering seed is a parable that I am sure can convict each of us in various ways.  Verses 16 through 18 I am afraid can sometimes represent all too well the "soil" of our hearts... "The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced."  The crowding out of the Good News by the cares of this life and the desire for nice things is where I am afraid we miss the mark too often.  And when we succumb to theses cares & desires, indeed, no crop is produced.  However - I do pray that there are moments in life where we can see the amazing power & truth in verse 20: "But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."   I just pray for more consistency in our lives to live in verse 20 than in the previous verses...  How is the soil of your heart?  Which verses in this parable are you living in these days?  Are you receiving God's Word into your heart?  Will you allowing God's Word in your heart to produce a huge harvest?

Psalms - Psalm 37 verse 16 is powerful today - "It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much."  I don't know what I can add to this.... I think you probably get it.  :)  Do you live it?  Verse 23 is so amazing... "The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives."  I don't mean to infer that I am godly here... but, I will admit that there are times in my life where I really sense that God is directing my steps - and taking care of every detail.  And basically, it feels like I am sort of just going with God's flow.  Things are just happening beautifully.  And I do sense the Spirit often during these times.  My sadness in this area is that I don't realize that God is directing my steps all of the time.  And that he is delighting in every detail of my life - most of the time...  :)  I pray you and I will come to a greater awareness of this in our lives each and every moment: "The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives."

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verse 5 - "A wise youth works hard all summer; a youth who sleeps away the hour of opportunity brings shame" - for some reason reminds me of Paul's writings in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2: "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."   Is the hour of opportunity upon you now?  Will you stay awake for it?  Is now the favorable time?  Is now the day of salvation?  Are you awake?

Worship God: Psalm 37 verse 23 reminded me of the great song by Rich Mullins called "Step By Step!" Here's Rich performing this song live in 1997 six weeks before he died:

Is God leading you step by step?  Click here to get in step!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 NIV

Comments from You & Question of the Day - I realize that my reflections above in the OT section on clergy at churches receiving compensation might be controversial in some ways.  What are your thoughts on your clergy receiving compensation?  What are your thoughts on others in other types of ministry receiving compensation?   Where do we draw the line of when ministry should be done with compensation or without compensation?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
Mike

Comments

[bajo]

I think that people who perform "staff" work should be compensated in some sort of order of preference. The secretary/office manager, the treasurer, and the worship leader are some of the more important positions because they require weekly (at least) work, while other people usually work for a while and then take some time off.

[Elizabeth]

Hello Mike and Everyone,

Interesting question today with regard to compensation for folks in the ministry. I don't "begrudge" paying anyone for their work in the ministry--it's certainly hard and worthwhile work!

I do think it can muddy motives in certain situations and that concerns me a little. For example, our Children's Ministry offers a stipend for certain leadership positions. Children's Ministry is notorious for being labor intensive and difficult to retain volunteers. BUT, I think that people should be moved by their HEART to serve the Lord in this capacity--feel like the stipend (though paltry) can muddy the intent of one's heart. Just my impressions here...not trying to start a debate! : )

On another note, I am working diligently to better understand Leviticus. My husband and I have been commenting on the physical realities of all these animal sacrifices--so much blood and fire. Yuck--the place must have stunk! (not trying to be irreverent, just thinking about what it would be like to spread that blood over the sides of the altar, on the curtain, poured at the base....all that fat and burning)

I have found several comments worthwhile in my commentaries/bible.org reading with regard to Leviticus--here are some of them:

****************
I have been enjoying reflecting on the facets of "the diamond" of Christ as our sacrifice....

"God has devoted much space in His Word to the offerings and their ordinances because they are important to Him. Here in beautiful imagery the Person and work of His Son can be seen in minute detail. Like the different facets of a diamond, these types all reflect the resplendent glory of Him "who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God" (Heb_9:14)."
-Believer's Bible Commentary

*****************
I like this thought below about "newness"---God longs to keep our relationship and dependence on Him a "fresh" and "new" thing---reminds me of His philosophy with manna too:

"Anything remaining after two days had to be burned (v. 17); to eat such meat would cause the person to be "cut off," meaning excommunicated or removed from the privileges of the people of Israel. "This shows," John Reid writes, "that communion with God must be fresh and not too far removed from the work of the altar."

-Believer's Bible Commentary

*****

Great point here by Deffinbaugh---in our culture, we'd rather debate and take a consensus vote to determine what is sinful--but that's not the point!:

"Sin is that which God defines as evil.
Some have tried to show a good reason for every prohibition. For example, they would try to demonstrate that the “unclean” foods of the Bible were those which would be detrimental to a society which had no refrigeration, or whatever. I think this misses the point. Sin is whatever God says is sin, whether or not we have a good explanation for why it is evil. Obedience is best evidenced by our willingness to do something which we would rather not do, for reasons we don’t understand, simply because God says so. Some sins of the Old Testament are arbitrary, in my opinion, and purposefully so, to teach the people of God to trust and to obey a God whose thoughts are higher than the thoughts of men."
-Deffinbaugh