Leviticus 10
Food for Life:
Acts 13
But God. This is one of my favorite and most meaningful phrases. Why? Because it (He) changes everything that comes before it! "But God raised him from the dead" (13:30). Paul explains in this chapter how God sent Jesus to His people, the Jews in order to save them - the Messiah for whom they were waiting and looking. Yet, the Jews condemned Jesus instead, even this fulfilled the Scripture (13:27) which they read every Sabbath. Then Paul exclaims, BUT GOD raised Jesus from the dead, and He walked among those who traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem! The Jews rejected Jesus, so Paul and his companions now turned to the Gentiles (all non-Jews!) with the message and gift of Jesus. "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him, but as many as believed, as many as received Him, He gave the right to be called 'children of God', such as we are" (John 1:11,12).
BUT GOD reminds me of the phrase Joseph used when telling his brother his perspective (in retrospect) and God's regarding their severe mistreatment of him..."what the evil one meant for evil, God meant for good!" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph continued to "entrust himself to a faithful Creator in doing what was right, and in due time God rewarded him" (1 Peter 4:13). He went through unbelievable situations, caused from a human perspective, by his brother's (jealousies, being forgotten in prison, lied on by a selfish/vindictive woman) and others; yet he continued to walk with God and the Lord showed him after many years, that the evil one's schemes behind the actions of people were used of God for great good!
BUT GOD...do you have situations in your life that are unbelievable (all of us have, currently do, or will)? Are your loved ones going through incredible hardship? BUT GOD. Are you looking at what is going on around the world with disbelieve? BUT GOD. Are you looking at today's American culture in shock and maybe fear? BUT GOD.
God is the 'game changer.' He is the One who takes what is or seems to be, and works it out for His purpose...which is ALWAYS best and good!
I pray today, "Lord, give me, give us Your eyes to see beyond what my eyes, what our eyes see. Help us look with eyes of faith, calling on You, trusting You in the midst of the situation; the heartache; the turmoil; the evil! Help us to see, even as Paul recited, Joseph experienced, Jesus was our Chief example - how You are working all things out for the good, for those who love You, for those who are called according to Your purpose. Help us to be like Joseph....entrusting ourselves and our loved ones, to You, the Faithful Creator, and for us to continue to do 'what is right'....BUT GOD You are the One who makes all the difference. Thank You Lord!" Even so, come Lord Jesus, come.
But God. This is one of my favorite and most meaningful phrases. Why? Because it (He) changes everything that comes before it! "But God raised him from the dead" (13:30). Paul explains in this chapter how God sent Jesus to His people, the Jews in order to save them - the Messiah for whom they were waiting and looking. Yet, the Jews condemned Jesus instead, even this fulfilled the Scripture (13:27) which they read every Sabbath. Then Paul exclaims, BUT GOD raised Jesus from the dead, and He walked among those who traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem! The Jews rejected Jesus, so Paul and his companions now turned to the Gentiles (all non-Jews!) with the message and gift of Jesus. "He came to His own and His own did not receive Him, but as many as believed, as many as received Him, He gave the right to be called 'children of God', such as we are" (John 1:11,12).
BUT GOD reminds me of the phrase Joseph used when telling his brother his perspective (in retrospect) and God's regarding their severe mistreatment of him..."what the evil one meant for evil, God meant for good!" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph continued to "entrust himself to a faithful Creator in doing what was right, and in due time God rewarded him" (1 Peter 4:13). He went through unbelievable situations, caused from a human perspective, by his brother's (jealousies, being forgotten in prison, lied on by a selfish/vindictive woman) and others; yet he continued to walk with God and the Lord showed him after many years, that the evil one's schemes behind the actions of people were used of God for great good!
BUT GOD...do you have situations in your life that are unbelievable (all of us have, currently do, or will)? Are your loved ones going through incredible hardship? BUT GOD. Are you looking at what is going on around the world with disbelieve? BUT GOD. Are you looking at today's American culture in shock and maybe fear? BUT GOD.
God is the 'game changer.' He is the One who takes what is or seems to be, and works it out for His purpose...which is ALWAYS best and good!
I pray today, "Lord, give me, give us Your eyes to see beyond what my eyes, what our eyes see. Help us look with eyes of faith, calling on You, trusting You in the midst of the situation; the heartache; the turmoil; the evil! Help us to see, even as Paul recited, Joseph experienced, Jesus was our Chief example - how You are working all things out for the good, for those who love You, for those who are called according to Your purpose. Help us to be like Joseph....entrusting ourselves and our loved ones, to You, the Faithful Creator, and for us to continue to do 'what is right'....BUT GOD You are the One who makes all the difference. Thank You Lord!" Even so, come Lord Jesus, come.
Leviticus 10
"Aaron remained silent" (10:3b). This is my reaction as well. He was instructed to stay before the Lord (10:7). This is my instruction and stance as well. In reading this, I, we, are on Holy ground. I might want to protest a little as to why God would consume them with fire (a loving God?). I might want to shake Nadab and Abihu for their grave disobedience (what were you thinkin'!!!). BUT GOD. I have need to remain silent before the Lord...allowing the Holy Spirit to work within me so that I am able to grasp (as much as possible within my finiteness) God's perspective on this situation. This is where my relationship, perspective, understanding, and trust of God and who He is matters. BUT GOD.
Aaron's sons were flagrantly disrespectful and disobedient. God had just instructed them on how to approach Him, and they were not obedient. Acts such as these - the son's blatant disobedience, as priests and leaders of God's people; and God's act, cause sober attention. This is one example of why we are to "fear the Lord" as the beginning of wisdom. God is Holy and worthy of our obedience. God was clear and precise, not to leave them guessing. The sons of Aaron were leaders - they were chosen to lead God's people in the things of God. They had set an example of disobedience that could have caused many people to stumble and fall.
BUT GOD. "Lord, help me to gain a deeper reverence for You. Help me to drink deeper in relationship with You so that I might see more of the way You see. You are God. I am not. You Loved me first. Help me to Love You more. Thank You God. I love You."
BUT GOD.
"Aaron remained silent" (10:3b). This is my reaction as well. He was instructed to stay before the Lord (10:7). This is my instruction and stance as well. In reading this, I, we, are on Holy ground. I might want to protest a little as to why God would consume them with fire (a loving God?). I might want to shake Nadab and Abihu for their grave disobedience (what were you thinkin'!!!). BUT GOD. I have need to remain silent before the Lord...allowing the Holy Spirit to work within me so that I am able to grasp (as much as possible within my finiteness) God's perspective on this situation. This is where my relationship, perspective, understanding, and trust of God and who He is matters. BUT GOD.
Aaron's sons were flagrantly disrespectful and disobedient. God had just instructed them on how to approach Him, and they were not obedient. Acts such as these - the son's blatant disobedience, as priests and leaders of God's people; and God's act, cause sober attention. This is one example of why we are to "fear the Lord" as the beginning of wisdom. God is Holy and worthy of our obedience. God was clear and precise, not to leave them guessing. The sons of Aaron were leaders - they were chosen to lead God's people in the things of God. They had set an example of disobedience that could have caused many people to stumble and fall.
BUT GOD. "Lord, help me to gain a deeper reverence for You. Help me to drink deeper in relationship with You so that I might see more of the way You see. You are God. I am not. You Loved me first. Help me to Love You more. Thank You God. I love You."
BUT GOD.
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