Date: 02-18-2021

Title: Fully Dedicated

(S) cripture:
    Leviticus 8:22-23 (NLT2) Then Moses presented the other ram, which was the ram of ordination. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the ram’s head, 23 and Moses slaughtered it. Then Moses took some of its blood and applied it to the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot.

(O) bservation:
    At the ordination of the Priests, Moses slaughtered the “ram of ordination” and then applied some of the blood to the right ear, thumb and big toe. This was to so the priest was fully dedicated to the work God has called him to. Why these specific body parts? I ran across this in my study and it mad sense to me: 1) the ear, because the priest must at all times listen to the voice of God; 2) the hand, because he must carry out God’s commands, and especially the priestly functions; and 3) the big toe on the right foot, because he must walk rightly and holy.

(A) pplication:
    Ordination was a “big deal” and the meaning of the ritual was huge. The priest was to be fully dedicated from head to foot. I remember my ordination. As an American Baptist (my denomination) ordination is a responsibility of the local church, those who would know the candidate best. The local church examines the candidate and then the region recognizes the action of the local church. If the region recognizes then the denomination gives recognition to the ordination. After defending my sense of call and knowledge of scripture before a number of groups I was ordained by my local church, Highlawn Baptist, in 1973. The ritual of the laying on of hands was a remarkable experience for me. Each came and individually laid hands on me and then prayer over me and God’s call in my life. Many of those that day were men that had mentored me as a young person growing up at Highlawn. These men took great pains to be sure I knew that they were dedicating me fully to the pastoral ministry. They didn’t sprinkle blood on me, but their praying hands left an indelible imprint on my life and ministry.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for your call in my life and for those that recognized it and affirmed it by ordination. My desire is to live fully devoted to you and living out your call in my life. Amen

Date: 02-17-2021

Title: Experiencing Forgiveness

(S) cripture:
    Leviticus 5:17-19 (NLT2) “Suppose you sin by violating one of the LORD’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. 18 For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the LORD, and you will be forgiven. 19 This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the LORD.”

(O) bservation:
    From the beginning the Lord has provided a path to forgiveness. The readings for today address the offering of a sacrifice for various sins. These are quite detailed and require the sacrifice of an animal for forgiveness. It is a reminder that there is a price that must be paid for forgiveness to be granted.

(A) pplication:
    Today I am thankful for the vivid reminder of what Jesus’ death on the cross was all about and what it means for us. Jesus was the sacrifice for my sin. That thought alone should be overwhelming. Because of His sacrifice I no longer need to bring a sacrificial animal to the altar. His sacrifice was “once for all”. I still, though, need to address my sin before the Lord. In His grace God has provided a way for me to be clean and to experience a fresh sense of forgiveness. That is the way of confession. 1 John 1:9 (NASB) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Today I continue to thank the Lord for a way to walk clean before him.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for forgiving me and giving me a way to continually walk clean with you. Use me today and I walk with you. Amen

Date: 02-16-2021

Title: A Remembrance

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 9:1-5 (NLT2)  A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said, ²  “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, ³  at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.” ⁴  So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover ⁵  in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

(O) bservation:
    The Lord has told Moses to have the people celebrate the Passover on a specific day each year as a remembrance of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This was a reminder of God’s faithfulness and work ion their behalf.     

(A) pplication:
    The Lord also gave us a remembrance of our deliverance from the slavery to sin. We call it “The Lord’s Supper” or Communion”. The difference is that there is no set time or day for us to do it. The scripture simply say “whenever you do it, remember…” I am thankful for God’s wisdom in giving us a remembrance because we forget so easily what a sacrifice Jesus made for us to deliver us from our sin. Today I will again remember even though I will not be celebrating “The Lord’s Supper” with my church family today, I will in the near future. Today I remember and give thanks.

(P) rayer:
    Father, thank you for the reminder to remember all you have done and the sacrifice required to deliver me from my sin. Thank you for forgiving me and let me live for you today. Amen

Date: 02-15-2021

Title: God Speaks

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 7:1-2 (NLT2) On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings.
    Numbers 7:89 (NLT2) Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.

(O) bservation:
    After Moses had set up, anointed and set apart as Holy the tabernacle the leaders brought offerings that Moses distributed them to the Levites to use to accomplish their duties. To dedicate the tabernacle each tribe brought a sacrifice, one tribe each day for twelve days. Once the 12 days of dedication were complete Moses would enter the tabernacle to speak with God and God would speak to Moses from between the cherubim above the Ark cover, the place of atonement. God spoke to Moses from the place of atonement. What a great picture of God’s grace and mercy.

(A) pplication:
    I am so thankful that God speaks from the place of atonement because from anywhere else I am doomed. I need to hear those words of forgiveness. That is not to say that God does not discipline me when needed. It is though that God’s discipline is always from a place of grace and redemption. Today I am grateful for God’s grace shown to me through his Son, Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for speaking to me with words of redemption, forgiveness and grace. Thank you for not giving up on me. Amen

Date: 02-14-2021

Title: God’s Glory Recognized

(S) cripture:
Exodus 40:34-35 (NLT2) Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

(O) bservation:
When the craftsmen had finished building the tabernacle to God’s specific instructions Moses then anointed all the parts with oil. When all that was complete God’s glory filled the tabernacle. That was God’s stamp of approval on all that had been done. The cloud of God’s glory represented God’s presence and guidance for the people.

(A) pplication:
When I do what God desires in the way He desires I can then recognize and experience God’s glory. The people could recognize God direction by the movement of the cloud. It may not be a cloud but when I am doing what God calls me to do in the way He desires I can also recognize God direction in my life. I want to be obedient and follow God’s direction in my life.

(P) rayer:
Lord, make yourself so real to me that I do not miss your direction in my life. Let me recognize and experience your glory today. Amen

Date: 02-13-2021

Title: Attention To Detail

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 37:1-9 (ESV) Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

(O) bservation:
    It the entire reading today we find Bezalel giving great attention to the details that God had given for each piece he made. Each one described in today’s reading is a fulfillment of God’s directions. The building of the Ark in the scripture above is an exact fulfillment of God’s directions in Exodus 25:10-20.

(A) pplication:
    The attention to detail here is a good reminder for us to do the same. I wonder how often we cut corners and then wonder why things do not work as we expected. I have a contractor friend that advertises with this motto, “We cut angles not corners”. Too often we are haphazard or expedient in doing what the Lord has instructed. Today I want to give attention to the details so I can get the result God desires.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, make me aware when I am ignoring the details and let me return to do things as you desire. Grant me to courage to be true to you. Amen

Date: 02-12-2021

Title: Women Workers

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 35:20-26 (NLT2) So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. 21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the LORD. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. 22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the LORD their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the LORD. 23 All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather. 24 And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the LORD. And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project. 25 All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth. 26 All the women who were willing used their skills to spin the goat hair into yarn.

(O) bservation:
    Moses has told the people what kinds of things they can bring as a sacred offering to the Lord. These were the materials needed to complete the tabernacle and all that is in it including the clothing for the priests. The people brought things in abundance. Moses then calls for all gifted craftsmen (vs. 10) to use their skills to make all God commanded. In the verses I chose for today we find that both men and women were skilled and used their skills in completing the work. The women worked along with the men and that was huge in that culture.

(A) pplication:
    The church still struggles over the roles in which women can serve. Here is a early example of God using both women and men to accomplish his purpose. Some will argue over the place of women in the church and kingdom but not me. My own call to pastoral ministry came during Sr. High camp at the West Virginia Baptist Camp at Cowen during a vespers service. Rev. Elizabeth Caudill was the camp pastor. My wife is gifted and called to ministry and has served the church, region and denomination with excellence. I have seen too many gifted and called women to think that God does not call women to places of leadership in the church. I appreciate the reminder that from the beginning God has used and called women to serve and lead. Today I renew my commitment to helping both men and women recognize and understand God’s call in their lives.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to help others understand your call in their lives. Help me to not ignore or put down your call in the women of our church. Let me encourage all to follow your lead and call. Amen

Date: 02-11-2021

Title: Blowin’ Smoke

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 32:19-24 (NLT2) When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it. 21 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?” 22 “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”

(O) bservation:
    When confronted by Moses about the golden calf Aaron began spinning a yarn (blowin’ smoke) about how it came about. Aaron was trying to avoid responsibility for his behavior and part in the making of the idol.

(A) pplication:
    Aaron’s story is one no person, with any sense, would believe and yet he tried to pass it off to Moses as the truth. I wonder how often we tell tales (blow smoke) to avoid responsibility. Do we really think that people will believe these far-fetched explanations or excuses. Ours are just a lame and ineffective as was Aaron’s with Moses. Sad thing is that we believe we can pass them off on God. It is always better to take responsibility, confess our sin and then move forward. I want to live my life in a way that has integrity and people will know that I am telling the truth. I want to own up to my failures rather than try to excuse them. I do not want to be “blowin’ smoke” with the people I am called to lead and serve.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to lead with integrity so that others will know that they can trust my word. Amen

Date: 02-10-2021

Title: Gifted Workers

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 31:1-11 (NLT2) Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. 4 He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! 6 “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make: 7 the Tabernacle; the Ark of the Covenant; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; all the furnishings of the Tabernacle; 8 the table and its utensils; the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories; the incense altar; 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils; the washbasin with its stand; 10 the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests; 11 the anointing oil; the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you.”

(O) bservation:
    God has given specific instructions on how each part of the tabernacle and priest’s clothing is to be made. God then tells Moses that he had given Moses workers gifted in all the crafts needed to complete all God has prescribed. The workers were there and Moses needed to use them and their skills to accomplish what God had set before him.

(A) pplication:
    Too often we as pastors overlook or neglect the gifted people that God has placed around us. In so doing we take on too much and rob them of the joy of serving using their strengths and skills to help accomplish what God has set before us. Sometimes it seems easier to do something ourselves, but the result is frustration and fatigue or burn-out and we leave others feeling ungifted, under-used and unappreciated. Today I again commit myself to seek out the gifts in others and encourage them to use them in helping the church fulfill its calling in the community.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me recognize the gifts and skills in others. Let me encourage them to use their gifts to bring glory to you. Amen

Date: 02-09-2021

Title: Stones of Remembrance

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 28:9-12 (NLT2) ⁹  “Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁰  Six names will be on each stone, arranged in the order of the births of the original sons of Israel. ¹¹  Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree. ¹²  Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the LORD.

Exodus 28:29 (NLT2) ²⁹  “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the LORD.

(O) bservation:
    The two stones on the shoulders and the twelve stones on his chestpiece of his priestly garments were to be reminders that when he was entering the Holy Place he was representing all the people of Israel not just himself.

(A) pplication:
    This is a great and sobering reminder that what we do as pastors is not just for ourselves but for the people we serve. The church directory serves as a great help in reminding me of my commitment to the people of New Baptist. As a staff we have a goal of contacting each family regularly. We have divided the directory into thirds and over about six weeks we try to make a personal contact with each family on our part of the list. We then over time are able to contact each family. It is a reminder to me that I bring these people with me when I do what God has called me to do.

(P) rayer:
    Lord make me ever mindful of the people I serve and their needs as I serve you. Thank you for tools like a church directory that help. Our garments may be different today but the role and responsibilities are very much the same.