Author Archives: Steve

Guess How Much I Love You – Psalm 103:10-12, 17-18

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“He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us…But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts” (Psalm 103:10-12, 17-18, HCSB).

In a popular children’s bedtime story by Sam McBratney, father and son rabbits use ever-greater exaggerated measures to quantify how much they love each other until the baby rabbit falls asleep.

“I love you right up to the moon–and back,” the father rabbit whispers as the baby rabbit dozes off.

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Examine Yourself – Leviticus 6:18, 7:21

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“Anything that touches the offerings will become holy…If someone touches anything unclean…and eats meat from the Lord’s fellowship sacrifice, that person must be cut off from his people” (Leviticus 6:18, 7:2, HCSB).

Leviticus Chapters 6 and 7 contain descriptions of the five offerings of the ancient Jewish sacrificial system and instructions to the priests in conducting these offerings.

There’s an important principle about holiness revealed in these guidelines that’s particularly important for spiritual development.

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Be All You Can Be – Psalm 104:1,35

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“Let all that I am praise the Lord.” (Psalm 104:1,35, NLT)

“Be All You Can Be” was the recruiting slogan of the United States Army for over twenty years. The slogan meant that because of your training and experiences in the United States Army you can become a successful, self-actualized individual.  It meant that the Army could start you on the path of  realizing everything that you have wanted or were meant to be in your life and your career.

But the Psalmist had a different take on success and self-actualization. The Psalmist declared that you should devote your whole self to praising God!

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Be the Gospel – Acts 26:27-29

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“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily? I wish before God, replied Paul, that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains” (Acts 26:27-29, HCSB).

In the book, The King Jesus Gospel, Scot McKnight contrasted how the gospel was presented and what was the message preached by the apostles with how we present the gospel and what we preach today.

The Apostle Paul’s presentation of the gospel to King Agrippa in these verses provides a good example of this contrast.

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My Desperation and God’s Glory – Psalm 102:11-12

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“My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation” (Psalm 102:11-12, NLT).

These two verses contrast the eternal and enduring nature of God with the brief and transitory nature of human beings. They transition this psalm from the topic of human desperation and misery (vs. 1-11) to the topic of God’s glory (vs. 12-17).

Have you ever noticed how clearly you can perceive the goodness and greatness of God when you are suffering and in need of His help?

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Grace 101: Vicarious Atonement – Leviticus 1:3-4

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“If the animal you present as a burnt offering is from the herd, it must be a male with no defects. Bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle so you may be accepted by the Lord. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him.” ( Leviticus 1:3-4, NLT)

The Hebrew word for “burnt offering” means “what goes up” and refers to the ascent of the animal in flames and smoke (to the Lord).

The burnt offering was an offering for atonement.

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God’s Catastrophic Health Insurance Policy – Psalm 91:9-13

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“If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!”  (Psalm 91:9-13, NLT).

This wisdom Psalm expresses confidence in God as the One Who provides protection against catastrophe for those who take refuge in Him.

His promised protections are like the comprehensive coverage of a catastrophic health insurance policy!

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One Thing, No Two, God Cannot Do – Psalm 89:33-35

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“But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie.” (Psalm 89:33-35, NLT)

In this Psalm, the Psalmist restates God’s covenant with David as ruler over His people.

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Lavish Giving – Exodus 36:3-7

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“But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning. Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work. They went to Moses and reported: The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do! So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough! So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project.”

Suppose you went to church one Sunday morning and when it came to the end of the service the pastor announced no offering would be received because people had given so much the church had more than enough money!

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God Loves A Cheerful Giver – Exodus 35:21,29

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“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…So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord” (Exodus 35:21,29, NLT).

What if they took up an offering for a new church building and all the church members were so enthusiastic about doing God’s work that everyone in the church contributed financially to the project?

And, what if they gave enough in one offering to construct and furnish the new church building?

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