“Blood”

February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024

Read Leviticus 8, Psalm 52, Hebrews 8

Are you squeamish at the sight of blood or are you the type of person that can handle those war movies, medical shows, or other movies that show a lot of blood? Maybe reading this right now puts an uneasy thought in your mind.  Reading through the various instructions for offering sacrifices in the book of Leviticus has reminded me that living in ancient Israel would have been a very bloody ordeal. In Leviticus 8 we read, “Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar” v. 15. You may wonder, what’s up with all the blood? Why does God demand a sacrifice such as this? When we back up we are reminded of the tenth plague in Exodus, the plague of the first born that would die unless any Israelite or Egypt put the blood of the lamb over the doorpost of their home. If we go back even further to Genesis 9 we read that God demanded an accounting for someone who took the life of another. “And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.” vv. 5-6. We see already here that the “lifeblood” is used as a system of justice by God.

Fast-forward to the New Testament and of course we god straight to the cross that Jesus shed his blood for us. Jesus blood was shed not just for one person or for one sin, but for the sins of the whole world, once and for all. As you read through the chapters in Leviticus and in Hebrews we are reminded that Jesus is our great high priest and that God brought a new covenant to us through His Son Jesus. “But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them,’” vv. 8-9. The blood may be difficult to think about, but without it we would be without hope and doomed to continue the sacrificial system from the Old Testament.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, and themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Elementary”

February 19, 2024

February 19, 2024

Read Leviticus 6, Psalm 50, Hebrews 6

What do you remember learning in your elementary school years? Shapes, colors, reading, writing, basic math? Maybe you picked up a trade like sewing, gardening, or cooking. I remember learning the basics of music like rhythm, harmony, and playing the annoying little flute like recorder and hurting everyone’s ears.

There are elementary truths we can learn about any subject; this includes the Word of God. We learn that God is Holy, compassionate, good, merciful, gracious, and forgiving. It’s always good to never lose sight of these elementary teaches from the Bible, but at the same time we do not need to stay with just these basic teachings for other deeper teachings in these areas.

In Psalm 50 God speaks boldly here. He tells Israel that He doesn’t need anything from his creation. “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” vv. 9-10. Later God rebukes those in Israel who simply recite God’s laws but do not care anything for it. He sees right through their lip service. “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you” vv. 16-17. There are people in our world today that try to shame righteous Christians by using God’s own words against them. They make a play on their compassion. It’s a no-win solution. If Christians do something they don’t like they cry, “That’s too much you went too far!” Then When Christians do something for the Lord and they don’t like it they cry just the opposite, “You didn’t do enough, you should have done this too!”

In Hebrews 6 the author challenges us to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity” v. 1. He names some things such as repentance, faith in God, baptism, praying for others, and the resurrection and judgment that is to come. Reading that list made me wonder how many people would see those topics as elementary today. We seem to be stuck on the love of God in the culture we live in today. All the surveys tell us that people are more biblically illiterate than ever before. This is why we must stay in God’s Word and have a steady intake of it in our lives. Have you taken a spiritual inventory of your knowledge from the Word of God? No matter what you would place yourself, novice, beginner, intermediate, or advanced, we all have work to do, and we all have room to grow in our knowledge of God’s Word.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below?

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Posted by John Weldon

“Nothing in all Creation is Hidden From God’s Sight”

February 17, 2024

February 17, 2024

Read Leviticus 4, Psalm 48, Hebrews 4

What are some things that you wonder about? Today I have wonder what the intentions of an advertisement was. I wonder if people really understand Jesus’ message and mission. Do you wonder what a person might really think about you? Do you wonder about some specific detail in the Bible? Do you wonder about your future? There is so much that we do not know.

Leviticus 4 describes how an Israelite is to atone for a sin that they commit unintentionally or unknowingly. We cannot know someone else’s intentions unless they tell us or write them down. That is something that is locked up in their minds and is between themselves and the Lord. The question arises, “If I do something accidentally is it still wrong?” This chapter teaches us that it is. “If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, he is guilty” v. 27. The good news is that we can be forgiven just as with a sin we intentionally commit. “In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven” v. 31. God’s Law will show us when we are off the path.

The author of Hebrews tells us that nothing is hidden from God. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” v. 13. God knows everything that takes place in the secret places, behind the closed doors. He even knows our hearts and what we are thinking. That should bring both a little fear and comfort to us. He knows when we are wronged and deceived by others and He knows when we are the ones doing the deceiving.

This is also a benefit to us. When we walk in a relationship with God, we can have limited access to the knowledge that He choose to share with us. God revealed himself to us though His word and in the person of Jesus. Verse 12 tells us the benefit of His word in our lives. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” v. 12. We are judged by God’s Word. It acts like a mirror in which it shows us where we should be and where we are not. His Word is here to guide us …if we will follow it.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add Your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Jesus > Moses”

February 16, 2024

February 16, 2024

Read Leviticus 3, Psalm 47, Hebrews 3

When I was a student pastor or when I was coaching a rec league soccer team, I knew I could always get the students talking by asking some opinion questions. Who is the greatest basketball player of all time… Who is the greatest soccer player of all time, who is the greatest superhero of all time…. This would always kick start a debate between everyone. As a cello player the debate was between Lenard Rose or Yo Yo Ma and Pablo Casals. You probably have people that you consider the greatest (fill in the blank) as well.

When it comes to the greatest person to have ever lived You must go to Jesus of Nazareth. He was a real historical person who lived in the first century AD. (In fact, He is the reason we split time BC/AD). There has been no other person on the planet that has ever had the influence and power to change people’s lives that Jesus the Christ. He did not amass an army, try to conquer any land or territory and yet He alone has changed the world. How many other religions want to claim a piece of Jesus because of his influence? To Buddhist Jesus was one of the 28 Buddhas that have come, To Muslims Jesus was a mighty prophet, and there are many other religions that will try to connect him to their own worldview.

The author of Hebrews is writing to a Jewish audience. His main point in Hebrews 3 is that Jesus is greater than Moses. “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.” vv. 4-6a. The author of Hebrews was using an analogy that Moses was a servant in God’s house, but Jesus, the Son was the owner of the house.

The rest of Hebrews 3 is the first of four warnings in Hebrews. These warnings are to encourage the believers not to “fall away” in disbelief. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” vv. 12-13. These verses point out the danger of sin. If we persist in sin or allow it to take hold in our lives it can pull us away from our relationship with the Lord. The good news is that any one of us can turn back to God in one moment. Repentance is a positive word.

If you are searching and really looking for what’s true. If you are trying to decide what is the right worldview, what is the correct religion, let me encourage you to start with Christianity with the original Jesus and his own teachings about himself and reality.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“The Measure of a Man”

February 15, 2024

February 15, 2024

Read Leviticus 2, Psalm 46, Hebrews 2

Have you heard the phrase, “the measure of a man” before? It has been used in book titles, Movie titles, and apparently in Star Trek episodes too. The phrase means, “That which shows the value of a person’s life; one’s non-monetary worth.” Hebrews 2 asks the question, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” v. 6. This is the deep mystery that I think all those who believe in the Christian God of the Bible wrestle with? Why would an infinite God with the power to create and destroy and who is limitless be mindful and consider us His creation? There are many reasons that people assign worthiness to a person. Their education, their wealth, their power or influence, their relationship with others, have all been used to determine someone’s worthy. The Bible teaches that simply because we are made in the image of God, we contain value to God. None of the reasons above determine our value with God.

Maybe one of the reasons that God is mindful of us and holds compassion for us is because Jesus became one of us. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” v. 9. We can take comfort knowing that we have a Savior who can identify with us. When we face trouble, we can turn to Jesus who also took the form of a man and endured the life of a human and ultimately the cross.

What else do you see in these verses? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Superior”

February 14, 2024

February 14, 2024

Read Leviticus 1, Psalm 45, Hebrews 1

How many words or companies do you know that have the word superior connected to them? There’s Lake Superior, Superior HVAC, Superior Tire, Superior Credit Union, and we could go on forever. Superior as an adjective means greater in quality, quantity, etc. of high or extraordinary worth, merit, etc. The Bible teaches that God is superior. Jesus as God is equally superior to anything else in the world.

As you read Leviticus 1 you will read about the instructions from God to Moses on how to bring a proper offering to God and offer it as a sacrifice. It must be “without defect” v. 3 and meet other specifications. Why? Because God is superior and worthy of our praise and worship. Following the guidelines and doing it as God described makes it into “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” v. 17. The temptation in our times is to minimize God’s character and authority for something else, either ourselves or something created rather than the creator. How do you view God? Is He superior in every way or just some cosmic creator we must “deal” with?

Psalm 45 is a psalm credited to the Sons of Korah. The description calls it a wedding psalm which was sung during royal weddings. It praises the King who is to be married and paints him in a good light. The psalm starts by praising this king of the Jews. The psalm hints at a Jewish king who is more than just an ordinary person. “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” v. 7. There were 40 kings of Israel and Judah between the northern kingdom and southern. All the kings in the northern kingdom were wicked and described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Only eight of the 20 kings in the southern kingdom of Judah were described as good and that they followed the ways of David and the Lord. This psalm may point to a future king of Israel that loves righteousness and hates wickedness.

The book of Hebrews is a book that compares Jesus to the Old Covenant and how that Jesus is superior to angels, Moses, the priests, and many other Old Testament things. We do not know who the author of Hebrews is. Hebrews 1 tells us that Jesus is superior to the angels because He is the Son of God. Jesus “the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” v. 4. Jesus as the Son is superior because the angels are just servants of God, and they worship Jesus. There is also a quote from Psalm 45 in Hebrews 1. This is confirmation that the psalmist indeed was referring to Jesus as a future righteous king. “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy’” vv. 8-9.

Take a moment to recognize the superiority of Jesus in your life. Do you view and worship the Lord as you should? Have you slipped away from your view of how superior the Lord is to you and how his greatness affects your life and how you live it for the Lord.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Rock”

February 9, 2024

February 9, 2024

Read Exodus 26-28, Psalm 40

When has there been a time when you have been on shaky ground?  I’m not referring to an earthquake but rather a time when things in your life were not as solid as you would have liked them to be. Maybe it was a time of transition in your life when things were changing around you. Maybe your shaky ground was centered around a relationship with someone that brought turmoil into your life. None of us like to be in these places in our lives, but being human means having times in our lives when things are shaky.

Psalm 40 is a psalm of David where we could identify with him being on some shaky ground. David starts the psalm with, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” vv. 1-2. David knew that the only firm place for him was with the Lord. This is true for us today. There might be things that temporarily seem like sure ground, but they will not last and give us the rock on which to stand. How many people think by achieving financial success, the right job, power or fame, or the right relationship will solve all their problems. All we have to do is look to those that have reached these goals to see that they are still living in turmoil and struggling with circumstances just like we all do.

David saw that his relationship with God brought him the ultimate joy in his life. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods” vv. 3-4. I read a survey not to long ago that said the “nones” are growing. The “nones” are those who do not identify with any religious group. They typically are atheistic or agnostic about many things in life. 29 percent of America claims to be a “none” according to this 2023 survey. Along with the beliefs of this worldview comes a natural order of events. Our beliefs dictate our actions. If I believe there is no God, I am forced to take the view that I am a cosmic accident, created with no purpose. The only purpose that I can grab hold of is the one I create for myself. It’s no wonder so many in the two youngest generations say that struggle with mental illnesses and according to a 2023 Barna survey 75 percent of Gen Z say that they have no purpose in life.

I just want to highly encourage you to hold on to the rock of faith in Christ in your life. If you are checking into who Jesus is and what he taught I hope that you know that you can reach out to me and ask any questions.

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Posted by John Weldon

“What Does This Mean?

February 4, 2024

February 4, 2024

Read Exodus 11-13, Psalm 35

What traditions do you enjoy? Are there special things you do during the holiday season or throughout the year that you look forward to participating in? What are some traditions you might take part in and not know exactly why you do them? I heard a story about a family tradition where the children passed down a recipe for a dish that instructed them to cut the end of the roast off. This was repeated over several generations until someone asked why they cut the end of the roast off. It was discovered that the originator of the family recipe did this because they didn’t have a big enough pan to roast the meat!

In Genesis 11-13 we have the instructions from God about the final plague that God would send on Egypt. Unlike all the others, this one would involve much preparation from Israel in order for them to avoid its consequences. The plague of the first born was going to be so impacting that it would cause Pharaoh to release Israel from 430 years of slavery. The Passover would be a special time that Israel would observe each year.

The instructions for observing the Passover were very detailed and for good reason. The Jews were to pass on this remembrance to their children going forward. It would have even greater significance when Jesus would come as “The lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). They are to use a year-old male lamb without defect. They are to roast it at Twilight. Consume all of it. – “head, legs, and inner parts” v. 9 Why no leftovers? – The Messiah was one body broken for all. Passover would be replaced by the last supper (See Matthew 26:26-29). The blood was to be put on the sides and tops of the door frames of the homes. They are to eat it with bitter herbs and Bread without yeast, which would symbolize the haste in which they were to exit Egypt. The manner in how they eat the Passover meal is symbolic. v. 11 “cloak tucked into your belt,” “sandals on your feet,” and “staff in your hand.” These are again signs of a quick exit for Israel.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you? Write your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“You’re Not the Boss of Me!”

February 2, 2024

February 2, 2024

Read Exodus 5-7, Psalm 33

Have you ever heard a child make this exclamation before? “You’re not the boss of me!” They may have referred it to another adult, a teacher, or a person of authority over them. In Exodus 5-7 we have a similar attitude coming from Pharaoh. God tells Moses to speak to Pharaoh. You know… “Let my people go….” Naturally, Pharaoh responds “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go” v. 2. Pharaoh may not have heard of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so he consequentially had no desire to listen or obey him either. We can find the same mentality today among people. They neither know or fear the Lord and their behaviors and speech reflect this attitude. Honestly, who would blame them? When my kids were growing up, sometimes they would come home from school and talk about something that someone did to them or their friend. I would try to remind them that most likely they were not Christians or faithfully living out God’s design for their life. The phrase, “non-Christians will do what they do or just comes natural to themselves” was often repeated. We might not live in a polytheistic culture today in America but that doesn’t mean that people don’t have their gods. The gods just change from Ra, Chemosh, and Molech to the gods of self, materialism, and other things we worship and deem important. The ultimate issue of a god is who has the authority over my life and determines how I live my life. Some might have one god they worship; others might have a pantheon of gods they have amassed for themselves. Christians often use the phrase “Savior and Lord” when referring to Jesus. We have Jesus as our Savior, but is he also our Lord? Does Jesus have authority, lordship, or is he our “boss?” Not just in one or two areas of our lives, Jesus commands us to love God with our “whole heart” (Mark 12:30-31). What areas of your life do you struggle to relinquish control to the Lord?

Psalm 33 is a beautiful psalm that has many familiar phrases in it. It praises the Lord for his creation, his righteousness and just actions. Verse 12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” The psalmist recognizes the “blessing” that comes from allowing God to lead and be our boss. When many people see the word “blessing” they might be tempted to jump to an idea of finances or material goods. That might be one way to look at it, but “blessing” is really about an attitude of happiness or joy. Some translations of the Bible capture this by says “Happy is…” rather than blessed. When we recognize God as the ultimate authority in our lives, he will bring us blessings.

What other words, themes, or phrases stand out to you as you read these chapters? Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Test”

January 22, 2024

January 22, 2024

Read Genesis 21-24, Psalm 22

When have you had a really big test in your life? I remember in college as a music major, my final exams on my cello were before 3-4 instructors and how I did in the final performance test of the semester determined if I passed or failed. I used to get ulcers in my mouth about 2 weeks after finals were over from the stress. Not many people look forward to a test. Knowing we will be tested keeps us on our toes and prepared to learn the material. Even if we fail a test, we can still learn from it and adapt for the next time.

In Genesis 21 we find Abraham sending his son Ismael away. In Genesis 22 we find God testing Abraham with his son Isaac. The descriptive instructions from the Lord remind us of how badly Abraham had wanted a son. “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” v. 2. The son he had waited 25 years for was now being asked to become a sacrifice to the Lord. This reminds me of the rich man who came to Jesus in Matthew 19 who Jesus challenged to take all he had and sell it and give it to the poor, then come and follow Jesus.

There are several allusions to Jesus and the cross in this passage. The same area where Abraham took his son Isaac is very close to where Jerusalem is today. It’s been noted that Isaac the supposed sacrifice carried the wood just as Jesus carried the cross. Abraham took the fire and knife a symbol of judgment from God on his Son on the cross. As Isaac and his father are walking up the mountain, unaware Isaac asks his father “where is the lamb for the burnt offering” v. 7. Abaham’s response of faith is one that foreshadows to the New Testament, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” v. 8. The journey up the mountain takes three days or part of the three different days which we can relate to Jesus in the tomb. Many of these are allegorical comparisons and we must be careful to say this is intentional by God. At the very least, it does make you think.

Some may struggle with the idea that God would demand a human sacrifice such as this and that Abraham would almost go through with it. First, we should note that Abraham did not sacrifice his son, it was stopped by God beforehand. God knew that he would also put a stop to it. Human sacrifice was more prevalent in Old Testament times. Many other Canaanite and other religious commonly practiced this. To the reader in the twenty-first century, no doubt this seems so strange. Abraham’s statement to Isaac can be seen as a great statement of faith. He had confidence that God would provide a lamb.

Proponents of a theology called “open theism” will point to a passage like this as proof that God does not know what the human response will be until it is in play. Open Theism is defined as though omniscient; God does not know what we will freely do in the future. Likewise, God is not bound to a set behavior or will because His will interacts with creation. This is a heresy. So how should we take the statement, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” v. 12 God’s knowing is relayed in human language as to experience something. God already knew that Abraham would be obedient, but until Abraham followed through with it, Abraham did not experience the test that God had given.

Psalm 22, is a psalm of David that is a messianic psalm. The very first words of the psalm are quoted my Jesus on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” v. 1. As you read through the rest of the psalm you will notice many other descriptions that really connect to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. They hurl insults and mock him, they have pierced his hands and feet, divide his garments among them and cast lots for his clothing.

Do you think God would test you like He did Abraham? What tests might God put you through in order for you to learn what He desires you to learn? What else do you see in these chapters? What words and phrases, and themes stand out to you? Write your answers below.

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Posted by John Weldon

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