KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, February 15, 2019
Chapters: Leviticus 8-10
Message: Let Us Cleanse Ourselves
Hello My Friend,
All my life I have struggled with digestive problems, I went to doctors, had numerous tests done since I was twelve years old, they could find nothing, only put me on strict diets to lose weight, which by the way, did not work either. Then a few years back I learned about gluten intolerance, it turns out that I have Celiac, if I eat anything that was even cooked on something where gluten was present it affects me. So, this year I decided I was going to change my diet all together, eat the foods Jesus would have eaten, and I was doing pretty good. Yesterday, I was having a really bad day, and craved pizza, I got it, but then when I started eating it it did not taste as good as I thought it would, on top of that I got this instant headache that I still have, and my stomach is a mess. No, this is not a message about temptation, although it could be, I was cleansing my body of all the poison the gluten was feeding it, all it took was one bite for it to affect me. Jesus cleanses our soul the second we receive Him as our Saviour, but if we want all the health benefits that go along with salvation we need to cleanse our body and spirit as well. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – II Corinthians 7:1.
“perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The fear of God, that is something the world, and quite a few Christians I might add, have lost, there is no respect for God or even life itself anymore. Kids today are raising themselves as parents live in their own lusts, very few people know and understand exactly what Jesus has done for them. I actually told my church kids that one day they are going to go through something that will finally show them why Jesus is so important. Sanctify; To cleanse, to purify or make holy. To cleanse or make ourselves holy before God we need more than a sacrifice, we need dedication and willingness. If Aaron and his sons were going to take on the services of God they needed to be willing, they needed to be sanctified, and they needed to be dedicated. God instructs Moses to call the entire congregation, and watch as Aaron and his sons get consecrated.
“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.” – Leviticus 8:2-7,10,14.
“And Moses took the anointing oil,” Before they could even do anything to consecrate themselves everything they touched had to be sanctified first. There is a reason why Jesus says, “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.” – Matthew 9:16. If we are saved we will only make things worse by living the same life we lived prior to that, even the most religious person gets to the point that they realize they need Jesus. Our getting saved through Christ is just like Him anointing our entire body and sanctifying it. Now, that the tabernacle and men were anointed, and the sin offering made, the offerings to consecrate them were next.
“And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder: And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD. And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.” – Leviticus 8:22-23,26-33-35.
“And Moses took them from off their hands,” After Moses took the flesh that the men waved up to God he put it on the altar, we can say we believe in Jesus all we want, but unless we receive Him, God will not accept the offering. Once the consecration offering was made they had to remain in the tabernacle for a week. I imagine this was to renew their minds and keep themselves from getting into any trouble. Now, the eight days have come and they were now able to accept the first sacrifices. “And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.” – Leviticus 9:1-4.
“for to day the LORD will appear unto you.” My goodness, I can describe the day that Jesus appeared to me down to the white robe He was wearing. Well, that is what I imagined anyway, I certainly knew He spoke to me, and it was time to make a change in my life. Now, the first offerings were offered up to God, oddly enough, beginning with Aaron.
“And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.” – Leviticus 9:7-8,15-17,22-23.
“which was for himself.” Why did Aaron make an atonement for himself after he had already been consecrated? It had been seven days, and he could have done something to offend. It was the proper thing to do in seeking atonement for himself, and this taught his sons and the congregation what they needed to do to get right with God. You know, when we first receive Jesus as our Saviour we do not know that some things are not pleasing to Him, but as we grow with Him we learn that we need to confess our sins to Him daily to reconcile with Him. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” – I John 1:8-10.
“If we say that we have no sin,” Remember, there is a difference between knowingly and ignorantly sinning, as the Holy Spirit works in us, we learn right away that something we did was sinful, and sometimes we do things anyway, knowing it is wrong. I knew what would happen to me eating something with gluten in it, but at the time I did not care, and did it anyway. Now, I have to live with that consequence for the next three or four days because that is now long it takes for it to get out of my system. There is always consequence when we choose to do something, whether is it knowingly or ignorantly. This proved to be the case as we read about two Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons who failed to heed the warning that no one was to ever offer up strange fire to Him.
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.” Leviticus 10:1-3,6-7.
“for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.” What a tragic thing to happen, and Aaron and his surviving sons could not even allowed go out of the tabernacle to bury them at the time because they were sanctified. Jesus said, “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” – Matthew 10:36-38.
“And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” For the first time I finally realized what this passage of Scripture means, family is the first thing that keeps us from serving God, and even being faithful to Him, which is why Jesus said if we love them more than Him then we are not worthy to serve Him. Do not confuse this with salvation, are saved by grace through our faith alone in Jesus Christ, but if we truly want to be the Light that shines Christ on the world we need to give Him first place in our lives. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:29-32.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.” – Leviticus 8:14-15.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy, it truly does not end for those who love You. I am not only saved by the blood of Your Son upon believing in and accepting Him as my Saviour I am also reconciled with You. Lord, You call on Your people to be holy, separate, and dedicated to You the second You anoint us as Yours, lead me and guide me, keep me looking to You so I do not get swayed by the outside world just eager to get me away from You. I know that You could easily cast us away for disobeying You, but Your promise to never leave nor forsake us still stands for all who put their faith and trust in Your Son. Give me Your power, wisdom, mercy, grace, love, and strength to endure temptation, and glorify You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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