Reflections from April 6, 2011

Today as we finish Leviticus, God reminds us that He is with us to help us, but we must commit to Him first. He says in Leviticus 26:3,
"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them..."
God goes on to say all the wonderful things He will do for Israel. They will be forever safe in their land, they will always have a roof over their head, they will never be hungry, and on and on. But God expects 100% obedience and commitment. He says in Leviticus 26:14-15,
"But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgements, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant..."
And then God goes on to list off of the things the He will allow to happen to Israel, none of which is pretty.

What God is doing is showing His leadership. He gives us two important principles for effective use of authority;
1. Leaders need to establish and clearly communicate what they expect others to do and to refrain from doing;
2. Leaders need to clarify the consequences for fulfilling and not fulfilling those expectations.
God made it very simple for us to follow Him, and these examples make it easy to model Him.

We close out Leviticus with a reminder that all things are God's, but items dedicated to Him are especially Holy. We read in Leviticus 27:28,
"No devoted offering that a man may devote to the Lord of all that he has, both the man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the Lord."

A free will offering of devotion to the Lord is very significant and should not be taken lightly. We've all heard stories about someone who's in a bind, and calls out to God for help promising to devote their life to His service. Some people actually follow through on that promise, but most don't. God will remember that call they made and the promise they made. For those who do keep their word to God, He blesses them abundantly.

We can receive His abundant blessings by obeying Him in all we do. Be righteous and holy, for as it states in Psalms 112:1,
"Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments."

Blessings to all