A Matter of the Heart

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Pete

It’s funny . . . I’ve been staring down at this phrase for almost 30 minutes now. I’ve had at least 4 or 5 “false starts” on trying to put together some thoughts on a truth in Romans that has captured me this morning. The thought is that of a distinctive . . . a characteristic that marks the believer . . . something which sets apart the child of God . . . an act, which has been performed on the flesh since almost the beginning of time, but which God also enacts upon the inner beings of those He has called into His kingdom. When it comes down to it, it’s a matter of the heart.

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
(Romans 2:28-29 ESV)

The “procedure”, given to Abraham back in Genesis 17, was linked to the covenant God was entering into with Abraham and his seed . . . it was a means of Abraham and his progeny to associate themselves with the covenantal relationship God had called them into. In addition, it was symbolic of the cutting off of the flesh, the old nature, in order to pursue a life of consecration to their God . . . of putting off that which was impure and defiled in order to enjoy a relationship based on God’s calling of a holy people. But this distinctive had become a source of pride and boasting . . . as if, somehow, this outward act somehow translated into a spiritual reality.

But in his Romans 2 discussion of that which marks a true child of Abraham, Paul assets that it is not merely a matter of the “outward and physical”, but a matter of the heart.

And it’s not a matter of what what we can do to shape our hearts . . . not a matter of our discipline and performance . . . but an act of the Spirit. An act which marks the covenantal relationship we’ve been brought into with the God of our salvation . . . which puts to death the flesh . . . which enacts the power to put away that which defiles . . . which creates within “the patient” a desire to pursue the things of faith and obedience.

It’s not something I can do to myself . . . not a procedure I’m capable of performing . . . not something I can will into being . . . but it is the work of the Spirit of God. It is part of making a dead man alive . . . part of making an old creation new . . . part of making blind eyes see. It is what marks the child of God.

So, what can I do but thank Him? How can I not pause and praise? Oh, forgive me for the times when I’ve just blown over this truth without stopping to behold the wonder and to worship.

It’s a matter of the heart . . .

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Walking Erect

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Pete

From pictures I’ve seen, shows I’ve watched, there’s something about hard slavery that bows the back. It’s the classic portrait of a mistreated slave . . . shackles on the feet . . . head hung low . . . hopelessness embodied in their slow, plodding gate. Caged by a cruel master . . . crushed by oppression . . . curved by hard labor . . . that’s the picture in my mind of a slave. But God seeks to set the captive free . . . to rescue from the taskmaster . . . to liberate . . . to straighten the back . . . that those who were once slaves, might walk erect.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.   (Leviticus 26:13 ESV)

Wrapping up Leviticus this morning. God, speaking to Moses on Mt. Sinai, concludes His instructions with some “straight talk” on the blessings associated with obedience and the harsh discipline that will result from disobedience (ch. 26). And as God talks about His purposes in rescuing His people from Egypt, I go into “application mode” . . . ’cause I am, by the grace of God, and through the finished work of Christ, “His people.”

God’s desire is to dwell or “tabernacle” among His people (26:11a). He wants to be in their midst . . . to interact with them . . . to be present among them. He wants to walk with them . . . and to be owned by them . . . and, in turn, declare them to be His precious, holy possession (26:12). He is the LORD God . . . Jehovah . . . the I AM . . . the One who brought them out of Egypt, out of the word, with a mighty hand. And His intent is that they should no longer be slaves to a taskmaster of destruction . . . but that their yoke should be broken . . . that they might stand straight . . . that their heads would be lifted up . . . that they would walk erect.

And I can’t help but reflect on my own rescue. Once a slave of sin. Captive to a mind in subjection to pride . . . in bonds to the taskmaster of the flesh . . . conscripted to serve the ways of this world . . . not even aware of the burden being carried . . . of the hopelessness being embraced . . . thinking that walking with a bowed back was just the natural thing to do. But praise be to my Redeemer . . . to my Rescuer . . . to my God . . . who called me out of darkness into marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). Through His work on the cross, the grip of sin was broken . . . by His resurrection, the taskmaster of death was defeated . . . the totality of the things of earth gave way to the possibility of the things of heaven . . . and God, who desires to tabernacle with His people, moved in. The chains were stripped away . . . my feet were loosed . . . my hands were freed . . . my back straightened . . . my head lifted . . . and by His grace, I can walk erect.

My head raised, not because of who I am, but because of who He declared me to be in Christ . . . because of who He is making me to be through the sanctifying work of the indwelling Spirit . . . because of the hope that is mine and the land that awaits me . . . because, by His grace and power, He has rescued me. My head raised, knowing I am blameless before Him, having had my trespasses forgiven, as the price of redemption has been fully paid. My head raised, because I have been adopted as a child of God through Jesus Christ. My head raised because, according to the riches of His grace, He has given insight to the mystery of His will that, in day soon to come, He will unite all things in Him. My head raised, because I have obtained an inheritance . . . even now there is treasure being laid up . . . a place being prepared. My head raised, because I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that which is now held by faith. My head raised because it is for freedom that Christ has set me free. (Eph.1:3-14, Gal. 5:1)

And so, by His grace, I walk erect. Trading the bonds of sin for the bonds of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18). Pledging allegiance to a new Master . . . one whose yoke is easy, whose burden is light . . . who is gentle and lowly in heart and offers rest for the soul (Matt. 11:29-30). Exchanging the shackles that would trip me up and drag me down for an anchor for the soul . . . tethered to heaven itself . . . a hope that welcomes me into the very Holy of Holies (Heb. 6:19). Fixing my gaze upon the beauty of my Deliverer . . . desiring Him above all things!

Praise God for walking erect! Amen?

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There Is A River!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Pete

It pretty much happen every year. Weather gets warmer, rains seem to increase, and the rivers swell. “Flood watch” gets to be kind of a common term around here at this time of year. I drive over a small river on my way to work. Amazing how quickly it rises . . . and how close it can get to overflowing the berms put up to contain it. I was talking to a guy at work yesterday who said he grew up in a home along the Cedar River . . . “Never again,” he said, “Never again will I live by a river.” He talked of how dirty it was . . . of the anxiety that his parents felt when it started to breach its banks and water filled their yard . . . of the almost annual task of bringing in and placing sandbags to hold back the potentially destructive waters. How different from the river I’m considering this morning . . .

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.   (Psalm 46:4-5 ESV)

In the city of God . . . the place of the Most High’s habitation . . . there is a river. And far from being a threat, . . . instead of over flowing its banks with destructive flooding, . . . this river sends out streams of cheer . . . rivulets that cause rejoicing . . . channels of water that bring gladness . . . river fountains that “splash joy” (MSG).

As I think about, the thought of waters of refreshment is repeatedly associated with the place where God dwells . . . the place where His presence is known.

A Samaritan woman was told that if she would, by faith, receive the water that Jesus offered, that it would become in her “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Jesus also promised to those who thirsted, that if they would come to Him to meet that thirst . . . that if they would believe in Him . . . then out of their hearts would “flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). The source of that river? The abiding presence of God through His Spirit. And, in the heavenly New Jerusalem, where God will dwell, in all His glory, amongst His redeemed, there is “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city” (Rev. 22:1-2). God, in the midst of her, is the source of that river that makes glad the city of God.

There is a river . . . within all, and available to all, who have been made a holy habitation of God . . . whose bodies have been claimed as a temple of God.

There is a river . . . which should flow, even now, within this quieted heart which sits before Word in awe and wonder.

There is a river . . . which should reach flood stage, Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day, when the people of God come together, combining their trickling streams into a grand fountain of worship.

There is a river . . . which, regardless of circumstance, brings gladness and joy . . . refreshing waters that lead to rejoicing and praise . . .

Oh God, by Your grace . . . and for Your glory . . . may the river flow!

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The Food of God

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Pete

Continuing to read through Leviticus . . . and noticed something I don’t think I’ve noticed before. One of those phrases, that because of its repetition, kind of jumps off the page. As I’ve been reading through this third book of Moses I’ve highlighted where the sacrifices offered on the altar are said to be “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” I’m familiar with that idea . . . that, bound within atonement and worship, there is a sweet smell which ascends to heaven and brings delight to the LORD. But this morning, I think I’m being opened to the thought that, also within these sacrifices, is the food of God.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, . . . They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the LORD’’ food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy . . . ” (Leviticus 21:1a, 6 ESV)

” . . . they present the offerings made to the LORD by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy . . . “ (Leviticus 21:6 NIV)

Leviticus 21 and 22 are focused on the importance of the holiness of the priests. Instruction is given, in a number of areas, of how the priest of God is to keep himself clean . . . how he is to live consistently with call of the LORD who has sanctified him and set him apart for privileged service. And because God has also set me apart as a priest, as He has all believers (1Peter 2:5), I try to have “my ears on” for principles that apply to me as well. But what I’ve never noticed is how the offerings made to the LORD on the altar of fire are also referred to as “the bread” of “the food” of God.

From what I can gather, you’ll find this wording, repeated 5 times, only here in Leviticus 21 and 22 . . . that the priest of God is to be set apart to God because he offers the food of God. And, at first it I think it’s referring to the showbread, or the bread of Presence, which is placed just outside the holy of holies in the tent of meeting. But, at least in a couple of instances (21:6, 21:21, 22:25), it clearly refers to the animal sacrifices brought before the LORD. And so it causes me to pause. Why are those sacrifices described as God’s bread or God’s food? I’m familiar with God smelling the sacrifice . . . but in what sense are they God’s food?

Ok . . . so I don’t really know . . . it’s not the main teaching of the passage . . . it’s secondary . . . but is God-breathed . . . and so, it has me thinking. More than just a sweet smelling aroma, atonement and sacrifice are the food of God . . . perhaps that which satisfies Him . . . the atoning blood, for the remission of sins and the opening of the way for fellowship . . . the worship, the fruit of fellowship, as He delights in His people taking advantage of communion to exalt His glory. Again, I really don’t know.

But, I do know that Jesus said He was the true bread of heaven . . . certainly alluding to the bread given us that we might have eternal life. But isn’t He also the once for all sacrifice? . . . and so, in that sense, isn’t He pictured as the bread of God in this Leviticus context? He is he final offering of atonement . . . He is the ultimate freewill offering as He came to do the Father’s will, and His alone . . . and, He is the ultimate worship offering as He offered His very life on the altar of Calvary’s cruel cross. And in Him, God was pleased . . . and God was satisfied.

Again, don’t know what to exactly make of this phrase . . . but do believe it was put on my radar to noodle on. So noodle I will . . .

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Wait For His Deliverance

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Pete

To be honest, it’s kind of a tough psalm to read. Some psalms can make the heart soar, this one kind of makes your stomach churn. It is a cry for help . . . a desperate plea for God to act on Israel’s behalf. Now, there are other psalms where David cries out for God’s presence to return . . . where he pleads with God to intervene on behalf of His people . . . but often those are clearly linked to some transgression of Israel . . . there’s a reason for what’s happening which David remedies with confession and casts himself upon God’s mercy and grace. But here, in Psalm 44, God is silent, not because of any transgression David is aware of, . . . but just because.

David comes before the Lord acknowledging the power of God to fulfill His promises to His people. It was God who drove out the nations and planted His people in the land He had promised them . . . it was He who afflicted the inhabitants of Canaan in order to set free, in the land, the people of His deliverance (v.2). And it was HIS deliverance. David knows that it wasn’t by his ancestor’s military might that they had taken the land, but it was by God’s own right hand . . . it was because the light of God’s face shone upon them . . . it was because He delighted in them (v.3). He is the God who ordained Jacob’s salvation. David would not trust in his bow . . . he would not look to his sword to save him (v.6) . . . instead, “In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah” (v.8).

But now, the wheel’s are coming off. David and his army are getting creamed . . . they feel like “sheep for slaughter” (v.11). David says their souls are “bowed down to the dust” . . . that their bellies “cling to the ground” (v.25). They are getting wasted . . . their spirits are getting crushed . . . and all they get from heaven is silence. Where’s God? The King of their salvation seems to have gone AWOL . . . “You have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies” (v.9).

And it’s one thing, if this had come on the heels of some failure upon David’s part . . . it might be understandable if the people had forsaken God, in some manner. But, as far as David knows, that’s not the case, “All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten You, and we have not been false to Your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from Your way” (vv. 17-18). No, from where David is sitting, God’s people are being attacked by God’s enemies simply because they are God’s people . . . they are being martyred for the cause . . . “Yet for Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (v. 22) . . . and God is nowhere to be found. And so, in desperation, David cries out to a silent heaven,

Awake! Why are You sleeping, O Lord? Rouse Yourself! Do not reject us forever! Why do you hide Your face? Why do You forget our affliction and oppression? Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love!  
(Psalm 44:23,24,26 ESV)

Like I said, kind of tough to read. No apparent “cause and effect” for the drubbing the Israelites are taking. Nothing that can be identified as to why God has seemingly withdrawn from the conflict, allowing David and his army to the objects of their enemies taunts, derision, and scorn (v.13). The God who has promised to never leave them or forsake them is seemingly nowhere to be found. And it’s not like the psalm resolves itself and concludes with a happy ending or even an obvious lesson to be learned . . . at least not here. Paul provides some New Testament commentary as he quotes 44:22 . . .

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”   (Romans 8:35-37  ESV)

In the battle? . . . taking a licking? . . . not quite sure where the Lord is in all of it . . . call out to the Redeemer. Know that ultimately the battle is His . . . and with Him lies the battle plan. Know that when heaven is seemingly silent it is not because we have been separated from the love of Christ. Know that even at it’s worst we have been declared more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Know that it’s not the time to give up . . . but to hold on . . . and to cry out . . . and wait for His deliverance.

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Avoiding A Tragedy

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Pete

It’s shocking! Absolutely unexpected! No one saw it coming! It reminds me of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in ’86 when it broke apart 73 seconds after it launched. Weeks and months of prep . . . anticipation building for the excitement of “T minus 0” . . . a seemingly perfect launch . . . and then . . . tragedy! True of the Challenger . . . true of the start-up of worship in the tabernacle . . . there may be a lesson in this morning’s reading on avoiding a tragedy.

Reading Leviticus 8 through 10 this morning. And I imagine there’s a certain excitement in the air. The tabernacle is built . . . the priestly garments are fashioned . . . instructions for the offerings have been given . . . time to get at ‘er! Time to offer sacrifices . . . sacrifices of atonement . . . sacrifices of communion and fellowship . . . sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and worship . . . sacrifices to arise to God as “sweet smelling savors” (NKJV), as “pleasing aromas” (ESV).

And so Moses, under the direction of the LORD, consecrates Aaron and his sons for the work of the priesthood. Love that word “consecrate” . . . we don’t use it enough today. Moses “set apart as sacred” Aaron and his sons . . . those who ministered before the Holy One of heaven, were to be holy. And so, with great care, they are dressed in their priestly garments, sacrifices of atonement and sanctification are offered for these rookie priests . . . the blood applied upon their garments and upon their bodies . . . consecrated for the work of the Lord . . . “T minus 10, and counting . . . ”

After 7 days of preparation, on the eighth day, time to launch tabernacle worship. Aaron & Sons are to first bring offerings for themselves and then bring a sin offering, a burnt offering, a peace offering, and a grain offering for the people . . . for, they are told, “the LORD will appear to you . . . that the glory of the LORD may appear to you” (Lev. 9:1-10) Can you imagine the excitement? To this point, only Moses had been permitted to get so up close and personal . . . now, this called and set apart priesthood would also know the privilege of mediating between the God of Abraham and these children of Abraham. And I’m thinking you can just feel the anticipation in the air as “all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord” (9:5). “T minus 0 . . . we have launch!”

And these newly commissioned priests of the living God start offering the sacrifices . . . just as the LORD had commanded. The sin offerings of atonement . . . the burnt offerings of worship . . . the peace offering of fellowship (9:8-21). And, as the old saying goes, “Then, the glory came down!” . . . “the glory of the LORD appeared to the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces” (9:23b-24). Oh glorious day! What wonder! What awe! And then . . . before moving to the final offering, the grain offering, that offering which punctuates the other offerings with a sweet smelling aroma . . . then, the wheels come off . . . crash and burn . . . tragedy!

We can only speculate what was going through the minds of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, when they decided to “wing it.” What led them to improvise is a bit of a mystery. Was it arrogance? . . . Were they simply caught up in the moment? . . . Could they have been drinking the night before and the morning of (see Lev. 10:8-9)? Don’t know for sure. What I do know is that these boys’ “unauthorized fire before the LORD” (10:1) was a big deal . . . and cost them their lives. How come?

This is what the LORD has said, “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” (Leviticus 10:3 ESV)

And I can’t help but reflect on my connection with Aaron & Co. . . . that I too have been called out and separated for service to my God . . . that, with all God’s redeemed, I am “being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). Mine is to minister before God, to offer spiritual sacrifices . . . my worship . . . my service . . . my life . . . in such way that “before all the people He will be glorified.”

My God is holy, holy, holy . . . Father, by your grace, keep me from offering “unauthorized fire” . . . keep me from crashing and burning and lessening the greatness of Your Name . . . use me so that people might behold Your glory and know Your presence . . .

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Twisted

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Pete

How often does it happen? One moment . . . day . . . week . . . month . . . you’re flying high, enjoying a mountaintop experience and the next moment . . . day . . . week . . . month . . . BAM!!! . . . you’re in the dumps, looking up from the valley floor. That’s kind of the Matthew 17 scenario. One moment the disciples are on the mount with Jesus beholding His transfigured glory . . . and the next, they’re staring at the fire scarred image of a boy who has suffered uncontrollable seizures at the hands of a demon. They go from the mountaintop of possibility as they watch Jesus conferring with Moses and Elijah to the valley floor of frustration and futility as the other disciples simply can’t deal with and dispense of this demon. And what causes me to pause is Jesus’ rebuke of those gathered around this desperate father and his equally desperate son . . .

And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Him and, kneeling before Him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”   (Matthew 17:14-17 ESV)

Now some think Jesus was rebuking His powerless disciples . . . others think He may have had the religious leaders in the crowd in mind . . . and others think Jesus was speaking to the crowd at large. Regardless of who Jesus was specifically addressing, it’s the term “faithless and twisted generation” that’s got me thinking.

The NASB, NIV, and NKJV translate it as “unbelieving” and “perverse” or “perverted” generation. The word for “twisted” or “perverse” has the idea of “turned away” or “distorted” or “corrupted”. And while, at first, Jesus’ rebuke came across to me as perhaps a little bit harsh (regardless of the audience), I’m thinking it’s simply a statement of fact . . . that where there is no faith, there will be twisted thinking. That, absent believing, the void will be filled with corrupted conclusions. Take away the walk of faith, and all you have left is to be turned away by the “wisdom” of men. All that’s left to the faithless is a twisted view of reality.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  (Romans 1:21 ESV)

And there’s a warning here for me. Sure, through the faith I’ve already exercised (and that being a gift of God, lest any man should boast) in the finished work of Christ on the cross, I’ve been called out of darkness into marvelous light and become part of a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession.” But that’s just the beginning. There’s a few miles for this sojourner to log before he’s home . . . a life to be lived which is worthy of the calling of Christ. And, in order to do so, the just shall live by faith (Heb. 10:38) . . . for we walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7) . . . and without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

So, if I instead “lean to my own understanding” and, through a spirit of unbelief, do not “trust in the Lord with all my heart”, then I shouldn’t be surprised if things get a bit twisted along the way . . . if my thinking gets a bit turned around . . . if my walk gets a bit corrupted.

Oh, how I need to cry out, as did this boy’s desperate father, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

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The Fat Belongs to the Lord

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Pete

Ok . . . so as I’ve mentioned before, when I’m reading in the morning I’m on the watch for observations on a variety of topics . . . which, when found are either underlined or shaded with a certain colored pencil. One of those areas that I try and keep my eyes open for, unsurprisingly, are observations about God. This morning, I noticed something I had not noticed before . . . saw something concerning God which I had never articulated before . . . underlined something in blue in Leviticus that I had never underlined before. Get this, “All fat is the LORD’s.”

If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, . . . And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD’s. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.   (Leviticus 3:1-3, 16-17 ESV)

While I am in no way any where near an expert in the finer points of all that’s encompassed in the teaching on the sacrifices in Leviticus, I know enough that they contain types and shadows . . . hidden truths concerning the things of God, man, sin, and atonement. The peace offering, apparently, is just that, an offering to God which celebrates the peace, or fellowship, the offerer enjoys with the LORD. It’s the only offering where, the offerer partakes of the sacrifice, where he takes home a portion of it and eats it with his family (Lev. 7:15-21), and thus symbolizes the communion enjoyed with God because of the other atoning sacrifices. But in that partaking he is not to eat either the fat nor the blood (3:17).

Now I get the part about the blood . . . that goes back to the Genesis 9:4 . . . the life is in the blood . . . in terms of the sacrifice, the blood was to be poured out . . . the life of another was to be poured out for another . . . “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22). Therefore, no eating of the blood.

But the fat . . . when it came to the peace offering . . . this sacrifice recognizing the blessing of communion with God . . . this sacrifice where the offerer is allowed to partake in the offering . . . in this case, “you shall eat not fat . . . all fat is the LORD’s”. How come? Beyond the very practical health advantage of regulating fat intake, what’s the symbolic meaning? What’s the shadow? Why no fat? Why’s that the Lord’s portion only?

When Pharaoh invites Joseph to bring his family down to Egypt from Canaan, he tells Joseph to tell his brothers, “Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land” (Gen. 45:18). The best of the land is referred to as the fat of the land . . . we use the phrase even today. So, the fat was the very best part of the animal, and thus the best was not to be kept for the offerer but was to be given as the offering . . . given to Him who alone is worthy to be honored with the best . . . the LORD.

All fat is the LORD’s. He is to be honored with the best.

The finished work of Christ is seen in the peace offering . . . He is our peace (Eph. 2:14) . . . He has made peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20) . . . He has preached peace to those who were far off and to those who were near (Eph. 2:17). And for those who have, by faith in the finished work of Christ, been brought into privileged communion with the Holy, Holy, Holy God of heaven . . . doesn’t He deserve the fat . . . is He not worthy of the best we have to offer? Whether it’s my worship, my praise, my goods, my life . . . the fat belongs to the Lord.

Oh, that by His grace, and for His glory, I might seek to give Him the best . . .

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A No Name for The Name

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Pete

This morning, in my readings, I was struck by how quickly Peter crashes and burns. One moment he is called blessed by Jesus because of the illumination and revelation provided him by the Father . . . and the next he comes up with one of his “Not so, Lord” declarations and Jesus says to him, “Get thee behind me Satan.” And when I read that I thought I might journal on how important it is to set our minds on the things of God, and not the things of man (Matt. 16:13-23). But, before getting into it, I went back and re-read some previous years journal entries attached to this part of my reading plan. And my entry from Feb. 13, 2008 grabbed me . . . and derailed me . . . and encouraged me . . . so here it is . . . recycled . . .

So, I’m smilin’ . . . ’cause this morning the Lord allowed a special blessing . . . in a sense He taught me Hebrew without me even knowing it. So, here’s the deal . . .

One of my readings this morning was the last three chapters of Exodus, 38 to 40. It’s the second set of readings on the construction of all the pieces of the tabernacle. So, to be honest, not the most riveting reading . . . I often find myself drifting when reading this sort of detail. But I’m reading and I pick up on this phrase, “he made . . . he made . . . he made . . .” talking about the guy who was the master builder of most of the tabernacle. He made the altar . . . he made all the utensils . . . then he made the court.

And I realize that I don’t know who “he” is . . . even though I’ve come across his name a couple of times. And I think, “Isn’t that weird?” Of all the things that I know about the tabernacle, I don’t know the name of the guy who built it. I’ve got a replica of the major pieces of the tabernacle sitting on a shelf in my living room . . . but I can’t tell you who the builder was. Even though I’ve been reading about his works for the last two mornings . . . I couldn’t pick his name out of a multiple choice list of names.

And it occurs to me that it’s because the tabernacle is not about who built it but about Who architected it. It’s not about how it was made but about Whose glory descended upon it. It’s not about the beauty of the craftsmanship but the wonder of the story it tells of redemption and atonement and entering the Most Holy Place into the presence of God. And so I’m thinking that whoever this builder is, he is absolutely overshadowed by God.

But then I come across his name . . . and this is where it kind of gets interesting. Exodus 38:22 says that “Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD had commanded Moses.” Now this isn’t the first time I’ve come across Bezalel’s name (Ex. 31:2, 35:30, 36:1, 36:2, 37:1), just the first time I’m taking note of it. So I say to myself, “Self, I wonder what this guy’s name means.” And I look it up and it says “in the shadow of God.” Ya’ think!?! I had already come to that conclusion . . . and then I find out that’s exactly what his name means . . . and I’m thinking this is so neat.
This guy . . . a great artisan . . . a fine craftsman . . . builder of the awesome tabernacle in the wilderness . . . and almost no one knows his name . . . ’cause he is in the shadow of God. He did a great work . . . but it pointed to an even greater God. It was an amazing structure . . . but housed an awesome glory. And I can’t help but think that he has quite the legacy . . . no one knows his name . . . oh, but so many have learned so much about his God through his work. Wasn’t that John the Baptist’s goal — “He must increase, I must decrease.” (John 3:30) John also knew what it was to be in the shadow of God.

Wouldn’t that be a great life’s mission statement — “To be in the shadow of God . . . my name being forgotten, His name being exalted . . . my efforts remembered only to the degree that they are to the praise of His glory . . . to be a no name for the sake of that Name which is above all names.”

Bezalel. Amen!

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Fret Not

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Pete

For many of us, when we think Psalm 37, we think five wonderful commands to obey. Somewhere along the way, someone has either pointed out to us, or we’ve discovered ourselves, that Psalm 37 contains five encouraging exhortations as it pertains to pursuing the Lord. “Trust in the LORD” (v.3) . . . “Delight yourself in the LORD” (v.4) . . . “Commit your way to the LORD” (v.5) . . . “Be still before the LORD” (v.7) . . . “Wait for the LORD” (v.34). Amen and Amen! But this morning it was a different command within this Psalm that caught my attention . . . a warning repeated three times . . .

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! . . . fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! . . . Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:1, 7b, 8 ESV)

Fret not yourself . . . avoid getting choked . . . don’t blow a gasket . . . literally, do not “heat up with vexation.” The object that can fuel such flames of indignation? . . . evildoers who prosper in their ways. David, who found himself in his fair share of unjust situations, pens some sage wisdom when it comes to getting fixated on those who do the wrong stuff in the wrong way for the wrong reasons and yet, seem to reap the right results. Here David is trying to do the Lord’s will in the Lord’s way and things just aren’t going according to plan . . . yet he looks over the fence at the yard of the wicked and there sits the RV and the boat and that dude is sipping his lemonade by the pool and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. It’s enough to set a slow boil a going . . . a “righteous wrath” to start brewing . . . you see red . . . and eventually, you’re fixated on the ways of darkness rather than pursuing the paths of light.

It’s in this context, that David encourages the weary pilgrim, who’s been struggling to remain faithful to the Narrow Way, to avert his eyes from those who appear to be on Easy Street, and instead focus on the One who has called them to the journey. It’s in this contradiction of sin apparently paying off better than righteousness, that the Psalmist reminds those with ears to hear that “in just a little while, the wicked will be no more . . . but the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (37:11). For those who maintain a cool head, those who avoiding being consumed with a rage which can only lead itself to evil, there is the reminder that “the steps of a man are established by the LORD” and “He will not forsake His saints” (37:23, 28).

So easy to get myself tied up in knots with what’s happening around me. So easy to be distracted. So easy to waste resources on focusing on that which bears no fruit. Instead, avoiding heated vexation, there is capacity to look up rather than look around . . . to meditate on the promise rather than be manic about the paradox . . . to remember the LORD’s thoughts to me rather than fixate on the wicked’s thoughts of himself . . . to know afresh, and believe anew, that “better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (37:16).

And when I obey this command . . . to fret not . . . then I can focus on the others. To trust in the Lord . . . for He is faithful and His promises are sure. To delight myself in the Lord . . . knowing that as a father loves to give his children, so too, my Heavenly Father will, in His time and for His purposes, give me the desires of my heart. To commit my way to the Lord . . . resting in that He has established my steps and know the plans He has for me. To be still before the Lord . . . to wait patiently . . . to know, in the quietness, that He is God . . . and He is good. And finally, to wait for the Lord . . . knowing that in Him, all His promises are yes . . . and that the day will come when “he will exalt you to inherit the land” (37:34b).

Fret not, weary pilgrim. But focus . . . focus on the LORD . . . for “the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble” (37:39).

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