Aptiva

We live in a better age, Dear Reader. Before the coming of the Christ child, the law that had been given was set to allow restoration between those who had sinned unintentionally and God. "Then the  Lord  said to Moses,   2  “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. This is how you are to deal with those who sin unintentionally by doing anything that violates one of the  Lord ’s commands."- Lev 4:1 When a person realised they had transgressed, a set way of restoration was open to them. Depending on their position and financial ability a certain sacrifice was to be made. This achieved a few things. It was public, thus admitting to "a sin" within the community, even if all members were not aware of the specifics. If they realised their sin had caused financial hardship they were to offer a guilt offering and repay the damage done, plus reperations. This allowed those who acted against God and people, but later felt remorse and guilt to set t...

God is very detailed about the garments that the High priest and the other Priests were to wear. During the ministry of the Priests, many were men of integrity who discharged the duty and calling of the office with faithfulness and discernment. Others were not. Eli's sons are mentioned for their lack of integrity. All wore the same clothing. Do the garments make the priest, or does the priest make the garments? Jesus never wore any priestly garments. Was Jesus therefore not a priest because he failed to put on the robes! The Bible describes Jesus as our great high priest, in the order of Melchizedek (who also never wore the garments) The office is made by the man not the man by the office. Jesus life is what a priest should be regardless of clothing or title. In Jesus life, he often highlighted the mistake of people in attributing more worth to visible aspects than internal human characteristics of obedience to God. He called out the Pharisees when they para...

God tells us in his word Ex 34:7a I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. [ c ]      I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. In these words, a view of God's character is seen. He wants to forgive, he is, in fact, willing to forgive, but he doesn't JUST forgive. We need to understand that forgiveness costs. It costs someone, somewhere Justice must be maintained, and thus to forgive, someone somewhere needs to bear the brunt of the justice not delivered on the person forgiven. This is God. He chooses to maintain justice by applying it to himself. Every sin forgiven is an act of God to accept the consequences of the punishment for that sin. God's sacrifice is sufficient to deal with all of humanities sins, but it's application it only applied to those who repent. This is the effective action of God, we see this revealed in the person of Jesus and carried out on the cross on which he died. Now he w...

God instructs his people to allow for a year where the ground is not worked but left to rest. “Plant and harvest your crops for six years,   11  but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.-Ex 23:10 It's a big ask!  Plan to save enough in the first six years to allow you to have enough to get through the seventh year with no crops.  The lessons could be.  The land will be rested, and therefore the crops from the following six years will be more bountiful than if rest had not taken place. It is a practical demonstration of trust upon the word of God. Trust that your neighbours will help you during your fallow year, and help them during theirs! See beyond just the immediate, plan ahead We can imagine many others lessons which may be learned by those who ...