58 - "Distance From God" Leviticus 8-10; Mark 6:30-56

#58 Look before us at your very steps. May we be found waiting and watching. Distance from God is our most lethal problem in life. 

The Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai to tell the Israelites that they needed to bring their "oblations" to God in the wilderness.  Don't wait until you get to the Promised Land.  The wilderness.  So what am I waiting for---things to get better?  This offering is no small thing here. If we love Him, the offerings of our life will pour out. Leviticus 9:36. "Solemn acts of religious worship are not things which we may do or not do at our pleasure; it is at our peril if we omit them." Matthew Henry.

Gratitude and gifts to God are not boxes to be checked off.  There's something wrong inside of us if it doesn't flow.  And 66LL talks about what is at the root of why we don't offer ourselves, our day, our family, our ministries to God.  We are blind to see what the most lethal problem really is.  Why are we so lethargic in our disciplines?  Crabb says:  "Distance from God" is responsible for every problem we have.  He talks about how we assume that we are doing just fine while we run off trying to make our lives work. 

I know what it feels like to be stiffarmed.  What about the distance I've created because I don't think God is fair, or kind, or generous?  What will I do about distance from God if I recognize it?

The Lord said to Moses, Bring Aaron and his sons and gather the entire assembly to commission Aaron as a priest.  Lev 8:2. Wash and dress them: Tunics. Sashes. Robed. Ephods. Breastpieces. Turbans. Gold Plated. Anointing Oil.  What a sight to see!  Spellbound by the ceremonial honor.  Should be that way but it's not what we've seen here on earth. All we can do is deal with our own stuff.  May you be found waiting in wonder, and leading your families for the favor of our God. 

The occasion of sin is great in all our lives. Therefore, all these offerings. But today, it's our very lives. "Fear always, and pray always, that we may be kept from sin. Also we should look before us at every step. The true Christian daily pleads guilty before God." M. Henry. No more burnt offerings. We are alive in him and He dwells within. Adore Him!

Mark 6:52 shouts out that they didn't "gain any insight" even though they heard Jesus speak face-to-face . . feed 5,000 from a mere five loaves and two fish . . . walk on water . . . drive out demons . . . raise the dead . . . and . . . yet, they did not gain any insight from the incidents they witnessed. 

O God, may we be in awe-filled insight from what we know.  May we be changed by the power of your Holy Spirit.  

PHOTO:  The little ones at church. May we all treat the Sabbath as holy. May we be changed by what we know. #adore #read #listen #study #worship