Week 14 Friday
Today we see that sinning against others is sinning against God in Leviticus, are reminded to take the good news to the ends of the earth in Psalm 67, and watch the gospel break through to the Gentiles as the Spirit falls on Cornelius' household.
Leviticus 6
📖 What are we reading? More on the trespass offering, and then a new section giving the priests their own instructions for the five offering types we've read this week.
✞ What does this passage say about God? Sinning against another person is seen as sinning against God Himself - He takes our treatment of one another that seriously.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? We're reminded that our offerings to God, and our dealings with others, are never separate matters in His eyes.
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➡️ The bigger picture: Leviticus was revealed to Moses in the wilderness, soon after the tabernacle's completion, and no other book in the Bible contains as much direct speech from God. Its theme is holiness - showing Israel, and us, how a holy God can dwell among His people.
Psalm 67
📖 What are we reading? A short psalm of blessing and praise, asking that God's ways be known on earth and His salvation among all nations.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He desires all peoples to praise Him - His blessing was never meant to stop with Israel.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? Verse 7 reminds us to take the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Perhaps today we can give thanks for the faithful missionaries who live out this calling.
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♫ I am reminded of this lovely upbeat modern praise song, which is based on this Psalm.
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
Acts 10:24-48
📖 What are we reading? Peter preaches Christ to Cornelius' household, and the Holy Spirit falls on these Gentile believers - to the astonishment of the Jewish believers with him.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He does not show favouritism, and He is the one appointed to judge the living and the dead (verse 42).
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? We should hold no favouritism ourselves, and be ready for the gospel to break into places we never expected it to go.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's second book outlines the ministry of the early church - though it could just as well be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit, as He guides and grows Jesus' small movement into something that changes the world.
📝 A devotion exploring Jesus as "the one who judges", according to Acts 10:42.
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You that Your holiness governs how we treat one another, and that Your salvation was always meant for all nations. Help us to carry the good news to the ends of the earth, and to show no favouritism as You have shown none to us. Amen.
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