Week 16 Reflection and Summary
What a week of cleansing, trust and grace! We worked through the laws of leprosy and atonement in Leviticus, wrestled with envy and found a "but God" in the Psalms, and watched the early church grow through hardship, disagreement and the Spirit's leading. If you've fallen behind, the weekend is your chance to catch up. And if you're on track, take a moment to thank God for the privilege of spending time in His Word this week.
Old Testament: Leviticus 13-17
Leviticus keeps showing us how seriously God takes sin, which spreads and separates like leprosy, and how graciously He makes a way back for His people. From the cleansing of the healed leper to the Day of Atonement and the sacredness of blood, the big idea is that God Himself provides the way to be made clean. Every ritual points forward to Jesus, our healer and our once-for-all sacrifice.
Reflection question: Is there any sin you've been treating lightly that you need to bring to Jesus for cleansing today?
Poetry: Psalms 72-76
This week's Psalms took us from a King who points to Jesus, through Asaph's struggle with envy, to the "but God" of Psalm 74, the reminder that God alone is Judge, and praise for the God who brings victory. The big idea is that God is worth trusting in every circumstance - when we are tempted to envy, when things fall apart, and when we wonder who is really in charge.
Reflection question: What is your "but God" today, the truth you need to hold onto in a difficult season?
New Testament: Acts 14:1-16:15
Paul and Barnabas pointed the crowds to the living God, reminded the believers that hardship comes before the kingdom, and stood firm as the church declared that we are saved by grace. We then saw a sad disagreement between two godly men, and the Spirit guiding the team towards Lydia's open home. The big idea is that God's mission moves forward by grace, through hardship, and under the Spirit's guidance - even through imperfect people.
Reflection question: When others praise you or thank you, how can you point them to God instead?
A Prayer for the Weekend
🙏 Lord, thank You for this week in Your Word. You cleanse us, You are the strength of our hearts, and You are saved us by Your grace alone. Help us to trust You in every season, to endure hardship with hope, and to follow Your Spirit's leading wherever He sends us. Amen.
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