Pick - Swords or Grace?
I’ve been studying on the topic of “priests.” Tonight’s sermon was going to be on the priesthood. I will still deliver it next week – family day.
But when I was reading, I came upon this Scripture that really stuck with me. The context – Moses is on Mt. Sinai with God. He’s been up there for a while. The “recently released from slavery” people of Israel get tired of waiting on Moses (and God) and had Aaron make a golden calf. You know the rest….they worshipped a “thing” that couldn’t hear, see, smell, touch, etc…
Moses is alerted by God and gets back to the camp…
Exodus 32:25 - When Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control--and much to the amusement of their enemies-- he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, "All of you who are on the LORD's side, come over here and join me." And all the Levites came. He told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Strap on your swords! Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, killing even your brothers, friends, and neighbors." The Levites obeyed Moses, and about three thousand people died that day. Then Moses told the Levites, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Because of this, he will now give you a great blessing."
Isn’t it a good thing that God doesn’t deal with us like that today? If so, we might have to constantly “watch our backs” to make sure some servant of God wasn’t coming to strike us down when we weren’t serving God to our full potential. That is living under fear!
Aren’t you glad we are living under God’s grace…. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin and brings us to a right relationship with the Father. But, there is this warning…
Hebrews 10:28-29 - Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.
This week, as you go about working, eating, sleeping; doing the “common” things – remember the LORD – who should be worshipped “uncommonly.” What can you do “uncommonly” for Jesus this week?
But when I was reading, I came upon this Scripture that really stuck with me. The context – Moses is on Mt. Sinai with God. He’s been up there for a while. The “recently released from slavery” people of Israel get tired of waiting on Moses (and God) and had Aaron make a golden calf. You know the rest….they worshipped a “thing” that couldn’t hear, see, smell, touch, etc…
Moses is alerted by God and gets back to the camp…
Exodus 32:25 - When Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control--and much to the amusement of their enemies-- he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, "All of you who are on the LORD's side, come over here and join me." And all the Levites came. He told them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Strap on your swords! Go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other, killing even your brothers, friends, and neighbors." The Levites obeyed Moses, and about three thousand people died that day. Then Moses told the Levites, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Because of this, he will now give you a great blessing."
Isn’t it a good thing that God doesn’t deal with us like that today? If so, we might have to constantly “watch our backs” to make sure some servant of God wasn’t coming to strike us down when we weren’t serving God to our full potential. That is living under fear!
Aren’t you glad we are living under God’s grace…. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin and brings us to a right relationship with the Father. But, there is this warning…
Hebrews 10:28-29 - Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.
This week, as you go about working, eating, sleeping; doing the “common” things – remember the LORD – who should be worshipped “uncommonly.” What can you do “uncommonly” for Jesus this week?
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