Leviticus=Jumping Jacks

In the library tonight doing some homework. There's a guy a few cubicles over doing jumping-jacks. Yes, seminary can make you do some strange things. Actually jumping-jacks sound like a pretty good idea right now after just finishing a brutal assignment on Leviticus. Here's a little of what I learned...

Leviticus is a book on holiness. God is holy and He expects His people to be holy (19:1). God goes to great lengths explaining types of sacrifices acceptable for worship, laws for living healthy lives, and sacred days and celebrations. Admittedly, it's a tough book to get through. But, like all of the Bible, there are hidden treasures. The treasure that I had the privilege of discovering is a better understanding of God's holiness. He is infinitely holy!

As a side note, I think it's a shame how some churches teach only the New Testament. You cannot fully understand God's nature without looking at the Old Testament. Many people have difficulty connecting the character of God between the OT and NT. But rest-assured, it is absolutely the one true God throughout. Most people who say that His character is inconsistent between the two usually choose not to study the OT. That's a mistake. My professor likes to say, "If you don't see Christ in the OT, you're not reading it Christianly."

Yes it's true. Leviticus will make you want to do jumping-jacks in the library. But it is so worthwhile to gives us greater depth to God's character. Christians, the more we know about our God, the more our lifestyles will reflect His glory. We can't help being forever changed when we learn of His awe and wonder.

Now, time for some jumping-jacks!

GrantJ

What are you posting on FB?

"I love Rocky Road ice cream"
"Going to see Avatar"
"Sitting behind a guy with a really shiny bald spot"

These are the sort of comments I see on Facebook. Come on, Christians! Facebook is an amazing tool at our fingertips. Like all the other forms of social media out there they are tools. A tool can be used for good or bad. As Christians we should be using these tools as leverage to further His Kingdom. Let's face it, the Enemy's certainly using it. Lift your eternal voice by posting edifying, encouraging, and God glorifying messages for a change, not what you ate for breakfast. :)

GrantJ

Longing

Ever have those moments when you just want to go to your heavenly home and be with Him? I don't mean in a morbid sense that I want to die. I mean there are those times when my heart hungers for an insatiable desire that simply cannot be fulfilled here on earth. Admittedly there are days when I am distracted by the lures of this world. But lately, I'm finding that most of my days I'm longing for so much more. I don't know what my heart is longing for, but I'm confident the Spirit does. Romans 8:26 says, "the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Indescribable, inaudible groans that cry out, "Lord, come soon."

Not surprisingly most of the world does not hold this view. They want the party to continue. One of my profs recently said, "For those without Christ the world is a playground. For Christians it's a battleground." Ah-ha! No wonder my soul longs to get outta here! In the meantime, we can't fault those without Christ for trying to squeeze every once of pleasure out of this world. It's all they've got. "This world is the only bit of heaven non-believers will experience...while the only bit of hell believers will experience."

Father, our roles here on earth are much different from those who don't know You. Although often weary and longing to come home we know there is much work to be done. Remind us in our longings of those who are lost. Charge our souls to have a concern for them.

GrantJ