Leviticus 12:8 “‘But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'”

HE MEETS US WHERE WE ARE

 This may seem trivial to you today.  This chapter deals with the purification of a woman after childbirth.  The sacrifice was different depending on whether she had a son or a daughter.  But the part that hit me was the concession the Lord made if she could not afford a lamb to sacrifice.  He allowed two birds which would have been much cheaper.

Now the “cheaper” sacrifice didn’t make the sacrifice cheap.  It just made it more affordable.  God isn’t interested so much in the cost of our sacrifice as He is in the heart of our sacrifice.  The woman with less could still give the sacrifice that was appropriate.  God always accepts us right where we are.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children love to give to others, at least most do. Sometimes they want to give much more than they are able.  That’s okay, but we need to steer them toward giving according to their means.  Giving more than they can afford could become a burden and lead to resentment.  We certainly don’t want that.

We should teach them to give to the Lord in the same way.  There may be a time, though, when the Lord asks them to give sacrificially.  He may ask them to give up something for Him. That brings a whole other kind of reaction.  That can truly be joyous.  Just teach them to give.

What has the Lord asked you to give today?  Is there something He has asked you to sacrifice? Can you do it?  Give it to the Lord.  Just give.  He can take your gift and multiply it.  Give as He would have you give, not how you want to.  Giving is a privilege.  Enjoy it.

Lord, thank You for allowing me to give.  Thank You for blessing me with the ability to give.  Let me be that role model of giving for my children.

Leviticus 6:18b “‘Whoever touches them will become consecrated.’”

A HOLY TOUCH

The Lord said over and over that whomever touched the offerings would be holy or consecrated (set apart).  Just touching the offering would cause this.  Not eating it!  Not the act of performing the offering.  Just touching it.  Hmmmm, how is that possible?

It was possible because it belonged to the Lord. The moment that offering was presented to the Lord, it became His and whatever is His is holy.  Another hmmmm moment – as a believer, you are His. Therefore, YOU are holy.  Isn’t that incredible?

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to learn that, once they become believers, they are holy.  Now, you are going to have to explain that to them.  They see “holy” as something beyond their reach.  They may see God as holy or even the Pastor as holy, but not themselves.  But they are!

As parents, our job is to present our children to the Lord.  We are virtually “offering” our children to the Lord.  Once He touches them (through salvation) they become holy, as He is. Then our job is do all we can to keep them that way through prayer, the Word and giving them the example to follow.

Have you been touched?  Have you been made holy?  Then live like it.  Live holy. Speak holy.  It’s not that hard – if you let the Lord do it.  He will be “your holy.”  He will live holy through you. He will speak holy through you.

Holy Father, touch me today and make me holy.  I long to live in holiness.  I want others to see Your holiness in me.

Luke 3:21-22 “21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’”

 JUST OBEY

I love to baptize believers.  There is something joyous about lying them back in the waters and seeing the smile begin to erupt on their faces as they are coming up out of the waters.  It’s almost as if they are hearing God say, “You are My beloved child, in you I am well-pleased.”

Now, I have yet to see a dove come down on anyone I have baptized.  That would be cool though.  But I know the Holy Spirit is there because, as believers, He is dwelling in them as I baptize them.  So, all the elements of Christ’s baptism are there – people watching (public baptism), waters to immerse, the Holy Spirit and the Father’s pleasure.

TEACHING MOMENT

The next time your children get to see a baptism at church read them this passage. Talk about how Christ was obedient to the Father and gave us the example to follow.  Jesus did NOT need baptism to save Him.  He was the Savior.  He was obeying His Father in heaven and as a result, the Father showed His pleasure.

Perhaps your child is contemplating getting baptized.  They have asked Christ into their heart and are ready for that step of obedience.  Encourage that.  Have them talk with your Pastor.  But encourage that.  Don’t think they need to wait until they are older.  Let them hear those words “I am well pleased” from the Father.

How about you?  Have you followed the Lord in baptism?  If not, let me encourage you today to get that done.  The joy you will receive from the Lord for obeying Him in this will far outweigh any fear you feel in getting up in front of others.  Trust Him and He will whisper to you too, “You are My beloved child, in you I am well-pleased.”

Father God, I did not see a dove descend from heaven when I was baptized, but I still remember the day.  Thank You for blessing me.  Thank You for allowing me to be obedient.

Leviticus 4:1-3 “1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, “If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, 3 if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.”’” 

NO MORE OFFERINGS

Can you just picture the blood?  Sacrifice after sacrifice was being presented.  Blood was poured and sprinkled.  Priests were steadily busy butchering and cutting the sacrifices.  It must have been tiresome.  It must have been messy.  They would have stayed busy enough with just my sacrifices for my sins.  I can’t imagine doing that for an entire nation.

Thanks be to God we don’t have that system anymore.  One sacrifice, Jesus Christ, paid the price for all our sins for all times.  We just have to accept it.  Only one slain lamb was necessary.  Only one divine drop of blood was needed.  No more sacrifices.  No more offerings of blood on an altar.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do some math with your children.  Google it.  I bet you can find some numbers to discuss with your child about the amount of blood that was spilled on the altar.  One bull would average about 6 gallons of blood.  Hold up a gallon jug.  Imagine six of those full of blood being poured out on the table.  Now imagine hundreds of those a day.

Now for the good part.  Tell them how Jesus’ blood was so perfect and pure that it satisfied all of God’s requirements for sacrifices.  His shed blood on the cross, even though it did not come close to the amount of blood on the altar, was just enough for everyone’s sins to be forgiven. Hold up a teaspoon and compare it to the gallon jug.  This is not a scientific comparison (lol), but they will get the picture.  His blood was powerful.

Have you recognized the power of His blood in your life? His blood was shed for you.  As a believer, we have forgiveness for ALL our sins through the powerful blood of Jesus.  Will you walk in forgiveness today?

O God, Your one time sacrifice for me is overwhelming.  I thank You for giving Your Son to shed His blood on Calvary for me.  I rest knowing I am forgiven.

Deuteronomy 27:9-10 “9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, ‘Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.’”

YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS

 Two words stood out to me in these verses today.  Can you spot them?  Moses has just given the people the laws by which God will hold them accountable in the Promised Land.  And then he says, “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God.”  THIS DAY!  Wait just a minute!  I thought they were already the Lord’s people.  Didn’t He choose them, and didn’t He lead them out of Egypt?  Didn’t He promise them this land they were about to enter?

Yes, but on this day, Moses was commissioning them through the power of God to be a brand, new nation.  All their past wanderings in the desert were over.  All those who had rebelled against God 40 years earlier were dead.  They were indeed His people at last, and He was ready to usher them into the Promised Land.

TEACHING MOMENT

The same is true for us and our children.  We may grow up knowing all about God.  We may teach our children about God.  We may take them to church and Sunday School.  They may make all the little crafts about Noah and the ark, Moses and the ten commandments or Jesus in the manger.  But until we each surrender our lives to His will and become His child, we are not His people.

Read this passage to your children and tell them that they too must make a decision to follow Christ.  They won’t get into heaven with your faith.  Just as the Israelites had to choose to follow the Lord into the Promised Land, they must choose to follow Christ.  But once they do that, once they accept Him as their Lord and Savior, they are forever His.

Are you following Him today?  Are you surrendered to His Will?  Stop wandering in the desert.  Listen up! Hear the Lord calling you today to be His child.  Allow Him to point you in the direction He has for you today.

Lord, I trust You to guide me each day.  I may not understand all the reasons I am going down this road, but as long as I end up with You in heaven, I am okay.  I love You Lord.

Deuteronomy 25:4 “‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.’” 

 TAKE CARE OF YOUR PASTOR

 You may read this passage and ask yourself, “What does this even mean?” Well, back in those days they used animals to thresh the grain.  They would lay the stalks of wheat or barley on the ground, usually in a prepared place. Then they would walk their ox or donkey or some heavy animal over it to break the grain from the stalk and husk. Muzzling the animal was cruel since it needed to eat too.  Moses was saying to take care of the animal you have asked to feed you through their work.

This verse has been applied for centuries to those who serve in ministry. Basically, don’t starve your Pastors to death by paying them very little while they feed you the Word.  Make sure they are taken care of by the church.  A Pastor should not be concerned with how he can provide for his family.  His only concern should be caring for his flock.

TEACHING MOMENT

 “Okay Carl, how are you going to use this verse to apply to our children today?” Don’t you believe every passage has something to say to us?   Of course, it does.  Find out a need your Pastor has right now.  Then take your children along to meet that need.  He may need new tires on his vehicle.  Arrange to get his keys from his wife or secretary and take your kids with you to get new tires put on his car.

Maybe he has a financial need.  Get your kids involved in giving him a special love offering.  Do it quietly so you don’t bring attention to yourself or your kids.  Teach your kids that giving can be a special blessing when you can do it secretly or anonymously.  Whatever you do to bless your Pastor, do it with your kids.  They won’t soon forget it.

I guarantee there is at least one need in your Pastor’s life that you can meet this week.  It may be a simple gift card to a restaurant or mowing his lawn.  Do it.  Bless him. Don’t muzzle the ox when he is threshing.

Father, I thank You for the Pastors in my life who have fed me.  Show me ways in which I can be a blessing to him and his family today.

Deuteronomy 24:9 “‘Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.’”

DON’T REPEAT PAST MISTAKES

 Do you remember the story about Miriam?  She and Aaron had complained about Moses’ Cushite wife, so Miriam was stricken with leprosy.  God did heal her, but the ceremonial cleansing held up the entire nation from traveling any further.  One woman’s sin affected millions.  Moses is reminding the people to not repeat such an offense.

Our sins do affect others.  We may think it is only between us and God, but others may be forced to endure consequences brought about by our disobedience.  How unfair is that?  How dare we think we can live isolated and alone!

TEACHING MOMENT

 Your children may face this when one of your children does something to thwart a family outing.  Their actions can affect the whole family.  It is so important that you talk to all your children when or if this happens. They need to see their actions are not just about them.  It affects everyone.

I can hear the kids screaming now, “That’s not fair!”  And it’s not, but it’s life.  God does not want us living alone.  We need each other, through the thick and thin of it.  We need to hang together through the trials as well as the good times. And we need to be held accountable by others.

Will you be accountable today?  Will you allow others’ behavior to dictate how you react?  Don’t let it.  No matter what they do, you do what you know is right according to God’s Word.  Maybe then you will be the source of progress and not holding up the group, like Miriam.

Lord, forgive my selfish attitude at times. Forgive me when I purposely choose to follow my desires rather than what is best for all.

Deuteronomy 17:18 “‘Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.’” 

IF ONLY

If you read verses 14-17 of Deuteronomy 17, you will see that God knew the people would ask for a king one day.  Later on, we see that happen when Saul is anointed as king.  And lo and behold, everything he says in those verses comes true. The kings imported horses galore, married multiple wives and got rich.

But if they had only done what He said to do in verse 18, they could have avoided all the heartache.  Verses 19-20 continues,  “‘19 It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.’”  What a difference that would make?

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to learn to keep God’s Word close to their heart.  They don’t have to write a copy of it, but they should memorize and learn to meditate on it.  Keeping God’s Word close can prevent a whole world of hurt.  It keeps us focused on pleasing Him and doing what He expects.

Ask your children what they think would happen in their country if the President or national leaders kept God’s Word close to them.  I bet they will have some great examples.  Bottom line – God’s Word is preventative medicine.  God’s Word directs our paths.  God’s Word gives us focus.  Why wouldn’t you want your children to keep it close.

Are you keeping it close?  Do you start each day or end each day with a reading of the Word?  Allow it today to point you in the direction God would have you go.  Ask the Lord to use His Word to teach you to make those everyday decisions.

Lord, Your Word is full and rich.  Help me to depend on it even further.  Let it direct me this day.

Deuteronomy 15:4 “‘However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,’”

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

 Read that verse again.  Can you imagine no poverty?  Can you imagine a society where everyone has enough to eat?  How about clothes to wear or shelter over their heads?  I drive down the streets of Chattanooga, TN where I live every day.  And every day I see people out begging for food.  I see homeless people living under bridges or in the woods behind a shopping center.  Why?

I truly believe it is because we do not honor our God.  If we all worshipped the one true God, and I mean everyone, then there would be no one in need.  I know that sounds like a pipe dream.  But why would the Lord tell Moses to say this to the people as they were entering the Promised Land?  Do you think God was lying to them?  Of course not.  But they had to do their part and obey Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

 The next time you are out with your children and you see those on the street asking for a handout, bring up this verse.  Because we live in a fallen world, sin has consequences.  Some sins lead to poverty.  Talk to your children how they can follow the Lord’s leading in regards to helping those less fortunate.  No one is promised wealth and prosperity.  But all who turn to Him are promised to have their needs (not wants) met.

You may be saying, “Now wait, Carl, that sounds like pie in the sky promises.  God doesn’t promise that.”  Really?  Didn’t Jesus say the Father knows the number of hairs on your head?  Doesn’t He clothe you better than the lilies?  God knows our needs and will meet those according to His perfect plan.

Are you stressing out over finances right now?  Have you turned that over to Him?  Let Him have your debit card (I would have said check book but no one has those anymore, lol.).  Ask the Lord to meet that need you have and then thank Him for meeting it.  Finally, as you are able, help meet that need of someone else.  That may be just the way God is meeting that need they are praying for.

Lord, thank You for being the God of all, not just the rich and well off.  You care for the lowest of the low.  Show me how to help meet the needs of others.

Deuteronomy 9:6 “‘Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.’”

STUBBORN

Moses is preparing the people to enter the Promised Land after 40 long years in the wilderness.  He knew these people.  He had seen the stubbornness all those years.  He had begged God to not destroy them.  He wanted to make sure they understood one thing – this blessing they were about to receive had nothing to do with their righteousness.

Have you ever thought YOU deserved something?  Maybe at work you felt you deserved that promotion over someone else. Maybe at school you knew you were better than anyone else because you had the highest GPA.  We fall into the same trap of stubbornness and vanity. People haven’t changed.

TEACHING

 That is why we must teach our children humility.  There is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but we must never allow our children to become boastful and arrogant of them. Everything we receive is a gift from God.  It is a blessing we don’t deserve.  For in fact, all we deserve is hell.

That sounds harsh, I know.  You can’t imagine your children suffering in an eternal damnation.  But only the blood of Christ frees us from that certain destination.  Make sure your children are aware of that gift and receive it early.  Remind them over and over that only His righteousness, not theirs, will get them into heaven.

Are you banking on your goodness?  Do you think if you are good enough or busy enough you will slide into your eternal reward? It’s not about you.  It’s all about Him.  He is the one we look to for our redemption.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul.  Thank You, Lord, for making me whole.  Thank You, Lord, for giving to me life more abundant, rich and free.