SEXUAL PURITY
Today’s Reading: Leviticus 17-18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
An Ibex on the run in Ein Gedi, Israel. First Samuel 1:1-2 tells us of David hiding from King Saul here at Ein Gedi, the place of “the rocks of the wild goats.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: Leviticus 18:5
You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
The words “I am the Lord” appear 18 times in today’s and tomorrow’s readings. God is establishing His infinitely high moral standards in the minds of a people who have just come out from Egypt, where they practised the abominations mentioned here. Let me point out again that persons were not called “abominable”…their acts were. There is nothing new here. The very things that today corrupt society and destroy people and families are described in Moses’ writings. In our key verse, just before a long list of immoral acts, God promises, once again, that just as sin leads to death, obedience leads to life. It’s clear that God hates sexual sin, and it is also clear that He has made provision for the forgiveness of all sin. The words “cut off” could be understood, for example, as the imprisonment of a convicted pedophile. The sacrifices we read so much about were pictures of the final and complete Sacrifice for sin offered by our Lord Jesus.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, give me a loathing for sin and, at the same time, an intense practical love for the sinner. That includes my sin and myself. As the man of whom Jesus spoke prayed, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner,” and was made righteous before You, so I pray this prayer often. Thank You for this prayer that You guarantee, from the mouth of Jesus, will restore and maintain my relationship with You, O Holy God. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Those words, “I am the Lord,” remind me of standing beside the Sea of Galilee with my Middle-Eastern son-in-law. He told me of the significance of the 153 fish the disciples caught in John 21:11. His first language is Arabic, his second is Hebrew, and his third is English. He explained how in Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value, and “Ana Elohim” (“I am the Lord”) comes to 100, 50, and 3. Peter and the other disciples, who would have attended synagogue schools, knew exactly what the risen Christ was communicating. My son-in-law is an ordained minister in the Nazareth Baptist Church, and I’ve checked this out with Hebrew scholars. We’ll be moving to the Gospel of John in nine days. Don’t get discouraged in Leviticus! How about you and I click right now and read that portion about the 153 fish…John 21:1-14. A lady told me the other day that it was not Leviticus where she got bogged down in her reading; it was Numbers. Something to look forward to, right?
Yours for the blessing of going back and forth between the Old and the New Testaments,
David
P.S. I trust all my Canadian friends will have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this weekend. Below is a photo of Norma-Jean and me at Thanksgiving a few years ago. We were about to partake of a delicious turkey dinner with some of our family. Also our granddaughter, Hannah Jean Shaheen, M.D., was married yesterday to a fine young businessman Dan Fuller. I’m rejoicing in God’s goodness that He allowed me to be released from the hospital in time to participate in their wedding ceremony. The second photo below is of Grandpa serving them communion. Rev. Ron Mainse officiated the ceremony.
Leviticus 18:25 states even the land is defiled by the sin committed upon it. That is how strong the effects of sin are–the evilness seeps into the ground beneath it. What a powerful thought. I love gaining new understanding from scripture–it is never old. Always look forward to going back and forth between OT and NT. HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY David, Norma-Jean and family, and all beautiful saints of this blessed blog. We are so thankful to You, Lord!
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:2-3 KJV
King of My Heart – Steffany Gretzinger, Jeremy Riddle, & Christine Rhee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6_BLuhr0HQ
Yes, fantastic photo of you and your granddaughter Hannah and Dan at their wedding, David! How wonderful–our God is good, amen!
Amen Beverlee!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Beautiful wedding and photos. Congratulations Hannah and Dan and family. You still look full of life Pastor David. So glad you could be able to participate in the wedding. Praise be unto God!
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. It’s so good to know that you are out of hospital, may God continue to heal you. Blessings.
Happy Thanksgiving David to you and your family. It is nice to see you are enjoying your granddaughter’s wedding looking good.
Congratulations to all
Happy Thanksgiving! How wonderful, David, that you not only were able to attend your granddaughter ‘s wedding, but also to play such a special role!
Amen!
This blog is one of the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving Sunday. Blessings to all, our God is so good.
Yes, Amen!!
Thank you Pastor David for still serving at your age I’m 81 I know that some mornings it is hard to leave my warm bed but your blog and scripture reading has been my first thing in the morning for a few years and special blessing for me now. Happy thanksgiving for you and you lovely family from me and my wife Bernie.
Praise God From whom all Blessings flow. Thank you Lord for allowing Pastor David to be at the wedding of his beautiful granddaughter Amen.
Happy Thankfsgiving to all. From Eleanor M.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, David, Norma-Jean – the newly weds and all the family
So thankful that you are well enough to participate in your Grandaughter’s wedding. May GOD continue to bless you Pastor David with continue healing & good health.
How precious to have those pictures as a memorial of a special day…God Bless you Pastor David and Norma-Jean Mainse and you wonderful children. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us:)
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING ALL YOU SAINTS!!!~
GREAT PHOTO OF THE GOAT IN MOTION, Rev. Reynold David Mainse:) BLESS YOU AND KATHY AND YOUR FAMILY ON THIS THANKSGIVING WEEK-END and ALWAYS!!!