CONTINUALLY
Today’s Reading: Leviticus 24
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).
A rebuilt olive press from Bible times. This was discovered amidst the ruins of Hazor, about 10 kilometres north of the Sea of Galilee. Hazor is mentioned in several Old Testament books such as Joshua and Judges.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: Leviticus 24:2
Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.
The word “continually” is repeated four times here. The emphasis is obvious. Oil is a symbol for the Spirit of God, as is fire which produces light. By this light we see the show-bread on the table and the altar of incense, both of which are in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle (see extra photos below). To keep God’s Light shining brightly in our lives, we must have a daily fresh supply of oil. This can only be experienced by a fresh daily life of prayer, the source of the oil, and the study of Holy Scripture, the bread. Our praise and worship in the midst of our prayer and study is like the altar of incense, a sweet fragrance ascending to God.
The man taken in blasphemy is punished by death. Jesus died in our place, so that we, like the thief who hung beside Jesus and repented, could be forgiven and have eternal life. Thank God for the age of grace, which Jesus began. We rely continually upon that grace. I remember some sermons which my Dad preached. One was on 1 John 1:1-10. Click on it and read with me. Dad particularly pointed out that, in the original Greek, the verb “cleanses” is in a tense meaning the cleansing is continually happening, non-stop. Dad taught Greek and this truth burned its way into my understanding.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as the Apostle John wrote, I can never claim to be sinless. I’m totally dependent on the continuous cleansing in the Blood of Your sacrifice. May I ever be conscious of my sin, and may I hide Your Word in my heart continually “that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Through the grace Jesus gives, I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I also remember that after school one day, when I was 10 or 11, I walked into a classroom at Annesley College in Ottawa and watched my Dad write the Greek lesson for the next morning on the blackboard. I knew that the original language in which the New Testament was written was Greek, and, therefore, an understanding of Greek was important. When I attended Bible College, I signed up for two years of Greek study. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much. The reason? I rely on a lexicon (like this online version here) which enables me to work in English and find all the shades of meaning from the Greek. One day, on live national television, I was being translated into Greek by the Host of our Greek language TV series, and I mentioned the word “cartoon.” I was amazed to hear my interpreter, Bazil Zetas, say, “Mickey Mouse.” It stopped me in my tracks. I turned to him and said, “Did you just say Mickey Mouse?” “Yes,” he said, “That’s Greek for cartoon.” We had a good laugh. Bazil arranged for Reynold’s photographic trip through Greece, so that when our readings speak of Greece, beginning in January, we’ll have some great pictures on the blog for you.
Yours for light as we eat of the bread of God’s Word, and as we offer the incense of prayer and worship,
David
P.S. Below are pictures from the replica of the Tabernacle which was on display at the Crossroads Centre during the summer of 2012.
The High Priest in front of the Golden Lampstand in the Holy Place, where fresh daily oil kept the light burning continually.
The High Priest performing his duties in the Tabernacle. Pictured are the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Ark of the Covenant.
God bless you brother David M. for your obedience to the Lord’s call to maintain this blog.
Meaningful message and prayer, David–thank you, fine sir!
‘Difficulty is the very atmosphere of miracle–it is a miracle in its first stage. If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty but impossibility. The clinging hand of His child makes a desperate situation a delight to Him.’ Streams in the Desert, Cowman, October 14.
Blessings to all saints, today. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Your commentary, prayer and words continue to balance out our reading with Christ’s grace, love and light. Looking forward to seeing Reynold’s photo’s of Greece in January ’15. Praise be to Our Father for addressing all the needs and concerns of each and every one of our bloggers. Whenever there are any doubts or questions, may we choose to say Lord, I believe. I may not always understand but I trust you.”
Thanks David for your comments and prayer. You are a continual inspiration to me to put God first. Thanks also dear bloggers for your prayers for my brother and friend. I will tell her family you are praying for her. My brother as well as four others are not serving the Lord which is a great concern but I believe he is listening more with each trial as well as his wife. I was in Philippi Greece on my trip and will be looking forward to Reynold’s photos. Am now preparing for my niece’s wedding, a Christian marrying a Christian, Praise the Lord! Have a great day!
Tried listening to study this a.m. rather than reading it. I like it! The reader puts emphasis on words I might not have so I get more out of it.
My husband took Greek in highschool but remembers very little of it. He remembers “time flies” and “little by little”. Not much help in his daily life but we have a good chuckle over it.
I wonder why God is causing or allowing Ebola. He never makes a mistake.
God’s blessings on us all.
Thank you so much for doing this daily. I pray God’s richest blessing on you,your family and Crossroads ministries. I got behind as I was in hospital I so blessed with this and am caught up now. Please pray The Lord heals me as I very much need to get back to work as soon as possible. I had bypass surgery Sept 5 and my right wrist and hand will not function ans is all swollen and no one can seem to know why. God Bless
Praying for complete healing and peace! Blessings!
Amen
Dear Rev. David M.
Once more you bring scripture so understandable from showing us once again how God emphasised four times the word CONTINUALLY.
So Heavenly Father let us continually focus our eyes on Your PRECIOUS WORD, THE BIBLE, in the name of THE ONE AND ONLY , JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIGHT , THE TRUTH, THE WAY and being guided , obedient and bold.Let us be Gods open door to heaven, all for His Glory, until His Return, Amen.
PS… Keeping Irene in prayer for complete healing in Jesus name Amen.
xoxoxo Carole
I pray for complete healing for you Irene…in the precious Name of Jesus!!
I am so overwhelmed by this chapter and all the responses! Honestly I can’t respond to anything right now! I pray I will be able to handle things tomorrow. I will have a prayer request for someone. I guess the other thing I wish to say is that the responses seem (to me) very strong and I wonder or feel very muddled up!
Dear sister sah,
I read your comment yesterday, as I read them all each day. I do not usually respond because I have some days with poor health, but I want you to know that I do pray that God will sustain, strengthen and meet your needs each day as you take up His cross each day and follow Him.
I went through a very difficult time, sounding very similar to yours, years ago and felt like nobody cared but discovered in giving my testimony later that many cared and prayed for me but had never told me at the time.
Please forgive me for not letting you know that I have prayed for you before and do so now; bringing your name to our Heavenly Father and asking Him to wrap His strong, loving arms around you and fill you with His presence. I ask that the Holy Spirit will be a comfort to you, leading and guiding you each day as you ask Him for wisdom in each decision you must make. Praying you have friends close by to help you.
Hello! I could hae sworn I’ve been to this site befolre but after
checking through some oof the post I realized it’s new to me.
Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found iit and I’ll be book-marking and cjecking back often!