OUR HOLY GOD

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 19

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).

Panorama of the Sea of Galilee looking from the north to south. The grain fields on the slopes are ready for harvest. My two sons and I gleaned from the fruit hanging over the fences while back-packing along the road which runs along the far side of Galilee. Ron was 14 and Reynold was 16. We qualified as “The poor and the stranger” described in Leviticus 19:9-10.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Leviticus 19:2

Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

Seven of the Ten Commandments are emphasized here. Obviously, God knows that we need reminders. An old preacher was asked how he made sure his points were well made. He answered, “I tell them what I’m going to tell them, I tell them what I’m telling them, and then I tell them what I told them.” The truth is that we need all the help we can get to more fully understand God’s Word. If you have not already done so, I have a favour to ask of you. Please help me, like the old preacher, to tell the story to as many as possible. Consider sharing a link to 100words.ca on Facebook, twitter, e-mail, and even the old fashioned way of letters and phone calls. There are bulletin boards, as well as the really old way, word of mouth. God really hammers “tale-bearing,” or gossip, in today’s reading. But there is a GOOD tale to bear as well! Amen? Verses 6-8 were health guidelines. There was no refrigeration. God’s Word has a multi-purpose application.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m so thankful for the honour of Your call to read Your Word daily and participate in this blog. I am to love my neighbour as myself, as You reminded me again in our Leviticus 19 reading. Please help me to find fresh, creative ways to “love my neighbour as myself” today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The law of “gleanings” is here in our reading. This involves the harvest of grains, as well as fruit. In Israel today, this is still the law. My sons, Reynold, Ron and I took advantage of this in March of 1978 when we back-packed around Israel. There were no corner stores for many miles, but there were orchards of oranges, grapefruits, and something we never saw here at home, pomelos. They looked like grapefruit, only bigger and sweeter. Actually, these “offerings” hung over the fences. I’ve prayed fervently over the years that the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) would be hanging out there in my life, so that everyone I meet could “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Every day, my son Reynold “offers” his photographs, taken during his travels in many Biblical locations. Let me also recognize my son Ron and his wife Ann. They “offered” to check this blog for spelling and punctuation errors, and Ann, an American, as well as a Canadian, ensures that when I use the American spelling of words like “favor” (American), they are changed to the international British (and Canadian) spelling, “favour.” Way to go Ann. Ron puts his brother’s pictures in the blog, and makes sure the technical matters, of which I know very little, are cared for.

Thank you to all my faithful helpers and readers,

David