Monday, February 4, 2008

Sabbath...what a concept!

OK, I managed to finish Leviticus, and here's the things that spoke to me the most...it took me to the very end of the book, but these two things leapt off the page at me:

(After God's instructions to sow in the fields, prune the vineyards and harvest the crops for 6 years, but in the 7th allow the ground to rest):

25:20 You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" 21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. 22 While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.

That just really spoke to me of God's faithfulness to us when we choose obedience to His Word. Obedience brings overflowing abundance into our lives. Abundance that would otherwise be impossible or unfathomable. Reckless abandon, sold-out commitment to God and His ways is the key to unlocking the floodgates of heaven. Oh, how quickly I forget this and revert to thinking that if I just work more, plan better ... When in reality, I need to listen, obey and REST in Him. Oh, yeah...

Which brings me to the second thing...
26:2
"'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
That means me... Observing the Sabbath principle and revering His sanctuary - my body - spoke to me of taking care of that which is God's dwelling. Allowing it to rest - that He required rest - and reverencing that place where his Spirit dwells. Hmmm... it's so not about me. It's kinda freeing to think of it that way.

Wow. Good stuff...out of Leviticus! Who woulda thunk it? Certainly not me a few hours ago. I wasn't sure I'd even make it through, but God had good stuff in that place that seemed so 'dry' for me. Isn't He good?

1 comment:

Laura said...

thanks for the devo- i was running short on time this morning (and still feeling a bit wiped out, though the fever i had last night is gone)- so this was perfect.
cya later