SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 18

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Leviticus 18:6-10, No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord. Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father. Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere. Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.

This chapter details the sexual practices that were prohibited by God.  God was clearly forming a holy people and wanted to forbid anything even vaguely resembling pagan practices.  The grim reality was that the pagan cultures surrounding God's people engaged in all kinds of horrific sexual practices.  These prohibitions in chapter 18 were also intended to protect the family unit so that families could grow and be physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy; to promote an abundant life. 

 

As a former clinical social worker and now a pastor, I have worked with many women and men who have been victims of sexual abuse and/or adultery.  Children who have experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted adult experience significant trauma and it often takes years and years of treatment to come to terms with the abuse.  Many never receive the treatment they need.  Adultery is also damaging to the emotional and spiritual health of an individual.  God knew that these are behaviors that wreak havoc on people's lives in ways that have ripple effects for generations.

 

In his wisdom, God forbids such practices.  God is on the side of strong families and healthy, well-adjusted people.  Adultery, abuse, bestiality, and sexual deviancy are the result of sin and brokenness.  God's ways are always better. 

 

Let's pray...Dear God, Forgive us for the mess we create as human beings. We lift up all those in our community who are currently suffering, who have experienced sexual trauma, abuse, adultery, and other forms of harm that have impacted their lives in terrible ways.  We pray that we can be the kind of church that provides a safe and healing place for people who need it.  Guide us, Lord.  We don't even know where to start but we know that you will show us the way.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 17

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Leviticus 17:2-7, This is what the Lord has commanded:  Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people. This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.

 

Chapter 17 begins what scholars call the holiness codes for the Israelites, these are the everyday ways that they were to seek holiness, to be set apart from the surrounding cultures and nations.  On the surface, it looks like this chapter is more instructions on where to do their sacrifices and what food to eat, but it is really about not sacrificing animals to demons (the goat idol), violating the first and second commandments.  Apparently, the sacrifices made in open fields rather than the tent of meeting tended to be for the purposes of idolatry. This was about worship of the one true God.

 

It's easy for us to say that we don't sacrifice animals to a goat idol.  I'm quite certain that isn't an issue among any of today's readers.  But that doesn't mean we can dismiss this passage.  Idolatry is still a very real thing in 2021.  I think it tends to be a bit more insidious and that makes it even more dangerous!  How might idolatry sneak into the lives of God's people today?  What kinds of things do we put before God?  What do we worship?  Let's be real.  Take a moment and spend some time with God right now.  Ask God to reveal any ways that idolatry has snuck into your life.

 

Let's pray...Holy God, we are such flawed people.  We know that as much as we don't want to believe it, we have allowed the things of this world to take your place.  Reveal to us those places in our hearts and lives that need to change.  Give us the courage to do what we need to do.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 16

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Leviticus 16:3-5, This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.  From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

 

Chapter 16 details what is called the day of atonement (the contemporary name for this Yom Yippur).  This was the one day of the year in which the high priest would enter the most holy place, also called the holiest of holies, in which God's presence dwelt.  He had to engage in some pretty elaborate purification rituals and sacrifice many animals in order to atone for the sins of the people.  While we may see this task as an honor from our modern vantage point, the reality was that this was a pretty scary time for the high priest.  He had to do everything just right.  He was going to be in the presence of the Lord and if he didn't follow instructions properly, there was always the risk of being killed, which was what happened when something unholy came into contact with the holy.  This was serious business.

 

I just can't read this chapter without thinking about Jesus.  Why?  Because when the high priest went into the holiest of holies, probably shaking in his boots, his rituals and sacrifices atoned for the sins of the people for one year.  Then it had to be done again the next year and the next and the next.  Besides that, there were sacrifices that had to be done on days in between to atone for other individual sins.  Because humans are sinful and mess up a lot, these acts of atonement were a constant in the lives of the Israelite people.  Jesus put an end to all of it.  Jesus was the "once and for all" sacrifice that ensured all these other rituals and sacrifices could cease.  The perfect sacrifice, the lamb of God, voluntarily sacrificed his life on a cross so that our sin could be atoned for forevermore!  And now, we don't have to be scared to enter the presence of God.  God welcomes us boldly to his throne of grace.  We may still be a broken mess, but God doesn't see that.  Rather, he sees the atoning work of Jesus.  The blood of Jesus covers us and that makes all the difference!

 

Let's pray...Lord, your grace is amazing.  While we were still lost in our sin, you sent Jesus to die in our place, to atone for our brokenness, and to ensure that we could have a relationship with you, Holy God.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, thank you!  Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 15

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Leviticus 15:19, When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening.

 

This chapter deals with abnormal male discharges and normal and abnormal female discharges.  What a fun chapter! According to the law, when a woman had her monthly period, she was unclean for seven days.  Whatever and whoever she touched would also be considered unclean. At first, I had a tendency to be put off when I read this.  What do you mean a woman is unclean because she's on her period?  She has no choice in this matter!  But after I thought about it a bit, I wonder if this wasn't a time of respite for women.  In a world where they worked constantly caring for children, cooking, and cleaning, there was one week a month during which they removed themselves from the world and got a little break.  Other women probably stepped up and cared for their families.  Then, they would care for the children of these other women when it was their time of the month.  What initially appears punitive may in fact be healing and restful.

 

Let's pray...God, there is so much we don't know or understand.  Your ways are so much higher than our ways.  We trust you and thank you for always caring for us, in the big and small things of life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 14

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Leviticus 14:2-4, These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. 

This chapter details the cleansing rituals for skin conditions once an individual was well enough to be included back in the camp.  The priest would examine the person and determine if they were truly healed and would then arrange for a ceremony to mark their reentrance into the covenant community. The interesting thing for me is that the priest had nothing to do with the healing, they were simply the examiner.  If someone was to be healed, that was up to God.

This is in direct contrast with Jesus, our great high priest. He didn't just look to see if someone was sick, he actually healed them. Think of the New Testament miracle stories in which Jesus healed a leper and then instructed them to go to the temple to be examined by the priest. But while Jesus may have complied with the Jewish cleanliness laws before his crucifixion, after his death and resurrection, it was obvious that things had changed.  There was no doubt.  Jesus was God. The temple was no longer the dwelling place of God; rather, the presence of God was in the person of Jesus.  The laws given to preserve the Israelite nation had served their purpose and a new thing was occurring.  God's Kingdom had dawned and that changed everything!  All were included in God's Kingdom - the sick, the infirm, and the outcast.  Because of Jesus, no one is left outside the camp.

 Let's pray...Holy God, we thank you for making sure that all are included in your Kingdom.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 13

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 Leviticus 13:45-46, The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.

This chapter details the various skin conditions and diseases that could make someone unclean.  Anyone with these ailments had to live outside the camp by themselves, wear torn clothing, let their hair down, and yell, "Unclean!" if someone were to come near. Being outside the camp would have meant being separated not just from other people but also from God, since the presence of God dwelt in the camp itself. It was almost like the unclean person was in mourning, being isolated and alone, and the behaviors they had to engage in (torn clothing, unkempt hair, etc.) certainly would have been associated with the mourning process. 

This is hard for me to read.  I struggle with ostracizing anyone for being afflicted with something out of their control.  At the same time, I understand that isolating the sick person minimized spread, which could have occurred at an alarmingly quick rate in the Israelite camp.  Furthermore, at the time, there was a strong connection between wholeness and healthy things without blemish AND holiness. If a priest had a physical flaw or disability, he couldn't be a priest.  If an animal had a defect, it could not be sacrificed in the tabernacle.  Only that which was totally clean, healthy, and whole could risk being near the holiness of God's presence in the tabernacle. 

This was an almost impossible standard to keep up.  In fact, the people could not keep it up.  One purpose of the law was to demonstrate that humanity could not measure up.  They could not be whole enough, healthy enough, perfect enough, or pure enough.  It just wasn't possible.  Thus, a savior was needed.  A mediator between God and the people was essential.  Jesus Christ became that mediator, the final, perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices.  Jesus fulfilled the law.  Everything about him was whole, healthy, pure, and holy.  Of course, the irony here is that there was something about the holiness of Jesus that sinners, outcasts, and the sick flocked toward.  And Jesus welcomed them with open arms.  No more banning skin diseases to outside the camp, Jesus touched the ill.  He demonstrated acceptance and love.  He turned their mourning into dancing and joy. 

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, thank you for making a way for us.  We are all so flawed and broken.  Yet, you demonstrate your perfect love to us in so many ways.  Help us reflect that love toward others, especially those who live on the fringes.  May they know your love in powerful ways.  Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 12

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Leviticus 12:1-5, The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. 

 

Chapter 11 spoke about uncleanness due to eating the wrong food; the next few chapters will talk about uncleanliness surrounding bodily functions.  This chapter details childbirth.  It does seem important to point out that because something is unclean, it doesn't make it morally sinful or wrong.  Childbirth was seen as a joy; God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply. A woman who has just given birth is in no way sinful but is considered ritually unclean.  Blood was associated with life and the loss of it meant things were not whole and clean.  Loss of blood could lead to death.  If you haven't been part of a birthing experience, just trust me that there is a great deal of blood (and other fluids) lost in the process.  It's messy. Thus, there was a process then for bringing things back into a state of cleanness.    

 

I can't help but think this time of seclusion after birth was a gift that God gave the mother.  Before she had to move on to the normal activities of life, she was forced to rest, to be cared for, to have other women tend to her children and her physical needs.  Life slowed down for a time so that she could heal.  This was not a time of punishment but part of God's bigger plan of caring for new mothers.   

 

Is there a new mother to which you need to offer care and support?   

 

Let's pray...God, thank you for how you create space for us to heal and rest.  Help us remember how important these things are.  In Your Name, Amen. 

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 11

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Leviticus 11:44-47, I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten. 

In chapter 11, we are beginning the discussion of clean vs. unclean.  This chapter deals specifically with food. Why were some animals considered clean and others unclean?  Some scholars think keeping people healthy was part of the requirement. Certain animals are known for carrying disease that can be transmitted to humans.  Touching dead animal carcasses can also lead to disease.  But that reasoning doesn't hold true for all unclean animals.  It could also be that God was creating a distinct people who were different from the surrounding cultures.  The food laws were one of the ways, a constant reminder, of how Israel was different.  These laws were a part of regular life.  We typically eat three meals a day, so the Israelites had three reminders every day that they were God's unique, chosen people. God wanted to create a holy, set apart, people. The food laws were one small part of that. 

 

One of the questions that is often asked is whether we as Christians should follow the strict food laws that the Jews follow? While a small minority may disagree with me, the answer is no.  Jesus taught that ritual was far less important than what was in the heart.  Check out Mark 7:14-23.  Furthermore, Jesus ministered to people outside the Jewish nation.  He dined with those the rest of society rejected as unclean.  Paul also reached beyond the Jewish peoples, preaching the Gospel to Gentiles who said yes to Jesus in large numbers and received the Holy Spirit.   

 

Most of us who are reading this now fall firmly into the category of Gentile.  We benefitted from the spread of the Gospel to places far beyond Israel.  You may remember that when the early church first started preaching to Gentiles, there was a big disagreement.  Do these new believers need to become Jews before they can call themselves Christ-followers?  The answer was no.  They can accept Jesus Christ in their own right, in their own context.  So go ahead, you can eat that pulled pork for dinner. :) 

 

Let's pray...Holy God, how grateful we are that you have accepted us into your fold.  Most of us are not from your chosen people, the Jews.  Yet, you have chosen us, adopted us, loved us, and saved us.  Thank you, Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen.  

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Leviticus 10

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Leviticus 10:1-2, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 

 

We have abruptly moved from joy to horror.  Up until this point, everything has been done just as the Lord commanded.  But here, we find two of Aaron's sons bring unauthorized fire before the Lord.  What does this mean?  Most likely, they brought fire from an unholy place outside the sanctuary and then presented it before the Lord.  Maybe they had the attitude that fire is fire.  Who cares?  I think we should mention that their behavior wasn't simply a slip-up; this wasn't an accident but an intentional disregard for what God commanded.  It demonstrated irreverence before a holy God, possibly like a Christian pastor adding some kind of cult ritual to a service of communion.   

 

As Christians, we like to worship God with gladness and joy; he is Abba Father, daddy, we are comfortable with him.  All of this is wonderful.  But we also have to remember that he is still holy God.  He is powerful, he has all authority on heaven and earth, he is the God of all.  Thanks to Jesus, we get to have a relationship with holy God.  We get to walk hand in hand with him.  At the same time, how important it is for us to remember that God's holiness is real.  There always needs to be some level of reverence, deep respect for the God who was and is and is to come, the God who deserves our utmost worship, veneration, and awe.   

 

Let's pray...God, you are holy and deserving of all our praise.  Help us to sit comfortably in your presence while also remembering your holiness.  How amazing it is that we, as sinful, messed up people, can do life with you.  In all we do, in all we are, help us reflect you more.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

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Leviticus 9

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Leviticus 9:5-6, They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” 

 

On the eighth day, the priests (Aaron and his sons) can begin their ministry.  Their first act is to sacrifice a bull calf and a ram as a sin offering to the Lord.  It is worth mentioning that the last time Aaron was the main character in the text, he allowed the people to make a golden bull calf to which they bowed down and worshiped.  God could have taken his life then and there but instead we see God's great mercy.  Rather than death for allowing idolatry, Aaron is now high priest.  Aaron is now the representative for the people before God, responsible for the sacrifices that atone for the sins of the community and individuals - a hugely important task. 

 

Take a closer look at today's focus Scriptures.  The priests are getting ready to begin their ministry and Moses has everyone stand before the tent of meeting, the place where the presence of God dwelt.  And then he proclaims, "This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you."   

 

Isn't that what it's all about?  The glory of the Lord appearing to the people.  We worship to praise God and to experience even just a piece of his glory.  Their worship in Leviticus may have looked very different from ours at New Hope but that is essentially what it's all about.  We seek, we yearn, we are desperate to experience the presence of the living God, to see his glory in our midst.   

 

Let's pray...God, show us your glory.  How we need you!  How we need to experience you in real and tangible ways in our lives.  God, we worship you and give you praise on this day.  Show us your glory.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen. 

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Leviticus 8

New Hope Daily SOAP: Leviticus 8

Pastor Vicki Harrison

 

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Leviticus 8:5-9, Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

 

Chapter 8 details the ordination procedures for Aaron and his sons.  They are quite elaborate and we might be tempted to question why such ceremony was needed.  But there is purpose and meaning in all of God's commands.  Each of the instructions point to the importance of the priests' role.  Aaron and his sons were set apart to do God's work on behalf of the whole community.  Every detail, each fancy waistband, every bit of anointing oil, were all intended to demonstrate the presence of a holy, powerful God and that these priests were linked to him. 

 

Let's pray...God, we are thankful for the purpose and meaning found in each of your commands.  We are thankful that your presence was with the people of Israel and your presence is with us now through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Help us experience your presence today in a mighty way.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 7

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Leviticus 7:11-15, These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord: “‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in.  Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast.  They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.

Besides the various burnt offerings that were given to atone for sin, the Israelites had the opportunity to give a thanksgiving offering as well.  This was truly for the benefit of the giver; it was a tangible sign of gratitude for God's mercies.  We can give God thanks with our words, but there is something really significant about giving sacrificially as a form of thanksgiving.

 

What might a modern-day thanksgiving offering look like?  Certainly, our tithe to the church is an act of obedience but it is also given as an act of thanksgiving for all that God has given us.  I've known of people who give large financial gifts to mission and ministry partners because they are so very grateful for how God has blessed them.  We also can't dismiss the gift of time.  When we regularly dedicate our time to serving God's church and God's people, this might also be considered a thanksgiving offering. 

 

Do you make it a regular practice to thank God for all he does for you?  What kinds of special thanksgiving offerings have you participated in?  How have these offerings changed your life?

 

Let's pray...God, we give you thanks and praise.  All we have is a gift from you - our lives, our jobs, our families, our homes.  We are grateful, God, for how you continually pour your blessings into our lives.  You are such a good God.  Help us be even but a small reflection of your amazing generosity. We love you.  Amen.

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Leviticus 6

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Leviticus 6:1-7, The Lord said to Moses: “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit— when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.”

 

The beginning of chapter 6 deals with violations against other people's personal property.  It points to how cheating a person or sinning against a person was also a sin against God. These specific offenses listed in this chapter all stem from greed and the assumption that they could hide this deceptive behavior from God. 

 

It seems almost laughable to us that anyone would think they could hide sin from God.  After all, God is all-knowing and can see everything.  But upon reflection, I don't think we are all that different today.  Ethics, even among church people, are too often neglected.  We fail to exhibit the fruit of the spirit in our everyday, walking around lives.  Do we think God can't see us?  Do we assume that being kind, gentle, and patient don't really matter in our interpersonal relationships?  Does God give us a pass for being mostly honest?  Umm...I think not.  It is impossible to separate our relationship with Jesus Christ and our relationship with others.  Jesus said it best, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 28)

 

Let's pray...God, forgive us for the many times we sin against others and you.  Too often, we fail to love others as you have called us.  We are quick to anger, impatient, and simply unkind.  Help us remember who we are and who we represent.  Lord, less of me and more of you.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Leviticus 5

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Leviticus 5:5-6, “When you become aware of your guilt in any of these ways, you must confess your sin.  Then you must bring to the Lord as the penalty for your sin a female from the flock, either a sheep or a goat. This is a sin offering with which the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord.

In this chapter, we go deeper into God’s requirements for unintentional sin.  If someone touches an unclean animal, they need to fess up.  When someone touches something that makes another person unclean, they need to admit it promptly.  If they fail to testify about something they have seen or if they make a foolish oath, these are things that require a full accounting. 

This seems to be an integrity issue.  If you sinned and you know you sinned, even if it was an accident, you need to be honest and up front.  Failure to do so will only bring problems to the whole community.  God is making allowances for our clumsiness and stupidness!  He knows that as humans, we will touch the wrong thing and say the wrong thing at times.  But there is always a way to atone for these sins; God provides a path for redemption.

Let’s pray…God, thank you for always providing a way to redemption.  You know us through and through so you are well acquainted with our weaknesses.  Thank you for Jesus, our path to healing, wholeness, and redemption.  In Your Name, Amen.

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Leviticus 4

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Leviticus 3:1-4, If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.  You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.

 

This is a bloody chapter!  We read about choosing an animal without defect for the sacrifice, how to slaughter it, and then specifics about what to do with the blood and organs.  It’s actually kind of gory for those of us who buy our meat neatly wrapped in cellophane in the stores.  But the violence of the sacrifice was kind of the point.  The animal was losing its life because of the sins of the people.  It underscored the severity and consequences of sin.

 

While we no longer have to perform animal sacrifices, we can’t dismiss the consequences of sin.  Jesus died as the final sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be in right relationship with God.  However, that doesn’t mean we are free to go on sinning!  When we truly understand the gift of God’s amazing grace, we become transformed people.  That doesn’t mean we won’t mess up because we will but we recognize that our sin creates a wedge between us and God.  It damages our relationships with others.  As the Holy Spirit begins to change us from the inside out, we become convicted of our sin, repent, and seek to do better.  I think an important part of this is recognizing that we cannot do better on our own, but only through the power of God working in us.  It is God who makes us a new creation.  We are weak but he is strong.

 

Let’s pray…God, thank you for Jesus who made it possible for us to walk closely with you.  How grateful I am!  I know I mess up.  Please forgive me, Lord.  I want to do better.  Work within in, change my heart, so I can better reflect Jesus to those around me.  In Your Name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 3

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Leviticus 3:1-4, If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.  You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.

 

This is a bloody chapter!  We read about choosing an animal without defect for the sacrifice, how to slaughter it, and then specifics about what to do with the blood and organs.  It’s actually kind of gory for those of us who buy our meat neatly wrapped in cellophane in the stores.  But the violence of the sacrifice was kind of the point.  The animal was losing its life because of the sins of the people.  It underscored the severity and consequences of sin.

 

While we no longer have to perform animal sacrifices, we can’t dismiss the consequences of sin.  Jesus died as the final sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be in right relationship with God.  However, that doesn’t mean we are free to go on sinning!  When we truly understand the gift of God’s amazing grace, we become transformed people.  That doesn’t mean we won’t mess up because we will but we recognize that our sin creates a wedge between us and God.  It damages our relationships with others.  As the Holy Spirit begins to change us from the inside out, we become convicted of our sin, repent, and seek to do better.  I think an important part of this is recognizing that we cannot do better on our own, but only through the power of God working in us.  It is God who makes us a new creation.  We are weak but he is strong.

 

Let’s pray…God, thank you for Jesus who made it possible for us to walk closely with you.  How grateful I am!  I know I mess up.  Please forgive me, Lord.  I want to do better.  Work within in, change my heart, so I can better reflect Jesus to those around me.  In Your Name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Leviticus 2

New Hope Daily SOAP: Leviticus 2

Pastor Vicki Harrison

 

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Leviticus 2:13, Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.

 

This second chapter of Leviticus gives specific instructions on grain offerings.  It presents interesting details, such as the use of fine flour, how to pour the olive oil, to cook or not to cook the grain, and not to use yeast or honey. 

 

In today’s verse, the directions are clear about the importance of using salt in the grain offering, as a way to remind the people of God’s eternal covenant.  So why salt?  In an age well before refrigeration, salt was an important preservative.  Salt in the grain offering was a reminder that God’s covenant could not be destroyed by decay.  It was eternal and unperishable.  I love how as we read these instructions, everything has meaning and purpose.

 

Let’s pray…God, we thank you for being a God of order.  There is purpose in each command.  Nothing is random.  We are grateful for the way you put things together and even when we don’t understand why things occur, we trust you will make all things work together for our good.  In Your Name, Amen.

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Leviticus 1

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Leviticus 1:1-2, The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.

In this chapter, God is giving Moses instructions on burnt offerings, specifically how to choose an animal out of one's herd or flock.  The Israelites would have been familiar with burnt offerings, as the cultures around them used burnt offerings, and we see burnt offerings in both Genesis and Exodus.  While familiar, God's instructions were unique to their particular circumstances. 

 

What I find interesting in this passage is that God speaks to Moses from the tent of meeting and then Moses communicates this to the people.  Remember, the tent of meeting is the place were God dwells and is a visible reminder of his presence among the people.  I try to visualize God speaking to Moses through the curtain.  What an interesting sight it must have been!  The God of the universe, the one who put the stars in the sky, communicating through his spokesperson in a form his people could understand.  He sought a meaningful relationship with his people.

 

God still seeks a meaningful relationship with his people.  Living on the other side of the cross, we know the rest of the story.  God sent Jesus, the final sacrifice, so that we could be reconciled to him.  Now rather than communicating with his people through a curtain in the tent of meeting, we can go boldly to his throne of grace.  There are no more barriers.  It’s pretty amazing.  We can speak to God whenever we want and he speaks to us as well (it’s up to us to listen!)  Best of all, we know his presence is always with us.  We can live abundantly, walking hand in hand with the Lord. 

 

Let’s pray…Almighty God, we thank you for your presence in our lives.  How amazing that we can have a living relationship with you.  When you speak to us, I pray that we will listen.  In your name, Amen.

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SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison SOAP Pastor Vicki Harrison

Romans 16

New Hope Daily SOAP:  Romans 16

Pastor Vicki Harrison

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Romans 16:1-7, I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.  Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

The final chapter of Romans has this beautiful section of greetings to the people that Paul has worked with and encountered in his ministry.  I only included a portion of the greetings because they are quite long but I love how this was obviously a letter for regular people.  This was not a letter intended for religious scholars.  Rather, Paul sent it to people he cared about in an effort to help them in their own lives and ministries.

Another interesting note is that out of twenty-six people who are listed as special workers in ministry, nine are women.  This is especially impressive because Rome was a male-dominated society and women had little, if any, social and legal standing.  But in the church, things were different. There is also a variety when it comes to the names:  some of Jewish, some are Latin, and many are Greek.  While I'm sure the early church had its issues, it appears to be a diverse mix of men and women, from different cultural and religious backgrounds.  Essentially, it was a great picture of the Kingdom of God. 

God's Kingdom is universal, with people from all races, cultures, and stations in life.  In God's Kingdom, men and women serve alongside each other.  It's a place in which every single human life has value and no one is better than another.  God's values are actively at work: love, justice, mercy, righteousness, hope, and freedom for the oppressed.  Somewhere in the history of the church, it got off track.  The church became less Kingdom-focused and more about growing the institution.  It began to resemble the culture around it.  Certain people were excluded, corruption crept in, sin invaded.  It's hard to read a church history text because it seems so far from the church Paul was trying to establish. 

But all is not lost.  God's mercies are new every day!  As a church, we can pray and strive to be a better picture of God's Kingdom.  In fact, my on-going prayer for New Hope is that we will become a multiplying congregation - multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational.  I pray that we will be the kind of place where people from all walks of life find a place of belonging, a place to be nurtured and loved.  I hope you will join me in this prayer.

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, we are grateful for the apostle Paul and his amazing work and writings.  Thank you especially for the book of Romans and the many things we have learned over the past two weeks.  As we close our study of this letter to the church at Rome, we lift up our own church, New Hope.  We pray that you will instill a burden within us for those who don't yet know Jesus in our community.  I pray that you will open doors for us to be stretched and grow.  Lord, we seek to be a church who reaches new people for you, a multiplying church, that looks more like your Kingdom.  We pray all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

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Romans 15

New Hope Daily SOAP: Romans 15

Pastor Vicki Harrison

 

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Romans 15:30-33, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

We can tell that Paul is beginning to close his letter.  He shares his plans to head to Jerusalem and then to Rome on his way to Spain (we don't think Paul actually made it there) and he implores the Christ-followers in Rome to pray for him.  Paul knew a trip to Jerusalem would be dangerous.  There were plenty of people there who wanted to see him executed for his work as a Christian missionary.  

Paul asks his Roman brothers and sisters to join him in the struggle by praying to God on his behalf.  The ESV uses the phrase "strive together" with him in prayer, and the term comes from the Greek word for agonize.  I think this is one of the gifts of the Christian walk, when the body of Christ gathers and agonizes together, to pray for a specific person or situation.  While our solitary prayers are important, there is something that happens when we raise up our voices together.  We know that we know that we know that we aren't alone.  We are lifted up, encouraged, and empowered to keep going. 

Who is it who needs to know you are praying for them today?

Let's pray...We thank you for Christian brothers and sisters who lift us up in prayer during the most difficult periods of our lives.  Reveal to us who needs our prayers of support and encouragement today.  I pray that they may feel empowered by our prayers and that you will work mightily in their lives.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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