Obedience!

For Saturday, March 22, 2025:

Leviticus 26:1a, 2 NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. You must keep my Sabbath days of rest and show reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.”

If you had wood from a tree trunk or stone from the ground, it’s pretty obvious that those things aren’t any kind of God. Yet ancient people would carve the wood or sculpt the stone and proceed to worship the resulting man-made image. God admits that he hosts a bit of jealousy, saying, “You shall have no other gods before me,” – especially man-made pretend gods!

It’s not that hard to get along with God Almighty. First, make the real God #1 in your life. And #2, just be nice. Get along with people. Cut out the gossip. Love your neighbor as yourself. That’s what Jesus said to do.

Because we’re humans with free choice, some will choose to follow the Lord and some will not. For the disobedient ones, there are consequences. God’s punishment will fall on the unbelievers. Diseases, failed crops and losses in battle may befall those no longer protected by God’s hand. In other words, Satan will have a field day when God steps back from protecting his people.

The punishments described in Leviticus ch. 26 get progressively worse. The more you disobey God, the worse the punishment becomes. That’s fair; the punishment should fit the crime. Continued disobedience results in increased punishment. The solution of course is to repent and return.

In spite of the Israelites’ disobedience, God says He will still remember the Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These are his people and He is their God, and that will never change!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

God's Commands!

For Thursday, March 20, 2025:

Leviticus 24:1-2 NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.”

The light in the Tabernacle was to burn continuously, as a sign that God is looking out for his people 24/7. God is never on holiday, unable to help. We are commanded to do no work on the Sabbath, but God still keeps his eye on believers because Satan never takes a day off!

Nowadays there is no Temple, no Tabernacle, the location of the Ark of the Covenant remains a mystery and the Old Covenant has been replaced by Jesus’ New Covenant.

Later in ch. 24, God teaches that punishment should fit the crime: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” If someone injures another’s animal, they should replace it or pay for it. That seems fair. The most severe punishment, stoning, was reserved for those who take another’s life and for those who blaspheme the Lord. Only God determines when life begins and when life ends. And don’t dis God!

Jesus taught us to be more loving and forgiving. The New Covenant offers us second chances. If a repentant person has injured a believer, we are to forgive them 70 X 7 times. Jesus said we should not only love our Lord but likewise love our neighbors! Jesus was God coming to earth to rescue mankind from our sins. Jesus’ way is a good way to live!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eye for an Eye!

For Tuesday, February 18, 2025:

Exodus 21:24 NLT: “...a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.”

In God’s system of justice, the punishment must fit the crime. If someone deliberately kills another, then they too should be put to death. But lesser crimes should have reduced penalties. We are still accountable for our actions.

These rules do not apply in the case of accidents, but they do apply in cases of negligence. “If your ox has a reputation for goring, yet you failed to keep it under control, you must pay full compensation.”

God’s justice system shouldn’t surprise us. He only asks for what’s fair, right and honest. Loving our neighbors includes treating them equitably and with respect. If we live our lives God’s way, we shouldn’t ever incur discipline. Let’s all try to live our lives in such a way that our Father in heaven can be proud of us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Eye for an Eye!

For Wednesday, November 27, 2024:

1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT: “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”

Jesus changed everything for the better. In the old way, typical behavior was “eye for an eye.” If a person was injured a certain amount, they were justified in retaliating a similar amount.

But Jesus taught love and forgiveness. How many times? Seven times? No – Jesus said 70 x seven! And that doesn’t mean 490 times! It means to remain in forgiveness mode more times than you can count, more times than you can easily keep track of.

Let the Lord handle judgment, discipline and revenge. We should all just keep smiling and loving our neighbors, loving the good life we have been given.

The desire to get even comes not from God, but from the evil one!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship