by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning Read Exodus 34 and 35

His Name Is Jealous

God orders the children of Israel to destroy all forms of idolatry, and here is why,

14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God) (Exo. 34:14).

God expects exclusive loyalty from His people. He gives 100% of Himself to us, shown when He sent Jesus to die for us. Can we not do the same for Him? Therefore, throughout this day look at yourself and see whether you give Him your all. Just think about the fact that He is a jealous God, so much, so that His name is Jealous.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Matthew 22:1--22

Can Anyone Entangle the Lord?

Ponder this sentence,

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk (Mat. 22:15).

President Reagan is known as the great communicator, and as gifted as he was, he was nothing compared to Jesus Christ, who is truly The Great Communicator. It is impossible to entangle Jesus Christ in His talk, yet, people since the days of the Pharisees have been trying it. Listen to people reason as to why they have to do what Lord Jesus commands in the Scriptures. In fact, it is a good idea to practice this exercise on us. Do I try to wiggle out of believing and obeying the Lord? Do I truly think that I can entangle Him in His talk?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year Today Read Exodus 29 and 30

Only God knows the number of the entire animal sacrifices that Israel offered through the centuries. Think of this passage alone,

38 Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually (Exodus 29:38).

The exit from Egypt happened around 1444/1445 BC. God gave these instructions shortly after that date. This sacrificial system ended, as far as God is concerned, when Jesus died in AD 30. If the children of Israel never missed keeping this commandment through those centuries, then they offered roughly 1,076,750 lambs! I got that figure this way: 1445 BC + AD 30 x 365 days per year x 2 lambs per day. How close to reality that figure is, I do not know. It does give us an idea of the lambs alone that were offered.

How many lambs have been offered during New Testament times for the church? Now that one is easy. One lamb was offered. Why was only one lamb offered? It did the job! Over one million lambs never completed the sobering work of providing the complete remission of sin during the days of the Law of Moses, but this one lamb was sufficient. Praise God for the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Praise God for Jesus Christ. Think today on the powerful sacrifice that God made for us that we might be forgiven of our sins.

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year Today Read Matthew 21:1-22

It is not difficult to understand what the Lord wants us to do. It may be hard for us to want to do some of the things that He commands, and there may be passages of Scripture that are hard to understand, but following what He commands is simple. His commands are not complicated. Let me use the following as an illustration,

2 Go in the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them (Matthew 21:2,3).

How difficult are those instructions to follow? Now, transfer that thinking to anything else that the Lord has asked you to do. Is it not as simple? If you do not think that it is simple, find out why. Is it because I have led you astray? Is it because you do not like to do what the Lord has commanded? Or is there some other reason?

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year Today Read Exodus 27 and 28

Aaron is to be the high priest, making him the mediator between God and Israel. Therefore, Aaron had to be dressed appropriately for the work. God told Moses,

2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty (Exodus 28:2).

Then God provides people, to whom He has given special gifts to be able to work on these garments. Moreover, God provides all the instructions and what material they are to use. A marvelous description follows. You will agree with the Lord that Aaron's high priest garments are gloriously beautiful!

Have you contracted with someone to make a garment for you or build a house for you or some other project? You provided ideas, the cost and all that the craftsman needed. Now, think of yourself as the craftsman. God has endued you with abilities that make you the superior craftsman on earth. He also gives you the explicit directions. He provides all the cost.

His project for which He has hired you will be far superior to the project that we hired out.

God has hired us to work on the church. The Son of God built the church, using Himself as the foundation! Now, He wants to use you as one of the stones in His magnificent building! Have you ever heard of such a structure? Yes, First Peter chapter 2 explains that we are living stones in the temple that Jesus works in as high priest.

Those people who worked on the tabernacle had a magnificent work, but what God uses us for in the Spirit is far greater. Just think on that for the rest of the day.