April 14, Reading 1 – Leviticus 22

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jesus told us to serve God and not Mammon. We do this when we give of our best in our service, tithes and offerings joyfully, willingly, thankfully and freely. We show God what we really think of Him. A stunted offering shows Him and us how stunted our relationship with Him is. Let us hold what we have as a stewardship from Him!

SJA Notes

“I am the LORD who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.”

Here we see very clearly God’s plan for His people.

He has brought us from darkness into light, from No Mercy into Mercy, from being godless to having Him as our God.

And He is the God who _sanctifies_ us once He has saved us.

Why do we need to walk in obedience to Him?

We see it here in the old testament, clearly articulated for us to understand by the all-knowing God.

Because He has saved us and is sanctifying us.

We don’t do good things because they tally up to get us something.

We do good things because of what has been done for us and what God continues to do for us! We walk in obedience _because_ we are saved into the inheritance of eternal life.

This is our God. Remember Him. Remember that He is the LORD (Yahweh), the one and only true God.

Him we worship and praise, only Him. He has saved us from slavery to sin into a glorious life – Both now here on earth, and then in glory.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Gracious God,

Thank You for calling us from darkness into light.

Thank You for giving us new life, that through Your Spirit we are born again, moving us into Your kingdom.

Thank You for continuing to work in us and in the world around us, drawing us toward You each day. Little by little, day by day.

Please help us today to take the opportunities You present to show You to the world around us.

Amen.

April 14, Reading 2 – Psalm 128, 129, 130, 131

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Psalm 131 contains a beautiful image – of the weaned child. Children were often weaned somewhere between 3-5 years of age. This is the age of cuddles, of finding comfort when afraid in your mother’s arms. Her caresses are desired then, while later they may be embarrassing. As Jesus said: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2 Desire such intimacy with God as you come to worship!

SJA Notes

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” 130 v5-6

Do we wait for the Lord?

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?

As a little boy, when I knew my uncle was coming to visit, I would wait outside the front of the house, playing, but always watching the road (country town) for a sign of his car.

Waiting for the Lord is a little like this in some ways.

We are to LONG for the Lord’s return. When He comes as conquering King, the rider on the white horse (Rev 19). When all our troubles and concerns are no more (Rev 21), when our mortal bodies are made immortal, our corruptible vessels made incorruptible (1 Cor 15).

But perhaps also, in the waiting, we find our solace and HOPE in Him, and in His word.

As we wait for the Lord, as we long for the great day as it approaches (Heb 10), we can encourage and stir one another up to good works.

Because we are not alone in our walk. We have our King, we are wrapped up in His everlasting arms (Deut 33). And we have the People of the King, us together!

Let’s be encouraged to continue to encourage one another onto good works as we wait for the Lord, as we hope in His word to us.