Lev 13:46, "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection, he is unclean. He shall live alone, his dwelling shall be outside the camp."
Leviticus spent two lengthy chapters in dealing with leprosy, from determining symptoms of leprosy to dealing with contaminated objects and dwellings. Such is the prescription for contamination: isolate, banish and ultimately destroy. I can't help but relate this to how God looks at sin. Like leprosy, sin must be isolated, banished and destroyed. How wasteful is the life who bears it's beating. It makes a person unclean and unfit to live in God's camp. For sin can spread and infect/contaminate other parts of the body.
My soul, do not allow sin to work it's way deeper in the spiritual skin that it contaminates the joy and peace of God in your spirit.
But leprosy can be healed. What a great picture God has prescribed for cleansing the poor leprous man: He shall take two turtledoves. One he shall slay (by drowning it), and the other shall live. The live one shall be dipped in the blood of the slain bird. Sprinkle the blood on the man, and set the blood-drenched bird free to the open field. Christ died on our behalf that we may live. Indeed for every atonement of sin a life must be shed. And finally it required the ultimate sacrifice of the God-man Himself to cleanse us once and for all. The Life-giver slain to give life.
My soul, do not take for granted the Life that has been shed so that you may be clean, so that you may live in fellowship of His presence and dwell in the camp.
The Mind of the Melancholeric Man: Musings on Life and Ministry by Patrick Tan
Devotion: Leviticus 11 & 12
Leviticus 11:44, "For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy."
God has set up statutes and laws that sets his people apart from the world. "You shall not eat ... touch their carcass ... [or] pick up their carcass ... or you will be unclean." "Do not render yourselves detestable (11:43). This is what makes me holy, set apart. Lord, may You continually render Your strength and Your vision that I may refrain from picking up or touching the carcasses of sin. Surround me with Your joy and Your presence that I may not wander, chasing after the pleasures of the world. "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I may not sin against Thee". Instill upon my an intense hate for sin that I would not be found dead with it, but have compassion to those who are enslaved by them.
God has set up statutes and laws that sets his people apart from the world. "You shall not eat ... touch their carcass ... [or] pick up their carcass ... or you will be unclean." "Do not render yourselves detestable (11:43). This is what makes me holy, set apart. Lord, may You continually render Your strength and Your vision that I may refrain from picking up or touching the carcasses of sin. Surround me with Your joy and Your presence that I may not wander, chasing after the pleasures of the world. "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I may not sin against Thee". Instill upon my an intense hate for sin that I would not be found dead with it, but have compassion to those who are enslaved by them.
Acts 3: Times of Refreshing
Acts 3:19, "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Times of refreshing in the presence of God only comes by repenting and returning to Him. There are times when the spiritual emotionalism wears down and one has to decide for himself to faithfully walk the long, narrow journey to the Promised Land. The moment we step into the common movements of life we are immediately exposed to the fallen nature. We get our feet dirty by the mud of the world. Thus we need our feet washed once more in His presence and let ourselves be refreshed. I have realized that I am a not a strong man independent of Him to keep myself pure daily in my thoughts, words and actions. But I am a weakling, like a child, in constant dependence to the sustenance of my Father.
Times of refreshing in the presence of God only comes by repenting and returning to Him. There are times when the spiritual emotionalism wears down and one has to decide for himself to faithfully walk the long, narrow journey to the Promised Land. The moment we step into the common movements of life we are immediately exposed to the fallen nature. We get our feet dirty by the mud of the world. Thus we need our feet washed once more in His presence and let ourselves be refreshed. I have realized that I am a not a strong man independent of Him to keep myself pure daily in my thoughts, words and actions. But I am a weakling, like a child, in constant dependence to the sustenance of my Father.
Acts 3: What I have I give to you
Acts 3:5, "I do not possess silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you."
Poverty's human impulse is to keep what remains of his. But our poverty in Christ moves us to give all that we have. "Blessed are the poor in Spirit. For their's is the kingdom of heaven." We give more because we know the One who sustains and recompenses. Lord teach me not to loathe of the things I am not able to give, but what I have I will share generously and keep not to myself.
Such are the things we have: eternal life, worship ...
Poverty's human impulse is to keep what remains of his. But our poverty in Christ moves us to give all that we have. "Blessed are the poor in Spirit. For their's is the kingdom of heaven." We give more because we know the One who sustains and recompenses. Lord teach me not to loathe of the things I am not able to give, but what I have I will share generously and keep not to myself.
Such are the things we have: eternal life, worship ...
Devotion: Leviticus 9 & 10
Leviticus 10:3, "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy. And before all the people I will be honored."
We see that before Aaron was to become the high priest of Israel, he had to cleanse and atone for his sins by the offerings. He need to do this so that (1) he could make an atonement for the people (9:15) and (2) he could enter the tent of meeting where the presence of the Lord was. As a Christ follower leading followers keeping myself pure and holy--my sins atoned for--is very important before I go on the frontlines of warfare and lead the army. Doing "which He had not commanded" has caused the life of Nadab and Abihu, and would be the devastation of my ministry. We see that as leaders we ought to be a step ahead of our flocks in terms of purity and holy living. "Let not many of you become teachers ... knowing that as such we will incur stricter judgment" (James 3:1).
Devotion: Acts 1
"Wait for what the Father had promised ..."
1. Wait for God's direction, not my own decisions. The disciples waited by "continually devoting themselves to prayer" (14). God is teaching me to wait for the ministry of victory he has prepared for me. I must also be praying continually while waiting.
2. "The Father has promised." His calling indeed never change, does not cease to be in constant fulfillment in me. It's our hopes and faithfulness that always go dim. God is faithful. My soul, be still and know that He is God. You can trust in Him, put your faith in Him because what he has promised He will make to pass in His perfect time.
3. "What" - His anointing, his blessing. He will not bless our plans if it is not according to His perfect will. No eye has seen and no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him." Take comfort in the thought that each day and week of waiting brings you closer to the fulfillment of His promise.
After ASCM Retreat
Friday, February 13, 2009, ASCM 2nd Semester Retreat, Tagaytay City
“Dear Lord, thank you for this time, this opportunity that I can come before you once again. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your unfailing mercy and grace.
My soul, do not forget this time when once again God has rescued you from your sinful nature, from the chains that has bound you. God has already broken them and set you free. He has given you a new spirit, a new heart. His message to you was to walk with Him, as simple as that. You were expecting some mind-blowing revelation? But simply put, “spend time with me. Walk with me.”
Lord, I don’t want anymore to be barely living this ministry life. I want to live it with passion. Indeed I am a son of God. I am called of God. I am called. I am anointed to preach the good news. Lord, direct my steps. Now that my future is once more brightened by your Marvelous Light.
Lord, teach me Your ways, and I will walk in Your truth. Give me a totally undivided heart that I may fear Your name. Purify my heart, cleanse me Lord I pray. Remove from me all that is standing in the way of Your love.
My soul, remind yourself that nothing, nothing, nothing will separate you from the Love of God.
Lord, let me walk straight towards You and never look back. My soul, never once more tell God that you are better far off if you have continued in your former life. Your God is the Almighty God. He is mighty, nothing is impossible to Him. He will lift you up, when you humble yourself. The Lord never abandons His children. And you are His child, you are precious in His sight.
Walk worthy. Walk worthy according to the calling that has been set before you. God has ordained your steps in His book even before your life has begun. Walk worthy because it is only by grace. You are walking on water by the grace that keeps you from sinking. It is only by grace.
My past will not dictate my future. What happened to me and what I did does not dictate my future. Let it be known to the deepest bowels of hell that I am a child of God. I am a warrior of God. I am not disqualified. I am still on the race. Lord, let me finish this race, by Your strength, by Your cause, I am Yours. I will make You proud Lord.
I am anointed by the Holy Spirit. I am empowered. I am covered by the blood of Jesus and nothing shall harm me. I will be a good husband to my wife. I will be a good and godly father to my children. Lord, preserve me and my family for Your glory. Yours is the glory alone.
“Dear Lord, thank you for this time, this opportunity that I can come before you once again. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your unfailing mercy and grace.
My soul, do not forget this time when once again God has rescued you from your sinful nature, from the chains that has bound you. God has already broken them and set you free. He has given you a new spirit, a new heart. His message to you was to walk with Him, as simple as that. You were expecting some mind-blowing revelation? But simply put, “spend time with me. Walk with me.”
Lord, I don’t want anymore to be barely living this ministry life. I want to live it with passion. Indeed I am a son of God. I am called of God. I am called. I am anointed to preach the good news. Lord, direct my steps. Now that my future is once more brightened by your Marvelous Light.
Lord, teach me Your ways, and I will walk in Your truth. Give me a totally undivided heart that I may fear Your name. Purify my heart, cleanse me Lord I pray. Remove from me all that is standing in the way of Your love.
My soul, remind yourself that nothing, nothing, nothing will separate you from the Love of God.
Lord, let me walk straight towards You and never look back. My soul, never once more tell God that you are better far off if you have continued in your former life. Your God is the Almighty God. He is mighty, nothing is impossible to Him. He will lift you up, when you humble yourself. The Lord never abandons His children. And you are His child, you are precious in His sight.
Walk worthy. Walk worthy according to the calling that has been set before you. God has ordained your steps in His book even before your life has begun. Walk worthy because it is only by grace. You are walking on water by the grace that keeps you from sinking. It is only by grace.
My past will not dictate my future. What happened to me and what I did does not dictate my future. Let it be known to the deepest bowels of hell that I am a child of God. I am a warrior of God. I am not disqualified. I am still on the race. Lord, let me finish this race, by Your strength, by Your cause, I am Yours. I will make You proud Lord.
I am anointed by the Holy Spirit. I am empowered. I am covered by the blood of Jesus and nothing shall harm me. I will be a good husband to my wife. I will be a good and godly father to my children. Lord, preserve me and my family for Your glory. Yours is the glory alone.
Day in the Life: Advance Valentines
1AM. In a few hours I will be off for Tagaytay for our semestral retreat. Past few days have been crazy because I'm involved in the retreat's band so we had to practice regularly. Not to mention the usual work load. It's baffling that since the start of the year or even a few months back I haven't actively sought projects to do, but they come by themselves. Indeed it's a blessing from God, that He faithfully provides. But someone told me this week I had to use my wisdom now in choosing my projects because the past few weeks have been crazy-crazy, I have been missing out on sleep. So this retreat is a welcome time for me to rest and reflect. And I still haven't packed my things yet because I'm procrastinating, blogging. :P
Yesterday, Netty and I had our advance Valentines date because Netty will be off to Bangkok for a hard-earned vacation. It was a simple but a lovely date. I gave her two gifts: a travelling pillow and a bag hook that she really liked. I'm glad she really liked it. We had dinner at the Power Plant and watched "Marley and Me" afterwards.
And then today, Netty surprised me at school. She gave me as a Valentines gift a goody bag of sorts: Ruffles Chips, Ferrero Chocolates, Brownies and Nuts--my favorite snacks, and a bag of multivitamins. It was very touching because it was so well thought of.
Devotion: Following at A Distance
Matthew 26:57, "But Peter followed him at a distance ..."
At times we are like Peter when Jesus was finally arrested and tried. He followed Jesus only "at a distance." Once a faithful and bold disciple, even at times "foolish" for Christ, now following "at a distance"--avoiding any association with this Christ. "He who desires to follow me must pick up his cross and follow me."
How many times in our Journey that we lag behind and foolishly choose the securities of the world over the daily life of grace God has generously bestowed upon us. We choose to just follow Christ "at a distance." "At a distance" so to follow Him whenever we want, and escape at the first sign of pressure and life's problems. A follower lacking commitment is not follower at all.
Despite his weaknesses in the most dire time, just as every story of the work of Christ grace upon God's children, Christ restored Peter back on the plow of His field to pick up where he had laid off. May this be true and soon for us who are storming through the world's temptations.
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." A warning for all of us, none exempted. Only in our constant attachment to Christ--abiding in the Vine--does the Christian walk truly be victorious.
Life update
It's eleven AM and my date with our YA group was just cancelled because our host was sick. Haven't been life-blogging lately because too loaded with stuff to do. School is nearing its end (March 9-13 is our last week) so paperworks are piling up. Plus I'm part of the band that's playing for our retreat next week. And I'm doing a video for our school's foundation concert the other week. Work is unimaginable. They are piling up because I procrastinate. There are times when I'm really bummed out to do work, but there are times when I would even stay up in the wee hours of the morning working them. Two good things from this experience: I get paid and I lose weight.
Ministry is doing better or balanced. Recently we had a planning session, which are months overdue but thankfully we're getting there, and I was reassigned to head our discipleship and small groups department, a new department created by Pastor Z, and the youth was assigned now to one of our youth leaders. Somehow there's a feeling of loss that I'm "giving away" the post, but I remember Dr. CQ said about this: see it not as getting promoted or demoted but stepping in or stepping out of a role, just changing hats. Could this be His move in preparing me for my future ministry?
Netty and I are doing great. We are in this phase of planning for the wedding and God has been faithful to both of our working hands. I already long for that day when we wouldn't part anymore after every date. It's as if we are already one. Of course there are low times but we work it out. I can't wait to be with her. Can't wait. Go around, see the world, build a life.
That's all for now. Ciao!
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