“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:4)

Husbands: Most men are social idiots compared to women.  We are playing checkers while they are playing chess.  If you look good in public, it is because she makes you look good.  Give her credit (publicly and privately) for putting that crown on your head.

Wives: You will never fully appreciate what a gift you give your husband when you protect his dignity even when he doesn’t deserve it.  You win our hearts all over again when you shield us from the humiliation of our own concoction.  We were stupid, but you were gracious.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 10-15; Psalm 12; Proverbs 12 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things; who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’ ” (Psalm 12:3-4)

Hell will be full of people who were convinced that when they met God, they would talk their way out of it.  That’s not how it works.

Satan’s the smoothest talker there is, and he hasn’t fooled God, either.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 10-15; Psalm 12; Proverbs 12 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45)

Holiness is imitation of the Creator.  It is the creation crying to the Creator that we adore Him and wish to be near Him in character.  The Christian is holy for the same reason a child imitates their father.

“I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and the clean…” (Leviticus 20:24-25)

The Jew understood that what they ate, how they worshipped, and even how they dressed was because they were meant to stand out as peculiar – as holy.  Their God was different, so they needed to be different.  Simple Christianity asks the same of us (1 Pet 2:9).

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Wake up, be holy, and flatter God.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 10-15; Psalm 12; Proverbs 12 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Now if a man loses the hair of his head, he is bald; he is clean.” (Leviticus 13:40)

Just as a reminder gentlemen: bald is biblically beautiful.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 10-15; Psalm 12; Proverbs 12 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“ruthless men attain riches… the generous man will be prosperous…” (Proverbs 11:16,25)

In the same chapter of Proverbs, two paths to wealth are described.  It is possible to gain riches through ruthlessness.  The world is full of wealthy people who have gained their wealth by defrauding, abusing, and being cutthroat.

However, that is not the only path.  Not all wealth is gained that way.  The other path is the path of service and generosity.  When we seek to help others, serve them, and be useful – God provides a path to prosper while keeping your character intact.

Unsurprisingly, when you serve well and help others in the business world, you tend to end up with many customers.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“In the LORD, I take refuge.  How can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain’… ” (Psalm 11:1)

         There is not enough time or space here for me to properly convey to you how much I love Psalm 11.  Though short, this psalm of David is a prayerful reminder that we all have two choices in life – flee for the mountains of our own wisdom or stand firm and take refuge in the LORD.

         Your life will be defined by one of those two convictions.  Either you live a life like a bird, constantly flitting along trying to solve things your way, anxious, distressed, and entirely self-reliant, OR you live a life built upon a foundation of trust in God.

         You must choose.  Will you take your refuge in Him, or will you run for the hills every time adversity and persecution arrive?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“His own hands are to bring offerings by fire to the LORD.” (Leviticus 7:30)

         When an offering was to be made, the one who sinned was to make it.  The wealthy man could not send his servant to make the offering, nor could a powerful king command his generals to offer peace offerings on his behalf.

         Worship, in the Old Testament and the New, cannot be done by proxy.  It must be your voice, your hands, your life which are offered to God.  There is no good worship that another can offer to replace your own.  We must bring our offerings to Him with our own hands.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD and deceives his companion…” (Leviticus 6:2f)

         An interesting detail given in the Levitical accounts of guilt offerings is that when someone steals from his neighbor or swears falsely or deceives his companion, God required the guilty person to make it right with both God and man.

         A guilt offering was to be made to Jehovah, and restitution was to be made to the person they defrauded.  In short, God wanted Israel to understand that they had a responsibility to be right with Him and right with one another.

         When we sin, we often hurt others by our sins.  Make it right with God, and then, as much as you are able, make it right with them, too.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Now if a person sins… though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.” (Leviticus 5:17)

         The beginning chapters of Leviticus are tedious for me to read.  They are full of specifics about butchering of animals, how to remove the fat from the entrails, and where to pour the blood.  I will admit, at times, finding my eyes glaze over while reading the specifics of how to make burnt offerings, guilt offerings, wave offerings, etc.

         However, one detail clearly stands out in these early lessons regarding sin offerings.  Sin offerings weren’t just made for willful sins; they were made for sins that sincere people committed ignorantly.  God made it clear – unintentional sin is still sin, and the punishment must still be born.

         Let us not make the mistake of assuming that good intentions somehow clear our record.  A wrong is still objectively wrong no matter how innocently I committed it or where my heart was.  Sin does not care what your motivation was – sin just is.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision