DAY 146 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE LAW

YOU WILL BE FOR ME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS AND A HOLY NATION

Exodus 19: 6

Reading: Leviticus 20: 26; 1 Peter 2: 9

Have you ever stopped to wonder what God's purpose was in redeeming you? Did He liberate you because he felt sorry for you and desired for you to skip around freely, or does He have a more substantial purpose? 

God had a specific purpose for the people He had released from slavery - it tells us so in our reading for today, Exodus 19: 6. He intended for them to become His priests. 

The people themselves had no real idea about this. They were so focused on their own needs. This sounds all-too familiar, are we not just the same? But God was trying to show them that He had a greater purpose - He wanted them to be His very own special nation - a nation with a way of life that would set them apart from the nations around them.  As this set-apart people, the Israelites would reveal the character and person of God to the rest of the world.

For this reason every person in Israel had to learn the law, live the law and teach the law. By doing this, they would reveal to the nations what it means to love. The nations would see that the God of the Israelites loved His people and wanted the best for His people – not like the gods of that day who were jealous, greedy and careless with people.

God has called you to live His law of love. If you are willing to do all that God commands of you, you will become the priest that mediates for others and draws them to the Lord. 

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for making me a part of your holy people. Holy Spirit, I will listen and obey your gentle promptings so that I live out your will in my life.

For the family

Discuss an example with your children where the Holy Spirit prompted you to do something and you obeyed, and what the results were of your obedience.

Spend some time praying with your children about what God is asking of them for today. Ask them to listen to see if they can hear what God is saying. Discuss how they will go about obeying what God has said.
Spend time with them later in the day to reflect on whether they were able to obey what God had asked of them.