I read some info online & it sounds like God was forbidding the Jews to practice the pagan cultures who cut & permanently disfigured body parts as part of their idolatrous ritual to appease their gods on behalf of the dead person.
As I was reading through today’s passages I, too, was curious why no longer follow these things. Reading through Colossians 3 helped understand that more and knowing that we rather live moral lives and strive to be holy seems more closely tied to what I’ve been taught. The commands of the OT are so harsh and makes it hard to feel ok with what you do (I have tattoos so does my husband for example) and to know that I could be cast out because of that seems so extreme when I know the things within my heart and the love that I have for God.
I know these are old posts, but oh how I love what Michelle said! I estimate that the largest part of sin in my life comes from exactly this. Fear. Lack of trust. I’m glad her post is still here! And KK’s post about the song. It’s been years since I sang it but I’m bringing it back today! I thank God for everyone who reads and posts here!!
This hit me pretty hard this morning. Jesus is standing there, having been betrayed, and watches as they run away.
Fear has a way of warping our perception of everything. Suddenly all we can see is the looming problem. Before our eyes, it’s becomes a too big, too loud, overpowering terror. We’re so focused on it that we lose sight of Christ. When our eyes move from him, the fear takes over. We run, frantically trying to save ourselves. As we retreat, we forget our pursuit; we compromise. We forget the freedom and security that is ours in Christ. We allow fear to drive us into darkness and sin.
All this time, Christ remains. He is faithful. He is loving. He stands, waiting, calling to us. We only need to turn back and fix our eyes on the Savior. He’ll show us how minuscule that problem is in the reality of who he is.
As Jesus was arrested and put on trial, Peter was gripped by fear. All he could see was the problem. He took his eyes away from Christ and forgot to trust him. All the while, God had a plan and Christ was fulfilling it.
The situation may seem hopeless but Christ is making a way.
Thank you for sharing, Michelle! Great reminder to fix our eyes on God. Brings to mind the lyrics: “and the things on earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Hi sisters!!! I absolutely love reading in Matthew today about prayer. I feel like we often time look down on the diciples that couldn’t stay awake to pray but to we honestly do that? I for one dont. I am struggling a lot with my prayer life and just feel like I fet too distracted during the day to remember to pray (so bad I know) buttttt I recently discovered this app called prayer mate and it is wonderful!!! it allows you to add different people and things you want to pray for and you can set reminders to be sent to remind you to pray! I hope that this helps one of you out with your prayer life!!♡
17“You must not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. 18Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.”
this one stuck out to me as a set of verses the modern church needs to hear more often…
that was Leviticus 19. From Leviticus 20, “7Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am Yahweh your God. 8Keep My statutes and do them; I am Yahweh who sets you apart.”
another good reminder that God’s people should be obviously different in how our lives looks to the outside world – they should show that we love God and do what He asks even when it is tough for us, like Jesus in the Garden
means*
I’m a little behind so I’m not sure if anyone will see this but does anyone know what “don’t gash yourself for someone who is dead”
I read some info online & it sounds like God was forbidding the Jews to practice the pagan cultures who cut & permanently disfigured body parts as part of their idolatrous ritual to appease their gods on behalf of the dead person.
As I was reading through today’s passages I, too, was curious why no longer follow these things. Reading through Colossians 3 helped understand that more and knowing that we rather live moral lives and strive to be holy seems more closely tied to what I’ve been taught. The commands of the OT are so harsh and makes it hard to feel ok with what you do (I have tattoos so does my husband for example) and to know that I could be cast out because of that seems so extreme when I know the things within my heart and the love that I have for God.
Why do I fear ? The Lord is incharge of my life. I trust in him ♥️
I know these are old posts, but oh how I love what Michelle said! I estimate that the largest part of sin in my life comes from exactly this. Fear. Lack of trust. I’m glad her post is still here! And KK’s post about the song. It’s been years since I sang it but I’m bringing it back today! I thank God for everyone who reads and posts here!!
“Then all the disciples left him and fled”
This hit me pretty hard this morning. Jesus is standing there, having been betrayed, and watches as they run away.
Fear has a way of warping our perception of everything. Suddenly all we can see is the looming problem. Before our eyes, it’s becomes a too big, too loud, overpowering terror. We’re so focused on it that we lose sight of Christ. When our eyes move from him, the fear takes over. We run, frantically trying to save ourselves. As we retreat, we forget our pursuit; we compromise. We forget the freedom and security that is ours in Christ. We allow fear to drive us into darkness and sin.
All this time, Christ remains. He is faithful. He is loving. He stands, waiting, calling to us. We only need to turn back and fix our eyes on the Savior. He’ll show us how minuscule that problem is in the reality of who he is.
As Jesus was arrested and put on trial, Peter was gripped by fear. All he could see was the problem. He took his eyes away from Christ and forgot to trust him. All the while, God had a plan and Christ was fulfilling it.
The situation may seem hopeless but Christ is making a way.
Thank you!!
Thank you for this insight, Michelle.
Thank you for sharing, Michelle! Great reminder to fix our eyes on God. Brings to mind the lyrics: “and the things on earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
I love that song KK — “turn your eyes upon Jesus.”
Yikes. How often am I running away from the source of joy & straight into the entrapment of anxiety? Thanks for this, Michelle!!
❤❤❤
Hi sisters!!! I absolutely love reading in Matthew today about prayer. I feel like we often time look down on the diciples that couldn’t stay awake to pray but to we honestly do that? I for one dont. I am struggling a lot with my prayer life and just feel like I fet too distracted during the day to remember to pray (so bad I know) buttttt I recently discovered this app called prayer mate and it is wonderful!!! it allows you to add different people and things you want to pray for and you can set reminders to be sent to remind you to pray! I hope that this helps one of you out with your prayer life!!♡
17“You must not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. 18Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh.”
this one stuck out to me as a set of verses the modern church needs to hear more often…
that was Leviticus 19. From Leviticus 20, “7Consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am Yahweh your God. 8Keep My statutes and do them; I am Yahweh who sets you apart.”
another good reminder that God’s people should be obviously different in how our lives looks to the outside world – they should show that we love God and do what He asks even when it is tough for us, like Jesus in the Garden