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Nadab and Abihu: Strange Fire and Irreverent Worship
Leviticus is a book about holiness. The first seven chapters outline God’s instructions for sacrifices and offerings, teaching about the seriousness of sin. Then, the priests are ordained to begin their service in the tabernacle when the unthinkable happens: Nadab and Abihu, Aarons’ oldest sons, burn “strange fire” and are struck dead by God. Today, we’ll consider how the story of Nadab and Abihu relates to us. We’ll start by imagining we are among God’s people as the priests begin their work. Nadab and Abihu: Strange Fire and Irreverent Worship The golden thread glistened in the firelight, and the air was thick with incense and anticipation. Cleaned, robed, and anointed,…
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How to Be Forgiven by God: Practical Steps Toward Healing
Years ago, I realized I’d made such a mess of my life that I wasn’t sure how to be forgiven by God—or if forgiveness was possible for someone like me. I’d grown up going to church, but I’d drifted in my faith. Angry with God over some disappointments, I turned away from him. When I finally hit rock bottom, I wasn’t sure I could be forgiven. Maybe you can relate. Today, we’ll talk about how to be forgiven by God and cleansed from our sins and mistakes. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you grow closer to God. How…
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Living for God’s Glory: 15 Bible Verses About Glorifying God in All We Do
Years ago, as I sought direction for my life, a mentor encouraged me with these words: “God is more concerned about how you live than where you live or what job you choose. He wants you to glorify him in all you do.” That day, I began searching God’s Word for Bible verses about glorifying God in everything. Today, I’ll share 15 powerful Bible verses about glorifying God. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you glorify God in all you do. 15 Bible Verses About Glorifying God According to God’s Word, our lives glorify God when his…
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Jesus in the Tabernacle: When You Feel Far From God
The Bible doesn’t pretend nearness to God is effortless. In fact, it has a great deal to say about distance, fear, and longing. Today, we’ll visit the book of Exodus and explore the symbolism of Jesus in the tabernacle of God’s people. As the people wandered in the wilderness after escaping from Egypt, God commanded them to build a tabernacle, a portable tent where they would meet with him. The tent was a visible sign that God chose to dwell among his people. Every detail of the tabernacle conveyed a message. Furthermore, every part of the tabernacle pointed to Jesus, the One who would fulfill God’s plan for his people.…
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Called to Follow: 15 Bible Verses About Following Jesus
Today, we’ll begin by entering into the story of an unexpected man who was called to follow Jesus. His story is a reminder that Jesus calls people from every walk of life to follow him, even those we would not expect. Then, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about following Jesus in our lives as well. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you as you follow Christ. Bible Verses About Following Jesus Before we read these Scriptures, let’s enter into God’s Word as we read about the call of an unexpected follower. The Call to Follow Jesus A…
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25 Comforting Bible Verses About Death and Eternal Life
Years ago, I was walking through a local library with a friend when she grabbed onto my arm and blurted, “How can I know I’m going to heaven when I die?” Her uncle had just passed away, and she’d been thinking about life after death. Because we were in a library, we found a Bible on a nearby shelf, sat down, and studied it for Bible verses about death and eternal life. Maybe you have similar questions to the ones my friend was asking. Today, we’ll look at 25 Bible verses about death and eternal life as we consider what God says about the afterlife. Also, be sure to read…
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7 Lessons From Moses and the Golden Calf
God had just delivered his people from lives of bondage as slaves in Egypt. He led them across the Red Sea and drowned the Egyptians behind them. Just days after directly giving them the 10 Commandments, his people disobeyed him by making and worshiping an idol of a golden calf. Today, we’ll explore seven modern-day lessons from Moses and the golden calf. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God. Let’s begin by entering onto the scene among the Hebrew people. Lessons From Moses and the Golden Calf Thunder groaned from somewhere in the distance. “Do…
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Biblical Self-Examination: Questions for Growth
Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish pastor in the 19th century, compared self-examination to searching in a dark room. We cannot see what is in the darkness until we open the curtains and let the light in. Biblical self-examination is the process of letting the light of God’s Truth guide our reflections. We cannot see ourselves accurately by focusing solely on ourselves. Chaos and confusion abound within. We can only see ourselves as we are in the light of God’s Word. With this in mind, today we’ll discuss the concept of biblical self-examination as we explore questions for growth. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free…
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When Negative Thoughts Attack: 15 Bible Verses on Renewing the Mind
Several months ago, an unexpected turn of events left our family feeling derailed. Today, I’ll share the words I wrote during that time. Then, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses on renewing the mind as we aim to remain in alignment with God. Here are the words I wrote as we navigated the challenging circumstances: “Time has slowed this week. Our oldest child is home from school with influenza B. I have a herniated disc in my back. The rains of April are here, and our spring sporting events have been cancelled. And so we sit in the house, me with my heating pad, and Bekah huddled under piles of…
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Why Did God Give the 10 Commandments?
Today, we’re going to imagine ourselves within the scene of a historic day, the day God gave the 10 Commandments to his people. We’ll also aim to answer the question, Why did God give the 10 Commandments? Let’s begin by entering into God’s Word. Why Did God Give the 10 Commandments? As dawn breathed over the land, it appeared to be an ordinary day. The mountain was quiet, the sky clear. The people stood at the foot of the great mountain. Their clothes were freshly washed. They had purified themselves in anticipation of this day for three days. Despite the preparations, when the moment arrived, they felt entirely unprepared. The…
