Doyle Smith Daily

Leviticus 19:17-18 (ESV) Originally published 05/23/2015 God does not like everyone, but he does love everyone, and he demands the same of his followers. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" Leviticus 19:17-18 (ESV.) Lord, I know that you hate what ISIS does to people, but you love the people doing these things. Teach me how to love people the way you do so that I might not sin against you.

Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV) Originally published 05/22/2015 God's method of providing is giving us opportunity. "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God" Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV).   Often God's gift to us is the  opportunity to earn money or to grow spiritually. Lord, I wonder how many times you have tried to help me, but I didn't take advantage of the opportunity you provided. Forgive me for ignoring opportunities to minister and witness, and help me today to take advantage of every opportunity you give me to serve you.

Leviticus 19:1-2 (ESV) Originally published 05/21/2015 This is what it means to be a Christian, or a follower of Christ: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy’" Leviticus 19:1-2 (ESV). Lord, if you control my mind, will, and emotions today, I will think like you think, I will act the way you would act, and I will respond to people and circumstances the way you would respond to situations. I cannot do this without your wisdom and self-control. Today I want to be holy as you are holy.

Leviticus 18:24-25, 29-30 (ESV) Originally published 05/20/2015 God forbids incest, adultery, and homosexual acts by his people. Leviticus 18:6-23 (ESV). Then he says: "Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants....For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God" Leviticus 18:24-5,29-30 (ESV). Humans can make all kinds of laws concerning sex, but God has spoken, and his children must obey him. Lord, our culture is filled with temptations of these things, so remind me that they are poisons to my soul so that I would hate them.

Leviticus 18:1-5 (ESV) Originally published 05/19/2015 From the beginning God demanded that he alone control our lifestyle. "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD'" Leviticus 18:1-5 (ESV). Lord, it is hard to live in a culture and not adopt its ways. Search my life, and expose to me any way in which my values and behavior are in conflict with your statutes and rules. I want obedience to you to be everything to me.

Leviticus 17:3-4 (ESV) Originally published 05/18/2015 God made it clear how and where animals were to be sacrificed to him. Some people wanted to do it their own way. "If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among this people" Leviticus 17:3-4 (ESV). God demands recognition of his authority in every part of our lives, or he doesn't accept us as his children. Lord, are there areas of my life where I am trying to obey you, but doing what I want the way I want and not submissive to you? Show me those places of rebellion and how I can submit to you.

Leviticus 16; Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV) Originally published 05/16/2015 God set aside one day of the year for the people to have the high priest to ask God to forgive them for their disobedience. All 34 verses of Leviticus 16 describe how the priest must cleanse himself physically and spiritually to go before God to ask forgiveness for the disobedience of the people. The priest had to wash himself, wear special clothes and take the blood of a goat to insure that God would forgive the people for the sins they committed during the past year. Jesus changed that for us. "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" Hebr...

Leviticus 13:45-46 (ESV) Originally published 05/14/2015 "The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp" Leviticus 13:45-46 (ESV). Love is practical by being more concerned about the danger or the needs of others than my own inconvenience. Lord, help me not to make the lives of others more difficult today and even to make their lives better, regardless of the difficulty it might create for me.

Leviticus 11:44-45 (ESV) Originally published 05/13/2015 After telling his people what they were allowed to eat and not allowed to eat God said: "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" Leviticus 11:44-45 (ESV). God thinks and acts differently from humans, and that is what holiness is. When we listen to him and do what he says, we will be thinking and acting like him and not like the people around us, and that is what holiness is. Lord, in every situation I am in today show me how to respond like you would, not like my human nature desires so that I might be holy as you are holy.

Leviticus 11:1-2 (ESV) Originally published 05/12/2015 "And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron saying to them, 'Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth'" Leviticus 11:1-2 (ESV). There is no agreement among the followers of Christ as to why God identified some foods the people of Israel could eat and some they could not. Jesus said that he didn't come to destroy the law but that the smallest part would be kept. Yet, in Peter's experience in Acts 11:9 God told him to eat food that was forbidden in Leviticus 11. When Peter protested that he would not eat what was identified as unclean food in Leviticus, God told Peter, "What God has made clean, do not call common" Acts 11:9 (ESV). What is consistent in Leviticus 11 and Acts 11 is that God tells us that he must have full authority over what his people do, even to their eating and drinking. Lord, when I accepted you as...

Leviticus 10:1-2 (ESV) Originally published 05/11/2015 Aaron and his sons were given strict orders about how to lead the people in recognizing the authority of God over his people, but they had their own ideas about how to do God's work. "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD" Leviticus 10:1-2 (ESV).   "Unauthorized fire" was fire made contrary to how God told  them to make it, and in that way put themselves in the place of God. Lord, I want to acknowledge your authority over my life in everything I say and do. If I ever come close to disrespecting you, please make clear to me what I am doing. I want to honor your holiness and authority in every way.

Leviticus 6:4-6 (ESV) Originally published 05/09/2015  In God's kingdom crime is breaking relationships with God and people, so the punishment is different from our legal system.   "  . . if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering" Leviticus 6:4-6 (ESV). The person cheated gets his goods back and makes a 20% profit and the sacrifice to God mends that relationship. Lord, make me conscious today that how I treat people affects my relationship with you. If I have damaged relationships with someone, tell me, and I wi...

Leviticus 5:17-19 (ESV) Originally published 05/08/2015 Everyone acts contrary to what God has told us to do. "If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD'S commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt he shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD" Leviticus 5:17-19 (ESV). For the Israelites getting peace with God was complicated. Now we can confess our sins to God and receive forgiveness because Jesus was our sacrifice; Jesus paid it all. Lord, though it is simple for me to receive forgiveness, remind me how serious my sin really is and what my forgiveness has cost you. Your forgiveness is overwhelming.

Leviticus 4:27-29 (ESV) Originally published 05/07/2015 "If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD'S commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering" Leviticus 4:27-29 (ESV). Even unintentional disobedience is serious to God, and the person who sinned was to put their hand on the head of the animal to symbolize that the sinner should die because of their sin. Lord, help me to be as offended by my disobedience to you as you are offended by it, even if it is unintentional. As I ask for forgiveness, remind me that my forgiveness cost you your life.

Leviticus 1:3 (ESV) Originally published 05/06/2015 The LORD gave clear instructions as to what he would accept as an offering of worship. "If the offering is a burnt offering of livestock from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish" Leviticus 1:3 (ESV). God is telling us that worship is not for our enjoyment but a sacrifice. He told Israel if they were going to give a burnt offering to look over their herds and the one animal that they value most and would least want to give, give that one to him. Worship, by its nature, must involve sacrifice and self-denial. Lord, help me to give you whatever you ask of me today. Time is my life, so remind me that my time belongs to you: I am not to do what I enjoy. but to do first what you tell me to do.

Exodus 36:2,3,6 (ESV) Originally published 05/05/2015 God told his people to build the tabernacle. "And Moses called Bezalel and Oholliab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary.   (The craftsmen) said to Moses, 'The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do'" Exodus 36:2,3,5 (ESV). God never asks us or his church to do something that he does not provide more than we need to do what he has asked. Lord, I needed this reminder since I feel so overwhelmed with what must be done today. Help me not to waste a minute today.

Exodus 35:21 (ESV) Originally published 05/04/2015 God told the people of Israel to build a tabernacle, so Moses told them the things they would need to build it. "And the people came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all the service and for the holy garments" Exodus 35:21 (ESV). God could have said a word and the tabernacle would have been made, but he wants to include his people in what he is doing. He wants us to give what he wants from us with "stirred hearts" and "moved spirits" Lord, I feel honored and have great joy in giving you the time and resources that you ask of me because I owe you far more than I could ever give.

Exodus 34:34-35 (ESV) Originally published 05/02/2015 "Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with hm" Exodus 34:34-35 (ESV). This is a great example of what prayer is. When we pray, we cannot hide ourselves from God because he sees us for who we are and knows what we have done. There is no secret from God. And when we have been in real conversation with God, we cannot hide that from people. When we tell people what God wants us to tell them, they know we have been with God. Lord, you have exposed my failures and weakness already today; please forgive me and give me the strength I do not have. I ask that you give me your words for those to whom I must speak.

Exodus 34:29 (ESV) Originally published 05/01/2015 "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God" Exodus 34:29 (ESV). Lord, may all I do and say today be marked by the fact that I have been talking to you. Guide my choices, thoughts, and what I say that it would reflect you and your holiness.

Exodus 34:23-24 (ESV) Originally published 04/30/2015 Obedience to God requires trust because it appears dangerous: "Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times" Exodus 34:23-24 (ESV). God promised to give them land, which was their wealth, and then required every male to leave their land or wealth and be gone for days with no police or army to protect what they owned. They were to travel to Jerusalem to worship him. All their enemies knew they were gone on these times of the year. Lord, often when I know that you want me to do something, I immediately think of something bad that could happen if I obey you. Give me the trust in you to obey, in spite of the fears that I have.

Exodus 34:21 (ESV) Originally published 04/29/2015 God gave his people instructions about how they were to live when they were given the land of Canaan. "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest" Exodus 34:21(ESV). God knew that if his people didn't give him authority over their time, then he did not have authority over them. Lord, guide me as I serve you today. Help me do the work you have given me and to rest as I should. Give me your message to those who come to prayer meeting, and alert me when I am wasting time. I want to be a steward of the time you have given me.

Exodus 34:12 (ESV) Originally published 04/28/2015 This was God's warning to his people when they came to live in a land populated by people who did not live in obedience to him. "Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst" Exodus 34:12 (ESV). God did not want his people to want to fit into this culture which surrounded them, but to live and think like God told them to live and think. Lord, it is hard to live in a culture that does not honor you and not be influenced by it. Reveal to me any area of my values or lifestyle that are contrary to your will. I want to hate the things you hate and love the things that you love.

Exodus 34: 10 (ESV) Originally published 04/27/2015 This is God's plan for the church. "And he said, 'Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you'" Exodus 34:10 (ESV). God's plan is to take ordinary people, joined together in following him, and do things among them and through them that will amaze the world around them. The church is the medium through which God wants to show his greatness. Lord, help me to be submissive and obedient so that I would not hinder the awesome things that you want to do through your church.

Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV) Originally published 04/24/2015 Moses went up the mountain, and the LORD revealed himself to Moses. "The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in  steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, 'If now I have found favor in your sight, O lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for your inheritance'" Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV). Moses realized who God was and he worshiped with no music or sermon. He worshiped by acknowledging the greatness of God, by asking for forgiveness for...

Exodus 34:1 (ESV) Originally published 04/23/2015 Moses smashed the first copy of the 10 commandments because of his anger at the people of Israel who were worshiping the golden calf. "The LORD said to Moses, 'Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke'" Exodus 34:1 (ESV). God didn't need Moses to make the stone tablets because God could have provided them with the commands already on them. Often when God wants to do something he demands us to participate, or he will not do it. We have the 10 commandments because Moses worked hard to prepare the tablets. Lord, remind me that I have a part in what you want to do in this world. You have told me that you want to speak to someone through me. I will try to do this today.

Exodus 33: 15-17 (ESV) Originally published 04/22/2015 God had told Moses to take the people of Israel to the land he had promised, but he was so upset with them that he would not be among them. "And he (Moses) said to him, (God) 'If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people?' Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people from every other people on the face of the earth?' And the LORD said to Moses, 'this very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name'" Exodus 33:15-17 (ESV).  God changed his mind as the result of Moses prayer because he knew Moses' name, which means he knew Moses' motive and integrity. Lord, I cannot fool you. You know me better than I know myself. Reveal my real character, motives, and flaws that I might know how to pray. Do not let me fool...