Keeping Our Focus on the Lord - Leviticus 23- 24 and Mark 1:1-22
God knows how hard it is for us to keep our focus on Him, because our flesh leads us to get distracted. Therefore, He designed several ways for us to keep our focus on Him. In the Old Covenant God commanded His people to observe the Sabbath day each week. That was a weekly way to insure they would keep their minds on the Lord. Also, God commanded them to keep the five feasts we read about in Leviticus 23. They were spaced out through the year, so the people would have a constant reminder of what God had done and what He wanted them to do. Even today we need these special times, because if we lose our focus, we can fall into sin. Then, there are severe consequences if we don´t repent. That is what we read in Leviticus 24. If you are having trouble with sin, look at your heart. You must make sure you are loving the Lord constantly, and keeping your focus on Him.
Then, in Mark 1 we read about the focus changing from John to Jesus. At Jesus' baptism God, the Father, told everyone that Jesus was His Son, and He was pleased with Him. That told everyone to focus on Jesus. Also, even Jesus had to keep His focus on the Father. It was His practice to pray regularly and to set aside the Sabbath for worship. If Jesus needed this, we need it even more. Today, we set aside the first day of the week as a Sabbath of rest and worship, because it reminds us of Jesus' resurrection. However, the principle is the same. We need that time each week to make sure our focus is on Him. Then, we need special times during the year, too. If we get away from Him, it is very important for us to repent and to get our focus back on Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 25 and Mark 1:23-45.
Then, in Mark 1 we read about the focus changing from John to Jesus. At Jesus' baptism God, the Father, told everyone that Jesus was His Son, and He was pleased with Him. That told everyone to focus on Jesus. Also, even Jesus had to keep His focus on the Father. It was His practice to pray regularly and to set aside the Sabbath for worship. If Jesus needed this, we need it even more. Today, we set aside the first day of the week as a Sabbath of rest and worship, because it reminds us of Jesus' resurrection. However, the principle is the same. We need that time each week to make sure our focus is on Him. Then, we need special times during the year, too. If we get away from Him, it is very important for us to repent and to get our focus back on Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 25 and Mark 1:23-45.