Leviticus 15-16 ; Psalm 31:1-8 ; Mark 13:32–14:16 "Young Girl, I" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Oil Crayon on Paper Yesterday, in our Leviticus readings, we were reminded of mankind’s two main difficulties – obedience  and holiness .  Today, our readings in Leviticus 15-16 reveal that, of the two, man’s greater problem is holiness.  Obedience means simply to do what we’re told to do.  A person can be obedient without being holy, but a person can never be holy without ob

Leviticus 14 ; Psalm 30:8-12 ; Mark 13:1-31 "The Runner" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pen & Ink on Paper Earlier, we said that one of the most important lessons to be learned from the book of Leviticus is bound up in the question – Will the Israelites simply obey God ?   Will they carry out all the tedious laws and complex regulations found in this book?  This is the test set forth by this book.  Ultimately,  this is God’s test for us all – will we obey Him?   Often, G

Leviticus 13 ; Proverbs 6:20-29 ; Mark 12:28-44 "Innocence" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper Today we come to Leviticus 13 which is a long chapter that contains the regulations which relate to various infectious skin diseases that might crop up within the camp of the Israelites. These skin diseases included sores, spots, rashes, swellings, raw flesh, burns, blemishes, and other possible skin ailments.  Why such a concern about human skin?  First  of

Leviticus 11-12 ; Psalm 30:1-7 ; Mark 12:13-27 "Drei Tulpen" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor on Paper In the first seven chapters of Leviticus, we have seen God’s requirements for holiness expressed through the ritual laws that relate to sacrifices.  These sacrifices concerned sacred days, festivals, and issues that relate to justice before God.  In chapters eight through ten, we have seen the laws that relate to the priesthood – the ordination of priests, the

Leviticus 9-10 ; Psalm 29 ; Mark 11:27-12:12 "Old Sitzenkirch Tree" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor on Paper Today’s readings focus on the topic of “ authority ,” which needs to be understood biblically. In Leviticus 1-8, we have seen all the various offerings, confusing though they may be to us. Now we come to Leviticus 9, where we see in action exactly how these prescribed sacrifices were designed to bring about atonement for the people.  By God’s authority ,

Leviticus 7:11–8:36 ; Psalm 28 ; Mark 11:1-26 "Still Life with Fruit" © by Eric C. Stricker - Original Oil on Canvas Today we come to Leviticus 7:11–8:36. In this section, we see the regulations concerning the fellowship offering and the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests.  The regulations are similar to those for the other offerings, although we notice that a fellowship offering can serve as “an expression of thankfulness” (verse 12), or “as the result of a vow or

Leviticus 5:1–7:10 ; Proverbs 6:12-19 ; Mark 10:35-52 "Little Girl" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Fired Clay Sculpture Today in Leviticus 5:1–7:10, we see Lord saying to Moses, “If a person sins because he does not speak up …” (verse 1).  This verse indicates that we have a responsibility to communicate the truth when we “hear a public charge” or “see or learn about something” that is clearly wrong.  Man is a responsible creature.   Naturally, a man may be “ unaware of