I’ve read through the Holy Bible about 4 or 5 times in the last 13 years. Everytime I come to the book of Leviticus, I quietly groan because it’s really boring to me. It’s about rules and regulations. Since I’m not being tested on it, I generally skim through the rules. My brain would literally say “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…” as I’m skimming through.
Recently, I came across these two short articles about this book in the Bible. Please read these short articles and perhaps you’ll discover that this book is much more interesting for you to do a Bible study on. I think there are some people who enjoy delving into these kinds of rules, regulations and bylaws etc such as accountants and tax lawyer types. Definitely not me.
https://go.tonyevans.org/devotional-explore-the-book-of-leviticus
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/the-leper-messiah/
Here is a very good message by a pastor who specializes in premarital counseling to their congregants. Please listen to what he has to say about one of the most important human relationship – marriage.
https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20240714/
This is a personal guardrail that I follow for the last 13 years if you want to use it too. It was an advice that I received from the Holy Spirit directly – “Whenever it comes to a sensitive or emotional subject matter; discuss it by phone or in person, and never by email or text.” It’s been an excellent advice since I don’t believe I’ve lost any relationships in the last 13 years. I also discovered that by the time I meet up the strong emotions and thoughts have subsided resulting in better dialogue, even if we may still differ in our views. I’m far from perfect but this one guideline has served me tremendously since I haven’t lost any relationships. I found that organizational psychology would call this having a good “emotional intelligence”.
Speaking about therapy, if you are using a professional therapist for your marriage, please try to use a Christian counselor. I think it’s also important to ask if the therapist is in a good, stable marriage. If they have been divorced multiple times, I’m not sure if they know the biblical guardrails or rules and regulations that are in the Bible for a successful marriage.
Pastor Greg Laurie and his wife have been married a long time and they even had a tragic loss of their 33 year old son by a motorcycle accident. Statistically, a couple who lost a child from an accident have a higher rate of divorce. The fact that they overcame the odds tells me that they would be a good team to learn from about marriage. If you go to their ministry website and search “marriage”, you’ll find messages and books that they wrote together about marriage.
My husband still thinks my church is like a Christian cult because of how much I am consumed by the things of God. My church is not a cult. How do I know? Because by the fruit of my faith – it’s good. Ask my mother. She said that I used to be like a cold and frosty wind (it is better understood in Korean.) I noticed that I still have a hot temper but it’s under control by the power of the Holy Spirit and by my daily quiet time of praying and reading of God’s word in the Bible. 😅 My hot temper still seeps out every now and then but it’s not like it was before. Thank goodness!
Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV)
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207&version=NKJV
Galatians 5:22-24 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5&version=NKJV
Here is a good blog by Pastor Vlad about spotting a Christian cult. Please read and be aware. I think it can be applied to even social, political, business and other religious cults too.
https://pastorvlad.org/signs-youre-in-a-cult-not-a-church/
When Jesus gets hold of a person, it’s my belief that everything else becomes secondary, even family. And when it’s done right and biblically, it’s actually safer and securer for you. In my earlier years as I was wrestling with the lordship of Jesus Christ over my life, I received this vision during my quiet time that helped me. I saw a vision of a wheel (like a bike wheel). Jesus Christ is the core. Then family, work, church, friends, health, education, wealth, beauty etc are offshoots from Jesus Christ. Then your life as a wheel can move forward safely and securely. However if you have your children, wealth or power etc as the core, then if one of them dies or fails then your wheel falls apart completely. That vision was what I needed to give complete control over to Jesus Christ. By the way, it’s a daily submission since we are still moving and living human beings with a sin nature within us. I look forward to heaven when I no longer have to fight my sin nature daily.
This glorious song comes to my heart as I’m writing this message today. May it bless you too.
Journal of Faith 