TAKE TIME: Reading Assignment for May 20-25, 2013

Introduction: The newborn nation of the Hebrews is still encamped around Mount Sinai and being schooled by God in holiness. It has been a little over a year since they left Egypt and the curricula has been intense! These lessons touched every part of their lives. Some of what we read sounds very harsh, but these lessons were meant to be that way. The main point to the law of holiness is that a person cannot keep it on their own. Each requires a savior. The final exam was graded with either a PASS or FAIL. It still is! (Everyone FAILS! That's why we need to repent and trust Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, as savior in order to receive God's grade of PASS!)

School is almost over! The roster is being compiled! Final exams are on their way in God's school. This week we will even see that God set a few holidays for them on His calendar. We will complete the reading of Leviticus and begin the book of Numbers, which starts with a census.

Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Leviticus chapter 23
• Tuesday - Leviticus 24:1-25:7
• Wednesday - Leviticus 25:8-55
• Thursday - Leviticus chapter 26
• Friday - Leviticus chapter 27
• Saturday - Numbers chapter 1

Memory Verse

The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is mine for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.. Leviticus 25:23


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise God for being a landowner! Nations are always coming and going, but God says that He owns the land  forever and moves people around in it. That is a very comforting thought when the world is in turmoil. ( He specifically mentions Israel but He owns the whole earth and establishes nations at His will.)
• Confession - We just think we own our land and possessions but really we are only borrowing them from the Lord! Ask God to forgive you of anything you want to selfishly hold back from Him.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for providing for you. If He owns everything then He will distribute it as He sees fit. Does He supply your needs and some of your desires, too? Then thank Him!
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

God owns everything but He graciously allows us to use His possessions. In fact, it has been that way since creation. Because He is gracious He wants us to be gracious, too. This is a good time to look over the things that you consider "your" possessions and get rid of the excess. Find a homeless shelter, a community service organization, or other place that takes donations and share with them out of your abundance so that they can help others. Or, sell some of your excess at a yard sale, consignment shop, or second chance store to convert some of God's blessings from material goods into cash. The Godly are good at giving!