If you are following my plan for reading through the Bible in a year, you have just started reading Leviticus. I wonder if your reaction is the same as mine the first time I came to Leviticus? Probably not.

          I grew up in an occasionally religious, but mostly not, household. Sometime in my mid-teens, I started attending a nearby church and accepted the truth of the Gospel. Even so, it was not until many years later that I established a consistent lifestyle that reflected that Truth. One of the decisions I made as I was developing that consistency was to read through the Bible in a year.

          When I came to Leviticus, I was amazed. This was a boring book? Not to me! It was fascinating. Full of instruction straight from God to the Israelites. Specific directions on what sacrifices to bring to Him; the exact requirements and how they could be varied, or not; complete instructions on when to bring them, which ones were mandatory, which voluntary. Just as Exodus had given instructions about living life, Leviticus revealed even more of what God expected.

          I guess what fascinated me most was that it was all there, written down, unchanging. God said, “This is what pleases me. Do this and you please me.” That stability, that assurance, that knowledge was so welcome to me. It’s not that I had a terrible childhood. I had a mom and dad who loved me, cared for me, did the best they could for me. They gave me a good, safe, happy childhood. But sometimes there had been a disconnect between what they said they wanted from me and how the responded to me and my actions. A disconnect that often left me confused, unsure, doubting myself or resenting them. Not so with God! He had laid it all out, exactly what He wanted. It was all there in Leviticus!

          I’m glad I came to Leviticus after I knew about Jesus, after I knew how He satisfied the Old Covenant, revealed in Exodus and Leviticus; after I knew his life and death had ushered in a New Covenant. Otherwise I might have fallen into legalism, based on unnecessary adherence to Old Testament covenant laws. I was that fascinated.

          But I’d already learned, at least partially, that those laws and sacrifices were meant to foreshadow the Fulfillment, not be the Fulfillment. Years before I’d read and memorized Romans 6-8, Scripture that teaches the Law came to show where we displeased God, but that was all it could do. Jesus lived the Law, every aspect of it, even becoming the sacrifice required in Leviticus. He did that so he could then bring me to the Father, atone for my failure, my sin with His perfect life, death and resurection.

          Reading Leviticus, that first time and every time since, provides a greater depth of understanding and appreciation for the work He’s done in my life by writing His law in my heart and mind, just as He said He would do. (Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:3; Ezekiel 11:19)

          What about you? Are you living the truth revealed in Leviticus? Or do you even understand it?

          It’s been about a month since my last post. It is about time for me to say, “Ok. NOW I’m going to start posting regularly. This is For Real this time.” And, maybe, just maybe, it isn’t time for you to roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, right.”

          Then again, maybe there is no one left to respond at all. I’m certainly not giving you anything interesting to read. I want to. I want to write things that are interesting and helpful, that make you want to visit my site often. Really. That is my plan. I’m just having trouble implementing it. (Duh. Pretty obvious, isn’t it?)

          Typical of me. I have an idea, a dream and I step out to accomplish it. Suddenly it is too big for me. Too much for me to accomplish. I’m not sure if it because I don’t consider all the variables or if I take on too much at once or expect greater perfection than I can deliver or . . .

          Whatever the reason, I’m here again, saying I think I’ve a plan.

          I have many interests in my life, many areas where I think I have something to share, many articles or snippets of articles I’ve written on so many subjects.
         

• I am knowledgeable in the Bible and in living a Scriptural life.
• I have 17 years of homeschooling experience, with some very definite opinions and insights.
• I have interest and expertise of various levels in scrapbooking, needlework, cooking, writing and more.

          All I need to do is wander through my multiple computer files of articles, devotions, letters and more. There is a wealth of opinions and thoughts to be mined. If I’ll just edit them a bit, they will make a multitude of short, interesting, helpful blog posts.

          As I said before, I’ll be experimenting with schedules, so at first my posts will probably seem a bit hodgepodge. Eventually, I’m sure I’ll fall into a routine (rut?) and a schedule will present itself. For now, enjoy the eclectic mix of my interests.

          Really. Believe me. This time will be For Real.