Leviticus 10:1-2 – “Then Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his fire pan and put fire in it, set incense on it, and presented strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. ² So fire went out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them so that they died before the Lord.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word, I was inquisitive once again about the “strange fire” of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10.  The Hebrew translated strange is “unauthorized, foreign, unapproved.” 

They disregarded God’s prescribed way and did it their way.   When we attempt to fulfill God’s purposes through human effort and ability, we add to what God has provided.   Extrapolate that to the New Testament; it would be Christ plus something.   Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life, and the Cross is Complete.  

That brings me to my reading in the Book of Colossians.   Paul unveils the spiritual revelation of what Jesus did and who we are through that work “if” we believe and receive.   He is not talking about becoming. He is speaking of Being.

Colossians 1:6b tells us that the Gospel produces the fruit of eternal life manifested in us.  In 1:9, he reveals that as we receive God’s grace and realize it, we become reservoirs of Every Kind of Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding.   Wow!  That means that we can know things far beyond our natural ability because of God’s grace in us.

The revelation of grace is astounding. Colossians 1:20 says, “AND by the Blood of His Cross, EVERYTHING in heaven and earth is brought back to Himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again.”

Then he reveals that because of God’s grace and love (v.22) – “but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him— ²³ if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.”

Now, there is Nothing between us and the Father!   Because of the Cross, the Father sees us as “holy, flawless, and restored.”  Too bad we don’t see ourselves that way!   We believe the whispers of the enemy and look at our perceived imperfections and shortcomings.   And live as spiritual papers that are inept and impotent because of the wrong perceptions.

Jesus living in us floods (or could or should) with the expectation of His Glory revealed and demonstrated in us!  Remember How the Father Views Us because of the Cross.

In Colossians 2:2, he reveals that “if” our hearts are wrapped in the comfort of heaven and woven into love’s fabric, we will have access to “all” the Riches of God.   Our spiritual wealth is “in” Him, waiting to be uncovered and realized.  It’s there.  We need to seek it.

Colossians 2:11 is an amazing revelation.   Through union with Christ, our hearts are circumcised, and that cuts away the guilt and power of sin!  It is now extinct Because of what Jesus did.  That’s God’s view but not the view of most.  We see ourselves as sinners, not redeemed members of the family who are New Creations!

Jesus Totally defeated the devil, but we tend to give him illegitimate authority and power. Colossians 3:2-3 gives instructions and revelation.   We are to “fill” our thoughts with heavenly realities, not earthly distractions.   Being crucified with Christ severs the tie to the old life and reveals our new and true life in God.

Colossians 3:5-11 we have invaluable instruction and revelation.   We are to live as a person who has died to sin and are to live as one who has died to forbidden things… it is amazing what he says next – “including the desire for wealth, which is the essence of idol worship.”  Simply put, anything that becomes our focus becomes our master.  Jesus is to be our focus, and He provides “all” we need.  He is “all” we need.

We are to intentionally eliminate the ways of old nature.  That includes anger, fits of rage, all forms of hatred, cursing, filthy speech, and lying.  We are to “lay aside” our old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise.  Because we are New Creations and are continuously being renewed into God’s likeness, that brings us the full revelation of God.

We can’t be that and be the old, too.   One has to go.   One will be rejected.  What we choose determines who we are!   You are in Him, and in Him, you are Victorious!

Embrace the Fire of God and allow that Fire to Transform you from the inside out!  Victory is Yours!

Leviticus 22:21-22 – “If a man presents a peace-offering sacrifice to the Lord for a special votive offering or for a freewill offering from the herd or the flock, it must be flawless to be acceptable; it must have no flaw. ²² “‘You must not present to the Lord something blind, or with a broken bone, or mutilated, or with a running sore, or with a festering eruption, or with a feverish rash.  You must not give any of these as a gift on the altar to the Lord.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word, I was challenged regarding offerings to God.   A less-than-perfect sacrifice was unacceptable.  I heard the word in my heart, “Blind Sacrifices.”   I pondered the question, “Do we sometimes give God blind sacrifices or flawed offerings? Do we give Him our leftovers or the unusable ones? “  That would reveal why many live in a constant state of lack and turmoil.

The Lord used that account to bring me to something in 1 Thessalonians that set my heart ablaze.  It was a dual message.  1 Thessalonians 5:14 demanded my attention.   One translation says, “We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle.  Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground.   Help the weak to stand against.  Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. “

Not in their place of battle?   The Greek word ‘atakos’ is often used for troops that are not in battle formation or unarranged, disorderly, or idle—those who are losing heart.

The ministry assigned to every leader and every believer is to encourage others.   In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul spoke of the reality that those believers were putting their faith into practice.   Love motivated them to serve others, and they were unmovable in their hope in Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 gives life patterns to follow and details the benefits and fruit of that life.  We are to live in a continual attitude of Joy that is so extravagant and encompassing that it is a continual feast.

• Make your life a prayer.

Pray unceasingly means to be in a constant state of communion with God, always open to dialogue. Prayer is not giving God our list of demands or desires; it is open dialogue. It means expressing our desires and listening for His response and directive.   

• Live in a continual attitude of gratitude.

Then, he unveils a super serious danger that blocks the move of God in us.  In verse 19 –“Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.”  Wow!   They were baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire!  That fire is a source of divine energy that enables the Holy Spirit to work in us.  It purges, purifies, and empowers. 

1 Thessalonians 5:20 speaks of prophecy, both personal words and corporate universal words.  Don’t scorn them.   No matter how they sound, examine them by putting them to the test.  How?  The revealed written Word and the witness of the Spirit.  Once tested, every prophecy that proves valid is to be embraced. 

Remember Jeshophat’s instructions in 2 Chronicles 20, “Believe in the LORD your God, so you shall be established; believe in His prophets, and you shall be delivered.”

If we give God our best, fully surrender our hearts, hold fast to His Word, and always maintain an attitude of gratitude and patience seasoned with prayer, we will see victory beyond what we have experienced.  

God seems to be saying, “Give Me blind sacrifices and fail.  Give Me the best, and I will give you My best.”

Let us consider our lives and act accordingly, examining our hearts and actions.   Victory is within our grasp!  God desires for us to walk in fullness.   It is up to us, so let’s seize the day!

Give God your best, and you will receive His best in return, which is far better than yours!  

1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Today, I am drawn to something from a question in my heart that arose from reading the report of the ten naysayers in the Book of Numbers.   God had already told Moses to watch and see if His Word was true.  The advanced recon scouts all agreed—the Land is All God said it was. BUT… Their buts got in the way of faith.

• They Saw the goodness of the land, but they failed to see God.  
• They Saw the problem.
• They Saw the giants were the children of giants, the descendants of giants.  

That’s All They Could See.  Joshua and Caleb saw the land, the plenty, and embraced the promise.   The promise was greater than the problem.

The question in my heart is: “What Are You Seeing?”   Like most, I have times when I see the problem so clearly that I forget the demonstrated faithfulness of God.   Their words were We Can’t!    They were right; they couldn’t, not in their own power.  

The victory was not dependent upon them to do it.   Their responsibility was to Trust and Obey.  God never asks us to “do” His job, but He “always” expects us to be available in obedience.  

• Our focus determines our faith.  
• Our focus shapes our confidence.  
• Our focus is the doorway to transformation.  
• What we focus on shapes in us who we become.

I love the rendering of 1 Timothy 1:13-16, “Mercy Kissed Me!  I was ignorant, but God flooded me with such incredible grace it was like a river overflowing its banks and filled me to overflowing with faith and love for Jesus.  I was captured by Grace! “   I love that.  Many need to be kissed, captured, and overflowed by Grace.  It is transforming.   Too often, we live lives that do not reflect transformation.

What do we See?  What we see is affected by the development of the Gifts and Grace in us.  Too many minimize their gifts and call.   Why?  They see themselves in their inadequacy rather than God in His sufficiency.   God says, “My Grace is made perfect in weakness.”

Let the gift and call drive you to fulfill God’s purpose.   1 Timothy 4:16b – “…for living what you preach or claim to believe will release salvation inside you and to all those who listen and observe.”

What do you see?  It is manifested in what you say and do.  It is reflected in your attitude, thoughts, and desires.  What do you see?   I cry that the words of the song become my testimony and yours – I See Jesus!

When we See Him, we see the Victory and become the Victory!

2 Timothy 3:14-17 – “You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about.  You know who taught you ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered what I was reading and hearing, my heart rejoiced and wept.   I wept for the world and the too-frequent impotence, fear, and doubt living in God’s people.   I rejoiced in God.   I rejoiced in the possibilities He has provided.  I rejoiced in His continual unveiling of Himself.  I rejoiced in truth!  I rejoiced in the fruit that obedience (explicit obedience) brings.  I rejoiced in life!

Paul warned Timothy about the conditions of the last days.   But he gave him something that reveals our anchor to keep us in ALL storms.  2 Timothy 3:15-17 is vital.  Paul reminded Timothy of the value and power of truth leading to everlasting life.  Remember that Jesus said, ‘You shall KNOW (intimacy with) the Truth, and that Truth will make you Free!”   That truth penetrates and permeates your entire being.  It is a place attainable but not always attained or maintained.

2 Timothy 3:16- “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

The result – verse 17 – “Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.” 

We must be careful not to make the Bible an idol but remember that in the Word is The Word!   It is who is God!   His very nature and essence oozes forth from the pages.  That’s why every time we read it, something new is seen.  It is living and powerful because God put Himself in every line.

As we see, we embrace and obey God’s directive.  We make life about us, but it never has been.  Many difficulties come because we seek ourselves more than Him.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 – “You can trust these words:  if we were joined to Him in His death, then we are joined to Him in His life!  If we are joined to Him in His sufferings, then we will reign together with Him in His triumph.  But if we disregard Him, Then He will disregard us.  But even if we are faithless, He will still be full of faith, for He Never wavers in His faithfulness to us!”  Wow!

We have the Name, the Blood, the Spirit, and the Living Word; therefore, “How Can We Fail?” 

Live each day knowing that you can’t lose with the stuff Jesus has provided, that’s the stuff I choose to use!