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Greetings in the Lord!

Today's word comes from Leviticus 17:3-5,7 and 1 Kings 13:33-34~
"Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacles of the Lord--that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people. This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings....They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come."

1Kings 13:33-34 "Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth."

~Both of these passages deal with people who are going through "religious" motions, but are simply not doing them as unto the Lord. Did you know that one of the special and unique things about Chrisitianity is that our priests and pastors feel a "call" to the ministry from the Lord? They feel this call because the Lord has put it on their heart. They have been chosen by the Lord to lead and teach a congregation of believers and to help guide them in their walk with Christ.

However, there are some believers who for one reason or another do not wish to join in the fellowship with other believers and are not willing to submit to the teaching and pastoring of a minister. They reason that because they pray and read the Bible on their own that it is good enough...it is not. Today's word is a reminder that we are not to assume we are called to "pastor" ourselves; that is, in essence, trying to walk in our own authority. It is imparative that we find a "church home," and also find our own time to pray with the Lord--a balance.

~Be blessed and be a blessing.

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