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I do not stand here because of my own hard work and deeds. I must never forget God’s constant provision.

Deuteronomy 8:15-18 NLT

“Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Deut8.15.NLT

As I read these verses I am challenged to ask, “How am I acting as a servant to others?”

John 13:12-17 NLT

“After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/John13.12.NLT

The Israelites were specifically commanded to not harvest all their crops, but intentionally provide “leavings” which the poor could collect and eat.

I’m thinking it is significant the poor still had to go and collect this food. It was not (in this case) delivered to their doorstep. It required effort and work on their part. It also required intentional action on behalf of the farmers.

I am wondering what our modern corollary should be to “the leavings” of our crops? 

Leviticus 19: 9-10 NLT

““When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Lev19.9.NLT

These verses, written by Moses in the book of Leviticus, explain how blood sacrifice was required for purification in the Israelite temple. This is important to understand when we learn of the life sacrifice of Jesus in the New Testament.

Leviticus 17:10-12 NLT

““And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Lev17.10.NLT

Thanks to Brian Lamb (of UCO in Edmond, Oklahoma) for sharing this Contemporart English Translation of this verse. I love it.

Matthew 5:6 CEV

“God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Matt5.6.CEV

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