Margarita & Stace Crews – Page 17

October 11, 2026

SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD / REVELATION 7:2

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Revelation 7:2

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Marked for Eternity: Understanding the Seal of the Living God

In the ancient world, a seal was far more than a decorative mark. Whether stamped into hot wax or pressed into soft clay using a king’s signet ring, a seal carried absolute authority. It declared ownership, guaranteed security, and warned intruders that the item belonged exclusively to the one who sealed it.

When we read Revelation 7:2, we encounter a breathtaking cosmic vision where this ancient practice meets divine protection:

“Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living god…”

As the world faces tribulation and uncertainty, this passage offers a profound anchor of hope for believers today.

What Does the Seal Represent?

The Seal of the Living God is not a physical mark of fear, but a spiritual guarantee of grace. As believers, God’s seal on our lives identifies exactly who—and whose—we are.

According to scripture, this divine marking carries three life-changing realities:

Ownership: You are no longer your own; you have been bought with a price. God looks at you and claims you as His prized possession.
Devotion: Being sealed means being set apart for His service. Your life has a distinct, heaven-bound purpose.
Care: Just as a royal seal protects a document from being altered or tampered with, God’s seal places you under His ultimate, sovereign protection.

As Ephesians 1:13 reminds us, this truth is fulfilled the moment we believe: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”

Living as the Sealed

Knowing you bear the mark of the Creator changes how you walk through a chaotic world. You don’t have to live in fear of tomorrow, because the One who holds tomorrow has already stamped His name upon your heart. You are authenticated by His grace, secured by His power, and destined for His glory.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that in a world of shifting shadows, Your love for us is permanently sealed. Thank You for sending Your angel with the Seal of the Living God, reminding us that we belong to You, are devoted to Your service, and rest securely under Your sovereign care.

Forgive us for the times we live in fear, forgetting whose mark we bear. We ask that Your Holy Spirit would burn brightly within us today. Let Your ownership of our lives be evident to everyone we meet through our love, our faith, and our devotion to Your kingdom. Keep us safe in the shadow of Your wings, and fill us with the peace that surpasses all understanding.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

I SAW FOUR ANGELS / REVELATION 7:1

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Revelation 7:1

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Standing in the Pause: The Power of Revelation 7:1

We live in a world that rarely hits the pause button. When crisis hits, it usually rolls in like waves—one breaking right after another. But in the book of Revelation, right in the middle of unfolding cosmic judgments, God commands a holy intermission.

Revelation 7 functions as a divine interlude, a intentional pause between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals. Before the final movements of judgment take place, John is given a breathtaking look behind the scenes. He sees two distinct visions of the faithful: the sealed servants from the tribes of Israel, and a countless multitude from every nation, tribe, and tongue who became faithful to Christ during the great tribulation.

Before we see that massive crowd standing before the throne, the chapter opens with a striking, sovereign image of restraint.

The Angels at the Four Corners

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.” — Revelation 7:1

John looks out and sees four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth. In ancient biblical imagery, this represents the totality of the global landscape—north, south, east, and west. These are not passive observers; they are powerful spiritual beings holding back the “four winds,” which symbolize impending judgment and chaotic destruction.

Imagine the sheer force required to hold back the winds of the earth. Yet, at the command of God, everything goes completely still. The land, the sea, and the trees are granted a moment of absolute calm.

Why the Pause Matters for Us

This divine pause reveals three profound truths about God’s character that we can cling to today:

God is in complete control. Destruction does not run rampant without permission. The winds of chaos can only blow as far, and as fast, as God allows.
Judgment waits for mercy. The pause is instituted for a specific purpose: to seal and protect the servants of God. God never loses track of His people in the midst of global shaking.
The message of Christ will prevail. Whether Jew or non-Jew, those who take their stand for God will endure. They accept the eternal message of Christ proclaimed across the heavens, proving that no tribulation can erase the ink of God’s grace on a human heart.

When your personal world feels chaotic, remember that God still has angels stationed to hold back the winds. He knows how to create a calm in the storm just long enough to secure your heart, mark you with His presence, and remind you who you belong to.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being the God of the interlude. When the winds of life blow fiercely and chaos seems to press in from every side, remind us that You hold the ultimate authority. Thank You for commanding the winds to stand still for the sake of Your people.

Seal our hearts with Your Holy Spirit today. Give us the strength and the courage to take our stand for You, no matter what tribulations we face. We join our voices with the great multitude, declaring that salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.

Keep us faithful, keep us calm in Your sovereignty, and anchor our souls in Your eternal peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

SLAUGHTERED THE CALF / LEVITICUS 9:8

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 9:8

Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

The Shadow and the Substance: Understanding the Sacrifice in Leviticus 9:8

In Leviticus 9:8, we witness a pivotal moment in Israel’s worship: “Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.” This act of slaughtering the calf was not merely an ancient ritual; it was a profound object lesson established by God to show how a sinful people could approach a holy God.

Through these Old Testament rituals, God illustrated the powerful principles of vicarious sacrifice and substitutionary atonement—concepts that ultimately pave the way for our understanding of the Gospel.

The Purpose of the Muddy Altar

God instituted the sacrificial system as a concrete method for humanity to come to Him in genuine repentance. To repent means to admit our faults and actively turn away from them, seeking a renewed relationship with our Creator.

The animal sacrifices served several distinct purposes:

An Innocent Substitute: The sacrifice demonstrated the principle of one life given in place of another. An innocent animal was offered to provide a “covering” for the guilty individual (Leviticus 1:4).
An Expression of Remorse: Bringing an offering was an active admission of guilt. It showed a heart that recognized its need to be cleansed and restored (Leviticus 16:30-34).
A Conduit of Grace: When a sacrifice was brought in true faith, obedience, and humility, God extended His undeserved favor—His grace—and the forgiveness the worshiper desperately needed.

From Prophetic Picture to Perfect Reality

As vivid as these object lessons were, the New Testament reminds us that animal sacrifices were inherently imperfect. They could provide a temporary atonement—a literal “covering over” of sin—but they lacked the power to fundamentally alter the human heart or permanently wash away guilt (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Instead, the rituals of Leviticus functioned as a prophetic picture. Every calf led to the altar pointed forward in time to Jesus Christ. Under the New Covenant, Jesus did what the blood of bulls and goats never could: He offered “for all time one sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12), removing our guilt completely and changing our hearts from the inside out.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today humbled by the weight of Your holiness and the depth of Your grace. Thank You for the reminders in Your Word of what it costs to cover sin, and for the ancient frameworks that show us just how much we need a Savior.

We confess that we often fall short, but we thank You that we no longer have to bring sacrifices to an earthly altar. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our perfect, substitutionary atonement. We rest in the assurance that His one-time sacrifice has removed our sins and continues to transform our hearts.

Help us to live daily in the freedom of Your forgiveness, walking in faith, humility, and obedience. May our lives be a living sacrifice that brings glory to Your name.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

AARON AND HIS SONS / LEVITICUS 8:1-3

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 8:1-3

Consecrated for His Presence: Understanding the Call to Priesthood (Leviticus 8:1-3)

In Leviticus 8:1-3, God commands Moses to gather the entire assembly at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for a momentous occasion: the official ordination of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This elaborate ceremony was not just a formality; it was a physical manifestation of a profound spiritual reality.

Under the Old Covenant, ordinary people could not simply walk into the presence of a holy God on their own. To approach Him, a worshiper required two things: a proper offering (as detailed in Leviticus 1–7) and the mediation of a priest.

The Role of the Old Testament Mediator

The priests—chosen specifically from the tribe of Levi—served as the vital bridge between a holy God and a flawed people. Their divine assignment was built on three core pillars:

Representation: A priest was appointed to stand in the gap, representing the needs, confessions, and prayers of the people before God (Hebrews 5:1).
Reconciliation: Through leading worship ceremonies and offering sacrifices, they helped men and women receive forgiveness and draw near to their Creator (Hebrews 7:24-25).
Revelation: They were charged with teaching God’s law, ensuring the community understood how to live righteously (Deuteronomy 33:8-10).

While the Levitical priesthood was essential for its time, it was inherently imperfect. The priests themselves were human, subject to sin, and bound by mortality. Their work was never truly finished because the sacrifices had to be offered day after day, year after year.

The Ultimate Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

The beautiful truth of scripture is that the elaborate rituals of Leviticus 8 were actually pointing forward to a grander reality. This earthly priesthood was completely fulfilled and surpassed by Jesus Christ, the believer’s true High Priest (Hebrews 2:17).

Under the New Covenant, the traditional earthly priesthood is no longer required. When you look at the ministry gifts listed in the New Testament (such as Ephesians 4:11), you will find no mention of a priest. Why? Because Jesus permanently closed the gap.

By offering Himself as the final, perfect sacrifice, Jesus replaced the temporary Old Testament structure. He entered the ultimate Holy Place on our behalf and now stands as our perfect mediator “forever” (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25). Because of Him, the veil is torn, and we can boldly approach the throne of grace ourselves.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the rich tapestry of Your Word. Thank You for showing us through the book of Leviticus just how seriously You take holiness, and how deeply You desire a relationship with Your people. We praise You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be our ultimate High Priest. Thank You, Lord, that we no longer need an earthly mediator or continuous sacrifices to reach You. Because of Jesus’ perfect work on the cross, we have free access to Your presence today. Help us to live lives that are consecrated, holy, and pleasing to You. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

WAVE OFFERING / LEVITICUS 7:30

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 7:30

His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.

Cultivating a Heart of Surrender: The Powerful Symbolism of the Wave Offering

When we read through the Old Testament, particularly the detailed laws in Leviticus, it can be easy to get lost in the regulations of ancient rituals. However, beneath the surface of these ancient practices lie profound spiritual truths that speak directly to our walk of faith today.

One such beautiful truth is found in Leviticus 7:30, which instructs the people on how to present their sacrifices: “With their own hands they are to bring the food for the Lord’s food offering; they are to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering.”

The wave offering was a specific portion of the fellowship (or peace) offering designated for the priests. But it wasn’t just handed over; it involved a unique, intentional movement.

The Motion of Dedication and Provision

The mechanics of the wave offering carry a deep theological message about our relationship with God. The priest would physically hold the offering and wave it horizontally toward the sanctuary—the dwelling place of God. This first motion was a visible sign of complete dedication. It was a way of saying, “Lord, this belongs entirely to You first.”

But the motion didn’t stop there. The priest would then wave it back toward himself or the person offering it. This second motion symbolized God’s immediate grace and provision. It demonstrated that once we surrender what we have to God, He blesses it and returns it to us for our use, nourishment, and sustenance.

What the Wave Offering Teaches Us Today

While we no longer bring physical animal sacrifices to a tabernacle, the concept of the wave offering offers us valuable lessons for daily Christian living:

Surrender Precedes Blessing: Before the offering could be used by the priest, it had to be lifted up to God. We must practice giving our time, talents, resources, and anxieties to God first, trusting that they are safest in His hands.
The Rhythm of Grace: Our lives should reflect the two-way motion of the wave offering. We lift our lives up to God in worship and service, and He pours back down his peace, purpose, and daily bread.
God Provides for the Community: The wave offering ensured that those who served in the sanctuary were cared for. It reminds us that our obedience and generosity are often the tangible ways God provides for others in our communities.

When we live with an “open-hand” policy—willingly waving our lives toward God—we open ourselves up to receive His ultimate peace.

A Closing Prayer for a Surrendered Heart

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful reminders of Your grace hidden within Your Word. Today, we look at the beautiful picture of the wave offering and ask that You would teach us how to live lives of true surrender.

We lift up our hearts, our families, our work, and our resources to You. With open hands, we wave them toward Your sanctuary, acknowledging that everything we have is yours first. Forgive us for the times we hold on too tightly to things that belong to You.

Thank You for Your faithfulness to wave back Your blessings into our lives. We trust Your provision, and we pray that You would use what we offer to bless others and bring glory to Your name. May our lives be a sweet-smelling fellowship offering of peace and dedication to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

UNCLEAN … MUST BE CUT OFF / LEVITICUS 7:20

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 7:20

But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

The Weight of Holy Things: Reflecting on Leviticus 7:20 and True Worship

We live in a world that often treats the sacred with a sense of casual familiarity. We glide into worship spaces, sing songs, and partake in holy traditions with our minds drifting toward our to-do lists, or worse, with hearts harboring unconfessed sin and fractured relationships.

But a sobering warning echoed in Leviticus 7:20 pulls back the curtain on how God views insincere worship:

“But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord, they must be cut off from their people.”

To modern ears, being “cut off” sounds incredibly harsh. The book of Leviticus spends a vast amount of time defining what made a person ceremonially “unclean.” If someone in that state willfully stepped forward to participate in a sacred sacrifice or offering, they faced God’s immediate, severe judgment.

This rule wasn’t about keeping people away; it was designed to teach a crucial spiritual truth: It is wicked and disgraceful to act out of a false, insincere relationship with God. Holiness demands honesty. God desires our proximity, but He refuses to be a part of our hypocrisy.

From the Old Altar to the New Table

Lest we think this is strictly an Old Testament problem, the Apostle Paul sounds an identical alarm for the New Testament church. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Paul addresses how the believers in Corinth were approaching Communion:

“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord…”

Paul warns that partaking in the Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner”—irreverently, self-centeredly, without proper regard for God or others, and with no intention of repenting—brings judgment. In fact, he notes that some in the community had fallen sick or even died because they treated the holy table with careless disregard.

Examining Our Hearts

Both Leviticus and 1 Corinthians point us to the same vital necessity: self-examination.

God does not expect us to be flawless before we approach Him—if that were the standard, the altar and the cross would be useless. Rather, He demands that we approach Him with repentant honesty. Coming to God while actively clinging to sin, harboring bitterness toward a neighbor, or treating the sacrifice of Christ as a cheap routine is a dangerous spiritual game.

Before we offer our prayers, our songs, or our tithes, let us pause. Let us lay down our masks, confess our hidden uncleanness, and allow His grace to truly make us ready.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You recognizing that You are holy, righteous, and worthy of all our reverence. Lord, forgive us for the times we have treated holy things casually. Forgive us for stepping into Your presence with divided hearts, hidden sins, or pretense.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts today. Test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything in us that offends You, and lead us along the path of everlasting life. Cleanse us from our secret faults and make our hearts a fit habitation for Your Spirit.

May our worship never be a mere performance. Grant us the grace to approach Your table and Your presence with pure motives, sincere repentance, and genuine love for You and our neighbors. We thank You for the blood of Jesus that makes us clean and allows us to draw near to You without fear.

In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

BREAD MADE WITH YEAST / LEVITICUS 7:13

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 7:13

Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.

The Holy Table of the Imperfect: Grace in Leviticus 7:13

When we read the Old Testament book of Leviticus, it can feel like a dense manual of rigid rules. God’s standard for holiness is incredibly high. One rule that appears consistently is the strict ban on yeast. In Leviticus 2:11, God commands that no grain offering brought to the altar should contain yeast. Throughout Scripture, yeast is a metaphor for sin and corruption—a tiny ingredient that quietly works its way through everything, altering its nature.

But if you read closely, God builds a stunning moment of grace right into the heart of the sacrificial laws. In Leviticus 7:13, during the instructions for the fellowship offering, we find a surprising twist:

“Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast.”

Why the sudden change? Why would a holy God allow yeast into a sacred worship service?

The Altar vs. The Table

The answer comes down to geography. In other offerings, the bread was burned completely on the altar as a flawless gift to God. Because the altar represented God’s absolute, unblemished purity, yeast was strictly forbidden.

The fellowship offering, however, was fundamentally different. It was a communal peace offering. A portion was dedicated to God, but the remaining meat and bread were given back to the worshiper.

The family, the friends, and the priests would then sit down together to eat a massive celebratory feast. The leavened bread was never placed on the altar; it was placed on the dining table.

Welcomed, Yeast and All

By allowing bread made with yeast at this specific meal, God was illustrating a beautiful spiritual truth: He does not demand that we be flawless before He sits down to eat with us.

The fellowship offering was all about gratitude, peace, and relationship. God knew that the families sitting around that table were imperfect. They carried worries, human frailties, and daily struggles—the spiritual “yeast” of living in a broken world. Yet, God didn’t isolate Himself until they fixed everything. Instead, He invited them to pull up a chair and share a meal with Him exactly as they were.

The table of fellowship is the place where God’s holiness meets our human reality.

Pull Up a Chair

Today, we no longer bring literal loaves of bread to a temple, but the principle remains alive through Jesus Christ. Jesus became our ultimate peace offering, opening the door for us to have an uninterrupted relationship with the Father.

If you have been holding back from God because you feel too messy, too distracted, or too “leavened” by the chaos of life, look closely at Leviticus 7:13. God’s table has always had room for the everyday realities of our lives. You don’t have to wait until you are perfect to seek His presence. He is waiting to fellowship with you today.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We marvel at the thoughtfulness of Your grace. Thank You that while Your holiness is absolute, Your love builds a table where we can sit in Your presence. Lord, we confess that our lives often feel full of “yeast”—the imperfections, the anxieties, and the mistakes of our daily human walk.

Thank You for not waiting for us to be flawless before inviting us close. We thank You for the ultimate peace we have through Jesus Christ. Help us to live with hearts full of thanksgiving, resting in the truth that we are fully known and deeply loved by You. Bring peace to our hearts and our homes today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

AGAINST THE ALTAR / LEVITICUS 7:2

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Leviticus 7:2

In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.

Against the Altar: The Deep Significance of Leviticus 7:2

In the Old Testament, worship ceremonies—such as sacrifices and offerings—were much more than rigid rituals. They were a vital means of communication between God and His people. These ceremonies functioned as active, symbolic prayers by which the people admitted their sin, requested God’s forgiveness, and sought to maintain and renew their relationship with the Almighty. Through these dramatic symbols, God revealed His ultimate contempt for sin, His profound mercy toward His people, and exactly what He expected from them.

When we look closely at Leviticus 7:2, we find a precise and powerful instruction regarding the guilt offering:

“In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering. And its blood he shall sprinkle all around against the altar.”

The Symbolism of the Blood Against the Altar

The phrase “against the altar” carries immense theological weight. The altar was the meeting point between a holy God and flawed humanity. By sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice all around and against the altar, the priests were visually demonstrating a profound truth: atonement requires covering.

Acknowledgment of Sin: The blood hitting the altar was a stark reminder that sin carries a heavy cost. It was an active confession that wrongdoing separates us from God.
The Visual of Mercy: As the blood covered the sides of the altar, it symbolized that the barrier of sin was being washed away by a substitutionary life, allowing the relationship with God to be renewed.
An Expression of Gratitude: Passing through this ritual allowed the Israelites to walk away with a clear conscience, turning their relief into deep gratitude and rededication to God’s laws.

From the Ancient Altar to the Cross

While we no longer bring animal sacrifices to a physical altar, the principle of Leviticus 7:2 points directly to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood was not just sprinkled on an earthly altar, but poured out on the cross to pay for our sins once and for all. Because of Him, we no longer need symbolic rituals to reach God; we have direct access to His mercy and forgiveness.

Whenever we feel the weight of our failures, we can look back at the lessons of the Old Testament altar and remember that God has always provided a way for us to be cleansed, restored, and brought back into perfect communion with Him.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today recognizing the holiness of Your presence and the depth of Your grace. Thank You for the powerful reminders in Your Word, like the instructions in Leviticus, which show us just how seriously You view sin, but also how lovingly You provide a way for our forgiveness.

Lord, we thank You that we no longer have to offer sacrifices against a physical altar, because Jesus became our perfect sacrifice on the cross. We ask that You cleanse our hearts today. Where we have fallen short, let Your mercy wash over us. Renew our spirits, deepen our gratitude, and help us live lives that are fully dedicated to You.

In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
Strong’s Concordance
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM / JOHN 8:58

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The Power of the Present Tense: Understanding the Eternal “I AM”

Have you ever stopped to realize that God does not introduce Himself by His past achievements or His future plans alone, but by His constant, immediate presence?

In one of the most polarizing and powerful moments in the New Testament, Jesus is locked in a fierce debate with the religious leaders of His day. They challenge His authority, His lineage, and His age. Finally, Jesus drops a theological bombshell that changes everything:

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!'” — John 8:58 (NLT)

To the casual reader today, this phrasing might just sound like an old-fashioned way of speaking. But to the Jewish leaders listening, it was a claim so monumental that they immediately picked up stones to kill Him. They knew exactly what He was saying.

Jesus didn’t say, “Before Abraham was born, I was.” He said, “I AM.”

Connecting the Dots to Exodus

With two simple words, Jesus linked Himself directly back to the burning bush in the Old Testament. Centuries earlier, when Moses asked God for His name, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He instructed Moses to tell the people, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

By using this exact title, Jesus was declaring three life-changing truths:

His Eternal Nature: Jesus is not bound by time. He didn’t begin His existence in the manger at Bethlehem. He exists eternally, outside the constraints of human history.
His Limitless Capabilities: As the self-existent Creator, Jesus is not dependent on anything or anyone else to sustain Him. He possesses all power, all wisdom, and all authority.
His Oneness with God the Father: This was the ultimate declaration of His divinity. Jesus was explicitly stating that He is God incarnate—the same Jehovah who rescued Israel from Egypt.

What the “I AM” Means for You Today

It is easy to look at our lives and worry about our own limitations. We look at our past mistakes, our present weaknesses, and our uncertain futures, and we feel utterly inadequate.

But our hope is never meant to be anchored in our own sufficiency. It is anchored in His. Because Jesus is the great “I AM,” He is everything you need in this very moment:

When you are weak, He says, “I AM your strength.”
When you are lost, He says, “I AM your guide.”
When you face lack, He says, “I AM your provider.”

He is not the Great “I Was,” nor is He merely the Great “I Will Be.” He is your present-tense reality. Whatever you are facing today, you can rest knowing that the eternal, unchanging God is already there, holding you in His hands.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the great I AM—unchanging, eternal, and all-sufficient. Forgive us for the times we look at our problems instead of looking at Your magnitude. Thank You for revealing Your heart and Your divinity to us through Jesus, our Savior and our God.

Lord Jesus, we rest in the truth of Your eternal nature today. Teach us to stop relying on our own strength and instead cast our cares upon Your limitless grace. When anxiety whispers about our future, remind us that You are already there, ruling in perfect sovereignty. Strengthen our faith and help us to walk boldly, knowing that the One who holds the universe also walks beside us. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

October 11, 2026

WILL NEVER SEE DEATH / JOHN 8:51

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 8:51

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

The Promise of Forever: Why Believers Will Never See Death

In John 8:51, Jesus drops a radical, perspective-shifting truth bomb on His listeners: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

When the people around Him heard this, they thought He had lost His mind. They immediately fired back, pointing out that Abraham and the prophets had all died. From a purely human, biological standpoint, the crowd was right. Our bodies wear out, and physical death is an inescapable reality of the human condition.

So, what exactly did Jesus mean by this staggering promise?

A Different Way of Seeing

The breakthrough happens when we look at the original language. The Greek word used for “see” in this verse is theōreō—which means to carefully observe, gaze upon, or experience something as a terrified spectator.

Jesus wasn’t saying that our physical bodies wouldn’t eventually stop working. He was promising that for those who belong to Him, death loses its power to terrify and consume us. We will never sit in the theater of eternal separation from God. Because Jesus absorbed the true sting of death on the cross, our transition out of this world is no longer a punishment or a final destination; it is simply a gateway into His immediate presence.

What It Means to “Keep His Word”

This boundary-breaking promise comes with a condition: “if anyone keeps my word.”

Keeping Jesus’ word means far more than just memorizing a few verses or agreeing with Him intellectually. It means:

Abiding in His truth: Building your entire life, identity, and worldview around who He is and what He said.
Active trust: Relying on His finished work on the cross rather than your own performance.
Persevering obedience: Lovingly guarding and living out His commands daily, even when the world tells you to go the other way.

When you hold tightly to His word, His word holds tightly to you. You are securely united to the Risen Christ, and because He lives, you will live also.

Living Without Fear

When you truly grasp that you will never see eternal death, it changes how you live today.

It drives away anxiety: If the worst thing this world can do to you (physical death) has been reduced to a temporary sleep, lesser anxieties lose their grip on your heart.
It shifts your priorities: You stop investing all your energy into fleeting things and start focusing on what echoes into eternity—loving God and loving others.
It brings deep comfort: When we lose loved ones who knew the Lord, or when we face our own mortality, we can stand on the unshakeable promise that fellowship with God is never broken.

The grave couldn’t hold Jesus, and it cannot hold you. You have passed from death to life, and your future is completely secure in the ultimate Promise Keeper.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful, unshakeable assurance we find in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that because He conquered the grave, death has lost its sting and its power to terrify us. Lord, give us the grace and the strength daily to keep Your word, to guard Your teachings, and to walk faithfully in Your truth.

Deliver us from the fear of tomorrow. Remind our hearts that our souls are securely held in Your eternal love, and that nothing can ever separate us from You. May this profound hope change the way we live, love, and serve today.

In Jesus’ mighty and matchless name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace