Your gifts, talents can help out in your community

Week 4 – Sunday, June 30 to Saturday, July 6, 2024

Here are the Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week. Note that the readings are based on the New American Bible. 

Day 22 – Sunday, June 30, 2024

Exodus Chapters 32-34

As the people had not seen Moses for a long time, we see in Exodus Chapter 32 that they built for themselves a god — a golden calf. What advantage would the people have seen in having such a god? Perhaps it was because this god made no demands, could be controlled by human hands and looked good.

Ask God to direct us in our Bible reading, prayer life and relationships with others to develop a true image of God. What image of God do you have in mind when you pray? What life experiences have contributed to this image?

Day 23 – Monday, July 1, 2024

Exodus Chapters 35-37

We tend to think of a contribution to an organization as being a gift of money. In today’s reading, we see that people offered their skills in producing many crafts, as well as material gifts to building the Lord’s dwelling.

Ask God to bless all people with opportunities to contribute their various gifts and talents to their communities.

Do you have a skill that you could offer? If you haven’t had a chance to develop any artistic or musical talents, is this a time when you could spare the time, and money to learn something new? Once you learn this skill, you might be able to teach it to others to help make their lives more joyful.

Day 24 – Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Exodus Chapters 38-40. Read Ephesians 3:17, James 4:5, and Revelation 3:20.

In these and other passages, we read about God coming to dwell in our hearts and homes. The dwelling of the Lord as described in today’s reading was built with much care and love. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16. The next time you see yourself in a mirror, ask God to show you the care and love He had in building you, a living temple of God.

What do you think it means to have God come and dwell in your heart, in your home? How does it make you feel to think about this?

Day 25 – Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Leviticus Chapters 1-4

The description of the rituals and offerings in the Book of Leviticus can be difficult to read, but the topics are important in understanding sacrifice.

When making an offering of an animal to the Lord, the people had to lay their hands on the animal’s head as it was being slaughtered. How do you think the people felt knowing that these animals were dying on their behalf?

Ask God to help us appreciate more deeply the loving sacrifice that was made for us on the Cross.

When you look at a crucifix, do you feel a personal connection to the sacrifice of the innocent life that died for you?

Day 26 – Thursday, July 4, 2024

Leviticus Chapters 5-8. Read Leviticus 5:5-6, 5:13, 5:16-18, and 5:25-26 again.

In these verses, what do you notice about the importance of priests, at that time, in the lives of the Israelites?

Read Leviticus 8:1-5 again. Why do you think that the Lord commanded the entire community to be present at the ordination of Aaron and his brothers?

Read 1 Peter 2:9, and ask God to help us to recognize the responsibilities of priesthood — both in the ordained, and in lay members of the Body of Christ. How can you thank a priest today?

Day 27 – Friday, July 5, 2024

Leviticus Chapters 9-12

In today’s reading, we find out about some very strict and detailed guidelines that God gave the Israelites about how to worship and about what sorts of foods were clean or unclean.

Read Leviticus 10:1-2 again. Why do you think God was so strict with the people of Israel at that time in their history? How was God’s care for the Israelites reflected in the restrictions that God placed on them? Did God make it clear to the Israelites what He expected from them?

Ask God to give us the wisdom to know when to be firm, when to be gentle, and how to be clear when communicating with others.

What is your experience with giving and receiving instructions?

Day 28 – Saturday, July 6, 2024

Leviticus Chapters 13-16

In today’s reading, God gave Moses very detailed instructions on how to deal with diseases such as leprosy.

What are the diseases that threaten humans in today’s world? Is there anything about the character of God reflected in His attention to even the most unpleasant aspects of our lives?

Read Leviticus 13:45-46 again.

Ask God to bring comfort and healing to those of us who live in isolation from others, because of physical or mental illness.

Is there any lonely person you can reach out to today?