Slavery was frequently considered a blessing in Bible times.  It served as a venue for many to have an identity, occupation, food, housing, and security.  The Law obligated that they serve their Master for six years.  The seventh year provided the chance for a slave to cut his ties with his Master and be free from slavery. The slave would reflect on the benefits that he had experienced in the past six years. Many times out of love for the Master and his own family, he would choose to stay on and serve. To show his choice and dedication, he would go to a door post and have an awl pierce his earlobe forever leaving the scar, an outward emblem for all to see of love to a good Master.

 

On our journey, one must not focus on the laws, rules, regulations, chores, and duties.  Law can only take you so far… to Calvary.  It is at this point that you must make up your mind as two worlds are vying for your loyalty.  Temptations cannot be overcome with rules but a love relationship.  You must feel and get a revelation of who the Master is.  Paul wrote that he bore scars for the Lord Jesus.  A love for your family will cause one to embrace the Master.  The world looks at us only to see the outward emblem of our love.  Undergirding all of this is the love we have for our Master and His holy attributes.  It is no longer law and rules but a choice to serve and love.  This love gives us the freedom to do whatever we want ….  You aim to live a life pleasing to the one that you love! 

 

 

Standard has everything to do with our defense and how we live has everything to do with our worship. What hinges on the decision of a sinner whether they want God or not is whether they are tired of their taskmaster or not. Sin hates distinction, definition, productivity, and growth. It bends toward chaos and destruction. When God created the earth, it was done with order. Every seed produced after its own kind. In the Garden there was no problem with distinction between man and woman but when sin came into the world it blurred the lines and Adam and Eve had to cover themselves. Because the world is in a fallen state, it is our responsibility to dress according to who we are. Just because it’s not wrong doesn’t mean it is right. Just because it’s decent doesn’t mean it is modest. Base your decisions on how it will affect people that are following you.

 

God didn’t want any of Cain’s sacrifice mingling with Abel’s because he hated it so much. Cain’s sacrifice was of flax which makes linen when spun. Abel brought wool and that is why God said not to mix wool with flax. It was an act  of worship that brought forth the standard. When the world starts to mingle with our standard, it will affect our worship. When we are messing with standard , we are messing with something that God hates. Some things we need to take off and some things  we need to put on. 

 

Achan’s sin was discovered by a test of worship. The Babylonian garment looked good to him and it cost him his life. David’s wife didn’t like his dress standard for worship because he was worshipping like all the common folks and had laid aside his kingly garments. We all come together and worship as the redeemed; not as our individual walks of life. You can’t wear heaviness and shout. Trade it for a garment of praise.

 

We need bulwarks in our lives to keep us protected and a spirit of thankfulness if we are going to make it to the other side. Making the city has everything to do with following the vision of the church. If you are following the cloud everyday it will lead you to Heaven. 

 

Four hundred years Israel was waiting for the Promised Land and kept their eye on it and sang about it. As they wandered through the wilderness and was getting closer to the Jordan they had many herds of cattle because they failed to use them for sacrifice and decided it would be good to settle there. Their possessions they had accumulated in the wilderness had messed up their perception. Their livestock was for the purpose of worship so could it be they were holding back on their worship because they had so many cattle. If we are not willing to give some things up we will start investing in things on this side of the Jordan and not on the Promised Land. We need to live like we are not staying.

 

The Israelites knew there was a Promised Land built for worship, they watched as the priests left carrying the Ark, and they watched as God supernaturally brought down the walls of Jericho but they knew it wasn't for them because they had settled for this side of the Jordan.The thieves will come in and steal if we are not laying our treasures up on the other side. Invest your valuables where they won't be destroyed. Invest where you want your heart to go...Heaven.