Leviticus 24-25 highlights some specific instructions from God to the Israelites for the sabbath year and year of jubilee. God instructed the Israelites to take a break from planting every seventh year as it was the sabbath year.
They were instructed not to sow or harvest anything on their lands. To make sure they do not lack food during this period, God made sure that the harvest of the sixth year is sufficient for food before they can resume planting. The year of jubilee was to be observed after seven sabbath years, that is the 50th year in which restoration and liberty takes place. Slaves are set free, debts are forgiven and properties are taken back.
In the New testament reading, Acts 4:1-22 illustrates the Apostles’ unwavering commitment to preaching the Gospel. They were arrested after healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate. The leaders summoned the Apostles and questioned them about the authority under which they had performed the healing. To which Peter responded thereby seizing this opportunity to proclaim that salvation is found only through Christ.
The boldness with which the apostles replied, coupled with the fact that the healed man was in their midst, the leaders could not keep them further. To this end, they charged them to stop preaching in Christ’s name, to which Peter replied that they would only obey God and not man.
Despite persecution and oppression, this boldness encourages us to be relentless as we preach the gospel.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be bold even in the face of persecution
Today’s reading
Leviticus 24-25
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
“Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.
Outside the veil of the Testimony, in the tabernacle of meeting, Aaron shall be in charge of it from evening until morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a statute forever in your generations.
Acts 4:1-22
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.