In what way does the local pastor today function in the role of the Levite? What can we do to support the pastor in this role?
  
   As we learned this week the Levites were consecrated to God
   in order to perform the work of the tent and to make atonement for
   the people. Pastors are leaders who are especially set aside for the
   work of ministry as the Levites were.
  
   Today we understand that we are all priests before God and we
   all essentially are Levites. The distinction that I see is
   that this is all that pastors do, they devote themselves
   wholly to this cause. They pray and search the scriptures to
   minister to God's people.
  
   While we are all priests pastors are priests by profession.
   They are sustained by the Church for their livelihood so that
   they may do the work of the church.
  

How does the act of giving impact our relationship with God? How is giving from our income an act of worship, of faith? Why is it so important to give generously?
  
   We are by nature born selfish beings , we want to always take
   and never give. The act of giving is a way to starve this
   selfishness which is buried deep within us.
  
   When we give it is an act of worship because we recognize God
   as our provider. When we give away money we trust God will
   provide our needs. The act of giving income acknowledges that
   God is the true source of our sustenance.
  
What is our understanding of what Jesus did on the cross for us that we could not do for ourselves? Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn't just reforming our lives and obeying the law and loving others unconditionally be enough to make us right with God?
  
   The reason Jesus died was because we were supposed to die. All who
   sin deserve the punishment of death. We rightfully have no way
   to reform our lives when we have no life at all this is our true
   state without Christ's sacrifice, without life.
  
   Jesus' sacrifice takes away the punishment of sin that we deserved
   and also it provides a transforming power. We are unable to reform
   our lives and to love one another apart from Christ. Jesus is the
   only way to experience this type of change.
  
   The problem with sin is that it effects our entire nature. We need
   a complete turn around which only Jesus can accomplish. Sin is like
   an extremely high debt which we do not have the money to pay off.
   Jesus is the only one with pockets deep enough to pay the bill that
   we owed.

Prayer: Father we thank you this week for the blessings that you have given. I pray that you may help us to live our lives wholly committed to you. Please write the truths of these lessons upon our hearts. Thank you in Jesus name amen.