March 3 Blog Post from Theresa Telesco

Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-25, Bacon and Eggs

As I read today's scripture, it caught my attention that the Lord makes a distinction between that which is dedicated and that which is devoted. That which is dedicated could be redeemed by the one who dedicated it, but that which is devoted could not. Leviticus 24:28 states, "…everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord." So I looked to understand the difference between the two. This is some of what I found.

Dedicated - to set apart for religious purposes, consecrated for special use, without a formal commitment. This is a wholly-voluntary obligation.

Devoted is- committed entirely for a certain matter. Committed suggests that there is a pledge that binds or is obligated. This would be an exclusive, wholehearted dedication.

I found this illustration of the difference between dedicated and devoted that made me chuckle. "A pig and a chicken decide to open a restaurant together. They will call the restaurant "Bacon and Eggs". The chicken is dedicated, but the pig is committed."

"Nothing that a man devotes to the Lord…may be sold or redeemed, everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord." That which is devoted is exclusively the Lord's and may be used as He chooses.  Both dedication and devotion begin with free will and appear to be differentiated by how much you are willing to stake; however, both separate and set aside for special use.

Christ alone has the right of redemption. His blood makes us holy, wholly set aside for use as the Father chooses. By His death we are called, "…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light… To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:9,21

Christ is looking for a church not only sanctified but also devoted and consecrated to His will. Like the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14), Christ looks to the church and the fruits that it produces.  "When He reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not season for figs." I often thought this not particularly fair. It was not yet time for the fig tree to bear fruit. However, all prophesy at the time of His first coming pointed to the imminent arrival of the Messiah. The signs were in place. John the Baptist warned of the impending judgment and called for repentance and baptism. He called to the Jewish church to produce appropriate fruits of baptism. Yet when the Messiah arrived, they were not prepared.

The Bible is full of references to the second coming of Christ. If He were to come today, what would He find? The fate of the fig tree is the same as the fate of all who will not receive Christ - the same fate as those who have received and live without dedication or devotion.  A tree is judged by its fruit. What is the manifestation of our committed to the faith? What fruit will He find at His second and glorious coming?