Thursday, May 14, 2009

Today's Passage: Numbers 1-2

It’s always exciting to start a new book.  It feels like we are getting somewhere, and it is a great place to jump in and not feel like you are missing anything.  The book of Numbers is just that, a book that gets the name, Numbers, from the lists of the number of Israelites.  However, this book is anything but a book only about numbers and lists.  The book of Numbers is about God’s provision and God’s plan.

 

The number of male Israelites who can serve in the army is over 600,000.  That is a huge army.  That number does not include the women and children.  The size of the army alone is close to the population of Fort Worth.  If you add in the women and children, you might near the population of the entire DFW area.  My point is that every day God provided for all of these people in the wilderness.  That is a lot of manna!!  Can you imagine if everyone in the DFW area had food provided everyday?  We would shout from every mountain about the miracle of God’s provision.  How huge is our God?  If He can provide for the Israelites, then how much more can He provide for me? 

 

I have lived in this area all of my life, and traffic can get crazy some days. Then I think about how busy it can get in downtown Fort Worth during one the festivals, or even just on a Friday night.  Luckily for us there was some one who took the time to plan out where things would go, and how roads would look.  Can you imagine the chaos if there were no restrictions in our area and anyone could just build a house or a business where ever they wanted?  The Israelites had a master community planner as well.  God knew how chaotic it could have been if there were not a plan, so He gave them one.  He told them exactly where to live, and where they should be when they traveled. 

 

God still has a master plan for the community today.  He moves people around and puts them exactly where He needs them to be.  If we were left completely to decide where we would be, no telling where we would end up.  Today, I am especially thankful that God provides for me and has a master plan for me.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Today's Passage: Mark 2

What a lesson in priorities! As I read this entire chapter, I could almost hear Jesus saying, "First things first." When He healed the paralytic, He first forgave the man of his sins. As he had dinner with Levi, he declared the sick to be his priority over the healthy--sinners over the righteous. When it comes to fasting, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spending time with the disciples while He was still on earth--fasting could wait. And He pointed out to the Pharisees that they had no understanding for the meaning of the Sabbath--they couldn't see the purpose through their own priority of the law.

After reading today's passage I realized that my priorities tend to get out of whack more often than I thought. The people in these accounts had let other seemingly good things become more important than the condition of their hearts. The four friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus desired healing for their friend. They were even willing to carry him to the house and cut out the roof to lower him down to Jesus--all good things. Jesus, however, forgave his sins first. He did heal the man, but took care of first things first. I began to think about all the seemingly good things that I enjoy doing. I would venture a guess that most of us enjoy helping others...in whatever way that may be. I am challenged today, however, to make sure that at some point I am fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission to us: to make disciples. While it is true that my actions should reflect my faith, Jesus has called us to share the gospel. Sometimes it is necessary to work at starting and cultivating a relationship before the gospel is shared, but I know that I have wasted opportunities to share it when I could have. Let us strive to not only serve people with our acts of kindness, but by sharing our faith with them as well.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Today's Passage: Leviticus 27

Many of you probably recall, during the elementary days, how certain kids would not share their toys. The mantra of the selfish kid would always be, "You can't play with my toy, its mine!" At the time the kid may have thought he had a good point because according to him the toy was in his possession. Unfortunately, this idea of selfishness towards personal property does not just find itself in childhood. Many grown adults have a childlike ownership complex towards their possessions. Within the culture, we are pressured to gain more and more 'stuff' as we get older and have greater financial security.

There is a catch though. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and therefore recognize that God is the Creator and Ruler of this world, you are required to live above selfishness. In this passage, it is clear that everything is the Lord's. While certain things may be under our name, we do not actually own anything. God blesses every man and woman with what they own. We need to be very careful how we view our possessions. All that is on this earth belongs to God. Therefore, we should rightly give back 10% to Him! He gives us 100%, so why not be humble enough to return 10%? Also, just to be clear, this giving God 10% involves more than just money. This involves money, time, possessions, and many more. We need to give generously because God has given generously to us.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Today's Scripture: Leviticus 26

Happy Monday, I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. It might just be all of yesterday's focus on moms but I think today's scripture really highlights some of God's parenting characteristics.

D'Ann and I have read several parenting books and one of the most common pieces of advice is to establish a set list of rules and consequences. At this point in scripture God has already given His people the Ten Commandments as well as all of the instructions here in Leviticus. With this chapter however God really focuses in on the cause and effect of the obedience of His people.

In verses 1-13 God describes His ultimate desire for His people. He wants them to have safety, plenty of food, victory over their enemies, and a closeness with Him. God promises that all of these things are theirs if they just follow His decrees and are careful to obey His commands. Doesn't this sound like a parent explaining to a child that all they want is the best for their child. I can hear my parents now "follow the rules and you will stay out of trouble."

Then in verses 14-46 God describes the consequences for disobeying His rules. My two favorite things that God says in these verses is "If after all this you will not listen to me," and "If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, I myself will be hostile toward you..." I can hear both of my parents saying very similar things to me, especially during my teen years.

I think the verses in this chapter that most represent God as a parent are verses 44-45. God promises that even though His people's disobedience will force Him to punish them, He will not forget His covenant and He will not desert them.

Today I am thankful that we are still given this same promise from God. No matter how disobedient we are, God will never desert us. All He wants is for us to enjoy the good consequences of being obedient to Him.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sunday, May 10, 2009
Leviticus 25

This chapter covers several issues. The first is the institution of sabbath for the land and the golden jubilee. The land was to be worked for six years and then the seventh year was a sabbath year to give the land rest. After repeating this pattern seven times, there was the golden jubilee, which was declared on tenth day of the seventh month. As Brett mentioned in his last post, there are things in this book that are still being fleshed out today. I'm no farmer, but I know enough to know that they have periods of time when they have to let the land "rest." Isn't that amazing?!? The things God spoke into being from creation are seen all around us at so many levels.

The other issues dealt with in this chapter are redeeming land and poor men. The greatest significance in this passage is wrapped up in one word--REDEMPTION! I have been familiar enough to recognize this theme in broader terms throughout the Old Testament: The Israelites, the book of Hosea, Joseph and his brothers. The more times I read through books of the Old Testament, the more I see this theme in the details. I believe that's part of Leviticus! God is saying, "I am your God and I am redeeming you, AND you are MY people so you are going to display this part of Me to testify of Me." WOW!! We are perhaps more familiar with this concept as found in Romans 8:29: "...He also predestined [us] to become conformed to the image of His Son." What about Genesis? God was very specific about our creation, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." We are to testify of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in EVERYTHING we do!! It is our greatest privilege; it is our greatest joy! So, how are you doing in this? How are we doing in this?? No matter how we're doing, we can take comfort in this: HE does the work of redemption-- He always has--HE always will!! We've just got to submit and obey-- and guess what!?!? When we mess up--we can start again FRESH!! AS FRESH AS THE LAND AFTER ITS SABBATH YEAR-- all because of His REDEMPTION (through mercy, loving kindness, forgiveness) 1 John 1:9

May God bless the reading of His Word!!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Today's Passage: Mark 1

Today we start in the wonderful book of Mark. Before we begin discussing the rapid movement through Jesus' life in the first chapter, I would like to point out a few things for you to keep in mind as we trek through this Gospel. The book of Mark starts off from Jesus baptism and ends at His death, burial and resurrection! Keep notice of the use of "Son of Man" and the time frame of which things occur: for instance, the word "immediately" is used quite often. The book of Mark sets to establish the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah as prophesied in the O.T. (We see this in the first few verses quoted from Isaiah and in John the Baptist proclamations.) The Gospel gives a great view into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Probably one of the most memorized/quoted verses in Mark is found in 10:45, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." This is declaring that Jesus is the Son of God and His purpose for coming.

The first verse of today's chapter declares the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. To give further evidence for this, the author Mark, cites Isaiah, who prophesied of Christ's coming in the Old Testament. Next, we are given John the Baptist's testimony to that fact that Christ is coming. (Has already come and is coming again.) One of the interesting things that I noticed when reading through this chapter is that the proclamation of John the Baptist never changed. In verse 4 we read that John was preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Later on in verse 15, we read that John preached the same message of repentance and belief in the Gospel. He noted that the kingdom of God was at hand! 

I am constantly amazed at the workings of Jesus all throughout the Gospels. This particular Gospel focuses on recording the ministry of Jesus to show that He is in fact the promised Son of God/the Messiah. I also picked up on the validation of this based on the recording of His miracles. Almost every time when I read that Jesus performs a miracle on healing someone in Scripture, I read, "immediately" the person was healed. Also, we see that even the scribe and Pharisees were astonished at His teaching because He spoke with One who had authority!

I guess I am perplexed as to how so many could doubt that He was the ONE? With so many validations to His ministry and to the person He claimed to be, yet so much disbelief. I think I'd like to wrap up this short tid-bit on the first chapter with that remark. Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the Son of God. Probably one of the most significant aspects described in this Gospel to affirm Christ as the Son of God is His resurrection. Christ has the power to heal, power to save, and the power of death! There is nothing that He does not have power over.

I'm putting the challenge to you today to mediate on the facts of Christ. He is the Son of God. He is the Messiah. He has power over everything. This Gospel lets us see into His life and also teaches practical life lessons as well.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Today's Passage: Leviticus 23-24

These two chapters are all about the importance of honoring God. They explain many of the festivals that we will see observed throughout the Old Testament and the gospels, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement. It is very obvious that God takes this worship seriously...especially in the story of the one stoned to death for calling a curse on the name of the Lord!

I want to focus our time today on the two actions that we still practice as the New Testament church. The first is the sabbath day...a day Leviticus 23:3 calls "a day of sacred assembly." We have to understand how hard it was for the people of the days of Moses just to live. They were wandering in the desert with no home...and after seeing this desert with my own eyes a few months ago, I wondered aloud how they could survive at all! It is a difficult place even when you are with a tour group and in an air-conditioned bus. They had to work very hard just to get by. But God wanted them to stop once each week and remember the One who had been providing for them in their work. He wanted them to take a break from the labors of the world to remember the One who gives life. They were to come together and worship the One who makes everything possible.

The other action was the giving of firstfruits. Can you imagine trying to raise food for your family in the desert? Then, after all that work, you were to offer the first of the harvest to God? Leviticus 23:14 says they could not bake any bread or roast any grain to eat until this was done first...that remembering the one who provides the seed, the soil, the water and the sun always comes first.

You may feel like you have to work around the clock just to get by. You may feel like every bit you make needs to go toward the mounting economic pressures in the home. You may feel just like these people did in the desert. But God wants your attention...He wants you to remember the one who makes all things possible. That's why we come together in a sacred assembly on Sundays...it's why we offer our tithe to God before even thinking about using that money to cover other things. We still are asked to honor God with our time and treasures no matter what the circumstances.

Are you honoring God with your attendance on the sabbath day? Are you honoring Him with your first fruits? He's worthy of all honor!