Thursday, May 21, 2009

Today's Passage:  Numbers 8-9

It seems like right now is a good time for the Israelites.  They seem to be searching for God and really trying to follow His commands.  God tells them what they are supposed to do and they follow the command without question.  They trusted God with little things and it became easy to trust Him with huge things. 

A good clear example of the Israelites seeking after God is the part of this passage that involves those who want to celebrate the Passover but are unclean.  They desperately want to be obedient, but at the same time they just want to make sure they are not going to offend or do harm to the celebration in their current state of uncleanness.  They are a great example for us.  There are times that I want to do what I think is right, but I am not sure.  I do not have the Moses that they had to go to and make sure everything I am doing is ok, but I do have the Bible and I do have other people who I can go to for counsel.  I think it is important for us to use the resources that God has given us.  God has placed wise people in all of our lives and they are there to help us when we are unsure that our actions do really line up with what the scriptures say.  If we cannot find the answer ourselves, it is important for us to find a “Moses” who can help us find the answer. 

The other part of this passage that I love is the cloud over the tent.  When the cloud moved they automatically picked up and moved.  That is obedience!  Without question they picked up and moved camp.  I do not expect for a cloud to appear that I am to follow, but I think there is something we can take from this.  When we start following what God has for us without question, it becomes easier and easier.  When we make following God a way of life, not just an option, then we can become like the Israelites with their cloud.  The cloud moves and so do we, the cloud stays and we are content.  The more we seek Him, the more we know Him and the easier it is to say yes.  My prayer for us today is that we will be like the Israelites in this chapter and that when God tells us to go, we do and when God tells us to stay, we are content!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Today's Passage: Numbers 7

This chapter simply lists the offerings given to God by the leaders of his people. As I read through the list, I found myself contemplating what I have offered to God. We are called to give him a tithe, but an offering goes beyond that. Although we no longer commonly offer Him gifts of silver, gold, animals, oil, flour, and incense, we do offer Him other things...often intangible.

Sometimes it seems more difficult to offer Him our talents, abilities, relationships, or time. While I should live my entire life in surrender to God, what am I intentionally offering to Him to be used for his kingdom. My favorite part of today's passage are the following verses:

4 The LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."

Join me in considering what each of us has to offer that can be used to further the kingdom work.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Today's Passage: Mark 4

There are many parables that are well known to those who have attended church from childhood. In Mark 4, we have several of those: the 4 soils and the mustard seed. Mark focuses in his gospel on the agricultural parables and analogies that Jesus used. Among many things, Jesus was a master of communication. He had crowds following him, debated the religious folk, and trained a few specific disciples to carry on his ministry.

All of the parables within this chapter are worthy of exposition and deep thought, but I would like to focus on one specific phrase Jesus used, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." That is how he set up his famous explanation of his parable. Jesus, the master of communication (and God himself!), knew that not everyone would understand his teachings. He also knew that not everyone would follow him. But did that stop him? NO!

Our culture seems to be getting away from God more than ever. We can see clearly that not everyone will come to accept and follow Jesus Christ. But we cannot give up! We must still be about preaching, teaching, caring, and ministering to those around us. Results are important, but let us remember that not even Jesus was 100% effective in his evangelism and ministry efforts. I pray that Bear Creek spreads the gospel and that the kingdom of God spreads at pace so rapid that only God may be given the credit. To those who are reading Mark 4 and seeking God, hear the Word and obey!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Today's Scripture: Numbers 5-6

There are several interesting parts in these two chapters but the verses that caught my eye were in chapter 5, verses 5-10. I explain this all the time to my students, the feeling that we call guilt really has two definitions.

The first is the feeling we get when we do something wrong but don't want to do anything to fix it. We have all felt this way at some point in our lives. Whether it was because we were afraid of further consequences or we were too busy being upset that we failed to admit our mistake.

The second is the feeling we get when we do something wrong but have a desire afterward to fix it. This is the feeling that motivates us to apologize and seek ways to prevent making the same mistake in the future.

I use the term guilt to describe the first definition and the term conviction from God for the second. I'm sure that you have noticed, but the key difference between the two is that conviction from God motivates us to seek restitution for our mistakes.

Sound simple? We all know that sometimes it can be extremely difficult for us to swallow our pride and admit a mistake. God reveals for us in these verses however, that it is crucial for our relationship with Him that we seek restitution with other people. God views our wronging of others as an unfaithfulness to Him and something that requires action on our part.

God desires for us to be usable by Him but if we never right out wrongs then we are making ourselves more and more unusable. You never know who's life God might want to use you in.

So I challenge you today to seek restitution with someone. It's not enough just to feel guilty; God wants you to make it right.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Numbers 4

Here we continue with some of the more tedious sections of Numbers. However, as mentioned in earlier posts, these passages are important because they demonstrate the importance of the holiness of God, and how we should respond to it. This chapter is no different.

We basically have instructions for three branches or families of the Levites, regarding the materials of the tabernacle. The Kohathites are mentioned first. Their job was to carry all the utensils of the tabernacle. For example, after the sons of Aaron wrapped all the dishes, jars, plates, lampstands, and firepans, the Kohathites were to carry them. These men were not even allowed to look at the holy things or they would die (vs. 20); their job was to carry, nothing else! The Gershonites were mentioned next, starting in verse 21. They were in charge of all the curtains and their equipment for the tabernacle. This includes outer curtains, curtains for entrances, for courtyards, and all the ropes needed for them. The Merarites are mentioned last in this list of duties. Their job was to care for and carry all the materials for the framework of the tabernacle. This included crossbars, posts, bases, tent pegs, and ropes. The tabernacle represented God's presence among His chosen people, so obviously the care of these materials were of the utmost importance.

You know what?? This passage relates to us serving God here in 2009! After I read this passage a couple of times, I began thinking about the many New Testament passages on spiritual gifts. Just like these branches of the Levites, we all have specific roles (gifts) in the body of Christ (Romans 12, I Cortinthians 12, Ephesians 4).

Do you think the Merarites ever asked, "Why do we have to carry all the posts and stuff?" and, "Why do the Kohathites get to carry the important stuff?" Of course I don't know that from this passage of scripture, but I do know that we ask these questions today. How do I know? --cause I've done it myself, I'm embarrassed to say!

Numbers 4 is a great reminder that God is the One who made us, gifted us, and placed us to do His will right down to this same detail we find in this chapter. We cause ourselves great amounts of insecurity, stress, worry, self pity, and jealousy when we compare ourselves to others. More destructive than that, we cause dissension and divisiveness among our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sadly, this also happens with churches. At one time or another, we can all be guilty of looking to other churches or ministries and asking, "Why aren't we having that success?" or, "Why can't we be like them?" So how do we deal with these issues? We must maintain our focus on God and look to Him for how He has gifted us and designed us to glorify and magnify Him. The most important part of this chapter is not the materials or which branch of the Levites carried them. The most important part is God's glory!! Is this where our focus is today as we meet all over the globe as local bodies of Christ? Lord Jesus, we pray that it is!!

May God bless the reading of His word!!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Today's Passage: Numbers 3

I appreciated Matt's commentary on the first two chapters of this book. If you have been following along or are about to pick up, Numbers can sometimes be a tedious read but it also has some interesting stories. After reading today's passage, it got me to thinking about God's precision in numbers and being sure that the names and numbers of the families were counted and recorded.

This chapter is particularly important because it records the sons of Aaron and gives some information about the duties of the Levites. While the names may seem insignificant at first glance, you may recall some of these names from the previous book (Leviticus). For instance, Nadab and Abihu had tried giving an unholy offering to the Lord and He took their life because of it. Which led me to my next thought which I'll share with you.

Have you ever wondered why God was maybe, "harsh" during the Old Testament times. I mean, at first it seems like God is being cruel to His people. But, we know that God told them exactly what they were to do and how they were do it (referring to the tabernacle/offerings). I believe it all comes back to God's holiness. We see in this very chapter the many times that it's recorded, "I AM the Lord." God was preparing and teaching His people that He is theirs and that He is a holy God!

I know that I have probably mentioned this in some of my previous posts, but it is a constant reminder to me when I read the Old Testament. God is very serious about His holiness.

God planned it to where He would use everyday, ordinary people for His purposes. This gives us the opportunity to do as the Lord commands, so that we might glorify Him! This same principle and standard of holiness has not changed.

So as we continue our perusal of the Old Testament, keep these truths in the back of your mind.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Today's Passage: Mark 3

Have you ever been in a situation where someone tried to test to see if what you said you believed was really what you believed? I can remember a time in high school where some of my "friends" tried to put me in a situation where I had to make that choice. They were involved in something that I knew wasn't the standard God had set for me and wanted to see if I would join them if pressured. They thought it was a no-win situation for me...either conform or be ridiculed. They even laughed about it...."let's see if you really are "good"!" I was fortunate that I had been well-trained by my parents, my youth minister, and my godly friends...I was able to laugh it off and tell them they knew better than to try that stuff with me!

I wish I could look back on all the decisions I've made and say I chose as wisely as I did that day. There were times, both public and private, when I did conform to the world's standard. There were times when the allure of sin or the pressure from the world led me to choose that sin over righteousness. Whether we're being tested by someone else or by sin, we all have to face that decision almost daily...conform or be like Jesus.

In the first six verses of Mark 3, the Pharisees..."friends" of God...were trying to trap Jesus in to what they thought was sin. They were looking to tarnish his reputation, so they put him in a "no-win" situation...either heal on the sabbath, which was against religious law, or ignore a man who desperately needed His help.

How did he answer them? In verse 4, he breaks it all down into a very simple question. What is better...good or evil? What is better....life or death? Jesus cuts right through the red tape of the law and the trap set to entangle Him and gets to the heart of the matter. It's always better to choose good over evil and life over death. We all know it...we don't have to think too hard to understand this simplicity. Jesus choose good and life, healing the man on the spot.

How will we respond when we are being trapped by the world again? Will we choose good over evil? When we're pressured to conform to the pattern of this world, will we live like we've been transformed? Whether someone is testing us or we're being tempted by sin, we must choose good and life!