Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Deuteronomy 5-6

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." ~Deuteronomy 6:5

Question: If we love because we are commanded to love, is it truly love?

Isn't love "a many-splendored thing," a rapturous mystery that springs from my heart, over which I have little if any control?  Not according to God's Word, and not according to life either.  Attraction springs up and disappears at its own whim, but not love.  True love begins with a decision.  "I choose to love you."  I choose to love you no matter how I feel or how you make me feel.  I love you the way I have learned to love, the way God has loved me.  No matter what, even at my worst, God sacrificed his best for me.  "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  God wills his best toward me, and I in turn will my best toward others.  I love them as I love myself.  

More than feeling and beyond choice, love is action, and often an act of sacrifice.  "God so loved ... that he gave" (John 3:16).  Count the emotions in 1Corinthians 13:4-8, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."  I count one, maybe - irritable could be an emotion, and even that is what love is not, not what it is.  

What love is is displayed by God toward me in his Son, Jesus Christ; and by me, in turn, toward God, presenting all of me, my heart, my soul, my might (and Jesus adds "my mind," ~Mark 12:30) to him.  When I love God in this way, I will love those he loves, as well.  My neighbors.  

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am amazed at Your love.  Your Son sacrificed for my sake.  Your Son considering me and everyone else on this planet above Himself.  He released His hold on Your presence, and emptied Himself of glory, and died.  Shamefully died for my shame.  

Thank You.  You saved me, showed me what love looks like, and gave me the capacity to love others.  If You had not first loved me, I would not even know what love looks like, because I was consumed with me first.  But now, I too am learning to consider others before and above me.  To love them as I love myself.  What an amazing love.

Amen

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Deuteronomy 3-4

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

The verb shema: "to hear," "to listen," is used almost 100 times in the book we are reading right now, Deuteronomy.  It shows up in our passage today, Deuteronomy 4:1, "And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you."

Some translations use "hear" instead of "listen."  Have you ever had a discussion about the difference?  Perhaps with your parents?  For me, it began something like this: Me: "I heard you!"  Them: "Yes, but I don't think you were listening," and for the next hour (it seemed) I learned the difference.  When Jesus said (repeatedly), "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," he was speaking as a parent.  "Listen!"

Jesus said, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me" (John 14:21).  That's listening.  Hearing and obeying, receiving what God has said to us and allowing it to penetrate and shape my heart and change my life.  The words of God, "Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'" (Deuteronomy 4:6).  

All I have to do to hear is be there when a sound is made.  It takes no effort on my part.  To listen, however, means I pay attention.  I show up.  All of me.  

Daily Prayer

My God, thank You for talking to me, for writing me.  Your Words give me life.  They lead me into the future, they give me hope, they shape my character.  They are good.  

May I be one who listens, and may I prove it by what I do.  May I let Your Word have its way in my life so that my life will be different, that my life will reflect You, that others will see in me Your glory, Your goodness, Your grace.  

Amen

Monday, February 27, 2012

Deuteronomy 1-2

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

The Israelites were at Horeb, a.k.a. Mt. Sinai.  God meets Moses, the Ten Commandments, thunder and lightning, thick clouds and trumpet blasts.  It was awesome, wonderful, uplifting, edifying, inspirational, and terrifying. Everything that makes up a good church service.  It was also long (like a church service).  Now it is time to go.  The LORD our God said to his people at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance..." (Deuteronomy 1:6-7 NIV).

God has a promise to fulfill. God has a purpose for his people.  "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:2-3).

Centuries later, with the Lord Jesus, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain. They worshiped Jesus there. Then Jesus said the same thing to his followers, "Go!" (Matthew 28:16-19).  Every church service every week should close the same way, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance..."  

...that you will be a blessing.

Daily Prayer

Father God, it is good to gather and worship. It is wonderful to hear Your Word. I love to be blessed. Who wouldn't?

God, it is good to scatter and bless. May I bless others by sharing the blessings You have poured out on me. I know Your Son, may I make Him known. May I be filled to overflowing with Your Spirit. May I love and serve and share Your good news to people everywhere, across the street and around the world.

Amen

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Numbers 35-36

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

No sin unpunished, but each and all shall be atoned for in proportion to the sin.  In Numbers 36, this means the blood of the murderer is required for the blood of murder.  To leave a sin unaccounted stains the land.  "You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel" (Numbers 35:34).  "You shall be holy, for I am holy," says God (1Peter 1:16).  

You could attempt to not sin.  Benjamin Franklin tried. "It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other."  He made a chart of virtues and kept a record of success.  "I was supris'd to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined."  In the words of the apostle Paul, Ben discovered, "I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing" (Romans 7:19).  

Our sin is not only personal or interpersonal, but eternal.  It is always an affront to the one who created us to be holy.  How do you atone for a sin against the eternal?  Eternal separation from what is holy, from God.  Death.  Paul cries, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).  Good question.  "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25).  Good answer.  

The blood of Jesus, God's Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:7, 9).  We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

"You shall be holy, for I am holy."
~1Peter 1:16

Daily Prayer

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. We worship You, adore You, praise You. But how, then, do we approach You? For we are not holy. Far from it.

By the blood of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins, we are made righteous with his righteousness. We may approach You, O God, with confidence, through a holiness not of our own, but through our Savior, our Lord, our God, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Numbers 33-34

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

The LORD commanded Moses to keep a list of the places Israel camped after departing Egypt.  These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places (Numbers 33:1-2).  But Numbers 33 is more than just a list of places, it is a testimony to the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in dealing with his people.  No difficulty too great, the LORD parted the Red Sea to let his people escape, then closed it and drowned the Egyptian army.  When the people of God met danger, God prevailed over their enemies.  When they thirst, God supplied water, and fed them daily manna from heaven.  Miriam died at Kadesh (v 36), and the LORD provided another woman to lead the choir.  Aaron died at Mount Hor (vv 38-39), and his son Eleazar stepped in.  Eventually Moses died, and Joshua succeeded him.

In all of these changes, God remained the same and stayed true to his people.  What I find most amazing is the 38 years of wandering in the wilderness.  You can't find them in this passage, because they are hidden right there between verses 36 and 37.  And God never left them.

God is great, and in the midst of our freedom to wander, he still accomplishes his purpose.  The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan..." (Numbers 34:1-2).  No matter, they are going to the Promised Land.

Daily Prayer

Faithful Father, no matter what, no matter the ways I wander, no matter my heart's rebellion, you came to seek and to save me.  You are forever true and I am eternally grateful.  Thank You for Your grace, for Your long-suffering, for Your patience and persistence.  I strayed and you found me and put me on the right path.  

You have invited me to follow You.  I will follow.  I will be a disciple of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  I will learn from You and grow in Your likeness, so that I might display Your glory and point others to the way of life.

Amen

Friday, February 24, 2012

Numbers 31-32

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Google Street View takes ground level pictures of the streets of America.  ...and whatever is happening on the street.  Like the husband's car parked in front of the "other woman's" house.  Like the men entering and exiting strip clubs.  Like the teenager breaking the window of a car.  They thought nobody was watching.  They got caught by Google.  

Best thing that could have happened to them.

Do you know how a student who copies a couple answers on a test turns into a cheater?  How a flirt becomes an adulterer?  How a girl who steals a bracelet becomes a thief?  They get away with it, that's how.  Our thoughts become our words become our deeds become our habits become our character.

Getting caught is good for us.  

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

The sooner the better.

Daily Prayer

Dear God, You are God, the only God, the God who created this world and all that is in it. You are sovereign over it and intimate with it. You are all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present. You are God.

You are also love. You sought me to save me, to redeem me, to sanctify me, to finish what You started. You who began a good work will bring it to completion. Father, mold me, refine me. I count it joy when I encounter trials, because I know it will shape me. I pray for Your wisdom to face trials and to grow in the likeness of Your Son. Thank You for loving me so much.

Amen

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Numbers 28-30

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

"Two-Face" is a Batman villain who flips a coin to choose. Heads he does good. Tails evil.  When you can't trust someone half the time, you can't trust them anytime. Who knows which half is which?

Echad is Hebrew for "one."  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is echad. The Lord is One (Deuteronomy 6:4).  The LORD: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three. One. Echad.

Duplicity means two. Duplicity says, "I can't trust you."  Honesty is a flip of the coin.

Echad is completely trustworthy.  Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, "This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:1-2).  What he says and what he does shall be echad, one and the same.

Daily Prayer

My God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Holy is Your Name. Always trustworthy, always true, always faithful. Made in Your image, in this I fell. May I be restored in integrity. May I be one as You are one.

God, may I live a life of transparency and truth. Since You see me even when I hide, it is ridiculous for me to be anything but honest, it is foolish for me to be anything but trustworthy. You know me inside and out, my deepest thoughts and intentions. May I reflect You. May my 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and my 'No,' 'No.'

Amen

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Numbers 26-27

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

The Lord said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin" (Numbers 27:12-14).  For forty years, Moses led a whiny, complaining tribe of Hebrews to the Promised Land.  Then, within a stone's throw of their destination, Moses sinned, and God said, "You're not going in, Moses."  Ever faithful, Moses passes the mantle of leadership to Joshua.  Watch how, Numbers 27:18-21.

Moses leads, Joshua watches, verse 18: So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him."

Moses leads with Joshua by his side, verse 19: "Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight." 

Joshua leads with Moses by his side, verse 20: "You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey." 

Joshua leads, Moses watches, verse 21: "And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation."

That's leadership, and that how you pass it along to the next generation.

Daily Prayer

Father God, thank You for investing in me.  You rescued me from sin and filled me with Your Holy Spirit.  Now I am Your ambassador, declaring and displaying the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world, desperately in need of salvation.  

God, may I be holy, set apart for Your pleasure, for Your good news, for Your service on earth. May I do the same things I saw Your Son do, letting go of my will and my treasures, leading others to Your Kingdom, serving others in love.

Amen

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Numbers 23-25

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Question: Is Balaam a good witch or a bad witch?

The New Testament makes it clear, Balaam is a bad witch.  "They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing" (2Peter 2:15).  "Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion" (Jude 1:11).  "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality" (Revelation 2:14).

At first, it would seem Balaam does well and obeys God.  Balak, the king of the Moabites, needed outside help to attack the Israelites.  By outside help, I mean supernatural, spiritual help, and he didn't care what kind of spirit.  So Balak contracted Balaam, a prophet for hire, to curse the Israelites.  However God met Balaam on his way to the king.  The angel of the LORD, with a drawn sword in his hand, made it clear to Balaam, "Speak only the word that I tell you" (Numbers 22:31, 35).  Balaam feared the sword of God more than the sword of Balak and obeyed.  "Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?" "Did I not tell you, 'All that the Lord says, that I must do'?" (Numbers 23:12, 26)  And finally, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak'?" (Numbers 24:12-13).  Those are good words, words we would do well to remember.  So, rather than curse, Balaam blessed Israel.  

Still, Balaam was committed to evil.  Reading a few chapters ahead, we come to Numbers 31:16 and discover the deceit of Balaam, "Behold these [women], on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD."  Balaam couldn't curse the Israelites, but he knew how to defile them.  He seduced them with the women of Moab to worship Baal.  What Balaam couldn't do by appealing to the demonic, he accomplished by appealing to the flesh.  Balaam was a bad witch.

Daily Prayer

My Father, may I always obey you, no matter how costly. And obedience is costly. Your Son obeyed Your will and paid the price of the cross, bearing My sin. And obedience is rewarded. You gave Him the Name above all names, that at the Name of Jesus every knee would bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

And obedience is costly. I offer my body a living sacrifices. And obedience is rewarded. Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your master's happiness. May I store up  treasures in Your home, not mine. 

Amen

Monday, February 20, 2012

Numbers 21-22

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Question: Why would God use a bronze serpent to heal the Israelites (Numbers 21:8-9) when a serpent usually represents Satan and evil?

Even more curious is Jesus's use of the imagery of the bronze serpent to illustrate his death on the cross: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (John 3:14).  God had instructed Moses to make a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole where the people could see it.  All who looked at the bronze serpent would be healed of the deadly bites of very real serpents.  The serpent was placed in the midst of the camp, not in the tabernacle, because nobody is saved by keeping the law, but only by looking at the uplifted serpent, just as Christ is the only Savior of our sins.  Each Israelite had to look at the serpent for himself.  None could look on behalf of another.  Salvation was individual and personal.  

But why a serpent?  The bronze serpent on the pole foreshadowed Jesus on the cross.  As God used a serpent to heal the people of the venom of serpents, on the cross Jesus became sin to heal us of the deathly venom of sin.  

Daily Prayer

My Savior, You and You alone came to my rescue.  Only You could and only You would.  Your love is so deep that you went to the cross because of and in spite of my rebellion.  God, I repent.  I turn away from the old way of life and I will follow You.  Teach me what is right and good, and change me to love purity and live generously.  

You not only saved me from my sins, but You made me holy.  I'm different now, and it's a good different.  I desire Your pleasure more than anything else.  You are my Lord, my Savior, my God.  

Amen

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Numbers 18-20

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

God delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and all they have done is grumble and complain, sin and rebel. Now they are whining again. They are thirsty.  

Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink" (Numbers 20:2-5).

After all that God has done, more complaining?  So, Moses asks a legitimate question, "Hear now, you rebels: must we bring water for you out of this rock?"  

No! But he does anyway.

You would think we would learn, but we don't.  On page 932 in my Bible, Jesus is in a garden. "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." For 931 pages, the people have continued to grumble and complain, sin and rebel, just like the Israelites in the wilderness.

Legitimate question, "Must Jesus drink the cup?"

No. But he does anyway.

I get on my knees after years of grumbling and complaining, sinning and rebelling.  "Jesus, save me."  

Must he?  "For by grace you have been saved..." (Ephesians 2:8).

No.  But he does anyway.

Daily Prayer

Loving God, You show me your love in grace. I do not deserve it, I do not desire it even, and I certainly do not seek it. And then You die for me anyway. You take my sins on Yourself, you pay the price of justification, and You share Your righteousness with me. You adopt me as Your child, and I am co-heir with Christ.

How can I possibly not love You? I love because You first loved me.

Amen

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Numbers 16-17

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Korah and his company were rebellious.  God had listened to enough grumbling and complaining and punishment was near, so God warned Moses and Moses warned the nation of Israel, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins" (Numbers 16:26).

You may have heard it said, "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

...the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

It counts in wickedness, too. Get away!

Daily Prayer

Holy God, Your ways are perfect. Teach me to follow them. God may I have a heart that loves You, loves Your ways, and loves righteousness. May I have a heart that hates wickedness.

God, teach me not to flirt with sin. May I be convinced of its destruction and flee from it. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- may those things consume my thoughts and fill my desires.

Amen

Friday, February 17, 2012

Numbers 14-15

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Over and over the people complain.  The common theme, "Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" (Numbers 14:3). We read this and we ask incredulously, how can these people ignore the memory of slavery in Egypt?  

The same way you and I do.

Just as God had delivered Israel from their slavery of Egypt, he has delivered us from our slavery to sin. And yet, we want to go back. We want to go back to prison. It doesn't matter what God has accomplished,  Christmas and Good Friday and Easter, God in the flesh, died on the cross, rose the third day.  He delivered us from the misery of slavery to sin and Satan.   

Despite all of that, we want to go back to our slavery.  We prefer our sin.  Somehow, in those moments when the flesh gets the upper hand, we think we had it better in Egypt. We deserve the punishment, the fire (Numbers 11:1) and the plague (Numbers 11:33).   

But our God is patient.  His grace provides us salvation.  To the Israelites, a deliverer named Moses argued their case.  Now, one better, Jesus, who gave his life for us.    

Daily Prayer

My God, may I remember Your justice and also Your grace.  May I reflect on Your holiness and Your love.  I choose sin too often, and deserve slavery.  But You are patient. Thank You.  Thank You for Your Son who took my sins and pleads my case.  That in His Name and by His blood, I have His righteousness.  

Because of Jesus, may I be holy and righteous.  May I love what is good and despise the rebellion that leads to slavery.  May I live freely a life that displays Your goodness and glory.

Amen

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Numbers 11-13

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Twelve spies were sent by Moses to check out the land of Canaan, the Promised Land of God.  They returned after forty days, with good news.  The land was flowing with milk and honey.  However, their was bad news, as well.  The people were strong and their cities fortified.  "There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:33).

There would be, someday, another warrior of God, thought to small for battle against a large opponent.  David was too small to fight Goliath the Philistine.  First King Saul told him, "You can't fight Goliath. You're only a boy."  Then David put on the armor, but it didn't fit. If you are too small for the armor, you are too small for the battle.  Finally, the big Philistine himself laughed at David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?"

That was the Israelites' problem, someone thought they were too small for battle, but it wasn't the Nephilim or the Amalekites or the Hittites or the Jebusites or the Amorites or the Canaanites.  It was the Israelites themselves.  "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes."

It never occurred to David to measure himself.  He measured Goliath. He measured God.  "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel" (1Samuel 17:45).  So, David killed Goliath with a slingshot. Then he cut off his head.

Daily Prayer

Awesome God, You reign from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. You are the Almighty, the Everlasting, my Stronghold, my Shelter, my Fortress in time of trouble. You are my Savior.

My God is an awesome God. May I never rely on my own strength and may I never forget Your strength. I shall place my trust in it, in You, always. If my God is for me, who can be against me?

Amen

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Numbers 8-10

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

My son approached me with what seemed to be a reasonable request. "May I go to the movies tonight with my friends?"  Which movie? Which friends?  I asked the right questions.  "Son, it seems like everything is okay."

He started to walk away triumphantly. "But son, you know there is no 'Yes' until your mom says 'Yes.'"  

He knew and I knew, my wife knows better.  She knows if there is homework due.  She knows how he's behaved during the day.  She knows his friends.  I've learned, I dare not say 'Yes' or 'No' before checking with the one who knows best.

The Israelites were observing the Passover on the anniversary of their deliverance from Egypt.  Some who were unclean (they had touched a dead body) still wanted to participate.  They asked Moses if it was okay.  It seemed a reasonable request.

And Moses said to them, "Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you" (Numbers 9:8).  

Moses had learned, check with the One who knows best.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 
and do not lean on your own understanding.  
In all your ways acknowledge him, 
and he will make straight your paths. 
~Proverbs 3:5-6

Daily Prayer

Father God, You are wise, You are loving, You are good. What a blessing it is to bring my requests to You. I know that You will work all things to the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. I want Your wisdom, God, and it is there for the asking.  But I forget to ask.  

My love for You is shown by my obedience.  My trust is displayed in my actions.  May I be one who, all day long, seeks Your Word and Your ways, follows Your path, and walks in Your wisdom.  May I be one who talks to You.  And listens.  

Amen

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Numbers 7

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Moses gave the Gershonites two carts to carry curtains, and the Merarites got four carts for tent poles. The Kohathites were responsible for the holy things like the ark of the Covenant. Indiana Jones and all that. Their focus was God's glory and nothing else.

The Hebrew word for glory means "weight."  Several tons, in this case. That's how much the ark and the holy things weighed.  A cart and a couple oxen would have been nice, "but to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder" (Numbers 7:9).  

God said, "No.  I want you to carry the holy things on your shoulders."

The wonders of God surround us. The elegance of creation, the beauty of sunsets, the majesty of mountains. "The whole earth is full of his glory," said more than one Hebrew poet.  But that is not where the world will see the full glory of God.    

God's intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~Ephesians 3:10-11

The church.  That's you and me, followers of Jesus Christ.  Displaying God's glory to the world, his goodness, his grace, his gospel - it's on our shoulders.  God says, "I want you to carry my glory."

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that are in them, the land and all it's creatures, the skies and the birds that soar, stars and planets, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, which you made, as well.

In all of creation, You place Your image in people. People like me.  Through the work of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am being transformed and Your image is becoming clear again. May I display Your glory, Your wonder, Your wisdom, You grace, Your love, to the world around me. May the glory of Your work in me brighten the world and bring You praise.

Amen

Monday, February 13, 2012

Numbers 5-6

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Marriage is foundational to a godly people, and unfaithfulness is a serious charge.  Numbers 5:11-31 describes a rather bizarre test of a wife based on the unsubstantiated suspicions of a husband.  This was not a courtroom trial, but rather a public ordeal sufficiently terrifying, designed to force guilt or innocence to show itself.  The threat of the test appears to be the power of the test.  No one knew the results in advance, therefore, if the woman was proved innocent, the husband owed the wife a public apology equal to the public accusation.  The woman, if guilty, upon drinking the water would suffer pain and never bear children again.  Thus, it is likely she wouldn't drink and incur the curse, but confess instead.  

This isn't how we run courtrooms today, is it?  Instead, we suffer broken marriages and adulterous relationships.  We do not enjoy, and enjoy does seem a a strange yet appropriate word, the fear of the Lord and the fear of the Lord's ways.  Perhaps if we did, we would also enjoy more of God's blessings.

Daily Prayer

My Holy God, You are good and just and holy and loving and full of grace. Your Son was pierced for my transgressions, He was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon Him; by His wounds I am healed.  May I take sin as seriously as He did.

Thank You, Father, for salvation, for forgiveness, for the atonement for my sins offered by the death of Jesus Christ. Thank You Jesus for taking what I deserve so that I will share in what You deserve.  May my love You for You be seen in my desire for righteousness.  

Amen

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Numbers 3-4

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

"From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting" (Numbers 4:23).  In the Hebrew, "to do the duty" literally reads "to war the warfare."  It's repeated several times, (4:3, 30, 35, 39, 43; 4:43; 8:24).  This to describe the people who prepare the tabernacle and set the table for the sacrifices.  To war the warfare: now that has a lot more punch to it. 

The work of God, no matter what, will never be rightly done until we understand that, whatever else it might be, it is also warfare.  Whether it is serving orphans and the poor, or serving cookies and coffee, we must elevate our thoughts of our duties and our service.  It is warfare.  We live neither in a Christian nation or a godly world, and we have aligned ourselves to serve the King of Kings.  We are allies of the One who seeks to take away the world's sinful misery, but people cling to their passions.  To make people better by giving their lives to God, but that means dying to self and the world loves self.  

It is warfare, and the world will resist.  It is a fight, and will always be so, if it is rightly done.  The battle is waged, however, not by killing, but by dying; when we ourselves die to ourselves and our King becomes our life.  

Daily Prayer

Our Father, You are our God and we are Your people. The family of God, brought together by the sacrifice of Your Son, receiving full inheritance of Your great and glorious treasures. Thank You, God.

By our love for one another, we show that we are Your disciples. May I be someone who looks out for the interests of others, who is quick to serve, who seeks out and fills needs. May I be someone who loves in action as well as word.  May I fight the good fight by serving others, giving my life fully to You.  May I stand for Your grace and truth.

Amen

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Number 1-2

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

"Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head" (Numbers 1:2).  There are 7,000,000,000 people on this planet, more or less.  Best guess is 100 billion people have been born since the dawn of the human race.  Approximately 255 babies are born every minute.  Right around 18,600,000 birthdays are on February 11.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  ~Matthew 10:29-31

God does not know more or less, best guess, approximately, right around, or just about. God knows exactly. By Name.  God knows you.

P.S., There is exactly one God.

Daily Prayer

God, Your care for me is wonderful and amazing. As David wrote in his psalm, "Who am I that You think about me?" And yet You do. You think of me more than I think of You. Forgive me for that. May I walk with you all day every day.

Father, the value that You have placed in me, may wIe see that value in others. That each person is fearfully and wonderfully made, a work of art by You, my Creator God. Truly, God I love You as I love others, because they are Your workmanship. You have given me faith to believe in You, a certainty of hope for eternity, and You give me love, the greatest of Your gifts. May I give Your love to others.

Amen

Friday, February 10, 2012

Leviticus 26-27

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Principles of Discipline from Leviticus 26
  1. Clearly communicate the rules and their consequences, rewards for obedience and penalties for disobedience.  Now the Israelites are responsible for the consequences, not God.
  2. Don't make threats, make promises.  Threats communicate intention, promises communicate action.  God let the Israelites know he would follow through.
  3. Start small and build.  The results build when the actions become habits, and when the habits become character.  
  4. Include both positive and negative consequences.  This doubles the motivation to do what is right and good.  God says "yes" as often as he says "no."
  5. Provide hope.  God gives the Israelites a way of escaping the consequences, by confessing, repenting and making amends.  
That's good parenting!

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all things.  You are God.  I am not, but You did create me in Your image. Within me is a knowledge of You. I have eternity in my heart. I know You, and I know what is right and wrong, what is good and evil.  

Why I choose not to follow You when the consequences are terrible, I can't explain.  But I do.  Teach me Your ways, O Lord.  Thank You for Your Son, who showed me You again, and made restoration possible. May I follow You, may I conform to Your image, may I call You Father.   

Amen