Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Accept Salvation

Today I read Numbers 25:17-28:12 and Luke 18:22-19:36. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus came to give His life so that lost souls would have a way to come to God and be saved for eternity. God wants everyone to accept the gift of His Son and be saved, but there is an end to his patience. When the children of Israel refused to obey and follow God into the Promised Land, He caused them to wander hopelessly in the wilderness until all of that generation died EXCEPT for Caleb and Joshua. They were the only two spies who declared to the people that they should obey God and enter the land which he had promised to give to them. These two men trusted God and chose to obey him even when they were massively outnumbered. God honored their commitment by preserving their lives and strength after all the others of their generation had died and allowing them to enter the Promised Land and possess land there. For those who choose to reject God’s authority and His Son’s sacrifice for their sin, God has consequences. The consequences, like the rewards for obedience, are eternal. If you choose to reject God in this life, you cannot change your mind halfway through eternity and accept salvation. Choose THIS DAY whom you will serve!

Monday, March 29, 2010

God's Word is Sure

Today I read Numbers 22:11-25:16 and Luke 17:1-18:21. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

When God speaks, He speaks truth and does not change it. His word is sure. When Christ said that His return would be as lightning shining in the heavens, He spoke the truth. His coming will be magnificent; it will not be secret or hidden. His children can rejoice when they see the light of His coming. Those who have rejected Him and have not received salvation will see the light and know that they are doomed to an eternity without God and will never see light again. Are you ready for that light to shine over the whole world?

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Obey and Be Faithful

Today I read Numbers 18:27-22:10 and Luke 16. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Moses and Aaron struck a rock to make water come out of it for the people of Israel; God had told them to SPEAK to the rock to bring forth water. They disobeyed God and suffered the consequences. They were not allowed to enter the Promised Land which God was giving to Israel. Jesus emphasized that it is important to be faithful in whatever God entrusts you with. If we can’t take care of the little things, God will not trust us with bigger responsibilities. We need to be obedient and faithful to God; then God will bless us. We choose—consequences or blessings. The choice seems obvious! So why do we continually fail to obey and serve God? Thanks be to God, He remains faithful to us. He will forgive us when we come to Him and confess that we have failed again. May we use our second, third, fourth . . . chance to do what is right in the eyes of God. Obey and serve Him faithfully today!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Worship and Serve

Today I read Numbers 16:39-18:26 and Luke 14:12-15:32. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Numbers 18:22 caught my attention and made me think that some Christians must have read this verse and thought it applied to them. Sorry, I am being sarcastic—but it does seem to me that some people think that they are not supposed to come near the church. They do not worship and serve God with the church family as God intended for His children to do. The tabernacle in the Old Testament was a special place which only the priests and Levites could approach to make sacrifices for themselves and the people of Israel to atone for their sins against God. Today, because Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, we can approach the very throne of God to seek forgiveness when we sin against Him. And there is joy in heaven each time someone receives salvation and finds that free access to God. We do not need a priest to go between us and God. Each of us has full access to God and His church, and we should take advantage of the provision He has made for us.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Humble Yourself

Today I read Numbers 14:23-16:38 and Luke 12:48-14:11. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 16:10 He has brought you and all the other Levites near himself, but now you demand to be priests.

Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Christ warned people that they should not exalt themselves. To do so is not only presumptuous in the eyes of other people, it is offensive to God. He will decide who is to be exalted and who is to be humbled. If we humble ourselves; that is, make ourselves of no account and give glory to God, then God will exalt us—raise us to a higher level. In the book of Numbers, some of the Levites declared that they should be counted as priests of God just as Aaron was. They wanted to exalt themselves to a position God had reserved for others. God not only humbled them, he took their lives. It is a very serious thing to take it upon yourself to instruct God! He is in control, and He will not give that privilege to anyone else. We can ask Him for things, but NEVER presume to tell Him what to do. We should present ourselves to God to be used in His service according to His perfect will.

Monday, March 22, 2010

God's Power and Pleasure

Today I read Numbers 11:5-14:22 and Luke 11:44-12:47. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 11:23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The Lord of the Old Testament is the same Lord of the New Testament, and He has the same heart. He has both the power and the desire to do good to His people. God’s hand is not too short to give us great blessings, and it gives Him pleasure to do so. He wants us to have abundant life here on this earth and eternal life in heaven. Serve God and see what great things He will do for you—see whether His word will come to pass. I guarantee that He will keep His promises!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Follow the Light

Today I read Numbers 9:13-11:4 and Luke 11:15-43. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 10:35-36 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

Luke 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

When Moses and the children of Israel began their travels through the wilderness, God’s Spirit came down on the tabernacle and glowed like fire so that the people could see Him. When He rose from the tabernacle, they knew it was a signal to move to another place. Moses prayed a prayer for the Lord to go before His people when they moved and another prayer for the Lord to return to His people when they made camp. In Luke Jesus reminded His disciples to let their light be seen. Hopefully, when others see the Light of Jesus in us, they will be moved to follow God. We must not fail to go where God leads us and be a light so that others can see the way and go with us.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Thursday I read all of Numbers 7; today I read Numbers 8:1-9:12 and Luke 10:28-11:14. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 9:2-3 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. 3In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

God wants us to remember important milestones in our walk with Him. He commanded the Israelites to commemorate the night that the death angel passed through Egypt without killing any first-born among the Israelites. He gave specific instructions on how and when it was to be done. We must never forget times in our own lives when God really came through for us. And know that He will continue to do so. The verse from Luke reminds us that as long as we Ask, Seek, and Knock, God will do His part by opening doors of opportunity and blessing.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

When His Face Shines

Over the past few days, I have read Numbers 3:31-6:27 and Luke 8:30-10:27. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 6:24-26 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

God wants His people to be blessed. He wants to give us grace and peace. When God lifts His face and it shines on us, we have everything we need. We can depend on Him as completely as a little child depends on his father. God has made Himself plain to children; He honors their childlike faith and trust. Jesus loved children, so He rejoiced in knowing that His own Father God revealed Himself to those children.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Obey as Families

Today I read Number 2:14-3:30 and Luke 8:1-29. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 2:34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

It seems that the theme of obedience has caught my attention again. The children of Israel camped, moved, and went where God told them through Moses. And they did it in family groups. I thought of how sad it is that the traditional family in our society is the exception today rather than the rule. So few families stay together it seems. And even those who are “together” seem to be drawn in many different directions with various activities. I wonder how much difference we would see in our country today if each family lived a life directed by God as a unit. Even the wind and water followed Christ’s directions when he commanded them to be at peace. If only mankind would do the same!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Get Busy Doing

Today I read Leviticus 27 and Numbers 1:1-2:13 as well as Luke 6:42-49 and all of Luke 7. My favorite verses are:

Numbers 1:54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

God wants us to do what He says. He was pleased when the Israelites did everything Moses told them to do as God had told him. And Jesus reminds us that we are to do what He says. Calling Him Lord doesn’t make it so; if He is truly our Lord, we will do what He tells us to do. God the Father and God the Son are both worthy to be served and obeyed. Christians are led by the Holy Spirit of God to do those things which are pleasing to God. Get busy doing God’s work today.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Walk with God

Today I read Leviticus 25:50-26:46 and Luke 6:13-41. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

If we obey God, we will be blessed. God told the Israelites that if they were obedient, He would walk among them. What a glorious picture—God Himself walking among His people. Imagine being out for a stroll with Father God sharing your life with Him. And the blessings would be so abundant that they would necessarily overflow to others. As we give, we will receive; that is God’s promise. Be stingy—be in need; be generous—have abundance. God IS Good!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Respect Others

Today I read Leviticus 24:22-25:49 and Luke 5:23-6:12. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 25:17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

God expects His saved people to behave differently than lost people. The way you treat others is a good indicator of whether Christ lives in you. If you fear God and obey Him, you will show respect to others; you will not take advantage of people who find themselves helpless. People who think they are too good for God because they are successful in the world’s eyes often treat others with contempt. This is evidence that they DO need God whether they realize it or not. As you go about your business today, treat those people you come in contact with the way Jesus would have treated them—have compassion and respect for others.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Feed the Hungry

Today I read Leviticus 23:15-24:21 and Luke 4:38-5:22. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

God made provision for the poor and needy in the Old Testament. He ordered His people to leave the corners of the fields and the gleaning for the poor to gather for food for themselves and their families. I believe that God is still pleased today when His people provide help for those in need. I think the churches should be in the business of helping provide food for the hungry—people who are struggling financially to make ends meet. And we should follow Jesus’ example of regular prayer. If we keep in touch with the Father in prayer, we are more likely to do the things which please Him.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Set Apart to Serve

Today I read Leviticus 20:1-23:14 and Luke 3:18-4:37. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 20:8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to keep His laws because He had set them apart from other nations to be His special chosen people. He expected better things from them than from the heathen nations. Jesus quoted the command to worship only God and serve Him. His people who are saved are set apart to serve Him. Whether under the Old Covenant or the New Covenant, God’s people are expected to be faithful to Him. We are to worship Him, serve Him, and keep His commandments.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Honor the Elderly

Today I read Leviticus 18:13-19:37 and Luke 2:41-3:17. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

I am sure that Jesus respected the elderly because he grew in favor with God, and God had commanded His people to honour the elderly. If we fear God, if we have reverence for Him, then we will have respect for those who are old. I fear that today’s society does not teach us to respect the elderly; they are often cast aside for convenience sake. I realize that it is often necessary to place them in homes where they receive needed care that cannot be given by family members. But I believe some are “put away” because family members do not want to be bothered with their care. God expects us to love one another; this is especially true of family. How are your family relationships? Do you need to make changes in order to be pleasing to God the Father?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Cleansing from Sin

Today I read Leviticus 16:11-18:12 and Luke 2:1-40. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Under the Old Covenant, the priest had to cleanse himself then go into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the sins of the nation of Israel. He made atonement for them before God, and they were clean from all their sins. This was done once each year at an appointed time. The forgiveness of sins was temporary; many sacrifices had to be made throughout the year by the people to keep them “clean”. When Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem, the angels told the shepherds that a Saviour had been born. This Saviour would offer Himself as a sacrifice ONCE for all time to cleanse all the people who accept Him from all their sins forever. A New Covenant came into effect. We do continue to sin day by day, but we do not have to make continual sacrifices. We simply confess our sins before God and ask for His forgiveness; and it is granted because we are His children saved by the blood of His Son, our Saviour. What a Great and Merciful God He is to have made such a provision for us!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Scapegoat

Today (March 3) I read Leviticus 13:8-16:10 and Luke 1:5-80. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

In the sacrificial laws given by God to the Israelite people there was provision for a scapegoat. This animal, instead of being killed, was let go into the wilderness alive to carry away the sins of the people which had been confessed over its head. Jesus Christ, who died as a sacrifice for our sins, now lives to make intercession for us with the Father. He is our scapegoat—we confess our sins to Him, and He makes atonement for us with the Father. Because of this, we can indeed rejoice in God who is our Saviour.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Be Holy

Today I read Leviticus 11:12-13:7, Mark 16, and Luke 1:1-4. My favorite verses are:

Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Mark 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

When God taught the people of Israel what He expected of them and gave them laws to live by, He said that they were to be holy because He is holy. This applies to Christians today. It does not mean that we will become perfect like God, but it does mean that we are to be different from other people in the world. We are to be set apart for God’s service; we are to always strive to be more and more like Him. When Jesus rose from the dead, the angels gave instructions to His followers to wait for Him. He did not leave them alone and frightened; He kept His word and came to them. The angel said to tell Peter specifically that Jesus would be seeing him. After Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he must have needed this special reassurance that he was not to be left out of the reunion. God is gracious and forgiving; He knows that we are weak and sinful, but He chooses to come to us and dwell in us. We should choose to accept His presence and make every effort to let it shine through in our daily lives.

Followers