Serving The Only One That Can Save You….

Simply looking at the bronze snake on the pole saved those from the snake bites they endured. By simply looking... By simply believing Jesus we are saved from judgement and condemnation. Do you see a pattern here? Do you see a caring, loving God extending His Grace to us? Does that make you feel valued? Loved? If God provides the only way for us to be saved, why do we question it? Why don’t we see it for what it is? Why don’t we embrace it responsibly? The answer is simple, we are fickle. Ask God today to forgive you for having this kind of attitude, and to empower you to rise above it. Knowing this truth is half the battle. Doing something about it starts with God. You’ll never regret serving the Only One that can save you.

4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! Numbers 21:4-9

Speak Truth Without Even Knowing….

It always amazes me how a man can speak truth without even knowing anything about what he is saying. It just goes to show us that God is the One (and only One) that Grant’s understanding. Especially when it comes to His Word.

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which He could be arrested. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest You are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us–is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap Me? Show Me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to Him, He asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”His reply completely amazed them. Mark 12:13-17

Beauty Without Integrity….

Beauty without integrity isn’t beauty at all. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And when physical attractiveness speaks, it grabs your attention. But when true beauty speaks, it holds everyone’s attention. People need to understand the difference. Speaking totally from a man’s point of view, when a woman enters a room, all eyes focus on her. The gazes of men start to evaluate her beauty. When she opens her mouth, her beauty is either solidified, or its lost in the weight of her words.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. Proverbs 11:22

One Thing The World Needs….

If there’s one thing the world needs, it’s proper fear of God. If His words created the earth and all of its systems, then any word from Him is worthy of my full attention.

8 Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of Him. 9 For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command. Psalms 33:8-9

Number Our Days….

The Bible teaches us to number our days. We all have a certain number of days on this earth. Only God knows what that number is, for He determined it before we were born. Use these days wisely, for they are gifts. Do your best to make the most of them. Love your family and friends, take God seriously, but not be religious. Speak truth. Pursue God daily. And most importantly, trust God with your life. That way, when that last day comes, it won’t be filled with shame and regret.

22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor. 23 There, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 24 “The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah. 25 Now take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor. 26 There you will remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron will die there and join his ancestors.”27 So Moses did as the Lord commanded. The three of them went up Mount Hor together as the whole community watched. 28 At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar went back down. 29 When the people realized that Aaron had died, all Israel mourned for him thirty days. Numbers 20:22-29

But I’d Never Do That…..

When we are disobedient to God’s command, it’s just as if we rebelled out of an unbelieving heart. It’s as if we say, “God I love You, but I want my way. And I’m going to do it my way”. Moses did just this. He wasn’t thinking, “I must do it exactly how God commanded”, instead he let his emotions get the best of him and struck the rock with his staff. This made it seem like he was the one bringing water to the thirsty people. If he had spoken to the rock, as God instructed him to, he would’ve been able to enter into the “Promised Land”. You’re probably thinking, “yes, but I’d never do that”. Well my friend, how often do you go about making disciples on a daily basis? How much do you love your neighbor by giving of your time to support them? Do you forgive when you need to? How about ask for forgiveness when you wrong someone? How often are you in the Word? Do you love your enemies? These are commands of God. Never disassociate yourself with Moses, or any of the other biblical characters that were disobedient. Why? Because we are just like them. They are reminders of humility. Fortunately for us, we will get to see our “Promised Land”. And more than that, we will get to live there. Don’t take for granted God’s grace. Stay obedient to Him. Let go of your failures and your successes, because both will pull you away from God by toying with your pride. Stay focused on the prize, Jesus; the only One worthy of our gaze.

1 In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! 4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, 7 and the Lord said to Moses, 8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. 10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” 13 This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them. Numbers 20:1-13

God Will Have His Way….

Evil people may prosper here on earth, and people with integrity might suffer, but in God’s economy, evil people will ultimately get the punishment they deserve, and “good” people will get their rewards as well. It just may not be in the timeframe we humans have placed in them. Evil cannot exist in Heaven. And no forgiven soul will ever taste the confines of Hell. That’s truth you can count on, especially when you see evil triumphing before your very eyes. Have hope, evil doesn’t last, it cannot. Love and Truth always win out. God will have His way, regardless of what we think.

19 Godly people find life;evil people find death. 20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,but He delights in those with integrity. 21 Evil people will surely be punished,but the children of the godly will go free. Proverbs 11:19-21

God Knows What’s Best….

God knows what’s best for us in life. Anything we choose without His blessing won’t be fulfilling. Anything we choose without Him won’t deliver in the long run. A life without God isn’t life. We must then trust Him to do what He says He’ll do. For He says, “He will guide us along the best pathway”, and He “will advise us and watch over us”. What more could we want? God gives us the best. Why settle for anything less?

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalms 32:8-11

His Presence….

Today, I want you to think deeply about the following statement. Our share and allotment in life might be full of children, possessions, and a home, but the best thing God can ever give us is Himself. He is our greatest possession. His presence is our good.

20 And the Lord said to Aaron, “You priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel. I am your share and your allotment. Numbers 18:20

If We Didn’t Complain So Much…..

Why do you think God is always proving Himself to us? Here in Numbers 18, God calls all the ancestral leaders to bring a staff with their named inscribed on it into to sanctuary. God told Moses that He would show who He has chosen to lead them in the priestly duties. Aaron was chosen, by making his staff blossom with almonds. God told Moses to permanently display this staff at the ark as a permanent reminder to the people that God has chosen so they needed to stop complaining about the leadership. God settled the issue, once and for all. Why does God have to continually prove Himself? Because we are fickle. We humans forget so easily what He’s done for us, that we demand a sign to remind us of what He has already done. God has great patience. Maybe we should translate that in more faith? That way, we wouldn’t be so inclined to ask for all these signs. God doesn’t have to prove Himself, but He does as a reminder to us to stop complaining. Think about that for a minute. If we didn’t complain so much, or have an ungrateful attitude, maybe our faith wouldn’t waver so much, and thus we wouldn’t need to demand a sign from God to prove Himself?

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. 3 Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. 5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7 Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. 8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!9 When Moses brought all the staffs out from the Lord’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.” 11 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.12 Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined! 13 Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the Lord dies. Are we all doomed to die?” Numbers 17:1-13

When We Think It’s Okay…

How arrogant it was for Korah to rebel and say the things he said about Moses and Aaron. We will always run into trouble when we “think” it’s okay to step into the role of God. It’s God Who chooses us, not the other way around. The only decision we have in it, is how we respond to His choosing. It always involves humility. It’s when pride steps up that things like this happen. Who are we to decide God’s issues for Him? God’s presence is a blessing, and only He can decide who’s in and who’s not.

1 One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. 2 They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250  other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. 3 They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?”4 When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. 5 Then he said to Korah and his followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. 6 Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners. 7 Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”8 Then Moses spoke again to Korah: “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? 10 Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? 11 The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?” Numbers 16:1-11

31 He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. 33 So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. 34 All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!” they cried. 35 Then fire blazed forth from the Lord and burned up the 250  men who were offering incense. Numbers 16:31-35

Tassels…..

Even though this message is about tassels on clothing, it sums up the nature of man. Instead of obeying God, man always drifts towards following his own desires and defiling himself. Always. It doesn’t matter if you’re “saved” or not. We need to learn to live independently dependent upon God. These tassels were a reminder of that.

37 Then the Lord said to Moses, 38 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. 39 When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. 40 The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!” Numbers 15:37-41

Which Voice We Listen To…..

No matter how we feel, we must never forget the world’s way of doing things differs greatly from God’s way of doing things. Our attitude is determined by which voice we listen to. Humility is the one virtue that leads to all other virtues.

43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

The Safest Place….

The safest place you’ll ever be, is right in the middle of God’s will. It’s the reason it’s so important to pursue Him. You can’t know His will, if you don’t know Who He is.

 19 How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection,blessing them before the watching world.20 You hide them in the shelter of Your presence,safe from those who conspire against them.You shelter them in Your presence,far from accusing tongues. 21 Praise the Lord,for He has shown me the wonders of His unfailing love.He kept me safe when my city was under attack.22 In panic I cried out,“I am cut off from the Lord!”But You heard my cry for mercyand answered my call for help. 23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!For the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him,but He harshly punishes the arrogant.24 So be strong and courageous,all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalms 31:19-24

Creep In And Expose….

One of the greatest travesties in the modern church is that believers have allowed unbelief to slowly creep in and expose its members to its harmful effects. Not only that, it has failed to teach the next generation Who God is. The church tries to deal with problems from a worldly point of view, and is failing miserably. Repenting of this unbelief, and getting back to faithfulness in God is the only solution. Look what it cost the Israelites in the wilderness, without ever stepping foot into the Promised Land. Their lack of faith in God to deliver them, cost them one of God’s promises. It kept them from receiving God’s blessing. The greatest tragedy in life is when a human being rejects eternal life offered by the only One qualified to give it, to accept a life void of meaning; all in the name of pride. It all begins with unbelief, refusing to take God at His Word. What role does unbelief play in your life?

1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!” Moses Intercedes for the People 13 But Moses objected. “What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?” he asked the Lord. “They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt. 14 Now if you destroy them, the Egyptians will send a report to the inhabitants of this land, who have already heard that you live among your people. They know, Lord, that you have appeared to your people face to face and that your pillar of cloud hovers over them. They know that you go before them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’17 “Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations.’ 19 In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”20 Then the Lord said, “I will pardon them as you have requested. 21 But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, 22 not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. 23 They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. 25 Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.” The LORD Punishes the Israelites 26 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 27 “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. 28 Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. 29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.31 “ ‘You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. 32 But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. 33 And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness.34 “ ‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years–a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!”36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land–the ones who incited rebellion against the Lord with their bad report–37 were struck dead with a plague before the Lord. 38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.39 When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. 40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the Lord has promised us.”41 But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the Lord’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work. 42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the Lord is not with you. 43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The Lord will abandon you because you have abandoned the Lord.”44 But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah. Numbers 14

Perception vs Belief….

Perception versus belief: it’s what faith is all about. How you interpret something isn’t always reality, even though it’s “you’re reality” in your own mind. Do you trust God with your situation or do you perceive it to be impossible? If you trust God with your life, even what’s perceived as impossible, is possible because God is in control. Faith allows us to move forward against perceived, impossible odds, because God is in the business of “impossible”. Caleb and Joshua were the only two that realized God is bigger than there problems. They were the only two that trusted God fully. As it says in the NT, “if God is for us, who can be against us”? And “nothing is impossible with God”. Start believing it, get to know the God of the Bible. He’s big enough for your circumstances, and He’s worthy of your praise, trust, and affection. You will never waste an one ounce of effort in pursuit of God, and never be betrayed by giving Him your trust. Faith overrides perception, when God is the object of our faith.

25 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned 26 to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. 27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country–a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” 32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Numbers 13:25-33

Two Ears and One Mouth….

The only thing more foolish than a person who “thinks he knows it all” is the one that tries to argue with him. Learn that keeping your mouth shut trumps any gossip or slander that could ever come from your lips. Learn when to speak, when to listen, and when to keep silent. Notice only one of the three involves speaking. You may feel like what you have to say is important (and it may be), but engaging in a conversation is more about comprehending, than being understood. You see major growth when you learn to restrain your mouth, especially when it comes to gossip and slander. You have two ears and one mouth for that very reason. You will win more friends, and I mean loyal, life-long friendships, more from what you don’t say, than from what you do say. Conversations are a gift from the speaker to the listener, and vice verse. When someone opens up to you and shares part of who they are with you, the only rightful, respectful response is listening by taking it in, and appreciating the process. It’s how true, real relationships start and continue to grow throughout our lifetime. And in some cases, beyond this lifetime, throughout eternity. Be sensible, keep quiet and trustworthy by restraining your mouth.

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. 13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:12-13

Push Your Shoes Far Under the Bed….

Here’s a short, but profound truth: true humility comes from spending time with God. The Bible tells us that Moses was a very humble man; more humble than any other person on earth. What do you think made him that way? Time spent with God. If you want more humility and self-control in your life, you have the opportunity to develop it. It’s on your knees before God. I once read a story about a grandfather giving his grandson advice. The man told his grandson, “every night push your shoes far under your bed”. The grandson was baffled as to why. Grandpa answered, “so every morning, before you start your day, you have to get on your knees in order to go out”. Humility starts the night before, putting your shoes far under the bed. God delights in our pursuit of Him. And you benefit with the shaping of your character while in His Presence.

3 (Now Moses was very humble–more humble than any other person on earth.) Numbers 12:3

Compare, Complain, Combust…..

I think Numbers chapter 11 should be required reading for every soul on earth. Why? To see what whining and complaining does to people. And most importantly, what it does to God. Even when Moses told God there wouldn’t be enough meat to feed all the soldiers, God tells him “sit back and watch, has My Arm lost it’s power?” God takes care of us regardless of our attitudes at times, but there are times when He’s had enough. The only thing complaining does is guarantee our focus is not where it should be. If you’re being feed with sufficient food (that tasted like pastries), why long for something different? Why rock the boat? Why try to fix what ain’t broke? It’s only when we lose sight of God in our lives that our focus shifts onto ourselves. When this happens, we start to compare, complain, and eventually combust. Save yourself some pain, allow the same Spirit that came upon these 70 leaders, to infiltrate you, and be obedient to His voice. The less time you spend thinking about yourself, the more the Holy Spirit will use you to do “eternal things”. True that!!!

1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped. 3 After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the Lord had burned among them there.4 Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. 5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. 6 But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”7 The manna looked like small coriander seeds, and it was pale yellow like gum resin. 8 The people would go out and gather it from the ground. They made flour by grinding it with hand mills or pounding it in mortars. Then they boiled it in a pot and made it into flat cakes. These cakes tasted like pastries baked with olive oil. 9 The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night.10 Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. 11 And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? 12 Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? 13 Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” Moses Chooses Seventy Leaders 16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.18 “And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the Lord heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. 19 And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. 20 You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’ ”21 But Moses responded to the Lord, “There are 600 ,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, ‘I will give them meat for a whole month!’ 22 Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?”23 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!”24 So Moses went out and reported the Lord’s words to the people. He gathered the seventy elders and stationed them around the Tabernacle. 25 And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again.26 Two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed behind in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but they had not gone out to the Tabernacle. Yet the Spirit rested upon them as well, so they prophesied there in the camp. 27 A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant since his youth, protested, “Moses, my master, make them stop!”29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!” 30 Then Moses returned to the camp with the elders of Israel. The LORD Sends Quail 31 Now the Lord sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fall all around the camp. For miles in every direction there were quail flying about three feet above the ground. 32 So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels! They spread the quail all around the camp to dry. 33 But while they were gorging themselves on the meat–while it was still in their mouths–the anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of gluttony”) because there they buried the people who had craved meat from Egypt. 35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the Israelites traveled to Hazeroth, where they stayed for some time. Numbers 11

By Leaving Hell Out Of The Gospel…..

If Hell isn’t meant to be talked about in sharing the Christian Gospel, then why did Jesus talk about it so much? Here in Mark chapter 9, we read of one such account. Jesus gives the analogy of being better off maimed, or blind and entering in to Heaven, than be fully functional, and be Hell bound. If Hell is that bad, and Jesus warns us about it, why won’t we listen? Why are we so afraid of being rejected by people, more so than being rejected by God? If Jesus tells us this very thing, why don’t we take heed? Hell should be in everyone’s vocabulary. It should be talked about. It should be in the forefront of every believer’s mind. It’s the reason the Gospel is “Good News”. By leaving Hell out of the Gospel message, you guarantee one thing while witnessing to a non-believer, you’ll be preaching in vain, because you’re only preaching part of the Gospel.

39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in My name will soon be able to speak evil of Me.40 Anyone who is not against us is for us.41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.44 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.46 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’49 “For everyone will be tested with fire.50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Mark 9:39-50

God’s Strength Has an Endless Supply….

The only difference between those that trust in Jesus and those that don’t, is the hopes of the believer live on, while the hopes of the unbeliever die with them. God’s Grace is enough for everyone, yet everyone doesn’t welcome it. Those who refuse God’s grace rely on their own feeble strength, which eventually runs out. Those that trust in the Lord, have their strength renewed, like on wings of eagles, lifting their spirits, allowing them to continue on their journey. You see God’s strength has an endless supply, while human strength has its capacities and limits. Which will you rely on the next time adversity comes knocking at your door?

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. Proverbs 11:7

Sound The Trumpets In Good Times Too…..

Reading Numbers chapter 10, I come to learn about the silver trumpets. There were two silver trumpets made to signal the Israelites (while still in the wilderness). They had different signals for different callings. There was only one trumpet to call in the leaders, as to the two trumpets used to call the entire camp in. They had calls for war, for packing up and moving on, as well as for burnt offerings and the like. They were also instructed to sound the trumpets in good times too, during celebrations. These trumpet sounds were to be a reminder to God of His covenant with His people. If we apply this same concept to our lives, then we are to go to God in prayer continually, not just in times of stress and hardship. We are to go to God in good times as well as bad times. Maybe it’s just me, but I find myself going to God in more during difficult times, than in good times. Maybe that’s why I’m not as grateful as I should be. We should go to God during all times, regardless if it’s good or bad. When we go to God in prayer (heart-felt, genuine prayer), we remind Him of His covenant with us. It’s like blasting a trumpet, getting His attention, or at least getting our attention focused back on Him. Today see your prayers like trumpet blasts, signaling your dependence on God. He will remember His covenant with you, and you will be rewarded with His presence. You can’t receive, what you don’t ask for.

1 Now the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp. 3 When both trumpets are blown, everyone must gather before you at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 4 But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders–the heads of the clans of Israel–must present themselves to you.5 “When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward. 6 When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on. 7 But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets with a different signal. 8 Only the priests, Aaron’s descendants, are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation.9 “When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the Lord your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. 10 Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the Lord your God of his covenant with you. I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 10:1-10

Opposition To The Truth….

We are constantly surrounded with distractions and bombarded with things that oppose the truth. You may hear “it’s my truth”, but truth isn’t owned by any one person. Jesus is the truth. It’s when we align our lives and our thinking with His, that truth reveals itself. Truth isn’t a concept, it’s a Person. Everything thing about Jesus exudes truth. How we think, behave, our attitude, outlook, and our desires must line up with God’s ways, His character, and what He wants from us. The problem arises when we think we know better. We step into the role of God without having any of the qualifications necessary to fulfill the role. We can’t “fake it until we make it” with God. Our pride, our unbelief, our rebellion, and our selfishness, are what stand in the way of growing in Grace and deepening our faith. It’s not until we come to the realization of this truth that we can make progress is the sanctification process. It all starts with honesty, being honest with oneself. The father here in Mark chapter 9 gets reprimanded for questioning if Jesus can heal his demon-possessed son. When confronted by the Truth (Jesus), the man asks, “help me overcome my disbelief“. We all need to read this passage over and over again, until it starts to sink in. If we never understand the basics of salvation, then we will continue struggle for the rest of our lives trying to figure it out on our own. And worse yet, we have Satan trailing behind us, every where we go, trying to steal, kill, and destroy. Truth matters. Belief matters. These are the two core foundations of the Christian faith. We believe in the Truth. Without them, no one can stand firmly on the Solid Rock.

14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet Him.16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so You could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if You can.”23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, He rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” He said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Mark 9:14-29

Money Makes Us…..

Money.... it gives us the means to say “NO” to God. At least we think it does. Money appeals to our pride, because we associate it with our significance. When we earn it for working hard, we get a sense of accomplishment, a sense of true satisfaction. That feeling quickly turns from what God meant it to do into what He didn’t, pride. Having money makes us start to desire things. Money makes us want to compare. Money makes us believe that it can solve all of our problems. It pulls our gaze of off God. It’s almost like money steps into God’s role in our lives. It satisfies our desires without holding us accountable. It deceives us into to thinking we can do it without God because we can enlist experts in any field to solve any problem if we just pay them enough. The cold hard truth is money can’t save us. It can’t cure cancer. It can’t bring someone back to life. It can’t even turn one gray hair back to its original color, even though it can mimic it with dyes, making it appear to be rejuvenated and fresh. It’s just smoke and mirrors, an illusion. Kinda like in the movie “Meet the Parents”, when Greg goes looking for “Jinksie” the cat. He finds one at the animal shelter that looks identical, but lacks the spot on its tail. He dyes the tip of the tail white, and becomes the hero, until it wears off. Then he’s labeled a traitor. The bottom line to idolatry, whether it’s money or whatever we choose to put in God’s place, it’s just that, trying to replace God with inadequate objects. And these objects were made by God to begin with. When we take on the role of God, disaster happens, and yet we do it anyway. The creature worships the creation, forgetting the Creator. This is a tragic and useless pursuit. God never created us to worship anything other than Himself. It’s when we try to step into His role that the chaos begins. It all stems from man trying to be God. And in the end, it’s only God that saves. Money can’t buy you love, health, or peace, and it certainly cannot replace God. Save yourself some pain and suffering and embed this truth into your soul, if you do, you will have better spiritual sight to understand your role here on earth.
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4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. Proverbs 11:4

Do I Entrust My Spirit Into God’s Hands?

As I read Psalm 31, I have to ask myself this question: Do I entrust my spirit into God’s hands? If I do, it’s because I know God does Right, all the time. He is a safe place, a rock of protection. I know that whatever predicament I find myself in, I know He will rescue me from my enemy. I know when I associate my name with His name, God will honor me and rescue me from danger. The honor of His name is important, so much so, He will honor it for our sake. What if I don’t entrust my spirit into His hands? Then I miss out in all He has in store for me. I miss out because I don’t realize what’s happening is a blessing. My lack of connection with Him, impedes my ability to see spiritually. And the final result is I’m overcome with emotions that I cannot deal with (fear, worry, anxiety, stress, shame, guilt, and the list goes on...). God is bigger than my problems, and that’s why I should trust Him with my life.

1 O Lord, I have come to You for protection;don’t let me be disgraced.Save me, for You do what is right.2 Turn Your ear to listen to me;rescue me quickly.Be my rock of protection,a fortress where I will be safe.3 You are my rock and my fortress.For the honor of Your name, lead me out of this danger.4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,for I find protection in You alone.5 I entrust my spirit into Your hand.Rescue me, Lord, for You are a faithful God. Psalms 31:1-5

True Significance Isn’t Found Within….

To truly find your life, you have to give up trying to know yourself from the inside out. You learn about the “real” you, when you die to self, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Knowing Who Jesus is, is the only true way to know who we are. This is such a foreign concept to us. We live in a world that tells us to focus on ourselves. We watch an electronic panel (tv or smartphone) that tells us everyday to be discontent with our possessions. It tells us in order to be happy, we must get their new product, for it will bring true contentment. The funny thing about marketing and “sales hype” is that it will bring you happiness only until their newer model comes out, then we need to buy it in order to be “better happy”. Jesus says in order to find ourselves, we must lose ourselves in Him; Serving Him, by serving others. It’s like a puddle of water. If the water in the puddle has no where to flow, it will stagnate, and eventually dry up. But if that water has a channel to flow, it will move into a bigger body of water, contributing to its purpose of moving ships, irrigating land, and participating in the growing of crops and other processes. Jesus is that channel. True significance isn’t found “within”, it’s found “outside” of us, in Christ. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”. This mortal life cannot bring eternal rewards, without the Eternal God being involved. It starts with dying to self, in order to follow the One Who overcame death. We die to self in order to experience the power of the resurrection of Jesus.

34 Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?37 Is anything worth more than your soul?38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

The Proper View of Oneself Matters…..

The proper view of oneself matters. It determines our attitude, which determines how we “handle life”. If we are proud, the world centers around us. External things determine our happiness. If we humble ourselves, thinking more about God and others, our life will be less susceptible to disappointment and strife. And eternal things will occupy our time and talents, which leads to our intrinsic value. Thus our true significance comes from knowing God loves us. Wisdom is humbly accepting our God-given role in life, while giving less effort to bringing attention to ourselves. Once we learn how to properly view ourselves in light of God’s truth, it’s easier to deal with others. But until we learn this valuable lesson, disgrace will follow us around and wisdom will elude us.

2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Repentance Is Hard…..

Repentance is hard. It fights against our pride. Our pride tells us “we are okay”. Our pride tells us “we are good enough”. Our pride keeps us in an unrepentant state. It robs us of our ability to say “Sorry”. When we do sin, God’s anger only lasts for a moment when we repent, He is quick to forgive. It is far better to refrain from wrong doing, but when we participate in it, our duty is to repent. We know God’s anger is only temporary, but even more important, His favor is eternal. Repentance is worth it. Doing the right thing honors God. Even in sin, repentance is doing the right thing. When we honor God, He honors us. His favor lasts a lifetime.

5 For His anger lasts only a moment,but His favor lasts a lifetime!Weeping may last through the night,but joy comes with the morning. Psalms 30:5

Natural Born Sinners….

Never forget what it means to be a natural born sinner. It’s only when we realize that we can’t trust ourselves, that salvation becomes real. We must realize we are sinners in need of a Savior, before God can use us to further His kingdom. For its our heart that reveals our true nature. And anyone honest with themselves, knows we can’t be trusted. That’s what Jesus means when He tells the disciples this. Paul talks about it too. In order to make it to Heaven, to be rescued, to be forgiven for our sins, we must die to self daily. If we don’t, we will just continue to pursue the false reality that we can trust ourselves, when we know we can’t. Pride is believing in yourself to the point of trusting yourself more than trusting God. It just doesn’t work that way. Left alone long enough, you’ll find this to be true 100% of the time.

20 And then He added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:20-23

Takes Care of “Little Old” Me….

It’s simply amazing to think how God takes care of those He loves. Those that honor Him, He provides for their needs, and goes above and beyond our comprehension of His Sovereignty. He even provides for those that disregard Him too. I’ll never get over how complex He is, and in that, takes care of “little old” me.

18 “If you want to live securely in the land, follow My decrees and obey My regulations. 19 Then the land will yield large crops, and you will eat your fill and live securely in it. 20 But you might ask, ‘What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?’ 21 Be assured that I will send My blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a crop large enough for three years. 22 When you plant your fields in the eighth year, you will still be eating from the large crop of the sixth year. In fact, you will still be eating from that large crop when the new crop is harvested in the ninth year. Leviticus 25:18-22