Friday, February 26, 2010
February 26 ... Numbers 35 - 36 "Overcoming An Unholy Value System"
Numbers 35:4 Don't desecrate the land in which you live... for God says: I live here, too. God gives his final words to Moses to lead the people into good. Moses lived the truth. The joy of the LORD was His Strength. He didn't crater when Canaan denied him entry because Moses was holy. He had joy that comes from being holy and no experience could take that joy away. Not even the Promised Land! His joy was in his LORD not the blessing of the land. What lingers with you as we close the book of Numbers? What have you thought about again and again? What stirred you on the inside? For me, God has some work to do to make me holy. I read a Crabb quote today: "do natural disadvantages seem more important to me to overcome than an unholy value system." My definition of sin is so shallow. But we serve a good God Who will expose our failures at the right moments in our lives. For it is His Kindness that leads us all to repent. Rom 2:4.
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Holiness is such an important part of our walk with God. Holiness has been mentioned numerous times in Numbers. When something is repeated, God wants us to get it.
ReplyDeleteI really need to meditate and feed my spirit on Scriptures pertaining to holiness and live a holy life.
As I conclude reading the Book of Numbers, I am consistently reminded in scripture "Be Holy, for I am Holy" I am created in the image of God.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago a precious and Godly friend advised me whenever the pain and suffering show up in my life to speak out loud "The JOY of the LORD is my Strength" repeatedly. In these last days for Moses his Love for the LORD was definitely His Strength.
Again I am reminded that Elohim is God and He is Holy. It is only a Holy God that can take the sin in my life when I have done the work to ask forgiveness and repent that Holy God can make a blessing through my pain and suffering.
In these first four books of The Holy Bible I am so aware that God is a Huge God who does not miss any detail in scripture nor any detail in me the person He created. God is calling me to Holiness each and everyday.
Only by God's power in my life through the Blood of the Lamb can I ever be Holy. Today Lord help me do the work even through the most uncomfortable areas of my life to become more Holy because you are the Great I AM.
I keep thinking about how much I have underestimated the importance of God's holiness. Throughout the last two books, I have been confronted with that over and over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, I have engaged with God on my terms, and I've wanted that to be enough. It's not. In every aspect of my life, my Holy God demands my all. I feel like the Lord is deconstructing my heart right now and causing me to examine everything - actions, attitudes, and motives. It's been hard - but very, very good.
Each of you have been a blessing, and your comments have caused me to think and to wrestle with God as we walk through this journey together.
Have a wonderful Friday!
I am new at having a blog however, I have just created a new post with a few words but mainly the song on my blog:
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This is my current theme song, the ancient hymn , "Be Thou My Vision".
Grace, Mercy and Peace for ALL
One of the things I do is to read 66 Love Letters before I start the next book of the Bible and to reread it when we finish. Crabb says about Numbers, "You will experience terrible failure and crushing conflict on the road that leads to where I'm taking you, but it is the right road even when it feels like it's killing you."
ReplyDeleteI feel I'm in that rough spot of the road. I don't want to find myself complaining and yet I'm struggling with where we're going, wanting to give in to weariness and also saying, "Lord, your will be done." What a mix of emotions!
As many of you, also I am continually being reminided of God's holiness. It has been a reoccuring theme in my daily thoughts as I read God's word.
In my life Lord, be glorified, today.
--michele
I'm teaching at school but just heard from Brooke: Psalm 65:3-4 We were overwhelmed with our sins and God forgave. Blessed are those YOU choose and YOU bring near to live in your courts. Julie Mangrem. The email read: "This morning, Julie sees Jesus face to face. Although heavy-hearted, we gratefully acknowledge that by the grace and goodness of God she is healed, whole and worshipping her Savior! Jesus has anticipated Julie’s arrival, welcomed her in and God calls her “Blessed” (Psalm 65:4)." Pray for those grieving their unspeakable loss---her devoted husband and pastor, her beautiful young children, her church family.
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ReplyDeleteI love you all for taking this journey with me!
Have a great weekend!
Angie xoxo
Oh, Bev I can't even imagine what they are all going through right now. Hoping they continue to cling to Him.
ReplyDeletePraying... Hugs!
Angie
Praying for that young family and her parents and his too and thier church family. May God be the lifter of thier heads and thier Shalom....
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry and will remember the family in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteOur pastor has been ending his sermons more and more frequently,
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
Amen and amen!
FG
Oh, Bev. What a difficult loss for that family and pastor and Brooke's church. She sees Jesus this morning, and may they all see Him through the life well lived in Christ. I am so sad for that family. Lisa (Glad Chatter) underwent a segmental mastectomy today. Her husband and four young children await. These two women's valiant choice to hold tightly to God testifies to so many.
ReplyDeleteBrooke should be at the ranch in a few hours, but I will miss her. Please give her a hug for me. Love you, Annette
Numbers 36:10-12
ReplyDeleteZelophehad's daughters did just as God commanded Moses.
I love these women. In a Bible full of disobedient Eve's, cunning Rebekah's, desperate Leah's, spoiled Rachel's, evil Jezebel's, seducing Delilah's, and lying Potiphar's wives...these women appear to be strong, couragous and obedient to the LORD.
It's hard to pick one thing from this book that stands out to me. The week of the rebels attacking Aaron and Moses and God's judgement coming through an earthquake and lightning...that was powerful. And the fact that Balaam couldn't curse the Israelite's. God's people were safe. And learning that the tribes that refused to cross over the Jordan to live in their promised land signifies carnal Christians who refuse to completely reject the world and obey God. How many blessings do they forfeit because they hold on too tightly to what they can SEE, saved but barely. Joshua and Caleb. Men of passion and faith.
And of course, what Dr. Crabb wrote concerning the book of Numbers:
"You will experience terrible failure and crushing conflict on the road that leads to where I'm taking you, but it is the right road even when it feels like it's killing you."
Hurstmom, I'm on this same road. I know I'm on the right road but it is extremely hard...terrible failure...crushing conflict. I am praying that this road will make me holy. One of our lenten devotions revealed that Holiness is Love. I choose Love. My difficult path full of conflict is paved in Love. Because Jesus commands it from me.
Stop. Take a deep breath. Reflect.
I feel like that's where we are in our readings right now. Stop. Take a deep breath. Reflect.
The Promised Land is coming!
I cannot begin to understand why Julie has been called home so young. This family will need lots of prayer support as they stumble through these days and weeks of sorrow.
ReplyDeleteFather in heaven, I pray for this family to come through this time of sorrow praising You and leaning on You, even clinging to You as they walk this road of sorrow.
Let their hearts and minds be cushioned by Your love as they face the saddest moments, burying Julie and walking away from her touch and her love. I pray that You would be there for them, holding them firmly in Your Grip. Bring shoulders to cry on. Bring hands to hold theirs. Bring hugs that say more than words ever could. Let the community of faith circle around them and support them through Your indwelling Spirit. We trust You to know what's best. We believe that You are our good God. Supply our needs. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Thanks, twinkle!
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