"But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die." -Numbers 18.2-3
God is giving Aaron instructions to bring the Levites to help with the ministry of the tabernacle, but they are given instructions not to go near the holy items. Aaron and the priests are to make sure they don't because if they do then both parties will die. There must be respect for the holy items of God, and if they don't death is the result.
Men, God has given us a responsibility to guard what is holy. Today obviously the standards are slightly different, God doesn't strike people dead for doing near something holy, but we still must guard it. We must teach our children to respect the Bible, the Church, and prayer.
We are entrusted with holy things from God, and we need to teach others to respect them.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Set Apart
"Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the Lord to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. But the Lord said to Moses, 'Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.' Thus Moses did; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did." -Numbers 17.8-11
The people are grumbling about something, again, and God is again going to show them the leader He has chosen. He has Moses gather the rod of each leader of the tribes and place them before the tent of meeting, and He will make the rob of His chosen leader bud. This in itself is miraculous, once branch is removed from the stem it can't flower anymore, but God not only makes Aaron's staff bud, but it produces ripe almonds. There is no question that Aaron has been set apart by God. And on top of this, God has Moses set Aaron's rod apart for a permanent reminder.
Men, God has called you and set you apart for a task, have you forgotten, or maybe never realized that? There is a sign for you, a sign that God has chosen you and set you apart. Find it, hold on to it, pass it down. You have been set apart, never let anyone tell you different.
God has called each of us, let us embrace His call on our lives. When others doubt and question it, let us hold on to the proof of God's call.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The people are grumbling about something, again, and God is again going to show them the leader He has chosen. He has Moses gather the rod of each leader of the tribes and place them before the tent of meeting, and He will make the rob of His chosen leader bud. This in itself is miraculous, once branch is removed from the stem it can't flower anymore, but God not only makes Aaron's staff bud, but it produces ripe almonds. There is no question that Aaron has been set apart by God. And on top of this, God has Moses set Aaron's rod apart for a permanent reminder.
Men, God has called you and set you apart for a task, have you forgotten, or maybe never realized that? There is a sign for you, a sign that God has chosen you and set you apart. Find it, hold on to it, pass it down. You have been set apart, never let anyone tell you different.
God has called each of us, let us embrace His call on our lives. When others doubt and question it, let us hold on to the proof of God's call.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Wanting More
"Then Moses said to Korah, 'Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also?'" -Numbers 16.8-10
Again someone is jealous, and so they begin to complain. They take the issue to Moses instead of God, and Moses in his humility, directs it to God. This time one of the Levites is upset about only being allowed to do the work of caring for and transporting the tabernacle, he wants more. He was already part of a special designation, if you look back at Numbers 4, the sons of Kohath were responsible for the transport of the holy items of the tabernacle. Maybe that role had gone to his head and he felt he deserved more because of it. Maybe he was just tired of being a pack animal. Whatever the reason he's been able to gather some followers, three others who have been able to get 250 leaders on board, and together they come to Moses.
Moses doesn't rise to his own defense, he's going to let God handle it. But before this begins Moses asks what more Korah wants. He's already getting an opportunity that the rest of Israel doesn't. He has a special designation among the Levites, but it isn't enough. We wants more.
Men, so often we want more than what we have been given. Be it material possessions, authority, or responsibility. The question becomes what do we do when we feel we deserve more? Does it lead us to tear down others in an attempt to advance ourselves?
God assigns us a role, he gives us the responsibilities we are capable of us. In time that may change, after all the New Testament says that when we are faithful with a few things we will be put in charge of many things. But until that time comes, are we willing to be satisfied with a few things? Or do we arrogantly demand more than God is giving us?
It is not a sin to desire to do more service for God. It is not a sin to want God to use you greatly. But if we demand that God give us more, if we try to destroy others so that we can usurp more, we will find ourselves facing God's judgment.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Again someone is jealous, and so they begin to complain. They take the issue to Moses instead of God, and Moses in his humility, directs it to God. This time one of the Levites is upset about only being allowed to do the work of caring for and transporting the tabernacle, he wants more. He was already part of a special designation, if you look back at Numbers 4, the sons of Kohath were responsible for the transport of the holy items of the tabernacle. Maybe that role had gone to his head and he felt he deserved more because of it. Maybe he was just tired of being a pack animal. Whatever the reason he's been able to gather some followers, three others who have been able to get 250 leaders on board, and together they come to Moses.
Moses doesn't rise to his own defense, he's going to let God handle it. But before this begins Moses asks what more Korah wants. He's already getting an opportunity that the rest of Israel doesn't. He has a special designation among the Levites, but it isn't enough. We wants more.
Men, so often we want more than what we have been given. Be it material possessions, authority, or responsibility. The question becomes what do we do when we feel we deserve more? Does it lead us to tear down others in an attempt to advance ourselves?
God assigns us a role, he gives us the responsibilities we are capable of us. In time that may change, after all the New Testament says that when we are faithful with a few things we will be put in charge of many things. But until that time comes, are we willing to be satisfied with a few things? Or do we arrogantly demand more than God is giving us?
It is not a sin to desire to do more service for God. It is not a sin to want God to use you greatly. But if we demand that God give us more, if we try to destroy others so that we can usurp more, we will find ourselves facing God's judgment.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Reminder
"The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God.'" -Numbers 15.37-41
God has given Israel laws for when they enter the Promised Land. Leviticus is full of these laws in greater detail, but those were primarily given to the generation that will no longer be entering the land. God is instructing the next generation on what they are to do when they finally take possession of the land.
God instructs the people to put tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue cord so that they remember all that God commanded them. God desires for His people to be holy to Him, not to run after the false gods of pagan nations. God has brought them out of Egypt, He has provided for them in the wilderness, and He will bring them into the Promised Land. They are always to remember what God has done and devote their lives to serving and worshiping Him.
Men, what reminders do you have of all that God has commanded? What reminders do you have of all that God has done for you? What in your life is there to remind you to always pursue holiness?
For Israel it was a blue cord on their tassels. It served as a constant reminder of all that God had done for them. To this day the Jews still had the tassels on the corners of their prayer shawls to remind them of God's deliverance and provision. What is your reminder?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God has given Israel laws for when they enter the Promised Land. Leviticus is full of these laws in greater detail, but those were primarily given to the generation that will no longer be entering the land. God is instructing the next generation on what they are to do when they finally take possession of the land.
God instructs the people to put tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue cord so that they remember all that God commanded them. God desires for His people to be holy to Him, not to run after the false gods of pagan nations. God has brought them out of Egypt, He has provided for them in the wilderness, and He will bring them into the Promised Land. They are always to remember what God has done and devote their lives to serving and worshiping Him.
Men, what reminders do you have of all that God has commanded? What reminders do you have of all that God has done for you? What in your life is there to remind you to always pursue holiness?
For Israel it was a blue cord on their tassels. It served as a constant reminder of all that God had done for them. To this day the Jews still had the tassels on the corners of their prayer shawls to remind them of God's deliverance and provision. What is your reminder?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, September 26, 2014
Too Late
"When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, 'Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised.' But Moses said, 'Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the Lord, when it will not succeed? Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the Lord. And the Lord will not be with you.' But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses left the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah." -Numbers 14.39-45
Israel has received God's punishment, and they are greatly saddened by it. For many of them the Promised Land was a dream that they had never imagined they would see. The deliverer who would lead them out of Egypt was one they longed to see, but never had they imagined they would see him in their life time. Now they see that the fulfillment of God's promise was within their grasp, and they allowed it to slip through their fingers.
Now, after realizing what they have done, they hope to change the situation. After the judgment has been given and they don't like it, they decide that they can trust God. The are prepared to go to battle and take the land so that they don't have to die in the wilderness. But for them it is too late. They had every opportunity and they let each one pass by. Moses warns them that they will not succeed in taking the land because God will not be with them. Moses himself remains in the camp when they go out, and just as he said, the people are defeated.
The people tried to force God's hand. After it was too late they tried to do what God had wanted them to do. But their last chance had passed them by, time had run out. They would not ever see the blessings God had for them in the Promised Land. They would never see the promise made to Abraham fulfilled. For them it was too late.
I read this section of Scripture and my mind goes to the judgment seat of Christ. One day every one of us will enter the presence of God to receive the final judgment. Every knee will bow before Christ and declare that He is Lord. Those that have done it in life will be welcomed into eternal paradise, forever to spend in perfect harmony with God. But for those who haven't it will be too late. Every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord because it must happen, but if that is the first time that your tongue declares Jesus as Lord it will be too late. Those who wait until they see that God is real, that He is serious about Heaven and Hell, for them it will be too late, and they will spend eternity separated from God.
Men, what will your fate be? Have you willingly bowed your knee to Christ and declared Him to be the Lord of your life? Have you ruled Him out as non-existent, or as someone who doesn't want you to have any fun? Now may be the last chance you have to turn to Him, because once you take your final breath it will be too late. As you kneel before Him, in all of His glory, you will declare that He is Lord, but at that point you will be driven out of His presence forever. What are you waiting for? What is keeping you from declaring Him as your Lord?
God gave Israel chance after chance to trust Him and receive the blessings He had for them, but time after time they rejected Him, and finally it was too late. For you right now it is not too late.
(If you have questions, or would like to know more about making Jesus the Lord of your life, I have an email address at the bottom left of this blog page. I would love the opportunity to share with you in more detail and help in any way that I can.)
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Israel has received God's punishment, and they are greatly saddened by it. For many of them the Promised Land was a dream that they had never imagined they would see. The deliverer who would lead them out of Egypt was one they longed to see, but never had they imagined they would see him in their life time. Now they see that the fulfillment of God's promise was within their grasp, and they allowed it to slip through their fingers.
Now, after realizing what they have done, they hope to change the situation. After the judgment has been given and they don't like it, they decide that they can trust God. The are prepared to go to battle and take the land so that they don't have to die in the wilderness. But for them it is too late. They had every opportunity and they let each one pass by. Moses warns them that they will not succeed in taking the land because God will not be with them. Moses himself remains in the camp when they go out, and just as he said, the people are defeated.
The people tried to force God's hand. After it was too late they tried to do what God had wanted them to do. But their last chance had passed them by, time had run out. They would not ever see the blessings God had for them in the Promised Land. They would never see the promise made to Abraham fulfilled. For them it was too late.
I read this section of Scripture and my mind goes to the judgment seat of Christ. One day every one of us will enter the presence of God to receive the final judgment. Every knee will bow before Christ and declare that He is Lord. Those that have done it in life will be welcomed into eternal paradise, forever to spend in perfect harmony with God. But for those who haven't it will be too late. Every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord because it must happen, but if that is the first time that your tongue declares Jesus as Lord it will be too late. Those who wait until they see that God is real, that He is serious about Heaven and Hell, for them it will be too late, and they will spend eternity separated from God.
Men, what will your fate be? Have you willingly bowed your knee to Christ and declared Him to be the Lord of your life? Have you ruled Him out as non-existent, or as someone who doesn't want you to have any fun? Now may be the last chance you have to turn to Him, because once you take your final breath it will be too late. As you kneel before Him, in all of His glory, you will declare that He is Lord, but at that point you will be driven out of His presence forever. What are you waiting for? What is keeping you from declaring Him as your Lord?
God gave Israel chance after chance to trust Him and receive the blessings He had for them, but time after time they rejected Him, and finally it was too late. For you right now it is not too late.
(If you have questions, or would like to know more about making Jesus the Lord of your life, I have an email address at the bottom left of this blog page. I would love the opportunity to share with you in more detail and help in any way that I can.)
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Choosing Courage
"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it... Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun... But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land." -Numbers 14.24, 30, and 38
Punishment has been dealt, and all those who should have taken the land will never see it. The ten spies who brought back a bad report are dead. Those under the age of 20 are alive, but they will wander in the wilderness for forty years because of the fear of their fathers. That is the result of fear, forfeited blessings, death, unnecessary waiting. But fear is not the only choice, we can choose to be courageous.
Caleb had a different spirit, one of trust and courage, and God promised to bring him into the land. Joshua as well would live to see it. These two are the only spies that lived through the plague, and the only warriors who left Egypt that get to enter the Promised Land, because they chose to courageously trust God.
Men, when we choose to be courageous, we choose to boldly follow God wherever He might lead. We choose to embrace His promises, and claim them for ourselves. We choose to look at the giant and say "Get off my lawn." Courage says, "This is what God has said, and I know that He will do it. I will follow Him wherever He leads because His blessings far surpass any risk involved."
Let us choose to be men of courage. Let us fully embrace God's promises knowing that no giant can stand before Him. Let us enter the land of promise and take possession of it. LEt us settle there and enjoy God's blessings. Let us live so that we can continue to see what God will do. These are the results of courage.
Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Punishment has been dealt, and all those who should have taken the land will never see it. The ten spies who brought back a bad report are dead. Those under the age of 20 are alive, but they will wander in the wilderness for forty years because of the fear of their fathers. That is the result of fear, forfeited blessings, death, unnecessary waiting. But fear is not the only choice, we can choose to be courageous.
Caleb had a different spirit, one of trust and courage, and God promised to bring him into the land. Joshua as well would live to see it. These two are the only spies that lived through the plague, and the only warriors who left Egypt that get to enter the Promised Land, because they chose to courageously trust God.
Men, when we choose to be courageous, we choose to boldly follow God wherever He might lead. We choose to embrace His promises, and claim them for ourselves. We choose to look at the giant and say "Get off my lawn." Courage says, "This is what God has said, and I know that He will do it. I will follow Him wherever He leads because His blessings far surpass any risk involved."
Let us choose to be men of courage. Let us fully embrace God's promises knowing that no giant can stand before Him. Let us enter the land of promise and take possession of it. LEt us settle there and enjoy God's blessings. Let us live so that we can continue to see what God will do. These are the results of courage.
Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Choosing Fear
"'Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it... Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea... your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you... Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey — I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness... I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die.' As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord." -Numbers 14.22-23, 25, 29-30a, 31-33, and 35-37
God is angry, and for a second time offers Moses the chance to become the head of a nation. But again, Moses, the most humble man on earth, asks God to relent from His anger and spare the people. He does for a second time, but as with the first time, there are consequences for those involved.
All those who had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt but refused to trust God when it came time to enter the land will die without seeing the land. Instead the next day began forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where one by one they would die. Every man able to go to war, those who should have courageously followed God forward and take the land, will die without ever setting foot in it. But their children will inherit the land, but not until they have spent forty years in the wilderness because of their father's choices. As for the men who brought back the report and spread fear among the people, they were the first to die.
When fear is the choice we forfeit the blessings of God. We miss out of the best things that He has in store for us because we are too afraid to go after them. We allow the thought of the giants intimidate us beyond faith in God, no matter what we have seen Him do in the past. And it is important to note that we are not the only ones who suffer because of our fear. The children of the cowardly men had to wait forty years before they could find rest in the Promised Land. For forty years they would wander the wilderness because of the choices of their fathers.
Men, are you choosing fear? Are you to intimidated to stand up and claim the blessings of God? There will be battles to fight to claim them. Their will be risks to take to receive them. But they are completely worth it, this is God after all, and He desires to bless His faithful children beyond their wildest imaginations (so that they can in turn bless others). Are you allowing fear to keep you from them?
What about your children, what difficulties is your fear causing them? What hardships will they unnecessarily have to endure because you were too afraid to claim God's promises? What wilderness will they have to wander in because you were too afraid to take on the giants whom God would have empowered you to slay?
It is not too late for us, we are still breathing, therefore we can still choose to be courageous. We don't have to forfeit the blessings of God, and we don't have to add hardships to our children. If we choose fear we will, but fear is not the only choice. Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God is angry, and for a second time offers Moses the chance to become the head of a nation. But again, Moses, the most humble man on earth, asks God to relent from His anger and spare the people. He does for a second time, but as with the first time, there are consequences for those involved.
All those who had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt but refused to trust God when it came time to enter the land will die without seeing the land. Instead the next day began forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where one by one they would die. Every man able to go to war, those who should have courageously followed God forward and take the land, will die without ever setting foot in it. But their children will inherit the land, but not until they have spent forty years in the wilderness because of their father's choices. As for the men who brought back the report and spread fear among the people, they were the first to die.
When fear is the choice we forfeit the blessings of God. We miss out of the best things that He has in store for us because we are too afraid to go after them. We allow the thought of the giants intimidate us beyond faith in God, no matter what we have seen Him do in the past. And it is important to note that we are not the only ones who suffer because of our fear. The children of the cowardly men had to wait forty years before they could find rest in the Promised Land. For forty years they would wander the wilderness because of the choices of their fathers.
Men, are you choosing fear? Are you to intimidated to stand up and claim the blessings of God? There will be battles to fight to claim them. Their will be risks to take to receive them. But they are completely worth it, this is God after all, and He desires to bless His faithful children beyond their wildest imaginations (so that they can in turn bless others). Are you allowing fear to keep you from them?
What about your children, what difficulties is your fear causing them? What hardships will they unnecessarily have to endure because you were too afraid to claim God's promises? What wilderness will they have to wander in because you were too afraid to take on the giants whom God would have empowered you to slay?
It is not too late for us, we are still breathing, therefore we can still choose to be courageous. We don't have to forfeit the blessings of God, and we don't have to add hardships to our children. If we choose fear we will, but fear is not the only choice. Let us choose to be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Response to the Call
"But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel." -Numbers 14.10
Fear has spread. Panic has lead to crazy talk. Joshua and Caleb are trying to bring everything back to order. They are telling the people of the goodness of the land. They are calling them to be courageous, and trust God to fulfill His promise. But at this point the people are unable to hear their words. Ten spies have given a report of impossibility, and the call to courage falls on deaf ears.
Instead of remembering all that God has done for them in the recent past, and all of the promises He made centuries ago, they are ready to turn around and go be slaves again. But first, they decide to stone the crazy lunatics that want to march to death by sword. But before the stones can be hurled, God shows up.
The people were called to courage, but instead they gave in to fear, and rather than embracing the risk because the blessings of God far out weighed it, they decided to silence those who present the challenge of courageous trust. They would rather be slaves who waste away in the mud, then men who go out with their boots on. They would rather exist than live fully alive, because existence is safe. And to ensure the safe choice they try to permanently silence those who call them out of safety.
Men, all of us are called to be courageous. Every day we face options that call out the man in us. Every day we can choose to play it safe, or strap up our boots and charge the beach. Too often we have chosen safety, simply because it means we stay alive another day. And every time we chose safety we do whatever we can to silence whatever is calling us to courage. We avoid it at all costs. We try to ignore it if we can't avoid it. Or maybe we insult it as lunacy.
I'm thinking about the first real battle scene in Braveheart. William Wallace and his men ride up, in full war paint, to an army that is fleeing because they see nothing but death awaiting them. He asks why they flee to which a young soldier responds that the enemy army is too big to be defeated. Then he calls them to courage.
"I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?" To this an older man says, "Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live." He points out that the battle is suicide, there is no way that this small army can overcome the other. He is saying that courage is pointless and suicidal, that it's crazy.
But William Wallace knows that courage is the only way to have anything worth having. He responds with this, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"
Fear leads to existence. Existence leads to regret. But courage leads to life lived fully. It is not the safe life, but it is the only way to really live life. We are all called to courage, what is your response? Will you silence the call, or follow it into battle?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Fear has spread. Panic has lead to crazy talk. Joshua and Caleb are trying to bring everything back to order. They are telling the people of the goodness of the land. They are calling them to be courageous, and trust God to fulfill His promise. But at this point the people are unable to hear their words. Ten spies have given a report of impossibility, and the call to courage falls on deaf ears.
Instead of remembering all that God has done for them in the recent past, and all of the promises He made centuries ago, they are ready to turn around and go be slaves again. But first, they decide to stone the crazy lunatics that want to march to death by sword. But before the stones can be hurled, God shows up.
The people were called to courage, but instead they gave in to fear, and rather than embracing the risk because the blessings of God far out weighed it, they decided to silence those who present the challenge of courageous trust. They would rather be slaves who waste away in the mud, then men who go out with their boots on. They would rather exist than live fully alive, because existence is safe. And to ensure the safe choice they try to permanently silence those who call them out of safety.
Men, all of us are called to be courageous. Every day we face options that call out the man in us. Every day we can choose to play it safe, or strap up our boots and charge the beach. Too often we have chosen safety, simply because it means we stay alive another day. And every time we chose safety we do whatever we can to silence whatever is calling us to courage. We avoid it at all costs. We try to ignore it if we can't avoid it. Or maybe we insult it as lunacy.
I'm thinking about the first real battle scene in Braveheart. William Wallace and his men ride up, in full war paint, to an army that is fleeing because they see nothing but death awaiting them. He asks why they flee to which a young soldier responds that the enemy army is too big to be defeated. Then he calls them to courage.
"I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?" To this an older man says, "Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live." He points out that the battle is suicide, there is no way that this small army can overcome the other. He is saying that courage is pointless and suicidal, that it's crazy.
But William Wallace knows that courage is the only way to have anything worth having. He responds with this, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"
Fear leads to existence. Existence leads to regret. But courage leads to life lived fully. It is not the safe life, but it is the only way to really live life. We are all called to courage, what is your response? Will you silence the call, or follow it into battle?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, September 22, 2014
Call to Courage
"Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, 'The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us — a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.'" -Numbers 14.6-9
Fear has spread, and the people a planning a trip back to Egypt. They are wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the Wilderness rather than entering the Promised Land because there are giants there. They say that slavery would be better than seizing the promise God has made to them as Abraham's descendants. Moses and Aaron fall facedown, Joshua and Caleb tear their clothes, and then the call the people to courage.
They tell the people that the land is exceedingly good, everything that God said it was. They say that if God is pleased with them then He will bring them into the land, and give them possession of it. They have personally seen it as two of the twelve spies. They have heard the promises of God, and they are prepared to claim them. They are calling the people to abandon fear and be courageous.
If they don't rebel against God, but trust Him and move courageously forward, the people of the land will be no match for them. If they courageously trust and follow God, He will be with them. There is no need for fear if they will simply trust God to fulfill the promises that He has made.
Men, we are called to be courageous. Fear is easy, and it spreads rapidly, but there is no need for fear. If God is with us we have nothing to fear. We are called to be courageous. God's blessings are worth any risk that may be involved.
God has called us to be courageous and trust Him. We are to call each other to be courageous and follow God where he leads us. Let us be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Fear has spread, and the people a planning a trip back to Egypt. They are wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the Wilderness rather than entering the Promised Land because there are giants there. They say that slavery would be better than seizing the promise God has made to them as Abraham's descendants. Moses and Aaron fall facedown, Joshua and Caleb tear their clothes, and then the call the people to courage.
They tell the people that the land is exceedingly good, everything that God said it was. They say that if God is pleased with them then He will bring them into the land, and give them possession of it. They have personally seen it as two of the twelve spies. They have heard the promises of God, and they are prepared to claim them. They are calling the people to abandon fear and be courageous.
If they don't rebel against God, but trust Him and move courageously forward, the people of the land will be no match for them. If they courageously trust and follow God, He will be with them. There is no need for fear if they will simply trust God to fulfill the promises that He has made.
Men, we are called to be courageous. Fear is easy, and it spreads rapidly, but there is no need for fear. If God is with us we have nothing to fear. We are called to be courageous. God's blessings are worth any risk that may be involved.
God has called us to be courageous and trust Him. We are to call each other to be courageous and follow God where he leads us. Let us be courageous.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Fear or Courage
"Thus they told him, and said, 'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan. Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.' But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.' So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, 'The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.'" -Numbers 13.27-32
The people have arrived at the edge of the Promised Land, and like any good leader, Moses sends a group to check out the land before they entire nation heads in. For forty days the twelve men move to the northern part of Canaan and then east to the Jordan as they head south again. As instructed they bring back some of the fruit of the land, it took two men to carry a single cluster of grapes. The land is good, everything that God had said it was, but ten members of the group see an issue, there are already people in the land, and some of them are giants.
When they get back to camp they show the fruit and tell how great the land is, but then they share that it cannot be taken. Ten of them spread a report that they had come this far for nothing because they could never overcome the inhabitants of the land. They saw some giants in well fortified cities and decided that it was too much for God. They were full of fear and that kept them from seeing the goodness that God wanted to give them, and as we'll see it kept them from receiving it.
But then there was Caleb, one of two, who knew that God would bring them into the land victoriously. He quiets the people and tells them that God will fulfill His promise, if they will simply trust Him and move forward courageously. Fear is easy, courage is hard, and the people allow fear to rule their lives.
Men, what choice do you make? Do you see the goodness of God's promised blessings in the shadow of the giants and turn back? Or do you see the city in the way of your promised blessing and storm it? Do you courageously trust God to deliver, or allow fear to keep you from even trying? What choice do you wish you would make? What is keeping you from choosing it?
Let us live courageously because it is the only way to receive the blessings of God. Let us refuse to give in to fear and boldly move forward, claiming the promises of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
The people have arrived at the edge of the Promised Land, and like any good leader, Moses sends a group to check out the land before they entire nation heads in. For forty days the twelve men move to the northern part of Canaan and then east to the Jordan as they head south again. As instructed they bring back some of the fruit of the land, it took two men to carry a single cluster of grapes. The land is good, everything that God had said it was, but ten members of the group see an issue, there are already people in the land, and some of them are giants.
When they get back to camp they show the fruit and tell how great the land is, but then they share that it cannot be taken. Ten of them spread a report that they had come this far for nothing because they could never overcome the inhabitants of the land. They saw some giants in well fortified cities and decided that it was too much for God. They were full of fear and that kept them from seeing the goodness that God wanted to give them, and as we'll see it kept them from receiving it.
But then there was Caleb, one of two, who knew that God would bring them into the land victoriously. He quiets the people and tells them that God will fulfill His promise, if they will simply trust Him and move forward courageously. Fear is easy, courage is hard, and the people allow fear to rule their lives.
Men, what choice do you make? Do you see the goodness of God's promised blessings in the shadow of the giants and turn back? Or do you see the city in the way of your promised blessing and storm it? Do you courageously trust God to deliver, or allow fear to keep you from even trying? What choice do you wish you would make? What is keeping you from choosing it?
Let us live courageously because it is the only way to receive the blessings of God. Let us refuse to give in to fear and boldly move forward, claiming the promises of God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Let God have Your Back
"So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed. But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous." -Numbers 12.9-10
God summons Moses and his siblings to the tent of meeting, and there He stands up for Moses. God plainly tells Miriam and Aaron how Moses is set apart from all other prophets. God says that He speaks in dreams and visions with others, but with Moses He speaks mouth to mouth. Moses has seen the form of the Lord, no other man has. God has Moses' back, and He does not allow anyone, not even his family, to talk bad about him.
Miriam is punished. She is covered in leprosy and must live outside of the camp for seven days. We see Moses prays for her healing, but God tells him that she will be punished for how she has spoken of him. God always looks out for His servants.
Men, do you allow God to have your back, or do you quickly grow defensive and lash out at those who slander you? When people slander you do you pray for their healing, or bitterly hope they fall apart?
Moses didn't fight back, instead he prayed for those who hurt him. He was God's faithful servant, and God did not abandon him. When we live humbly before God, He will not abandon us. Let us allow God to have our back.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God summons Moses and his siblings to the tent of meeting, and there He stands up for Moses. God plainly tells Miriam and Aaron how Moses is set apart from all other prophets. God says that He speaks in dreams and visions with others, but with Moses He speaks mouth to mouth. Moses has seen the form of the Lord, no other man has. God has Moses' back, and He does not allow anyone, not even his family, to talk bad about him.
Miriam is punished. She is covered in leprosy and must live outside of the camp for seven days. We see Moses prays for her healing, but God tells him that she will be punished for how she has spoken of him. God always looks out for His servants.
Men, do you allow God to have your back, or do you quickly grow defensive and lash out at those who slander you? When people slander you do you pray for their healing, or bitterly hope they fall apart?
Moses didn't fight back, instead he prayed for those who hurt him. He was God's faithful servant, and God did not abandon him. When we live humbly before God, He will not abandon us. Let us allow God to have our back.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Friday, September 19, 2014
Humility
"Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." -Numbers 12.3
Moses' siblings, Miriam and Aaron, began to speak against him. They complain about his wife, probably simply looking for something to complain about. Then they try to elevate themselves, asking if God only speaks through Moses and not through them too. And we are told that God heard what they said.
And then we find this verse in parentheses, a side note showing that Moses never sought attention or praise for what God was doing through him. Moses is said to be the most humble man on earth. The man who spoke with God face to face as with a friend. God gave Moses two tablets covered with His own writing, and showed him the plans for the tent of meeting. He spoke with God, and learned from God as no one had since Adam, and yet we are told that he is the most humble man on earth. Because of his humility, Moses wouldn't say anything, but God will act on his behalf.
Men, can you be described as humble? If the story of your life was written down would there be a parenthetical note pointing out your humility? Does your humility allow God to step in and defend your honor?
Humility marked Moses' life. From the beginning when God called him we see him feeling unworthy and incapable of the task. When God offers to wipe out Israel and start over with Moses, he rejects the offer and works to protect the glory of God. He is glad when others are filled with the Spirit and prophesy. He has no desire to gain glory or praise for himself. His only desire is to point others to God. May the same be true of us.
Let us live humbly before God and man. Let us never desire glory or praise for ourselves, and may we always rejoice when God's Spirit is at work in others.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Moses' siblings, Miriam and Aaron, began to speak against him. They complain about his wife, probably simply looking for something to complain about. Then they try to elevate themselves, asking if God only speaks through Moses and not through them too. And we are told that God heard what they said.
And then we find this verse in parentheses, a side note showing that Moses never sought attention or praise for what God was doing through him. Moses is said to be the most humble man on earth. The man who spoke with God face to face as with a friend. God gave Moses two tablets covered with His own writing, and showed him the plans for the tent of meeting. He spoke with God, and learned from God as no one had since Adam, and yet we are told that he is the most humble man on earth. Because of his humility, Moses wouldn't say anything, but God will act on his behalf.
Men, can you be described as humble? If the story of your life was written down would there be a parenthetical note pointing out your humility? Does your humility allow God to step in and defend your honor?
Humility marked Moses' life. From the beginning when God called him we see him feeling unworthy and incapable of the task. When God offers to wipe out Israel and start over with Moses, he rejects the offer and works to protect the glory of God. He is glad when others are filled with the Spirit and prophesy. He has no desire to gain glory or praise for himself. His only desire is to point others to God. May the same be true of us.
Let us live humbly before God and man. Let us never desire glory or praise for ourselves, and may we always rejoice when God's Spirit is at work in others.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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