March 27: Of Disobedience, Solomon and Me

Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20

Luke 7:36-8:3

Psalm 69:1-18

Proverbs 12:1

Moses's instructions today are pretty harsh.  Those enemies you are about to defeat?  "Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.   Do not intermarry with them…for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you…"

God made it clear to Moses how prone we are to sin - to deluding ourselves into thinking we don't need to obey Him, we don't need Him, He doesn't exist.  God had wonderful plans for the Israelites, and He made clear to Moses the risk the Israelites would forget Him when they basked in the prosperity He was going to provide.  So He told Moses to instruct the Israelites to stay clear of anything - of anyone - that might divert their thoughts away from Him.  

If you're anything like me, you are living proof what Moses said is STILL true. Nothing like a bit of success, a bit of prosperity, to go to your head and squeeze the Lord out of all the space that is rightfully His between your ears.  And if you're anything like me, you're going to beat yourself up every time you find yourself doing it again.  

The good news for us is two-fold: first, we're in good company.  Biggest name in the Bible who didn't listen to Moses and REALLY should have known better?  Solomon.  1 Kings 11 starts off with how "Solomon…loved many foreign wives…from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites '…they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.'".  Yeah, that Solomon - the one to whom God gave wisdom.  If someone as wise as he could fall, how much more me?

The second source of encouragement?  Mercy.  In today's NT reading, we see a "woman…who lived a sinful life". She repented, and Jesus - whom the Pharisees thought should have kept this unclean woman at arm's length - allowed her to draw near to Him, forgave her her sins.  If she can be forgiven, so can I.  

Father I claim no equality with Solomon, nor am I any better than the Israelites You saw fit to have Moses warn.  Thank You that when I do fall - when the sinful influences I continue to abide in my life tempt me to reject You, and the prosperity You grant leads me to think I do not need You - You are willing to let me draw near, and are prepared to forgive me.

Marcn 26: Of Consistency in Word and Deed

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25

Luke 7:11-35

Psalm 68:19-35

Proverbs 11:29-31

The Book of Deuteronomy is Moses's goodbye to the Israelites.  He's come a long way - from a murderer who fled Egypt, to a coward who refused God's commission (multiple times!), to the man to whom God spoke, and to whom the Israelites looked for leadership, a man transformed by his relationship with God.  God has told him his journey has come to an end, and he's giving the Israelites the best advice he can - today, the 10 Commandments among other things.  And he speaks with such conviction.  Why?  Because he isn't going by something someone else has told him, or something he's read in a scroll somewhere - he's going by his own experience with God.  The time he spent with God, the conversations they had, the manifestations of God's presence and power and intervention in the Israelites' lives.  

 

But even as he comes to the end of an amazing life, Moses is worried - about the children who would not have experienced God's salvation in Egypt and the victories God gave them as they made their way to the promised land.  He worried that they would be ignorant of all God had done and that they would not have the same conviction about God's existence, authority and love.  He worried they would not know His signs and wonders, great and terrible.  And they would fall away.  So he exhorted the Israelites to bear witness to God, in the words they used, the stories they told, the lives they led and the examples they bore.    They were to testify to their children in word and deed.  

True for the Israelites then, true for us today.  I am terrified to think how often my words and actions have been inconsistent, and so have not given witness regarding God's goodness to my kids.  Father may my words and my actions be consistent, and may they consistently testify to Your existence, Your love and Your goodness.

Blog post 25th March 2021

YOUR LOVE REMAINS

How is your relationship with God from when you first gave your life to Jesus to now?  Do you feel you have grown as a Christian or do you feel like you have backslidden? How has your journey been, take time today and talk to those around you. you may not think of anything at first but the moment you start telling someone about your journey you may find one or a couple of things.

In Deuteronomy 4:29 we read "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." How does this verse resonate with you today? Do you feel the verse above is true ? Have you sought God with all of your heart and with all of your soul?

This verse takes us to a well-known quote from the bible which is in Deuteronomy 6:5"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." 

So following the previous question if you have sought after God and found him, do you as a follower of Christ today love God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all your strength?  Can you fellowship and speak to a friend or family as to what this may look like in your life?

As you reflect on your relationship with God after reading today's scripture we can see just how glorious and powerful our Lord God is. We can see when times and culture are changing constantly we can go back to the one thing that remains present in our lives, that is God our defender and provider, I always feel when you end up reflecting it leads you to look at the past, present and future, even if it's bad or good and we can see" Oh wow "Jesus was with me all the time" we may end up praying or singing praises and it can be anywhere. I feel it is good to sing praises to God, to glorify his name just as it says in Psalm 68:4.

So I only feel it is best to spend today Glorifying God. This song summarises today's scripture reading. That God is always there no matter the problem or struggle, we know ONE THING REMAINS!

https://youtu.be/BQbf5KMX_h8

--

Aimee Spencer

March 19: Of Turbulence

Numbers 28:16-29:40

Luke 3:23-38

Psalm 62:1-12

Proverbs 11:18-19

Sometimes what God does, what God demands, they don't make sense.  Look at what He instructed the Israelites in today's OT reading.  Does it really matter that the bread was made without yeast?  So they had to hurriedly depart during the exodus, and could not wait for the bread to rise - so what?  Why inflict unleavened bread?  Why all the sacrifice, the festivals, the offerings of first fruits and grains, the days we have to stop work - aren't we supposed to be providing for the people we love?  Why all this?

This is still true today.  This week alone, I've had a friend from church in the ER twice for excruciating neck pain, his wife terribly worried; an old friend in Bible study whose adult daughter passed away unexpectedly.  Good people - people who seek God - yet such pain.  Why all this?

Honestly, I don't know.  But the last two weeks of my life have been an example of both the difficult, painful stuff that I didn't like and didn't understand, with all the accompanying frustration and anger - and the subsequent realization there was purpose - He had a purpose for it all along.  

It's when I face turbulence in my life like this, turbulence He has decided is right for me, that I want to learn what the psalmist wrote in today's reading: I want my soul to find its rest in God - not in my circumstances.  I want to remember my salvation comes from Him.  

Father, life can be really tough sometimes.  When it gets that way, please remind us that You are in control, and nothing happens that You will not have permitted out of Your perfect love for us.  And then, through our circumstances and despite them, give us Your peace. 

Blog from Matthew Repost

This is the correct post. Please excuse the previous one sent in error.

Numbers 26:1-51
Luke 2:36-52
Psalm 60:1-12
Proverbs 11:15

1 (To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah,
when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.)
O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

I highlight part of Psalm 60 from today's reading. The 

words stood out to me as I was reading them. I include 
them so we can look at them and reflect upon how they 

can apply to the present.

Luke Chapter 2
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

I think about what it would have been like knowing Jesus 

as He was growing up. Did He have close friends He talked 

to? What would they talk about? Normal things? Deep things? 
Did kids of His age look at Him and see something special? 

Did He pray to God for comfort like we do? 

I think how nice it would be to be sitting somewhere, with Him 

physically sitting next to us, having a conversation under the stars.

Blog From Matthew

Numbers 21:1-22:20 

Luke 1:26-56 

Psalm 57:1-11 

Proverbs 11:9-11

Proverbs 11:9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,

but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Most of us are aware that the words we choose to say to others can have lasting effects on one's personal development and growth. Good, positive words involving encouragement, compliments, and respectful criticism can help build up others. However, hurtful words like gossip, bad mouthing, and throwing insults are all ways that do the exact opposite and may have the power to lead the individual down a dark, lonely path or ruin someone's reputation. The words we say to others are one thing, but this proverb can also apply to the way we choose to listen to words coming at us. This is also important, if not more. The knowledge we gain from reading God's word helps us on both fronts. 

I generally feel that it's much easier and more obvious to discern what to say and what not to say from a Christian perspective. Teasing or bullying someone might never cross our minds, gossip may push us away, and insulting others would be seen as a disgraceful act. 

However, I personally feel that being on the receiving side is much more difficult as emotions can rise on the spot making us not respond how we're taught to respond through God's word. I, myself, am guilty of sometimes letting my emotions get the better of me. 

We are taught to do several things in the new testament when it comes to speaking/listening to others:

1. In regards to initially hearing something - James 1:19 "...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." - This is pretty self explanatory.

2. In regards to our relationships with the church, co-workers, family, and friends - 2 Corinthians 13:11 "...Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." - As I understand it, we should not be gossiping or speaking poorly of others. Peace and unity should be our aim. 

3. In regards to our response - 1 Peter 3:9 "...Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." - Your response has the ability to either be expected or completely move someone. How much more of an impact can you make if you act in a way that honors God? 

These three examples of this new testament knowledge play their part into how we should communicate with others, behave, and respond to words coming at us. If you struggle in this area I encourage you to spend some time reading God's word and open yourself up to God's way of interacting with others. 

- Anthony

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March 13: Of Perfection’s Impossibility

Numbers 19:1-20:29

Luke 1:1-25

Psalm 56:1-13

Proverbs 11:8

Dear Moses and Zecharaiah

Just a short note to say thank you for reminding me again today that it is impossible for me to be good enough to earn my salvation.   

Zecharaiah, you were someone I thought I could aspire to.  Your life was one of service to God - you were a priest in the temple, and God even saw fit to have you chosen by lot for the tremendous privilege of going INTO the temple and burning the incense.  You were such a good man God chose you to father the child who would proclaim the coming of His son.  Yet, as good as you were, you doubted God, and in so doing sinned against Him, so He took away your ability to speak.

Moses, there was NO way I was going to pretend I could be someone like you.  You were such a good man, God chose to speak with you face to face.  He chose to use you to save his people from the Egyptians and lead them to the promised land; He deemed you worthy to speak with Him regularly, and your face shone to bear witness when you had spoken with Him.  Yet, as good as you were (even more than Zechariah, IMHO), you doubted God's ability to provide - and it seemed so small a thing to strike the rock twice, wouldn't you say? - and He deemed you unworthy to enter the promised land yourself.  

Thank you both for reminding me that my salvation comes not by my actions - I will never be worthy that way - but by faith Jesus.  And lest I forget…

Dear Jesus,

Further to my letter to Moses and Zechariah, thank You for saving me, as unworthy as I am.

Your son,

Jon