Scripture: Mark 4: 40: He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
Observation: Jesus is asleep in the boat, and a storm comes up. The disciples, fearful that the boat is about to sink, wake Jesus up. They wake Him up with the words, "Don't you even care that we are all about to drown?". Not even a "Please help!" is offered by the disciples in this passage. Jesus calms the storm, but the words He has for the disciples are amazingly similar to Numbers 14:11: "Will they never believe me, even after all the miracles I have done among them?"
Application: As Christians, we are still going to face situations that make us fearful. Everything from financial worries to health concerns can banish us to the "Desert of Kadesh" (see Numbers 13-14) if we choose to let them get out of control. If we give them to God, remembering what He has done for us and what He has promised us, trusting that He knows what is best, we can have peace right in the middle of our storm. And, even if our prayers are not answered in the way we expect or want, we can have the kind of healing that lasts forever if we trust in Him.
Prayer (from Psalm 29NLT): Praise you, Lord, for your glory and strength. Praise you for your majestic glory, the glory of your Name. I can come before you only because of your great sacrifice for me. Lord, your voice is everywhere. It even resounds through the deserts and shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. No matter where we are on your road, help us to hear your voice and put our trust in you! Glory, glory to you, Lord! You have control of all creation and continue to unveil your power. You give your people strength and bless them with your peace. I love you!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
2/24/11 - Belief vs. fear
Scripture: Numbers 14:11 (NLT): 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?"
Observation: God had rescued the Israelites from slavery and led them through the desert right to the promised land. God told Moses to send a group of them to spy out the land that He was giving them (Numbers 13:1-2). Despite the fact that God had promised Israel this land numerous times, the majority of this group came back with a negative report. Numbers 13:32-33 says: And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." By the first part of Numbers 14, their negative attitude had spread to all the people and spiraled out of control. Numbers 14:4 says: And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." What did they do in Egypt that was so appealing? Ah, yes, they were slaves! How could they forget all that God had done for them and all that He had promised? They looked around at their circumstances and let fear override their belief that God would take care of them. They listened to popular opinion rather than God. They did not believe that God would do what He promised. God is clearly very angry that they still don't believe Him after all He has done for them.
Application: I need to remember all that God has done and promised to do for me and all who put their trust in Him. I need to listen to God instead of popular opinion. I need to not only believe in God, I need to trust and believe that He will do what He says, regardless of negative attitudes and circumstances around me.
Negative thoughts and people can easily spin out of control. I can choose to be like Joshua and Caleb and not join them, trusting in the Stronghold of my life!
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Prayer: Lord God, you are my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? Lord, I believe you! I thank you for all you have done, all you are doing now, and all you are going to do. Forgive me when I let people and circumstances blind me to your truth. Show me the way and I will walk in it!
Observation: God had rescued the Israelites from slavery and led them through the desert right to the promised land. God told Moses to send a group of them to spy out the land that He was giving them (Numbers 13:1-2). Despite the fact that God had promised Israel this land numerous times, the majority of this group came back with a negative report. Numbers 13:32-33 says: And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." By the first part of Numbers 14, their negative attitude had spread to all the people and spiraled out of control. Numbers 14:4 says: And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." What did they do in Egypt that was so appealing? Ah, yes, they were slaves! How could they forget all that God had done for them and all that He had promised? They looked around at their circumstances and let fear override their belief that God would take care of them. They listened to popular opinion rather than God. They did not believe that God would do what He promised. God is clearly very angry that they still don't believe Him after all He has done for them.
Application: I need to remember all that God has done and promised to do for me and all who put their trust in Him. I need to listen to God instead of popular opinion. I need to not only believe in God, I need to trust and believe that He will do what He says, regardless of negative attitudes and circumstances around me.
Negative thoughts and people can easily spin out of control. I can choose to be like Joshua and Caleb and not join them, trusting in the Stronghold of my life!
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Prayer: Lord God, you are my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? Lord, I believe you! I thank you for all you have done, all you are doing now, and all you are going to do. Forgive me when I let people and circumstances blind me to your truth. Show me the way and I will walk in it!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
2/7/11 - Don't let the fire go out!
Scripture: Leviticus 6:12-13: The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
Observation: In Leviticus, God sets high standards for His people. Most of the offerings described so far are to make atonement for unintentional sins. In 5:5-6, He tells them exactly what to do when they realize they have sinned: immediately confess and bring their offering so that the priest can make atonement for their sin. They literally kept the fire on the altar going continuously to acknowledge His holiness and worship Him. Every morning (not just once a week), they replenished the wood on the fire and presented their offerings. One of the offerings they presented every morning was a fellowship (or peace) offering. The purpose of this offering was to thank God and seek fellowship with Him.
In the New Testament, Jesus is both the offering and the priest that makes atonement for sin. When we repent and seek Him, He not only promises to make us right with God, He promises to come and live in us and use us to minister to others.
Application: Seek Him every day!
Prayer: Oh, Lord, forgive me when I am so numbed by my culture that I can't see my own sin. Forgive me when I make excuses for my sin instead of confessing it. Lord, I seek you today and every day. Thank you that you are always here with me. Put another stick of wood on the fire! I offer you myself; purify me and fill me up today so that I can minister to my family, my church, and whoever I meet. Be in every plan I make for this day!
Observation: In Leviticus, God sets high standards for His people. Most of the offerings described so far are to make atonement for unintentional sins. In 5:5-6, He tells them exactly what to do when they realize they have sinned: immediately confess and bring their offering so that the priest can make atonement for their sin. They literally kept the fire on the altar going continuously to acknowledge His holiness and worship Him. Every morning (not just once a week), they replenished the wood on the fire and presented their offerings. One of the offerings they presented every morning was a fellowship (or peace) offering. The purpose of this offering was to thank God and seek fellowship with Him.
In the New Testament, Jesus is both the offering and the priest that makes atonement for sin. When we repent and seek Him, He not only promises to make us right with God, He promises to come and live in us and use us to minister to others.
Application: Seek Him every day!
Prayer: Oh, Lord, forgive me when I am so numbed by my culture that I can't see my own sin. Forgive me when I make excuses for my sin instead of confessing it. Lord, I seek you today and every day. Thank you that you are always here with me. Put another stick of wood on the fire! I offer you myself; purify me and fill me up today so that I can minister to my family, my church, and whoever I meet. Be in every plan I make for this day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)