Numbers 14:1-15:16 ~ Mark 14:53-72 ~ Psalm 53:1-6 ~ Proverbs 11:4
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Old Testament - Today in Numbers chapter 14 we read about Joshua and Caleb's bold faith. They were ready to move into the Promised Land! Again, similar to my thoughts in yesterday's post, I wonder if sometimes in our lives, when we are on the brink of something new & something big - that is of God - are we like Caleb & Joshua, or are we like the Israelites? Are we ready to move forward quickly and decisively on toward what God is giving us? Or, are we putting on the brakes and starting to complain? Do we sabotage ourselves? This is a tough question to ask ourselves I realize. But I think that if we honestly look at our life, we can oftentimes be more like the Israelites in this chapter - putting on the breaks and really becoming the cause of my own problem... I pray that I can have faith like Caleb and Joshua. I pray that I will boldly move forward to what God is calling me toward. How about you?
Bible.org has a powerful commentary about our recent readings in Numbers titled "Israel's Failure at Kadesh Barnea" at this link.
New Testament - Today in Mark chapter 14 we read an amazingly powerful statement from Jesus in verses 61 & 62 - "Then the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?" Jesus said, "I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." Wow. This is it. This is a statement that changes everything. The question for us is this - is this more than just a statement from Jesus? Do you believe this is Truth?
Psalms - If you've ever asked yourself - or ever been asked - why do we need a Messiah? What is our need of Jesus? Well, I think this question is clearly answered in verses 2 & 3 of Psalm 53 - "God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" This is why we need Jesus. With Jesus, we indeed seek for God. With Jesus, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit to begin to have some real understanding. But without Jesus.... well, it reminds me of the old DC Talk song "In the Light" - "What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicions, that I'm still a man in need of a Savior!" Amen... Today's Psalm reminds me of a powerful blog posting from Tim Challies I recently read titled "Real Guilt and Sinfulness," which you can read at this link.
Proverbs - We read a powerful Proverb in chapter 11 verse 4 today - "Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death." What are you focusing your life on? Is right living one of your focuses? Think it should be? (right living through your faith in Jesus of course - not "trying" or "working" to live right on your own will or power...)
Worship God: Today's Proverb reminds me of the thought-provoking song "One Life to Love" by 33Miles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUZnO8QzAt0
Are you living your One Life to Love? Click here for True Love!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "The high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:61-62 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray in your heart that you know Jesus as your Christ, the lamb of God who died for your sins and was resurrected, sitting now at the right hand of the Father. Pray for Jesus' return in glory. Pray, "Come Lord Jesus, quickly Come!"
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Love, Trust and Obey Jesus,
Mike
Numbers 14:1-15:16
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20).
God had delivered Israel from the bonds of slavery and oppression, yet here they were accusing God of taking them out into the dessert to kill them. Despite all evidence seen with their eyes and heard with their ears, they still accused God of trying to kill them. The two people that brought back a “good” report about their ability to take posses the Promised Land, they wanted to stone, Joshua and Caleb. These two men knew who their God was and knew that it was Him who would fight for them not they themselves.
The Israelites were spared because of God’s name and be a witness to His ability to protect, but also because Moses interceded for them. Here we also see that our sin can be pardoned but the consequences of sinful actions must be played out. To often we think that God forgiveness means, “crop failure” for our consequences, that is not so. God spoke about the cycle of seasons in Genesis and it is a foundation that will never be removed as long as the earth remains. [While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 9Genesis 8:22)].
Upset that they “blew it” a few try to go to take the land but God is not with them so the enemy chases them. Lesson: Not matter how sincere one might be if God is not with you, you will fail even if you are sincere, you are sincerely wrong. It’s all about obeying the voice of the Lord.
Mark 14:53-72
Jesus’ trial was all about appearances. Those placing him on trail were never interested in Truth, just the facts as they saw them. If they and the people accepted Jesus for who he was, they would have no more jobs. They would not be able to partake of the sacrifices brought to the temple thus their pockets would be empty. They went after the facts, as they saw them, but not the Truth of God’s Word. A crowd, a consensus, a majority vote does not equal Truth: it never did and it never will. Neither does having a lot of facts equal truth. In a trial, lawyers put forth a lot of facts but is any of it truth?
Peter, who told Jesus he would never abandon Him that he would die with Him, finds out the truth about himself. He realized that the facts he stated about himself and the relationship he had with Jesus was not the truth.
Psalm 53:1-6
This is another Psalm that should remind the righteousness of God that any enemy they have will never prevail. I think we fall into the trap thinking that what is on this earth is all there is in life. We forget that we are spiritual beings trying to master the human experiences. Thus we think that this is all there is, it ain’t.
Proverbs 11:4
Money can buy you all the things that the Creator has placed on this earth, but it cannot buy you the Creator, the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Proverbs 18:10: The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | March 09, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Numbers 14:1-15:16
Today’s reading in the book of Numbers reminded me of an out of sync dance couple. Instead of that togetherness and flowing unity that great dance partners have, Numbers metaphorically illustrates how one of the dance partners (the Israelites) is completely out of step with the other (God). Numbers serves as a warning sign to all of us, God wants for us to get in sync with His moves, let Him lead and He will deliver every time with dignity and eloquence. God’s plan is to teach us to dance in His rhythm, drawing us toward His fullness and unity by being conformed to Him. As we move in the same direction as God we join Him as He inevitably directs all of creation towards His return when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
Joshua and Caleb were the only ones in sync with the Lord’s plan for the Israelites. As the Israelites stood before the promise land, they were overwhelmed with fear, fear of the unknown, fear of giants, fear of dying and were overpowered by unbelief. I know that feeling; I can personally attest to blessings that I have missed out on because of giving in to fear and unbelief. Joshua and Caleb represent God’s urging and calling for us to come out of our hiding places (comfort zones) and walk vulnerably in sync with Him, trusting, knowing, believing He is with us, watching us, leading us and bringing us into His wonderful rhythm. Today I choose to live outside of my comfort zone and believe the promises of God by boldly walking in faith.
Posted by: Steve T | March 10, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Gives me betterunderstanding
Posted by: MArgaret | March 10, 2011 at 07:01 PM