March 16, 2010
The Israelites turned against the LORD and God told them what their consequences would be, and yet here He is giving them more instructions for when they do enter the land. God disciplines us but He does not give up on us.
God talks about the differences between when we unintentionally sin (we need to repent), and when we defiantly and purposefully choose to sin. That person must be cut off. When a person knows what God's word says, knows what is right and wrong, knows they are defying God, and yet chooses to do it anyway; then they are willfully shaking their fist and spitting in the face of God. In today's vernacular—screw you God. I am doing what I want to do. Numbers 15:31 - "Such a person must surely be cut off from the others. He is guilty!" God doesn't give up on us, but we can choose to be "cut-off" (separated from God) and found "guilty."
God tells them to do things that will remind them to obey Him. Numbers 15:41 - "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt to be your God." I AM—past, present, and future. The same yesterday, today, and forever. TO BE—active, present, continual, current, fresh, everyday, tuned in, relevant, etc. It's not enough to have a one-time salvation experience. God wants "to be" our God forever and always.
Our choices determine what kind of relationship we have with God. Past tense, future, or ALL—past, present, and future. Active. Alive. TO BE. I AM the LORD your God. Total and complete security can be found when you understand this concept: "I AM the LORD."
Addendum: 10/10/13 ~ The Life Lesson for this portion is from a book written by Patrick M. Morley. The book is called Walking with Christ in the Details of Life. It makes some very poignant observations.
Next Entry: Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
The Israelites turned against the LORD and God told them what their consequences would be, and yet here He is giving them more instructions for when they do enter the land. God disciplines us but He does not give up on us.
God talks about the differences between when we unintentionally sin (we need to repent), and when we defiantly and purposefully choose to sin. That person must be cut off. When a person knows what God's word says, knows what is right and wrong, knows they are defying God, and yet chooses to do it anyway; then they are willfully shaking their fist and spitting in the face of God. In today's vernacular—screw you God. I am doing what I want to do. Numbers 15:31 - "Such a person must surely be cut off from the others. He is guilty!" God doesn't give up on us, but we can choose to be "cut-off" (separated from God) and found "guilty."
God tells them to do things that will remind them to obey Him. Numbers 15:41 - "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt to be your God." I AM—past, present, and future. The same yesterday, today, and forever. TO BE—active, present, continual, current, fresh, everyday, tuned in, relevant, etc. It's not enough to have a one-time salvation experience. God wants "to be" our God forever and always.
Our choices determine what kind of relationship we have with God. Past tense, future, or ALL—past, present, and future. Active. Alive. TO BE. I AM the LORD your God. Total and complete security can be found when you understand this concept: "I AM the LORD."
Addendum: 10/10/13 ~ The Life Lesson for this portion is from a book written by Patrick M. Morley. The book is called Walking with Christ in the Details of Life. It makes some very poignant observations.
"God declares that He will faithfully remove the created things which can be shaken—the shakeable kingdom. Why? So that the unshakeable may remain. Created things give cultural Christianity its toehold. Created things defeat us and choke the Word—the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth.
When we cross over the line and refuse Him who speaks, He will separate us from the created things—the idols, the shakeable kingdom—which dilute our devotion to Him. If we cannot remain obedient, if we cannot be holy, then He will discipline us for our own good, "that we may share in in his holiness"...
Do not be alarmed if God shakes up your world. Though your first natural thought will disagree, it is a blessing. It is not a sign that you are unworthy—every one of us is unworthy. It is not a sign of hatred, but love. If He did not love you, He would let you completely self-destruct. As it is, He cleanses your life from sin...
When God disciplines you by removing created things, by shaking up your temporal kingdom, rejoice and be glad. Created things divide our affections from God and become competition to our devotion. They lure us into the wrong race. They consume our creativity and deflect our thoughts away from the Lord Jesus.
I became a cultural Christian. Created things became idols and divided me from complete, faithful devotion to our Lord. God removed most of the created things I accumulated. I built a shakeable kingdom, and God shook it. Words are inadequate to express the joy and gratitude I feel toward God for the wounds He faithfully inflicted. It may be the single greatest blessing of my spiritual pilgrimage."Well said. We concur.
Next Entry: Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
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