Do I fit in the All being blessed?

Reading: Deuteronomy 28 and Galatians 3

 

Scripture: Galatians 3:7-8 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

 

Thoughts: As I read this passage, I got the reminder that not only do we need to remember what God saved us from but also who we have become when we chose to follow Jesus. Yes, we have a past and it has been washed clean by the blood of Christ. With the acceptance of the washing those sins are washed clean and set as far as the East is from the West, we are to no longer dwell on that past. This passage speaks of the adoption into the family of God. God made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would be like the stars in the sky yet he had two sons. Even coming out of Egypt there were 600,000 men meaning probably about 2 million people walked out of Egypt. Still, a number that can be counted. We are now grafted in and adopted into God’s family made co-hair with Christ. We need to remember what we were saved from and who we became. We are sons and daughters of the one true King.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, and your mercy abounds. I thank you that you have called me and adopted me into your family. I thank you that when you called me you cleansed me and called me to strive for a closer relationship with you. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me into the man I am meant to be. I and that you help me to continue to release the things in my past that are not who I am. I ask you to help me to love as you love, and be a good steward of the blessings in my life. I pray that I may be a light to this world to share your love and mercy with this broken and messed up world.

What are we doing or saying we should do?

Reading: Deuteronomy 25-27 and Galatians 2

 

Scripture: Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

 

Thoughts: We have been given great freedom in Christ, no matter what our background is Jew or Gentile. Just as Cephas(Peter) is being called out about not living by the rules or traditions that he was calling out others to do, we have a tendency to do the same thing. We are calling out a sin in someone’s life as we sit there with that same sin in our lives. It is easy to sit up on our tower and point out all the things wrong with others as we try to hide our own issues. Paul may have been calling out Peter for doing one thing and saying another but he came to him with a humble heart he has aired his laundry he had talked about watching Steven get stoned, tracking down Christians to have them brought to trial. He calls himself the chief of sinners. Are we praising God for what he brought us out of and pointing to what He is doing in our lives? When we speak to others let us encourage and lift them up not tear them down. We are not going to beat someone into heaven. We need to love as God loves and seek God’s heart for the world around us.

 

Prayer: Father God, your ways are higher than my ways, your knowledge far exceeds anything I could think. I fall on my face and seek you and your glory in my life. I ask you to reveal to me my insufficiencies. Help me to walk in your way and in our light. I thank you for the opportunities to seek you and share what you are doing in my life. I ask that you help me to be the light to this world and walk beside those who are struggling so that I can help them up and not condemn them when they fall. Help us to remember where you brought us out and the work you are still doing in our lives. Help me to overcome the sins I have and that you have washed clean.

You have been recruited!!!

Reading: Numbers 19-20, Psalm 47, and 1 Corinthians 9

 

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

 

Thoughts: How are we training? As a disciple of Christ, what are we doing to prepare ourselves for the fight that is to come? Athletes don’t just stagger off the couch onto whatever field they play on and expect to win. Do soldiers go into battle without knowing their weapons intimately? Then why do we sit back and expect that we will be victorious when we barely open the word once a week? In my past I know that there were times when it was months between times, I cracked open the Bible or even thought about going to church, and I can look back at those times and see the death spiral my life was taking and how it impacted those closest to me. As a worrier find other worriers to train with, find those who have been there before to strengthen and encourage you but also bring someone who is in need of encouragement along with that you all may grow and strengthen in the Lord. Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord, but we are called to fight it with all we have, and He will make up the difference. Be discipled, get disciplined, and become strong in the Lord.

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are my banner, my rally point, my place of refuge. You have the battle plans drawn up and ready to execute, and you are calling your army to ready itself. Your plans are greater than our plans they are higher than ours and we exalt you. I lay my life in your hands and take up your armor and sword so that I may walk in your power and authority over the evil of this world. I ask for your strength to fill me and lead me.

Who are these Jones people any way?

Reading: Numbers 17-18, Psalm 73, and 1 Corinthians 8

 

Scripture: Psalm 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 

Thoughts: Are you trying to keep up with the Jones? This was the first thing that went through my mind when this passage stood out to me. Many times the Jones that we are comparing ourselves to may not be truly wicked but many flaunt what they have. With the invention of social media, this FOMO and longing for the life that others portray has ratcheted up the mentality of keeping up with those Jones. When the world has opened up the firehouse of comparison it is hard to not feel like the grass is greener over there. This not only goes toward the things and opportunities we have but also how content we are with our situations and our choices. I chose to love my wife and asked her to be my wife, yet so often we start looking at others, that grass over there because there is something that didn’t live up to our expectations. As we seek God and his will in our life He will fulfill every need we have. He also longs to bless his faithful servants, so how are you stewarding the things he has entrusted to you so far? 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You give and you take away. I thank you for the opportunity to steward those things around me. I thank you for my family and the people in my life. I pray that my stewardship is a praise to you and that I can point to you always in about all things. I thank you that you are molding and refining me as the silversmith does. I thank you that you call me even when I fall. I ask that you help me to be more content with what I have and not seek more than what you have for me.

Are you separating yourself?

Reading: Numbers 16 and 1 Corinthians 7

 

Scripture: Numbers 16:27-28 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord.

 

Thoughts: A little leaven leavens the whole lump. God reminds us that we are to separate ourselves from the sinfulness of the world. Here in Numbers, we see where a group comes to Moses saying that they are worthy to be in the presence of God. After God shows who He chose to be the priest, He has Moses separate these men from the rest of Israel. When we find a sin in our midst we are to separate ourselves from it. Yes, there is forgiveness and reconciliation but until that person comes to the point of seeking that forgiveness we are to treat them as unbelievers, not shunning them or turning our backs on them but sharing God’s love and calling them back. Is there a sin in your life that needs to be confessed and to seek forgiveness for? 

 

Prayer: Father God you are worthy of all praise. I long to love as you love. I thank you for calling me out of my sins and offering your mercy and grace. I thank you for the continued sanctification that you are working in me. Help me to overcome the sins that continue to try to gain a foothold, help me to see and understand the calling you have put on my life. Lead me and guide me every day.

Tell others about your dwelling place.

Reading: Numbers 15, Psalm 90, and 1 Corinthians 6

 

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-2 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

 

Thoughts: We talk about our jobs, our homes, our cars, and our things yet how often is our true dwelling place actually with God and are we telling others about it? When I am face to face with others I can small talk but when it comes to sharing where my dwelling place is I struggle to share with people God’s love and the dwelling place He is preparing for us. Let us remember that we can’t take things with us when we go and our true home is with Him. Even if it has not been generations who have been following Christ you can start those generations now. Come to the family and grow in the Lord 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are our dwelling place, you are the light in the darkness. I thank You that You are casting out all darkness, out of me and my family, I ask that You open our eyes to that dwelling place in You and help us to live and walk in that light.

Going my own way?!?!

Reading: Numbers 13-14, Psalm 81, and 1 Corinthians 5

 

Scripture: Number 14:44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.

 

Thoughts: I find it far too easy to do what I want to do than to do what others want to do. That almost goes up a hundred times when it comes to things God wants me to do. We by nature are selfish beings. We want our needs and desires filled before someone else gets theirs. If you don’t believe me that it is human nature to be selfish just look at a baby or young children. They have a need and they scream and cry until it is resolved then when kids start playing with others one of the most common things you hear is mine or something similar. We don’t want to share or give up things. After the 12 spies returned to Moses, they were afraid of what would happen if they went to take the nation. Then these warriors decided without God’s blessing or presence they would try to take this land. Even though there may be some of God’s plan in what you are striving for has He told you not now or just plain no. Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see when God changes the plan after we stop listening because of fear. 

 

Prayer: Father God. You are worthy of all praise. I sit at your feet and seek your glory. Thank you that you are calling us. I thank you that there is a plan and that even in my ignorance and arrogance you can still bring forth your plan. I thank you that you can use me even when I fall on my face. I ask that you help me to cast out all fear and abide in your love. I ask for discernment to see when I take a wrong turn. Lead me and guide me in all your ways.

Follow your own Counsel?!?!

Reading: Numbers 11-12, Psalm 148, and 1 Corinthians 4

 

Scripture: Numbers 11:33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.

 

Thoughts: How often do we let something little into our lives and before we know it things are out of balance, something that on its own is not an issue but has become something that we are finding shame in. For instance, social media can be a great tool for connecting family and friends who are no longer living near one another, but I have found myself sitting and scrolling the feeds of Facebook and Instagram. Because of things I have heard I have avoided some of the other communities. Psalm 81:12 says it this way “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.” If we are chasing after things that are not pointing to God, we are letting it become a stronghold that can develop into a sin. If we are not repentant and allow those sins to be a part of our lives, we will be turned over to that sin. Just as those of Israel who were not satisfied with the mana and charged out to get the quail consumed by the lust for meat God cut them out of his nation. Is there something you need to repent of remove and come back to a place where God is the center of your life? 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful. I thank you that you are always calling us back. I thank you that your love and mercy can cover all the mistakes I have made and remove the burden of sin. I thank you that you broke the chains in my life, and I ask that you help me to remove the shackles that remind me of that past sin. I ask for your forgiveness for falling away from seeking you with my entire heart, mind, and body. You are worthy of all I have and all I am.

Getting Lost in the Mix

Over the last few weeks I have let my life get a little out of hand. I have been keeping up with my reading and normally there is a vers that stands out to me for one reason or another, yet here I am with the weeks leading up to Easter with nothing written. I let the business of work family and even TV get in the way of making time for God. My disciplines that I had developed in the discipleship classes that I have taken have gone out the window. God is calling me back into those disciplines, getting in the Word, journaling, and taking time to pray every day. It is easy to let many of those fall by the wayside as things change. My family has change that we will be working through for the next year and I pray that I can set these disciplines more firmly at the core of my relationship with God. Here is what I have been reading and the passages that have stood out to me. Seek God and dive deep into his Word 

March 19

 

Reading: Leviticus 16-17 and John 11

 

Scripture: John 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

March 20

 

Reading: Leviticus 18-19 and John 12

 

Scripture: John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

 

March 21

 

Reading: Leviticus 20-21 and John 13

 

Scripture: John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

March 22

 

Reading: Leviticus 22-23 and John 14

 

Scripture: John 14:31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

March 23

 

Reading: Leviticus 24-25 and John 15

 

Scripture: John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

March 24

 

Reading: Leviticus 26, Psalm 12, and John 16

 

Scripture: Leviticus 26:42 But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes.

March 25

 

Reading: Leviticus 27, Psalm 136, and John 17

 

Scripture: Psalm 136:7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;

March 26

 

Reading: Numbers 1 and John 18

 

Scripture: John 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

 

March 27

 

Reading: Numbers 2, Psalm 46, and John 19

March 28

 

Reading: Numbers 3, Psalm 67, and John 20

 

Scripture: John 20:22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

 

March 29

 

Reading: Numbers 4, Psalm 21, and John 21

 

Scripture: Numbers 4:5 When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

 

March 30

 

Reading: Numbers 5-6 and 1 Corinthians 1

 

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

 

March 31

 

Reading: Numbers 7 and 1 Corinthians 2

April 1

 

Reading: Numbers 8-10 and 1 Corinthians 3

 

Scripture: Numbers 10:35-36 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”