The Israelites are approaching the end of their 40th year wandering in the desert. The older generation had passed away, and the new generation was rising up and being prepared to enter the Promised Land.
At the end of Numbers 21, Edom had refused passage to the Israelites, so the people were forced to take the longer way back around the Red Sea. In the quintessential Israelite fashion, they began to complain about Moses’s leadership and the ‘worthless food’ they were eating. So, God sent ‘fiery serpents’ to attack the people.
Why fiery serpents? The word ‘fiery’ here is seraph. This could mean a venomous snake – whose bite would sting. But the word seraph is interesting. Fire throughout the Old Testament is often used to describe God’s judgment and holiness. By sending a fiery snake, God was inciting judgment on the Israelites for their complaints.
Why fiery serpents? Ever since the Garden of Eden, serpents are synonymous with evil. Why would God send those to the people? David Christensen writes, “The serpents point to “Egyptian symbolism.”” The people had desired Egypt and its God, so God effectively sent them these things. But, of course, the effect of this is the opposite of what the people wanted. When the people get what they desire, it results in death.
This is true for us as well. Sometimes, we desire what we should not. We complain. We get bitter. We think, if only I could have that instead of the worthless things around me. But when we get that desire, it results in death. James 1:14-15 describes it like this: “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Thankfully, our salvation mirrors the salvation found in this passage. Moses was told to put a bronze serpent on a stick, to lift it up, and anyone who looked at it would be healed. John 3:14-15 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Left to our own desires and devices, we will follow a path that ends in death, but when we look to Christ as our sacrifice, savior, and King, we will find the path to eternal life. Where are you looking today?
Reflection Questions
Why do you think the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt despite all they had seen?
Why do you think God sent the fiery serpents as a punishment?
How do you see yourself in the story of the Israelites?
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, whom we can look to for eternal life. Help us to follow after you in obedience and reverence. Let us not turn away to our own desires. Help us to flee from them and run towards you.
When I was a little girl, my mom got her tonsils removed. My brother, sister, and I were all very young, probably all under the age of ten. The healing process of a tonsillectomy is intense, especially for adults. It is recommended you refrain from talking while in recovery. One day, while my mom was resting in bed, us kids played in the basement. We must have woken up Mom because I distinctly remember seeing her round the corner of the basement steps looking angry and disheveled. She held up two fingers, indicating the peace sign. Then, she clapped her hands very loudly. We later learned the clapping was to get our attention, since she was unable to talk. However, we all understood her message as, “Peace or I’ll squash you!” I can still picture it in my mind, today. Never had we been more afraid of Mom than in that moment. You can bet we played quietly afterwards!
Now, my mom is not a violent person. Spankings were used sparingly in our household. We look back on that memory now and laugh. Yet I will never forget the way I felt receiving the “Peace or I’ll squash you” message. The fear and awe, wondering what exactly she meant by squashing but knowing I don’t want to find out. This was mixed with the knowledge that she is my mother who loves me dearly and whom I love in return. I have since come to realize that is the same fear and awe in which we should approach God. God loves us. Immensely. But He does have the ability to squash us.
The fear of the LORD isn’t a hide behind a rock shaking and afraid sort of fear. It’s a healthy reverence. It’s recognizing God’s power over our lives, His ability to do miraculous things. It’s respect.
We see a lot of God’s power in our readings today. We see his power to punish the wicked in Numbers and Psalms. Psalms 18:7-15 is an incredible visual describing God’ s power and sovereignty over nature. We see how God has power over our problems and our enemies as David tells of how the LORD delivered him. We see God’s power over demons working through Jesus Christ and His power to heal in Mark 3. Finally we see His power to forgive sins, explained in Mark 3:28 and throughout Numbers.
So, what do we do with this knowledge of God’s power? Well, I think the answer is in Numbers 15:37-41. We would do well to remember. To not forget God’s great power. To look to Him as David looked to Him to be our supporter, our rock, our light as is described in Psalms 18. The LORD knew our fickleness. Our ability to forget. That’s why he instructed the Israelites to wear the tassels, to serve as a physical reminder. I believe we, today, could benefit from physical reminders as well. Our “tassles” may look different than they did back in Bible times. Maybe it’s a bible verse as our lockscreen on our devices or a notecard taped to the bathroom mirror. Maybe it’s a piece of jewelry you wear everyday. Maybe, not to get too controversial here, it’s a tattoo. Or, maybe, it’s a piece of decor someplace prominent in your house you’ll see everyday. Or it could be a bumper sticker you see every time you get into your car. A stone you carry in your pocket. A keychain on your keys. A water bottle or coffee cup with your favorite verse. A pen you use everyday.
We should apply the idea of tassels to our own lives. In doing so, may we be humbled by this. May it lead us to stand in awe of God’s great glory. May we come to a healthy fear of LORD.
Reflection Questions
How would you explain the fear of the LORD to someone? How is it different from the fear in 1 John 4:18?
Do you have a “tassle”? What is it? If not, what can you do to create one?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your might, your strength, and your goodness. Thank you for your instructions. For keeping our best interest at heart. May we remember how great You are.
Good morning! Continuing with our topic from Psalm 17, God as our ultimate protector and source of peace. How can we know that what we are asking for is right? How do I know that He will listen? David answers these questions all through Psalm 17. Yesterday, I gave you 5 things David says to do to find refuge in God. Each from the first five verses. The next 4 are from varying verses from the chapter.
6. Experience God’s Unfailing Love
David is looking and seeking God’s love and protection: “Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand”-Psalm 17:7. This is a reminder of how much God loves us. A love that is steadfast and unwavering. Experiencing His love transforms our lives and empowers us to love others. Not only that but you feel safe when you are loved. When the God of the universe loves you, you know you can rest.
7. Find Security in God’s Protection
David finds security in God’s protection, describing it as being hidden “in the shadow of Your wings” (Psalm 17:8). This picture reassures us of God’s protection and care, offering us a safe and secure haven when life’s storms hit us. We can rest in the knowledge that God is our shield and defender. You have found refuge.
8. Recognize the Futility of Worldly Pursuits
The psalm compares and contrasts the nature of worldly pursuits with the eternal satisfaction found in God: “They are satisfied with children and leave their abundance to their infants” (Psalm 17:14). This lesson encourages us to focus on eternal treasures rather than temporary gains, finding true fulfillment in our relationship with God. Paul does the same thing that David is doing here in Ephesians 1:3 when he says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. This verse also contrasts temporary earthly prosperity to spiritual blessings.
9. Anticipating the Joy of God’s Presence and our Resurrection
David concludes with a hopeful anticipation of being resurrected at Christ’s return: “When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15). When he says “when I awake” he is expecting to die and be raised to new life. That is his hope. This final lesson inspires us to look forward to the ultimate joy of being with God, and his son Jesus where we will experience complete satisfaction and joy in His presence for eternity.
Reflection Questions
Is God your refuge? How much peace do you have?
Are you doing these things?
What are some ways you can apply these principles today?
Prayer
Father God my prayer this morning is that we know how to take refuge in you. That we apply these principles to our lives and live with the joy, acceptance and peace that you give us each day. May we be active in seeking out your will. In Jesus’ name.
Good morning! Yesterday we meditated on Psalm 16:4. Where David underlines his radical preference for God by putting it negatively. He values God so highly, he will not dare to run after other gods. “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” In other words: it is sheer stupidity to turn away from the all-satisfying God only to embrace gods that leave you sorrowful in the end. No, I will never do that. I won’t even put their names on my lips.
Then in Psalm 16:5, he returns to the declaration of verse 2: “I have no good apart from you.” Here he puts it positively: “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup.” In other words, if there are a hundred portions of food and drink spread out on the table, and one of them is the LORD himself — he is my choice. Nothing satisfies; nothing nourishes and sustains — the way he does. He is my greatest good. My treasure of all treasures. My highest pleasure. My chosen portion of sirloin. My cup of finest wine.
Then later in verse Psalm 16:5, he returns to what he has said in verse 2. He said, “I say to the LORD (Yahweh), ‘You are my Lord (Adonai).’” He declared that God was his master and higherup or sovereign. Here in verse 5 he does the same: “You hold my lot.” In other words, when the dice are rolled, and the straws are drawn, and the wheel is turned — whatever happens to us comes from the hand of God. God holds my lot. God decides it. God rules over it. God is my sovereign, and I am glad to have it so. I don’t just affirm it nonchalantly; I live in it with excitement.
In Psalm 16:6, he shouts out what this means for him. Because God holds his lot, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” The “lines” here are probably borderlines, the borders or boundaries God has appointed for him. They may be figurative, or literal, or maybe both. I tend to say the borderlines may be figurative because the phrase “pleasant places” is a single Hebrew word that means “pleasures.” It’s the very same word as the one in Psalm 16:11 translated “pleasures”: “At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The translation here in Psalm 16:6 should maybe be: “The lines have fallen for me in pleasures, I have a beautiful inheritance.” The “pleasant places” (of verse 6) may be not so much good acreage in Palestine, but the place at God’s right hand, as verse 11 says. “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” would then be: “Your sovereign goodness has fenced me in to God himself. The borders of my life are boundaries around where God is.” And when he adds, “I have a beautiful inheritance,” the ultimate meaning would be: God. God is my inheritance, and He is beautiful. That’s where Psalm 16:11 leads us. Where are you being led today?
Reflection Questions
Is God your inheritance? If so, why is that a beautiful inheritance? If not, why not?
What does it mean to you to say, “The LORD is my chosen portion and cup”?
How would you describe your relationship with God, how valuable He is to you, and what benefits you receive because of your relationship with Him?
Prayer
Dear Lord God, help me to see how incredibly worthy You are to receive my praise, worship and adoration. Help me to see, but never experience, where I would be without You. Help me to not take You and my relationship with You for granted. May my life show that You are my portion and my cup – I chose You and You sustain me and give me all I need for life. I rely on You. Thank You for being my God.
This morning, I would encourage you to read Psalm 16:1-4. When you are done reading those verses focus on this question. Do you think of the consequences of your choices? Psalm 16:4: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” What happens if we choose another god besides the true God? Another ultimate good, another Lord, another delight, another treasure? What happens is multiplied sorrows. “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply.” David has already found his good; he’s already found his delight; he’s already found his treasure. He’s not on a search anymore. Are you? David’s quest is over. Is yours? It’s over. I have found him. I have found my Good. I have found my Lord. I have found my delight. I have found my treasure. It’s over. I’m not running anymore after anything else. There’s nothing but trouble there. “I have no good apart from you.” The Lord is my good. I’m not shopping around. My quest is over.
What happens when you make your choice to follow God but the temptation to return to old gods is there. “Here’s another god; here’s another good; here’s another delight; here’s another treasure.” David’s response is, “I won’t even drink it. I won’t even take their name on my lips.” “Their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out. I will not even take their names on my lips.” These alternative gods, these alternative delights, these alternative toys. I’m not going to touch them. I’m not even going to get close or talk about them. I have found the all-satisfying treasure. Why would I choose multiplied sorrows?
I think verse 4 is what David was asking to be preserved from in verse 1. When he said, “Preserve me, O God,” what’s he asking to be preserved from? And the answer is verse 4. “Preserve me, O God.” I take refuge in you. I’m running to you as my good. I’m running to you as my treasure. I’m running to you as my delight. I am running to you. Preserve me from being drawn away to these other gods. Preserve me from failing to be satisfied in you this morning.
“This is the battle of the believer’s life: to have God as our good, to have God as our delight.”
I wonder if you pray like that. I wonder if you fight like that. That is just about all I do. This is the battle of real and satisfying life: to have God as our good, to have God as our delight, to have God as our treasure. And the world is saying, “No, I’m better!” So what else is there to do but fight? Verse 4 is what he’s pleading. “Preserve me, O God.” Don’t let me be drawn away to these other gods.
Psalm 90:14 is on my lips just about every morning. “Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love!” Is that your steady prayer? “Your steadfast love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Oh, don’t let me be more satisfied with anything else than with you. That’s the battle. Verse 1 calls out to persevere; verse 4 states the danger. You make the call on which road you will live. Be blessed today.
Reflection Questions
What other goods, lords, treasures, delights have you found yourself running after? How is God better than each of these?
What multiplied sorrows result in following after any of these others?
What has God already preserved you from?
Today, what do you specifically ask God to preserve you from?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Help me to say it, believe it and live it every day. Thank you for preserving me from _______. Save me, Lord, from the sorrows and dangers of following after anything else the world dangles in front of my eyes and heart. Help me see clearly You, Your wisdom and truth and what You desire for my life. Make me strong in You against the temptation of _____________.
First of all, let me say CONGRATULATIONS on finishing what many consider to be the hardest book in the Bible to get through due to its “repetitive rules and low relatability.” One online reader even called it, “Where Bible reading plans go to die.” (guilty!)
And I’m not going to lie. I feel like reading chapter 27 is basically reading a page out of a law book at the law offices of Dewey, Cheatum, & Howe.
The first part is a little confusing… why are they paying money for people?? They weren’t. Basically, people could dedicate themselves, their children, animals, or properties to the Lord at anytime, but if they need any of the above back, they could buy them back at the values the Lord set in this chapter. (Certainly, this was a lot clearer to the people of the time than it is to me!) The rest of the chapter is similar information that does seem repetitive and irrelevant.
So I’m sure you’re thinking, “Well, Miss Negative Nellie, why did I just bother reading this whole book?!”
We are told our whole Christian lives how Christ died to set us free from the law ( Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:14, 7:6, 8:2, Galatians 3:25, 5:1). But do we stop and think how deep and broad the Mosaic Law was? Not easy stuff to get through, let alone emulate with your life. Reading Leviticus brings us, not only to the reality that living by works alone is nearly impossible, but also to how truly, throughly, and deeply holy is our God. I hope that reading Leviticus has done this for you.
The poetry of Psalm 14 and the prose of Matthew 27 are easier to understand if not exactly pleasant to read. Can you imagine reading the Resurrection story for the first time and stopping at the end of 27?! What a sad cliffhanger! But like reading Leviticus, you can’t understand the point of the really good stuff until understanding the tragic background. Without understanding the NEED for a savior, from the stringent laws that a Holy God commands, to the awful details of Judas’s betrayal, we will miss the complete picture of Jesus’s sacrifice for us.
So, GREAT JOB with your reading! You’ve got this! Let’s Go!! Even through the rough parts, time spent in scripture is never wasted!
Reflection Questions:
What does it mean to have a holy God?
What was the purpose of Leviticus? What is the purpose of Matthew 27?
What is the hardest part of reading Matthew 27?
Prayer:
Dear Holy God, thank you for not giving up on us – Your creation that turned our backs on You and repeatedly broke Your law. Help us see our sin for what it is and the distance that it puts between us and You. Thank You for Matthew 27. Help us see the depth of Your great love for us and the loving obedience of Your precious Son. Help me have the mind of Christ which says and lives “Not my will, but Yours be done” – even when it hurts and is so hard. Help me see what You will and follow well, like Your Son who gave his life as the perfect sacrifice so I can pray to You today and be heard as Your child.
Ever see one of those warning sign where you have to wonder? What happened here that made this sign necessary. I kind of felt this way reading Leviticus 20-22…some of the laws made sense as God was establishing the Mosaic law. Especially the opening of the chapter talking about child sacrifices.
Some of it I’m a little unclear on. Previously, you could marry your step sister (Abraham and Sarah) and other family members. But God was putting an end to that. And then some of the laws, were just for specific people and some of those I don’t understand at all. Why did you have to be physically perfect in order to be a priest who could enter the temple? I don’t get that one… but I trust God has His reasons I may not understand before the coming kingdom.
As independent adults, we often question the things we’re told to do and want to know why so we can decide if we really want to do it.
But throughout the Bible, God gives us laws and tells us to do/not do things that we don’t understand. We don’t feel like it’s right.
However, that is the difference between believing in God and Christ and truly surrendering to them as the ones who control your life. You may not alway understand why God is telling you to do something, but total submission means you follow God’s word no matter what. It’s a matter of trust. Trust is hard, but vital to our relationship with God.
Speaking of total submission, we go to Matthew 26 where Jesus is fully aware of what is going to happen but continues on as he trusts in God’s overarching plan for humanity as mentioned in Psalms 12. God knows what he’s doing with humanity, we just have to trust Him.
Reflection Questions:
Are you bothered by the times you don’t understand God, His law or plans? Why or why not?
What could be helpful advice for someone who is questioning God?
Have you found God to be trustworthy? How can you build your trust in Him?
Did Jesus have the mind of God? What can we learn from Jesus’ example when it might seem like we don’t want the same things God does?
PRAYER:
Father God, I praise You because You are wise, all-knowing, all-powerful and completely trustworthy, and I am not. Thank You for Your love and for being a Good God. Open my eyes to see Your goodness in all You do, and all You ask me to do. Thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son. In all ways big and small may I echo his words and heart of surrender: “Not my will but Yours be done.”
Religious practice is exactly what is said. It is our habitual practices that we bring to our walk with God and make rules for our lives. These practices are not necessarily good or evil but become the habits that we follow as people in our daily life. We also build habits that govern our time together as the body of Christ at church or fellowship. Once again, these practices are neither good or evil but are the way that we have decided to fellowship together.
The law of Moses covered almost every aspect of life for the nation of Israel and gave instruction in how to do righteous actions and have righteous thoughts. As we read in Leviticus these instructions can be very complex and to our culture maybe not very understandable.
In our reading in Matthew, we are at almost the end of Jesus’ life here on earth and he is at the temple. He has many debates with the leaders there and also spends time teaching the people. He throws out the moneychangers and vendors and then has many interactions with them that are maybe not the most decorous from their viewpoint.
Matthew 23:1-13(NLT) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
Jesus gives us a compact instruction on how we are to practice our religious life in these short verses.
We are to obey the true Word of God which does not fall
We should not add rules and conditions of man to the Word of God
We need to worship and practice with humility to God and His instructions to us.
Bring people into the kingdom of God not draw lines to exclude them
In Micah God reminds us of what is important to Him and what we really need to do to live out the life of compassion and grace that He has called us to.
Micah 6:6-8)NLT) What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? 8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Why does this judge our hearts so well?
We must be careful every day not to start to exalt our minds against God by patting ourselves on our backs for the great works of righteousness for Him that we do. Just doing religious practices and ignoring the grace that God has given us is the way to go down the wrong road (that’s when the pat on the back needs to be down lower). If our religious practices bring us closer to God through prayer, praise, love for others, and Christian service then we are building our relationship with God.
This is what He truly desires from us, not a showy religious practice. Contrast this with what so much of Christianity does today and the consequences of religious practice become immediately evident. Our God wants us to have the heart of grace and mercy towards this fallen world and people that He has. He has built the way to life through His Son Jesus Christ, and he is who we are to become like.
Galatians 2:16(NLT) Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
God’s grace is the important thing to bring to every part of life and practice. It is so human and wrong to be judgmental of people based on how I think they should act or think. I am offended in my mind by their lack of doing of the things that I think they ought to be doing.
Is this the mind of Christ towards others?
Titus 2:11-15a (NLT) For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. 15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them
Hope of life with God and Christ in the kingdom to come is the guiding light for everything that we should be doing. When our motivations and intents of our hearts towards others is right with God then our actions will be godly and good. Our religious practices will become pleasing to God.
How can we examine our hearts in light of this understanding?
Romans 14:10-11(NLT) So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
Ultimately the motives of our hearts will be examined before all the creation and we will be judged at the “bema” for our actions and thoughts. It is not in the actions but our hearts that God sees as important to Him. To renew our minds is to change to become like Christ and do the true instruction of God in this world.
Matthew 23:37-39(NLT) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
Reflection Questions
See questions in bold above.
Prayer:
Dear God, Thank you for the gifts of Your Word and Your Son where we see what You desire and the perfect example of loving and pleasing You. Forgive me for the times I have had a Pharisee’s heart. I want instead the mind of Christ. Help me see myself and others with Your eyes and remembering Your grace humbly respond as You want me to.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34)
As we wrap up our time in Exodus today, we end with an uplifting picture. After slavery in Egypt, rejection, persecution, wandering, many poor choices, and hard labor, the work was finished. The curtain for the gate was hung. People washed up. Burnt offerings and incense in place. “And the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle”. Since the tabernacle functioned as a mobile dwelling place of God, His presence filling it symbolized His presence with His people. Yesterday we read of God as our shield and righteous judge in Psalm 7. Earlier we read of Him hearing our cries. Today we read of Him pursuing a close relationship with His people as His presence enveloped the sacred place He designed.
In Exodus 40:38, the last verse of Exodus and all its adventures, I noticed the phrase the “cloud of the LORD” and did a bit of a word study to see where else that comes up in scripture, knowing it was a familiar one. One of those places is Isaiah 4:5 where we find a prophecy reminiscent of the cloud filling the tabernacle, and also perhaps with some foreshadowing of a future hope. Isaiah 4:5 says
“Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy.”
Mount Zion is a term that references Jerusalem, and Isaiah paints us a picture of Jerusalem canopied by a cloud of smoke. Today, Jerusalem is often polluted with clouds of smoke from war and weapons. But, Isaiah tells us there is more to come for Mount Zion made possible through the promised Messiah who will build a bridge to. . .a new Jerusalem. From the last chapter of Exodus to its connection to the end of the Bible itself, I can think of no better thought to fix my eyes and heart right now than,
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(Revelation 21:2-5)
Reflection:
Consider God’s presence in your life today.
Pray for the coming kingdom and a day when God will wipe our tears.
Rest in His canopy of love and protection.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your perfect plan of salvation which mankind, including myself, is not worthy or deserving of, which we have proven over and over again. And yet, You continue to reveal Yourself and Your plan to us, giving purpose and peace in a troubled world, and hope and joy for the coming kingdom. Thank You for Your presence, direction and love. Help me to pursue You and Your presence and Your Kingdom with all that You have given me. In Your Son’s precious name I pray, Amen.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
After commissioning the twelve apostles, Jesus proceeds to teach them about what this commissioning entails. First, they will be persecuted (vv. 16-25), but they don’t need to be afraid because God will be with them and cares for them (vv. 26-31). Then comes a section that deals with the seriousness of the need to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, which can be a controversial subject (vv. 32-39). Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace but a sword (v. 34). This proclamation is not Jesus’ war cry as though his intention is to bring violence, but rather, it reveals that Jesus recognizes and discloses that he will be a point of contention and disagreement for many people. In other words, the truth that Jesus came to bring (and which he represents) will inevitably cause disunity and conflict.
It is on the heels of this declaration by Jesus that we read of the even more severe nature of this conflict—it may happen even within one’s own family. Jesus assumes the natural love of one’s family as a premise and then moves to identify that as a lesser priority in life than love for him. When he says that a person who loves him less than their family is “not worthy” of me (v. 37), he is making a value claim upon himself as more important than them. To be “worthy of me” means to “be fit to be a disciple.” It is important to clarify that Jesus is not advocating that his disciples not love their families. Instead, he is simply stipulating that the value attachment of a person to their family must not exceed their value attachment to him. To be Jesus’ disciple is to prize him above even one’s own flesh and blood.
The implications of this statement are far reaching. Who would say that loving a brother, sister, child, or parent should be subservient to the love of another? But this is precisely the demand that Jesus is making of his disciples. It is a declaration of discipleship that calls for absolute devotion. This extreme requirement is extended as Jesus also says that those who would follow him must “take [up] their cross” (v. 38). This is an expression referring to being willing to self-identify and endure the shame and suffering of one who is crucified.
Jesus elaborates by uttering one of the most interesting paradoxes: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (v. 39). In essence, Jesus is saying that the life that matters is the life that is lived for the sake of Christ. To take the road of self-denial and live for something other than one’s self is to “find life.”
From these three criteria of discipleship, where do we find ourselves? Are we willing to follow Jesus no matter what? Does our love for him exceed our love for anything else? Are we willing to take up our cross? Are we willing to die to self in order to find that which may truly be called “life”? Such a price is the price of being a disciple. Are we willing to pay that price? What might be stopping us from wholehearted devotion and service to the Master?
-Jerry Wierwille (originally posted for SeekGrowLove on March 13, 2018)
Reflection Questions
In what ways have you died to self, taken up your cross, and put Jesus before yourself and others? What was the result (so far)? What do you expect the final result to be?
Slowly read again the last paragraph, replacing the ‘are we’ with ‘am I’ and the ‘us’ and ‘our’ with ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Take time to answer each question for yourself.
Do you want to be a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ? What specific changes are you willing to make? What will it cost you? Why is following Jesus worth it?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty, thank you for your amazing plan of salvation and the gift of your Son. I want to be a wholehearted, devoted disciple of Your Son Jesus Christ who died for me and my sins and is coming again to set up Your perfect Kingdom on earth. May I see clearly what You want me to do to follow better. You know my struggle in sometimes prioritizing other things, such as… (fill in the blank). Help me love Jesus more than these. In his precious name I pray, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 