March 3, 2006 - Numbers 28-30 and Mark 8:22-38
Remember to look for the spiritual principles behind all of the Old Testament laws and sacrifices. That will help you to know how to apply their meaning for today. This passage in Numbers is a good example of this.
Numbers 29 and 30 presents a series of sacrifices that the Israelites were to offer to the Lord. I know there were a lot of details, but did you see the spiritual principles behind what was said. There were daily sacrifices, morning and evening. Weekly sacrifices were done on the Sabbath. There were monthly sacrifices and special sacrifices with each of the special feasts and holy days of the year. What is the point? We are to constantly worship God. Our prayers and our worship to God is to be "without ceasing." We must constantly glorify God in all we do. That is the message that comes through loud and clear. How will you apply this principle in your life? It is up to you to structure your life or discipline your life to make worship and prayer the central part of your life. Jesus must be the center of all you do. Daily, weekly, and monthly worship will go a long way toward making Jesus Lord of all in your life. Remember, the heart is the key in it all. Our hearts must be set on Him and on true worship for Him to accept our worship.
Numbers 30 tells us the laws about making vows or promises to God. It was and is a very serious subject. We must never make a vow to God that we do not keep. It is better not to make one than to break one. Therefore, we must be thoughtful and make sure our vows are according to God's will and that we can keep them, even before we make them. Can you think of vows you have made quickly, and then you broke them? That is what this chapter is trying to get us to guard against.
Mark 8 is a series of lessons in trusting Jesus. The blind man was gradually healed. That is unusual, but if Jesus chooses to heal gradually, let's trust Him for it. Peter believed Jesus was the Christ, but he did not want to believe what Jesus said about His death. We don't get to choose what we believe about Christ. We must trust His Word and His will completely. That is why we completely and unashamedly trust Him for all of the world to see. We give up our lives to Him in trust. Then, He saves us and gives us eternal life, which we can't lose. What blessings come from trusting Christ completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 31-33 and Mark 9:1-29.
Numbers 29 and 30 presents a series of sacrifices that the Israelites were to offer to the Lord. I know there were a lot of details, but did you see the spiritual principles behind what was said. There were daily sacrifices, morning and evening. Weekly sacrifices were done on the Sabbath. There were monthly sacrifices and special sacrifices with each of the special feasts and holy days of the year. What is the point? We are to constantly worship God. Our prayers and our worship to God is to be "without ceasing." We must constantly glorify God in all we do. That is the message that comes through loud and clear. How will you apply this principle in your life? It is up to you to structure your life or discipline your life to make worship and prayer the central part of your life. Jesus must be the center of all you do. Daily, weekly, and monthly worship will go a long way toward making Jesus Lord of all in your life. Remember, the heart is the key in it all. Our hearts must be set on Him and on true worship for Him to accept our worship.
Numbers 30 tells us the laws about making vows or promises to God. It was and is a very serious subject. We must never make a vow to God that we do not keep. It is better not to make one than to break one. Therefore, we must be thoughtful and make sure our vows are according to God's will and that we can keep them, even before we make them. Can you think of vows you have made quickly, and then you broke them? That is what this chapter is trying to get us to guard against.
Mark 8 is a series of lessons in trusting Jesus. The blind man was gradually healed. That is unusual, but if Jesus chooses to heal gradually, let's trust Him for it. Peter believed Jesus was the Christ, but he did not want to believe what Jesus said about His death. We don't get to choose what we believe about Christ. We must trust His Word and His will completely. That is why we completely and unashamedly trust Him for all of the world to see. We give up our lives to Him in trust. Then, He saves us and gives us eternal life, which we can't lose. What blessings come from trusting Christ completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 31-33 and Mark 9:1-29.