"....A Wise And Understanding People"

"Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"  (Deuteronomy 4:6, NIV)

Do they?  Do people say of you and me, "....a wise and understanding people"?

Yet we must point out from today's text that the assessment of, "....a wise and understanding people", does not come from our charisma, or personality, or brilliance, or any such characteristic.  It comes from, "Observe them carefully."  The world's hungry souls are looking for those who, "Observe them carefully." 

As with the Jews, Followers of Jesus are hated just because we are Followers of Jesus.  But Jesus teaches us that there are those in the earth who, "....hunger and thirst after righteousness."  It is these folk from whom we should hear, "....a wise and understanding people."  May I never put a stumbling block in their way.  They are searching, longing, even praying for salvation, deliverance from a hopeless life style, all of which is only in Jesus Christ.  There is truth in the statement that the only Bible many of them have read is you and I.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that those who are "looking for" You will see in me, "....a wise and understanding people."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....That You May Be Strong...And Possess"

"Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess."  (Deuteronomy 11:8)

So apparently being, "strong," and going in to, "possess," depends upon, "keep[ing] every commandment."

The Bible teaches throughout clearly that obedience to the Living Triune God, viz., His Words, is for, "our good always,..that you may be strong...and possess."  Earlier in this chapter, our Lord gloriously confirms the way of obedience to His Words:  "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."

Join me today in looking for every opportunity we have to obey, "the Words of God," His Words which we daily read, that we affirm, embrace, love and take great delight in, living life in obedience to Those Words of Jesus, the Very, "Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."  This is another way of saying that the Triune God knows better how to "do life" than you and I.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I have been too often like a spoiled child who wants only his way.  Your Words are Your Way.  I so desire, and choose today the path of obedience.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....You complained in your tents, and said, 'Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the land of the Amorites, to destroy us.'"  (Deuteronomy 1:27)

No, He does not, "hates us."  But when things never seem to go right, some people come to this conclusion.

How quickly they forgot.  There was the Passover.  The "death angel" killed all the first born of the Egyptians, but all those, Jews and non Jews alike, who were literally under the blood were saved, just as you and I are "saved."  Deuteronomy 6:23 says, "He brought us out from there that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers."   Or, "He brought us out...that He might bring us in..."  This is how Jesus "works" in our lives, even thought the "process" is many times hidden from us.

How can one possibly look at the Cross of Jesus and ever utter today's text?!?  Any Followers of Jesus who going through an extremely difficult time, or perhaps has thought that that their whole lives have been nothing but sorrow, disappointment, suffering, etc., need to have written in their hearts the glorious demonstration of John 3:16, HCSB, "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  Here is the footnote explaining the Word translated, "this way," or in too many translations, "so."  This Word "occurs over 200 times in the NT.  Almost without exception it is an acverb of manner, not degree." 

"....God loved the world in this [manner]:  He GAVE...."  The Love of the Blessed Trinity is a demonstrated love, not a talk love, nor a degree love.  The Jews of our text had forgotten this.  They had forgotten His mighty, demonstrated acts.  But Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit had not forgotten them.  This is also true for you and me.  Jesus gave.  Jesus gives.  Jesus, "will never leave you nor forsake you."  If any people reading this think, or have ever thought that God hates them, I declare:  NEVER.  "God loved the world in this way:  He gave," Himself in Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your demonstrative, continual, eternal Love.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"I Will Go Before You" (God)

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send men to spy out the land of Canaan....'"  (Numbers 13:1, 2a)

When the Blessed Trinity sent the men to, "spy out the land," He did not send them to decide on the land.  They were sent to see what the Good Shepherd, Jesus, had prepared for them.  The Word translated, "spy out," in most translations can also be translated, "explore, investigate.  "The Amplified Bible says, "explore and scout out...."

You and I are called in Jesus Christ to, "explore, investigate," what Jesus is doing in the Earth.  We do not create; we discover.  When, "The Word of God," Jesus, spoke to Moses about the Exodus, He did not speak in ifs; He spoke of whens, "So I have come down to deliver them...and to bring them up from that land...to the place of the Canaanites...."  In other words, This is not up for a vote, nor is there any excuse for doubt.  Today's reading also had this:  "God is not a man, that He should lie....Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will he not make it good?" !!

I invite you to join me today in the great discovery of life, "explore the land," continue to, "investigate the land"; as the hymn writer declares, "....and it will surprise you what the Lord hath (already) done."  Jesus Christ is already there in, "the land", in His Purposes for you and me.  Most of the spies went in with the attitude of, "if."  Joshua and Caleb went in with, "when." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of any "ifs" I have ever had.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Provision In The Presence

"So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents.  At the command of the Lord...."  (Numbers 9:16-18a)

 

I first read this passage 49 years ago.  It spoke (and still does) to me about following, submitting t0 Jesus Christ, timing, direction, location, everything.  Little did I know then that much of the succeeding years would be a "fulfillment" of our text.

Some don't believe that this is how our Lord Jesus works any more.  I do.  We all have heard of the types and foreshadows of, "the cloud," and, "fire."  For me, they represent Jesus' Presence in the life of His Church and each Follower.  "The cloud," along with guidance, provided protection.  The, "fire," gave them light at night.  I'm sure you and the Bible commentators could add much more.

I come back to seeing what I call, Provision in the Presence of Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Direction, yes, but I also see in today's text what the hymn saw so long ago.

        "Beneath the Cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

        The shadow of a might rock within a weary land;

        A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

        From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

        "I take, O Cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

        I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His Face;

        Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,

        My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the Cross."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You have made my pilgrimage beautiful.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2