January February March April May June July August September October November December Pathways of Life
The passage in parenthesis is where the lesson is taken from and will give you an overview of the entire Bible in a year, but you will not read through the Bible in a year. I pray that this is a blessing to you throughout the year.Each day has several scriptures listed in order to completely read the Bible through in a year.
January 1 Genesis 1, 2 Psalm 10 (Gen. 1:1-26) "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts." 2 Corinthians 4:6 In Genesis 1, we find the Spirit of God beginning to move on the face of the earth. This is a picture of how God begins a new creation in our hearts, for Genesis 2:7 shows that we ourselves are made of earth. When our lives are void and dark, the Holy Spirit moves upon us to put a light within us. This light is to shine in a dark world to reflect the Light of the world (Christ) so where there is darkness others can come to the Light.
On any dark night, a person needs only a very small candle in a room, and it completely transforms the heavy darkness into a place where direction can be found. Matthew 5:14-16 says our good works are a light to shine before men that they may glorify God as they see and recognize only God could change such a confused, empty void into a person with light, direction, character, and purpose in life. When we are born again or recreated, God enables and expects us to be a light in word and in deed. He changes things in our character which are immediately noticed and gives evidence of our faith in the Lord.
God didn't stop at the first day of creation, however, but He went on to bring a separation into the earth. God begins to deal with us after salvation to separate our lives apart from the lifestyle of the world and unto Him. Next, God desires to bring greater and greater fruitfulness in our lives until finally the second Adam's character and nature is formed in our lives. In our spiritual journey, let us always "press on to know the Lord," not stop short of the mark that God has set for our lives, and not neglect the first things by considering them unimportant. "This year, Lord, let us press on toward the mark of the high calling of God."
January 2 Genesis 3, 4 Psalm 11 (Gen. 3:1-20) "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Hebrews 12:11 Hebrews 12:5-11 speaks of the chastening of the Lord as something that brings us eternal benefit. The same is true in the judgment that came upon Adam and Eve. God, in His infinite wisdom, uses the curse to bless man. Man failed in an ideal setting in the garden of Eden, therefore, God gave and now gives man adversity, pain, and toil knowing that character is only developed in pressure.
Diamonds are the result of tremendous heat and pressure. Pressure and adversity provide conditions where overcoming qualities can be developed in us--endurance, faithfulness, and loyalty. These weren't able to be formed in man in the garden because of the ideal circumstances that existed there.
Peter says that we are made perfect through sufferings (1 Pe. 4:1; 5:10). God designed the curse to be a blessing that we might have the opportunity to be made perfect and mature. Since the fall, man has had to work and sweat to live. This also was a blessing, for idleness of time produces immorality, pride, and laziness (Eze. 16:49,50), as it did in Sodom.
Today, count your blessings and remember to include all toil, sweat, labor, and painful circumstances in your list of blessings. They are developing your character so that you will delight the heart of God.
January 3 Genesis 5,6 Psalm 1 (Gen. 6:5-22) "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.? Matthew 24:37 (NIV) Scripture says that as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the time when the Lord will return. Noah rose out of an adulterous, wicked generation and passed from one dispensation to another. Likewise in this dispensation, those who become overcomers qualify to rule and reign in the next dispensation, the millennium. So how do we qualify as an overcomer? Revelation 2 and 3 clearly explains.
In Noah's time there were those who were not totally obedient to God but walked with the world, even though they believed Noah's preaching on righteousness (1 Pe. 3:20; 2 Pe. 2:5). The Lord Jesus preached to this group and lead them out of captivity when He was in the belly of the earth for three days (1 Pe. 3:19). There are many today, as in the days of Noah, who don't make a clear separation from the thoughts, ways, and desires of the world. They will be caught in the wrath of God at the end of this age.
The answer for us is to be like Noah. He was a man of faith (Heb. 11:7) who preached and practiced a righteous standard (Eze. 14:14-20; 2 Pe. 2:5). In these days we will be tempted to compromise God's standards of righteousness, but let us stand and trust that God's ways and thoughts are always higher than our ways and thoughts (see Isa. 55:8,9). The ones that find God's favor and protection will be those who hate compromise, sin, and wickedness and who love righteousness as the Lord Jesus Christ does (Ps. 45:7).
January 4 Genesis 7- 9 (Gen. 9:20-29) "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.?
James 1:26 In Genesis 9:22, Ham saw the nakedness of Noah and went and told his two brethren. One could long discuss why Noah was drunk, but the lesson for us is found in Ham's actions. Ham knew of something true and told others of his father's nakedness. In God's Word, nakedness can speak of faults that someone may have.
Since none of us are yet perfect, we each have areas that need adjustment in our character. We uncover another's nakedness as we see a fault in a Christian leader or brother and commence to broadcast it with our tongue. In a sense, we are cursing the man, even though we speak religiously of it as a prayer request (see Ja. 3:9,10).
Shem and Japheth covered their father's nakedness when they heard of it. Oh, that we would respect and love parents, pastors, and brethren to such a degree that when someone speaks evil of them we would cover that person by speaking of their good and not on the areas of their lives that God hasn't dealt with yet.
In John 8:1-11, Jesus is confronted with the Pharisees who were ready to stone the adulterous woman. He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." They all had areas in their lives that they needed God to change, so they should have restored her in a spirit of meekness knowing that they yet had weak areas in their lives as well. Let our attitude be like Ben Franklin's who said, "I will speak evil of no one, not even in the manner of truth, but I will excuse the faults I hear and speak the good."
Let us speak only that which is edifying that it may encourage and give grace (enabling power) to those who hear it (see Eph. 4:29).
"A dog has many friends because he wags his tail and not his mouth."
January 5 Genesis 10, 12 Psalm 133 (Gen. 11:1-9; Ps. 133) "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul....And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."
Acts 4:32,33 There is great power and grace available to those in unity with God and each other. In Genesis 11, they all spoke one language, and God recognized that they had great power in their evil cooperation. If there is so much power in sinners being unified with each other, imagine what the church of God could do if she obtained unity with God and one another. Oftentimes the church, which is made up of individuals like you and me, is powerless because either we are trying to accomplish something that isn't in God's plan or else some in the church have God's plan in a situation, but the rest of the body of Christ aren't "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10b).
Unity in the church begins with God uniting our hearts to fear His name (Ps. 86:11). God must remove from us a double heartedness where we love what the world wants while also loving what God wants. God wants to give us a heart that is fixed on Him (Ps. 57:7).
The next step in unity is, as Psalm 133 states, to be at unity with the brethren. This is a bond of love and unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:2,3) that enables us to flow together with our brethren, even though they aren't perfect and cooperation may require us to be long-suffering and forbearing. Are we meek and loving enough that we can work with others, or isn't anyone able to work with us? Until we come to a place of unity, we will be a powerless church. The Lord is coming back for a perfect church without spot or wrinkle. Consequently, we must begin to cry out to God to give us unity in our hearts, in our homes, and in our churches.
January 6 Genesis 12-14 Psalm 2 (Gen. 13) "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Hebrews 6:12 In his problem with Lot, Abraham shows his great faith by holding the land loosely and by offering the best land to Lot. God had promised Abraham the land, and he could have clutched to it with all his strength. But he realized that what God had promised to him was not contingent on his getting, but on God'sgiving.
Real faith brings with it a peace and rest that comes from knowing that what God has promised He will do. Some these days who claim to be great in faith are seemingly striving in their own strength to make sure God does His part, when actually they should be concentrating on meeting His requirements in character and lifestyle. Promises are inherited by faith when we have fulfilled the conditions. Faith and patience are often linked together in God's Word for a very important reason--it often takes the waiting and testing period to mature the character of the Lord more fully in our lives.
Think over what God has promised you in your life, church, and family. You need not to strive but know that God's promises "in him [Christ] are yea, and in Him Amen," (2 Cor. 1:20). During the trial or waiting period, invite the character of God to be developed in your life as it was in Abraham's.
January 7 Genesis 15, 16 Psalm 77 (Gen. 15:1-16:6) "...and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."
Numbers 21:4 One of the greatest tools of the enemy is discouragement. Here in Genesis, Abraham had a vision of the Lord and entered into a covenant with Him. But, sometime later he had a visitation by something else--a spirit of discouragement. Things weren't happening as Abram and Sarai thought they should and their souls were discouraged because of the barren path God was leading them on. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick..." (Pro. 13:12a), and like Abram, we are often attacked after a mighty spiritual victory or special meeting with God. Let us not make the same mistake Abram did. In a time of discouragement, he implemented his own way to fulfill what God had spoken. The result was Ishmael, the father of the Arab nations, who have been a thorn in Israel's side from the beginning.
Never make a move or decision when discouraged. The spirit of discouragement is from Satan, and if we make a decision while discouraged, it will be the wrong one. When discouraged, we must recall the last direction we received from God and continue on that path, eventually we will come out from under the cloud.
There was a couple on the mission field that met with some circumstances that left them confused as to what they should do next. While laying on their cot, they saw a line of ants come to a path of spilled kerosene. The kerosene fouled up the ants' sensing devices, and the result was pandemonium. A few ants continued on, however, and went through the kerosene and picked up the scent again.
When you have a "kerosene of discouragement," don't change the direction of your life or make crucial decisions. Just continue on the path you are on and eventually you will pick up the "scent" again. The Lord wants us to be called, chosen, and faithful (Rev. 17:14) especially in times of discouragement.
January 8 Genesis 17-19 (Gen. 19) "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
Luke 17:28-30 According to Luke 17, the days of Lot are a picture of the time of the Lord's return. Second Peter 2:7,8 tells us that Lot was a just and righteous man whose soul was grieved by the evil around him. He continued, however, to live in Sodom, raising his family in the influence of its wickedness. Lot had a love for righteousness, but a love for the world as well. When we let our love for the world grow, it grows until we, like Lot, eventually lose all we have.
"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:15). The context of this passage is judgment of a Christian's work. Just as Lot lost everything, even so all our works that are birthed from our desire and ambition will be destroyed, but those birthed and continued in God's way will have eternal reward. Let us beware that we don't slip into worldly or earthly desires as Lot. Let us note his progression: he pitched his tent toward Sodom (13:12); he dwelt in Sodom (14:12); and he sat in the gate of Sodom, which was a place of prominence (19:1).
The result of Lot's desire for Sodom was the tragedy in his family. His daughters who grew up in Sodom were kept virgins in that immoral city, but the effect of their father's compromising spirit later resulted in their depraved reasoning and immoral relationship with their father. The antithesis of this is seen in God's reason for showing Abraham what He was going to do: "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." (Gen. 18:19).
Let us remember that the choices we make today affect what choices our children will make in the future. These last days are likened to the days of Lot. Will you lead your household like Lot, or will you lead your children into God's ways and judgment?
January 9 Genesis 20-22 Psalm 7 (Gen. 21:9-13; 22:1-14) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."
Philippians 3:8 While Lot clutched tightly to his goods and lost them, God was training Abraham to hold things loosely, even that which was the very dearest to him. God called Abraham to offer to Him his land, his family, his nephew Lot, his son of his concubine Hagar, and finally his son Isaac, whom he loved (22:2). Lot held with a clenched fist the things of the world which are as sand. The tighter a person clenches sand the more it squirts out of his hand.
Although God will not require us to offer up our sons on a stone altar, He does ask us many times to give things to Him, until eventually all we have is His and His alone.
At salvation God asks for our heart and comes and indwells us by the Holy Spirit. But, then God requires us, like in Abraham's walk of faith, to turn over every area of our lives to His control--finances, family, friends, job, eating habits, time, etc.
As Abraham gradually gave more and more to the Lord, God gave Abraham more and more precious promises. As Hudson Taylor said, "God gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him." Let us learn to trust God in every area of our lives, so that we can be a recipient of all the goodness that God wants to bestow upon us. Will you let Him have the choice in every area of your life?
January 10 Genesis 23, 24 Psalm 123 (Gen. 24:1-28, 51-67) "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Deuteronomy 6:7 In this passage Abraham's servant is sent on a mission to find a bride for the son of promise--Isaac. This passage gives us a cameo of what God is doing in the earth. God the Father (Abraham) is looking for a prepared Bride and has sent the Holy Spirit (Abraham's servant) to bring her on her way to the Lord Jesus (Isaac). We want to be servants like Rebekah was and to be willing to serve others, even strangers, above and beyond the call of duty. Rebekah drew water for all the thirsty camels and passed the test that was before her. "Lord, help me to be a willing servant of others."
In Genesis 18:19, the Lord said He knew that Abraham would command his children and household to walk in the way of the Lord. In Genesis 24, we see the tremendous influence Abraham's life had on his servant. His servant had seen Abraham's life of worship, prayer, and faith, and this was imparted to him. In Genesis 24:26,42,52, he worshipped the Lord in front of those he was with, for no doubt he saw Abraham worship the Lord many times in the same way.
What do we impart to our household? Are we training our children to meditate on the Word of God and the Lord Himself (24:63)? Do they see a life of worship and praise? Let us be examples to our households and our spheres of influence as Abraham was to his.
January 11 Genesis 25-27 (Gen. 26:1-25) "And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua....and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel." Judges 2:7a,10b It has been said that every generation needs a revival. Abraham had mighty meetings with the Lord, had raised Isaac to walk with the Lord and to meditate on Him, yet Isaac needed to seek for a fresh experience in his walk with the Lord. In Genesis 26, God appeared to Isaac twice--once when in need of making a major decision and another after he had struggles with the Philistines. God will at times bring us to a point of need so that we have more sensitivity to Him.
The way churches lose their life and become dead is when those who have had an experience with the Lord cease to press on and cease to have fresh meetings with God on a regular daily basis. There are Christians that are constantly reminiscing on the good old days, how thirty years ago they met with God, how the meetings were filled with life, and how God used them mightily. But God desires for us to be constantly having a present experience with Him and to be always growing in our love and relationship with the Him. Just as every generation needs a fresh revival and moving of the Spirit in the church corporately, likewise, we as individuals need to continually be quickened by the Lord through spending time worshipping Him and waiting in His manifest presence.
January 12 Genesis 28-30 Psalm 15 (Gen. 29:15-20; 30:37-43) "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7 In Genesis 27, we saw the trickery of Jacob (whose name means deceiver, supplanter, heel grabber) in deceiving his own father into giving him the blessing. Jacob had been promised the elder would serve the younger, but he felt in his own strength he had to help God fulfill His word. This was very much unlike his grandfather Abraham who allowed Lot to choose the best of the land.
God will not be mocked. Jacob the deceiver now gets a taste of his own medicine from Uncle Laban. Instead of Rachel, he was given Leah as a wife. Laban deceived Jacob by one daughter posing as another, just as Jacob had posed as his brother. This didn't seem to phase Jacob too much, however, since he still tried to increase his lot with the superstitious ring-streaked rod put in front of the strong cattle. Jacob knew in a measure it was God blessing him (30:30), but he still thought God needed help.
While doing this, Jacob was sowing in his sons' hearts a deceitfulness that caused Jacob trouble when Simeon and Levi, two of his older sons, slew the Shechemites by deceit (34:13-31). It seems that Jacob reaped what was sown in his older sons' hearts at Laban's fields.
What are we sowing? Galatians 6:9 tells us to not be "weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Not only do we reap the bad but also the good we sow. Make sure we are sowing love, generous giving, faithfulness, kindness, etc., and it will all come back to us greater than what we sowed.
What kind of harvest are you sowing?
January 13 Genesis 31-33 (Gen. 32:1-28) "But by the grace of God I am what I amÉ." 1 Corinthians 15:10 Jacob was a man who could scheme to do almost anything he desired. But now on his return to Canaan, he faced something out of his control--the prospect of an angry brother. At this crisis point in his life, Jacob came to a realization that God was his only hope. He acknowledged that he was not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth God had shown him (32:10), and he cast his fate into the hands of a merciful and loving God.
Here, God emptied Jacob of all he had. Jacob sent all his flocks, servants, and family before him over the ford Jabbok (Gen. 32). Jabbok means "emptying." Not only was Jacob free from his natural things, but also God was showing Jacob his great need to hope only in Him and to recognize the strength of the flesh was useless.
Jacob wrestled all night with God, not willing to let Him go until God blessed him. He knew that in order for him to make it to where God was leading him, he needed God to touch his life in a fresh way. God did touch him and left him with a new name (speaking of a change in character) and a limp to remind him forever that he had to lean on God. Before new power of God is released in our lives, there is by necessity an emptying of our old man so that the new life of Christ has room to increase. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (Jn. 3:30).
"Lord, I give you permission to apply pressure on my life that I may be emptied of self, rely on you, and be filled with your power and love."
January 14 Genesis 34-36 Psalm 51 (Gen. 35:1-15) "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24 In Genesis 28:18-22, Jacob vowed that when he came again to his father's house in peace, he would go to Bethel (meaning "house of God") to give the tenth to God. However, after coming in peace to Esau, he settled in Shechem and erected an altar there (33:20). Yet, his promise was to go to Bethel to worship and to give his tenth. Jacob was worshipping God but not where God wanted him to worship, and he was not giving his tithe.
While living at Shechem, Jacob's daughter Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land or as Josephus tells us, she went to take part in a feast of the Shechemites. This led to the ruin of Dinah and the cruelty of Simeon and Levi. Jacob remembered this cruelty even to his death (Gen. 49:5,6). One must be careful never to reward evil with another evil: vengeance. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:19b)
One wrong does not justify another. Simeon and Levi were deceitful, and God hates lying and deceit. How often do we "shade" things to give an impression of something that's not really true? "A false balance is abomination to the Lord...." (Pro. 11:1a) How completely free from any hint of dishonesty are we at work, in finances, in income tax, etc.?
After the disaster at Shechem, Jacob made his household put away all idols (35:2), and he came to worship and met God at Bethel. We can glean some principles of worship from this:
1. We must worship God how He wants to be worshipped, not how we want to worship Him.
2. For true worship, we must come with clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:3,4).
3. For true worship, we must come to the house of God and give our tenth.
4. We must worship God in the particular church He calls us to.
Notice that after Jacob worshipped God in the way God desired, he received a blessing from God (35:9). Let us worship in spirit and in truth.
January 15 Genesis 37-39 (Gen. 39:1-23) "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10 God had a plan for Joseph's life far beyond what Joseph could anticipate. God had called him to the throne, and at age seventeen, God began to show him in dreams that he was to rule. Young Joseph must have been elated at the promise, yet it is doubtful if he gave much thought to the qualifications of rulership.
While Joseph is being put through the school of affliction, we see Judah disqualifying himself for the double blessing of God through immorality. Reuben, the eldest, also had forfeited the birthright (double portion) by immorality (Gen. 49:3,4). Simeon and Levi were disqualified through deceit, anger, and cruelty. Joseph, the firstborn of Rachel, is being tried and tested to see if he is willing to be molded into a king.
God calls us all to be kings and priests with Him and to reign on the earth. The sad fact is that many will not go through the preparation needed to be an overcomer. David spent years being hunted as an animal, and he was tried and tested to see if he would kill Saul. But after his years of affliction, he emerged as a man with a tried heart.
We learn from Psalm 105:17-19 that during Joseph's testing "Éthey afflicted with fetters his feet, the iron entered his soul." (literal translation). An iron-like steadfastness in the ways of God was worked into his soul. Second Timothy 2:12a states "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him..." The qualifying factor for rulership is pressure in our lives.
Are you under extreme pressure? Learn to respond to God, and He will begin to work a quality of His life in you that will enable you to rule with Him.
January 16 Genesis 40-42 (Gen. 42) "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 When Joseph's brothers went to Egypt for grain and met with the prime minister, who unbeknown to them was Joseph, they were put through a series of tests to see if their hearts had been changed. Simeon was required to stay behind in Egypt as an assurance to Joseph that he would see his family again. Joseph also required that his only full brother, Benjamin, return as proof of the validity of their story. He also made sure their money was returned to see if their love for money (for which he was sold) was still governing their lives. Yet, the brothers had no idea that their characters were being tested. After relating their story to their father, Jacob said, "...all these things are against me." (42:36b).
Many of us go through situations where it appears that everything is against us. But if God is for us, who can be against us? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28). When our character is being tested and tried, let us remember that God is on our side, and if He is on our side, who or what can be against us?
January 17 Genesis 43-45 Psalm 67 (Gen. 44:1-17) "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12 As the famine continued, the food supply from Egypt began to run low. However, this time they had to take Benjamin, now the most favored son since Joseph's departure. As Judah offered up himself as a surety for Benjamin, Jacob consented and sent his sons for food. At Egypt they were received with a feast and strangely sat in order of age with the youngest receiving favor.
On their return trip from Egypt, the sons of Jacob were going to receive their ultimate trial, for Joseph put his cup in Benjamin's sack. The search was made, and the cup was found with Benjamin. Now, it was made clear to them that they were free to go home and to leave their youngest brother in bondage. They had formerly gotten rid of one favorite, why hesitate now? Wasn't it enough that Benjamin had been honored above them? Must they now let their families perish for the sake of one who seemed fated to involve them in misery and ruin?
But this was not their reasoning, for in matters of duty and love, reasoning is dangerous and immediate obedience is sage. God had done a work in their hearts over the years. This change in their hearts was evidenced in Judah's interceding for Benjamin and not defending their innocency but saying, "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants...."(44:16b) not here, but for their past treachery.
The lesson is plain: before we can truly come into the full blessing, we must overcome temptation in areas where we formerly sinned grievously. Temptation comes as an opportunity for our character to be proven. Let us cling to God's mercy and be strong in temptation.
January 18 Genesis 46,47 Psalm 27 (Gen. 47:13-26) "What? know ye not that...ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 In Genesis 47, we find that in exchange for corn, which was their life, the Egyptians were required by Joseph to give first their money, then their cattle, then their bodies and lands. After the famine, they had been bought along with all their possessions by Pharoah. So Joseph made it a law that they were to give twenty percent of their earnings to Pharoah. The eighty percent was theirs to live on. They had been bought by the king.
We have a king who has paid for our lives with his own life--King Jesus. Pharoah only gave his subjects corn for existence on this earth, but Jesus paid the price that we might live forever. To "...as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (Jn. 1:12).
Have you received the cleansing of sin that Jesus paid for on the cross? If not, just confess your need for Him, and ask Him to control every area of your life.
To us that have received His gift of eternal life, let us remember we have been bought with a price and all we are and possess belong to Jesus just like all of Egypt belonged to Pharoah. Let us yield every area of our lives to our King--our finances, ambitions, decisions, and possessions--so that in whatever we do or say we glorify Jesus Christ.
January 19 Genesis 48-50 (Gen. 49:5-7; 50:15-21) "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for usÉ." Galatians 3:13 Our God is the God of the impossible; He can even turn a curse into a blessing. In chapter 49, Simeon and Levi are to be scattered in Israel without a land of their own. But later, because the tribe of Levi chose to be on the Lord's side (Ex. 32:25-29) when all of Israel worshipped the golden calf at Mt. Sinai, Levi received a blessing which was the Lord as their inheritance (Dt. 18:1,2). Instead of a tract of land, they received the One who owns all the universe. Levi first used his sword in his own vengeance, but later he used the sword for the Lord, and God turned the judgment to a privilege.
Joseph knew the power of God this way also. Sold as a slave, falsely accused, and imprisoned, yet he said, "...ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...." (Gen. 50:20a). God can turn around situations we are in (even by others' evil) and use them to save many people as He did for Joseph.
No matter what situation we find ourselves in, let us praise Jesus Christ who knows and oversees all that happens in our lives and turns even what others meant for our hurt into good. Let us exercise faith towards God and praise Jesus that He is working and will work good on our behalf.
January 20 Exodus 1-3 (Ex. 2:11-22) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LordÉ." 1 Corinthians 15:58a From Acts 7:22-25, we see that Moses knew that God had called him to be a deliverer of His people. Hebrews 11 tells us that it was by faith that Moses refused the pleasures of Egypt (including a position probably higher than even Joseph had) and chose affliction. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt because he knew that God would reward him. In this spirit he went out to his brethren and looked upon their burdens. However, his faith, though deep and genuine, was yet far from pure and spiritual, as he tried to accomplish spiritual ends by carnal means. He tried to be what God had called him to be before God called him to be it. King David said he did not exercise himself in things too great for himself. He only did what God was speaking for him to do.
So Moses found himself in Midian living a life trained by humiliation and loneliness. His first stop when he entered Midian was at a well where he stood for justice and drove away the shepherds, for they wouldn't let the daughters of Reuel water their flocks. In the midst of seeming defeat, Moses remained steadfast, or as Hebrews 11:27b says,"...he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." This act of righteousness, while holding steady in apparent banishment from his call by God, gave Moses his provision during the following years, for he dwelled with Reuel (friend of God).
What we do in times of discouragement, defeat, disaster, or disappointment is crucial. Let us like Moses set our eyes on Jesus knowing that He is the author and finisher of all He has called us to do.
January 21 Exodus 4,5 Psalm 96 (Ex. 4:1-14) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 In today's passage, we see Moses giving excuses for not going to Egypt to speak of the power of God to deliver the Israelites out of bondage and oppression. The first excuse was that they would not believe, and the second was that he didn't have a gift of public speaking. God was ready, however, to meet every frailty that Moses had. The sad fact is that these excuses have remained in the heart of man for the past thirty-five hundred years since Moses.
Jesus' last words were a command to go to those bound, oppressed, afflicted and to share the power of God that is available to bring them out of the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. Many don't witness because they don't believe anyone wants to hear, when actually others are looking for relief from their bondage. Jesus said look unto the fields, for they are ready to harvest. If we really believe on Him, Romans 10:11 says we will not be ashamed.
Like David, let us declare His glory among the heathen. Romans 10:9,10 shows us that confessions seal our salvation. Are you ashamed of Him? Let us ask God to give us hearts of faith so that we will not be ashamed of the testimony of Jesus Christ.
January 22 Exodus 6,7 Psalm 3 (Ex. 7:1-7) "...take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Colossians 4:17 At what age can God use us? When are we too old or too young to be used by God? Moses was eighty years old when he began his ministry; Aaron was eighty-three years old. At eighty, Moses was just starting, and he led Israel for forty more years. Therefore, senior citizens take courage. Pray that God will open up a new avenue of blessing for you to others.
Caleb was eighty-five when he said he was as strong as when he was forty years old. At eighty-five, he slew the giants and received Hebron as an inheritance (Josh. 14:10-13). No, there is no age limit on being used by God. Ask God to bring you into your inheritance, which is what He has planned for you to do from before your birth. No one needs to spend years in vanity, but God can use anyone at any age who wholly follows Him as Caleb did.
Some may feel they are too young or too inexperienced to have a ministry. But God has called each one of us to share Jesus with others. David was a teenager when he slew the lion, the bear, and Goliath. God used a servant girl to tell Naaman the leper of God's healing power. No one is to sit on the sidelines. But, all are to share and "...Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Never use your age as an excuse to watch the action, instead of participating.
January 23 Exodus 8-10 Psalm 139 (Ex. 8:1-15) "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." Proverbs 8:13 As the plague of frogs swept over the land of Egypt, the Scripture says they had frogs in their beds, in their food, and everywhere. It was a terrible plight. Imagine eating a bowl of soup with a couple frogs in it or having a dozen cold frogs in your bed.
It was so bad that Pharoah said he would let Israel go sacrifice to the Lord. But when asked when he wanted the frogs to go, Pharoah said tomorrow. It would seem as if the time to get rid of the frogs would have been immediately, but Pharoah was willing to coexist with the frogs for a while.
From Revelation 16:13, we see frogs typify unclean spirits. How many times do we know something in our lives must be eradicated by the Lord Jesus, but we are willing to live with it. Now is the day of our salvation. Many times we have bondages, hang ups, and character flaws because we don't hate them. David said in Psalm 139:21, "Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?"
Let us be "hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 23). Let us hate all that is not of God and cry out to Him, "O Lord, change me now that all I do might glorify thee." Ask God to set you free, for today as you read this, He wants to deliver you from that area that has plagued you for years. Indeed, today is the day of your deliverance? You don't need to live with it any longer in Jesus' name.
January 24 Exodus 11-13 Psalm 105 (Ex. 12:1-14) "And ye are complete in him,...having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:10a,15 The celebration of the Passover was the finale of God's judgment on the gods of Egypt. God passed throughout Egypt, and the firstborn in every house that didn't have the blood of the lamb on the doorpost was killed. At the Passover, the Israelites were released from their bondages. The type is obvious. When we ask Jesus Christ to wash us with His blood, we are released from our old life into a new life in Him.
Exodus 12:2 says it was a new beginning for the Israelites, for it was to be their first month. In the same way, when we are born again, old things are passed away and all things become new (2 Cor. 5:17). The lamb was to be without blemish (Ex. 12:5), just as Christ was the precious Lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Pe. 1:19). Partaking of the lamb saved them from death, and Christ's blood gives us eternal life.
Exodus 12:10 commanded that all the lamb was to be eaten; none of it was to be left unused. They needed it for strength on their journey. If there were not enough in a household, then several were to join together to consume all the lamb.
The truth in this is that Jesus offers us much in His death on the cross: salvation, healing (1 Pe. 2:24; Isa. 53:5), emotional peace (Isa. 53:4; Eph. 2:14), and the list could go on, for Jesus has paid the price for all our needs. We must partake of all that the Lamb of God has done on the cross, and we must experience the victory given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor. 15:57).
What is your need? Just ask Jesus to meet the need, for He's already paid the price. Hallelujah!!
January 25 Exodus 14-16 Psalm 18 (Ex. 15:1-19) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 In today's reading, God reveals Himself as the God of the impossible situations. When there is no hope, except in God, the Lord makes a way where there is no way. Let us remember that the Lord is the God of the impossible. Whenever we face problems where seemingly there is no way out, God wants to reveal Himself as the God of miracles. After their deliverance, the Israelites had a praise service, and Moses sang a prophetic song.
In this song, Moses sang, "...he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitationÉ." (Ex. 15:2b). Although Moses had shown Israel that God was a God that could meet their needs in miraculous ways, he knew that God wanted not only to be their miracle worker, but also to have an intimate relationship with each one.
Also in this song, Moses prophesied of a sanctuary (Ex. 15:17) before God had directed the building of the tabernacle. In Exodus 25:8, God said to build a sanctuary so that He could dwell among them. He was Almighty God, yet He wanted to commune with His people (Ex. 25:22). Who are those who will have an abiding relationship with God? Psalm 15 gives qualifications for an abiding relationship with God.
Let us pursue an intimate relationship with the Lord at all times and not just call on the Lord Jesus when we are in trouble. Let us cultivate a love relationship by spending quality time with Him on a daily basis. God longs for us to walk in His presence. The invitation is open to all, but who will take the time to answer the call?
January 26 Exodus 17-19 Psalm 68 (Ex. 17:8-12; 18:13-22) "For the body [of Christ] is not one member, but many...And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you." 1 Corinthians 12:14,21 In Exodus 17, Israel battled with Amalek. As Joshua led the fighting, Moses stood on the hill with the rod of God in his hand. When he raised his hand, Israel prevailed, but as weariness crept in and his hand dropped, Amalek prevailed. Therefore, Aaron and Hur gave Moses the support he needed by holding up his hands and by giving him a seat.
The key to the battle was Moses' intercession, which was symbolized by his upraised hands. However, it took the support of Aaron and Hur to enable him to keep doing what was needed. Meanwhile, Joshua and the men of Israel were in combat with the enemy? Everyone in Israel had an important function to insure the victory.
The way victories are won in the kingdom of God are through prayer. We must pray for those God has given to lead us so that they will have the divine fortitude of spirit to pray, which is their primary purpose (Acts 6:4).
In Exodus 18:22, Jethro counseled Moses to make sure the people bore the burden with him. How much are you relieving the burden of your pastor? Are you praying for him? Why not ask to do jobs for him so that he will have more time for prayer and for ministry of the Word? Mowing his lawn, shoveling his snow, volunteering for jobs no one wants may be just what he needs. Then, as you do the job spend that thirty minutes in prayer especially for him. You'll begin to see results in your life and in his life and ministry as well.
January 27 Exodus 20-22 Psalm 17 (Ex. 20:1-21) "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:37-39 In Exodus 20, God speaks to the children of Israel the ten commandments, which basically deal with one area--relationships. The first few commandments are concerned with man's relationship to God. This shows that the key to getting along with one another is to first have a close relationship with God. The children of Israel made a mistake at Mt. Sinai, for they "...stood afar off" (20:18b) and didn't draw near to the Lord (20:21). They didn't realize that in order to have the divine enabling to obey the will of God, they had to draw near to the Lord. Thus, we find Israel constantly failing tests and trials that God placed in their way throughout their wilderness journey.
God first wants a personal relationship, whereby we draw near to Him, or else we won't have the love of God in our hearts for others. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 Jn. 4:20).
Our relationships with others are a thermometer of how our relationship with God is. Are we touchy, irritable, unforgiving, holding grudges, cold, indifferent, apathetic, or easily angered? Let us go to God and spend time praising and worshipping Him, and let Him fill us with His love.
January 28 Exodus 23-25 Psalm 7 (Ex. 23:14-18; 25:1-8) "...freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8 God commanded Israel to keep the three major feasts of the Lord. As one studies these feasts, one can see many types and lessons in these feasts of Passover (Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (Harvest), and Tabernacles (Ingathering). It will suffice to say that these basically represent the following in the journey of a believer's life:
Passover--salvation
Pentecost--baptism in the Holy Spirit
Tabernacles--rest of God, abiding in His presence
In Exodus 23:15, God said that none were to come to these feasts empty. This meant that they were to joyfully bring their offerings to the Lord with a willing and thankful heart. God never forces us to give, but He extends to each one of us the blessings of giving. For Jesus said that with the same measure we give, it will be measured back to us the same way (Lk. 6:38). If we give liberally God is free to give liberally to us, not just financially but in all areas of our lives. If we cling to what God has given to us, we bind the arm of God from freely pouring His abundance out on our lives.
An application of the text can also be made as follows: as the Lord has freely given us salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the privilege of entering the rest of God, let us also lead others into the same experience. Are we ministering to others in all three areas? Let us not come to any feast empty, but let us come rejoicing bringing our sheaves (people) with us.
January 29 Exodus 26,27 Psalm 115 (Ex. 26:1-14) "The Lord hath been mindful of usÉ." Psalm 115:12
As God gave the details for the tabernacle to Moses, it is important to remember that everything was made "after the pattern" which God showed Moses on the Mount (25:9). God showed Moses every detail to indicate that every minute direction was of utmost importance. As one reads, he may wonder why nearly two chapters were devoted to this tabernacle and may become tired of the detail. But, let us thank God that He is the God of detail, for He is interested in every detail of our lives. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in our lives passes by Him without His gentle, loving concern and genuine interest. Even the hairs on our heads are numbered by our Father (Mt. 10:30).
Do you ever feel that the Lord has forgotten you? Never fear! "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places wither thou goest,...for I will not leave thee." (Gen. 28:15). Let us trust God to work in every minute detail of our lives. God loves when we come to Him asking in small, seemingly insignificant, detailed areas, for it lets Him know that we consider Him so full of love that He is concerned with every aspect of our lives. Let us begin to go to the Lord when we can't find our glasses, when the lawn needs mowing and we can't get the mower started, or when we need to stretch that last pint of paint. The list could go on and on, and Jesus Christ wants to be glorified in every small, detailed area of our lives.
January 30 Exodus 28,29 Psalm 132 (Ex. 28:1-5,29-38) "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Revelation 16:15 God gave detailed descriptions of the garments that the priests were to wear when they approached to minister to Him. The garments included a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered coat, a mitre (for the head), and a girdle. These were natural garments made for the natural man. God has called all New Testament believers to be priests unto Him, and we also must make sure we are attired in the proper spiritual garments.
On the breastplate, Aaron had to bear the names of the children of Israel when he went in before the Lord (Ex. 28:29). This speaks of intercessory prayer, where we bring others to the Lord as He places them on our hearts. The mitre on the head speaks of a pure and holy thought-life. The bells and pomegranates are typical of the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. Isaiah 61:3 says to put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God: truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.
What kind of garments do you wear? When people meet you do they leave encouraged, uplifted, and edified, or are they discouraged, feeling filthy, and unclean? Let us hate even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 23) and have on fine linen, which is the righteousness of the saints (Rev. 19:8).
Oh, may none of us be found without our proper wedding garments when we go before the King (see Mt. 22:11,12). Colossians 3 tells us of some garments that need to be put off, and others that need to be put on. Read them, and add to the list what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you to put off and to put on.
January 31 Exodus 30-31 (Ex. 32:1-7,25-29) "...Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Luke 12:1 While Moses was up on Mount Sinai in the midst of the fire of God, Israel began to get uneasy about their leader. Therefore, they picked another leader (Aaron) and chose another symbol of the Divine Presence. The only one that entered their carnal mind was the Egyptian Apis who in the form of a calhovah (32:5). It is true they were worshipping Jehovah, but they were using substitutes and counterfeits to do it. It was not the real power of God, but in their flesh they tried to appease Jehovah.
The Lord had spoken to Moses in Exodus 30:32 that there could be no imitation of the holy anointing oil. Likewise in Exodus 30:37,38, no one was permitted to make a substitute for the perfumed holy incense. The penalty for counterfeits was divine judgment.
The anointing oil speaks of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, while incense speaks of prayer and intercession. Let us never fake it. If God isn't anointing what you are doing, don't try to pretend or to talk as if you are anointed. If you aren'ta prayer warrior, don't act as if you are. God hates hypocritical actions and words!
Let us have unfeigned faith (1 Tim. 1:5) and love (2 Cor. 6:6). Are you putting on a "spiritual" front? The end result is death. Let us walk in truth, for if we are open and confess our faults, then God can cleansef represented the powers of nature. Then, with this imitation of God's presence, they proceeded to call a feast to Je us and give us the real. Then we don't have to put on a show. How much better it is to have the true anointing!
February 1 Exodus 33-35 Psalm 103 (Ex. 33:1-17) "...I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8 After the tragedy of the golden calf, the Lord told Moses to take the people, who had come from Egypt with him, and to go into the Promised Land. God said He would send an angel to give them victory, but He would not go up in the midst of them, for if He dwelt with them He would have to consume them for their stubbornness. God gave them the opportunity to have the blessing of God without His manifest presence among them.
Israel reacted with one of their more noble acts. All Israel went into mourning; they all took off any ornaments they were wearing. Meanwhile, Moses took the tent of meeting out of the camp, for if God wasn't going to dwell in the midst of his people, Moses still wanted that personal relationship with Jehovah. Moses, in fact, begged for God Himself to be with them and not just His blessing.
There were others who also had a desire for a personal God, not just a national God, and they would go out and wait in the presence of the Lord. For instance, Joshua, their future leader, spent much time with the Lord. In God's presence was where he received what he needed to be the leader of Israel.
What are we more interested in, God or His blessings? Some may serve the Lord for what they get from Him and not for what they can give to Him. Let our primary goal be to know Him in a deeper way and to have an awareness of His presence with us constantly.
February 2 Exodus 36,37 Psalm 136 (Ex. 37:1-9) "...The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Exodus 34:6 The ark of the covenant was the focal point of the tabernacle of Moses. It was the first thing described by the Lord in Exodus 25, and it was the first piece of furniture made (according to Ex. 37). Its importance was derived from the fact that God said He would meet with them and commune with them "...from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony...," (Ex. 25:22). The presence of God was literally above the mercy seat.
Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:14-19 explain Lucifer as the anointed cherub before his fall and consequential name change to Satan. He was one of the most powerful angels in heaven. Lucifer, Michael (Jude 9), and Gabriel (Lk. 1:19) are usually referred to as archangels. The Bible doesn't refer to Gabriel's angelic status, but he appears in Jewish thought and writings as an archangel.
Knowing the powerful rebellion that swept away one-third of heaven's angels during Lucifer's rebellion, the mercy seat gives us a picture of how Michael and Gabriel survived. When they sensed this powerful force of rebellion trying to draw them away from God, they went and clung to the mercy of God, asking to be protected from being drawn away. They knew that except for the mercy of God, they, who were no better than Lucifer, would come under the same influence. When we are in the middle of a battle and feel like we could easily be swept into sin and rebellion, let us cry out to God for mercy and cling to Him that we might weather the storm and come out victorious on the other side.
February 3 Exodus 38-40 Psalm 137 (Ex. 40:30-38) "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 When God calls us to do something, it is a lot easier to zealously initiate what He is speaking than to continue on and to finish it. Scripture says that Israel finished the tabernacle, and they finished it according to all that God had commanded (Ex. 39:32). They not only began well, but also they continued even if it got laborious at times. Moses looked at the Israelites work and saw that they had done all of it as God had commanded (Ex. 39:42,43). Then Moses finished all God had asked him to do by anointing specific things and persons and by setting everything in its place. "...So Moses finished the work." (Ex. 40:33)
It is not enough to just begin well. Paul wrote to Corinth: "Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also." (2 Cor. 8:6) The Galatians also had begun well, but now they were trying to be made perfect by the flesh (Gal. 3:3; 4:9).
Oh, that we might always continue in doing and being what God has called us to do and be. God will never quit the work He's begun in us (Phil. 1:6), so let us never grow weary in the task He's called us to do. Israel finished the work, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Let us so walk with the Lord that we fulfill the task God has sent us to earth to fulfill. We don't want to hear, "Well begun, what happened then?" But, we want Jesus Christ to say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant."
February 4 Leviticus 1-3 (Lev. 1:1-17) "And the king said...neither will I offer burnt offeringsunto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing...." 2 Samuel 24:24 In Leviticus 1-5, the five Levitical offerings are introduced. The Hebrew word "offering" literally means "a way of approach, or to draw near." The purpose of the offerings was to approach God's presence with acceptance. The Lord made a way for man to fellowship with Him in a limited sense in the Levitical system, and now through Jesus Christ we have boldness to enter the holiest (Heb. 10:19).
The first three offerings (burnt offering, meal offering, and peace offering) were voluntary offerings (Lev. 1-3). The distinctive character of the burnt offering was that all of it was consumed. Jesus Christ is our burnt offering, for He voluntarily gave all (Jn. 10:18), even His life in total love that we might be able to approach God. Yet, God calls us to also offer up our lives totally to Him--our time, finances, talents, services, etc. Jesus never forces the believer to lay down his life for Him, but He gives an open invitation to all.
All the offerings had explicit directions on how they were to be done. Man could not approach in just any manner; it had to be done God's way.
The offerings were according to man's possessions--if he was poor, he could offer pigeons, if he were wealthy, a bullock. God always wants our gifts to be a sacrifice. The wealthy could not give a pigeon and have it be an acceptable sacrifice, for God always requires the best from us.
Do we give the Lord the best time of the day (morning) to fellowship with Him? Whether giving ourselves or our possessions, let us always give our best to God, and He'll give His best to us. David wouldn't offer a cheap offering to God, for true love requires that our gift must cost us a price (2 Sam. 24:24). How much real love is in your heart is revealed by how much of yourself and your possessions you allow God to have.
February 5 Leviticus 4-6 Psalm 134 (Leviticus 6:1-7) "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." 2 Corinthians 8:21 The sin offering and trespass offering are of a different nature than the first three offerings. Unlike the others, which were voluntary worship, these two were mandatory--for all sin must be atoned for. Also, the sin and trespass offerings were not a sweet-smelling savor to God, for God hates sin. To draw near to God, we must first make sure the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all iniquity.
In Leviticus 6:1-7, sins of dishonesty done wittingly were atoned for. In each case something was taken. The soul that sinned had to repay what was taken plus twenty percent, for there is always a price to pay for sin--no one breaks even. Besides paying the individual, the person also had to bring a trespass offering to the Lord (as seen in chapter 5), for a person doesn't just sin against another person, but they sin against God as well. There had to be atonement with God, but in situations where one sinned against another person, apology and restitution was required.
We must seek God's forgiveness, but that alone is not enough. Also, one must restore one-fifth more than that which was gained dishonestly. What we find is not ours; if we are keeping something for another, it must be returned in full. Don't give back something of less value. If we borrow something, we are responsible. Many Christians are not completely honest in business, shopping, and every day dealings with others. Let us be proven trustworthy and totally honest in every area of our life.
Luke 16:10-11 (NIV) states, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,...if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
Romans 12:17 says to provide things honest in the sight of all men. Make sure others see that you are upright in the smallest matters. Let us make sure our conscience is clear, and if our conscience is not clear, let's go to God and repent and correct any wrong that we have done.
February 6 Leviticus 7,8 Psalm 111 (Leviticus 8) "...They had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about." 2 Chronicles 15:15 In chapter 8, Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the Lord. What is consecration? Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Dictionary states this: "an act by which a person or thing is dedicated to the service and worship of God." One who is consecrated has totally dedicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all that he does, he does because of his devotion to God.
The priests had to be consecrated before God. They went through a process that is symbolic of our spiritual consecration to the Lord Jesus:
1. Washed with water (v. 6) - typifies a Christian who is washed with the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26), thus cleansing his thought-life and renewing his mind, so that his whole life is transformed (Rom. 12:2).
2. Clothed with holy garments (v. 13) - speaks of a Christian who by God's grace lives a righteous and holy life that is an example to others.
3. Sin offering offered (v. 14-17) - represents that no sin should be covered up or clung to but that all sin should be put outside our lives, just as the bullock parts were burnt outside the camp. All that is not profitable in our lives is burnt out by the convicting fire of the Holy Spirit.
4. Burnt offering (v. 18-21) - speaks of one who has a willing heart to give to God just because of his great love for Him.
5. Blood on ear, thumb, toe (v. 23) - shows that every area of our life is given to God--what we allow ourselves to take in by our senses, what our hands do, and where we go.
6. Bread on shoulder (v. 26) - expresses that our lives must be governed by the Word of God, for the shoulder speaks of governing and the bread of God's Word.
7. Anointed with oil (v. 30) - shows that our lives should manifest the power of the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Holy Spirit.
8. Dwell in the tabernacle seven days (v. 33) - teaches that we must learn to live in the abiding presence of the Lord.
As you study these eight aspects of one's life, be totally given to God. Are you lacking complete consecration? If so, ask God to wholly take over your life, so that you can walk whole-heartedly with Jesus Christ as Lord of all.
February 7 Leviticus 9-11 (Leviticus 9:23 - 10:7; 11:45,46) "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Romans 14:17 After the offerings were presented to God, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came forth from the Lord and consumed the offerings (9:23,24). The fire on the altar came from God, and only this fire was to be used on the brazen altar, for it was to be kept burning perpetually.
Nadab and Abihu presumed to offer strange (unauthorized) fire before the Lord (at the golden altar of incense) in the holy place and were killed for their disobedience. They tried to use fire which didn't originate from God, and which God did not command them to use.
Malachi 3 speaks of fire as a refining instrument, for fire was used to heat gold and silver, so that any impurities in them would float to the top (called the dross). Then the impurities were skimmed off. Therefore, fire speaks of purification and cleansing. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, which He did at Pentecost (Acts 2). So, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to purify us, cleanse us, and lead us to holiness.
Using strange fire in this context is trying to produce holiness through man-made regulations and not by the inner working of the Holy Spirit in one's life. Outward rules on clothing or hair will not make one holy. Only the Holy Spirit can do the work in the heart to bring one to true holiness.
If we concentrate on yielding to the refining fire of the Spirit in our lives, we will move towards holiness. Anything man devises can only lead to a proud, holier than thou attitude. If we put our confidence in denial of the flesh, we will be left barren and without our character truly being changed.
Romans 14:17 shows us that the kingdom of God doesn't consist in outward laws of man, but it consists in the work of the Holy Spirit bringing true joy, peace, and righteousness into our lives. We are to be holy (11:44,45); therefore, let us constantly yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
February 8 Leviticus 12-14 (Leviticus 14:1-9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 The Levitical law is full of symbolism. In Scripture, leprosy is a type or a picture of sin. Leprosy begins with a small spot and then spreads to the whole body, causing deformities and eventually death. Likewise, sin may seem to be insignificant, yet it will spread and eventually bring death. There was no cure for the leprosy in the Bible; however, there was specific instructions given for how to purify the leper who had been cleansed of his leprosy. Although there was no natural cure, God left room for a supernatural cleansing.
In the natural, there is no cure for sin. Man has been born with a sin nature (Rom 5:12). We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. What a dilemma!! There is no natural way to be released. But, praise God, there is a supernatural way! First John 1:9 states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "...If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:7).
There were different areas that could be leprous:
1. Body - Everything we do physically, everywhere we go, and everything we say must be cleansed by God.
2. Garment - God instructs us to wear modest clothing. Is our clothing designed to attract others to us or to clothe our bodies?
3. House - Is our home free from evil books and magazines? Is what we watch on TV edifying and building up our spirit? Are we training our children by our actions to follow the Lord, and are we teaching them the Word of God?
Let us make sure our whole life is free from spiritual "leprosy," so that sin doesn't grow and cause us to be put outside the camp.
February 9 Leviticus 15-17 Psalm 19 (Leviticus 15:19-30) "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,...hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Ephesians 5:5 Leviticus 15 explains what was done for a person who had an unclean issue. The person was declared unclean, and none could touch him or anything he had touched without becoming unclean as well.
In Mark 5, a woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. Since this completely isolated her from others, she had sought out the physicians, spent all she had, and grew worse. Shereached out in faith and touched the hem of Jesus's garment. Her faith in Jesus had made her whole. Nothing worked till she reached out to Jesus.
Many of us may have an area in our spiritual life that is unclean--smoking, lying, pride, stubbornness, quick temper, etc. We may have tried our best to get relief, but nothing works. Why not reach out in faith and touch the Master and let His power flow through you and make you clean? He who comes to God in faith will never be left unclean. Ask Him to release you of things that hinder your witness to others. Let your prayer be even as David's, "...cleanse thou me from secret faults." (Ps. 19:12).
February 10 Leviticus 18,19 Psalm 76 (Leviticus 19:1-18,31-37) "Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry." Psalm 76:7 Leviticus 18 lists unlawful marriages, and chapter 19 gives laws of holiness. Fifteen times in the latter chapter God says, "I am the Lord your God." God often repeats things to get our attention. Man is to keep these rules knowing that God is always there watching him. The fear of the Lord is to be in a man's heart, for the Lord will judge all his deeds.
When Ananias and Sapphira lied about their gift to the Lord, God judged them immediately by death. The Bible says, "... great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." (Acts 5:11). All knew that God was judge. Proverbs says, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil..." (8:13).
Let's see how much we practice God's laws in Leviticus 19. If we fall short in an area, let's ask God to give us the fear of the Lord, so that we hate that evil and choose holiness instead. Consider the following:
1. fearing parents - hating to do anything that would grieve them (v. 3).
2. being generous to the poor - not tight with our earnings (v. 9,10).
3. being honest - not stealing or cheating (v. 11,36).
4. not defrauding a neighbor - giving everyone what they deserve, when they deserve it (v. 13).
5. not being a tale-bearer (v. 16).
6. not bearing a grudge (v. 18).
7. giving to God first (v. 23-25).
8. honoring the elderly (v. 32).
9. being kind to strangers - treating kindly those you don't know (v. 34).
February 11 Leviticus 20,21 Psalm 65 (Leviticus 21:16-23) "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:27 The qualifications for the priests to be able to enter the holy place is given in Leviticus 21. God gave a list of natural blemishes that could disqualify one from moving past the outer court. The outer court speaks of being a little child in God. Sadly enough, many Christians, the New Testament priesthood, never grow up and move on in God. Many have spiritual blemishes that correspond to the natural blemishes in Leviticus 21. Let's make sure we are free from spiritual blemishes. Study the following:
1. blind - Some Christians have no idea what God has called them to. We need to have a vision from God for our lives, or spiritually, we'll go nowhere (Rev. 3:17).
2. lame - A Christian who can't walk straight and who is always falling.
3. flat nose - The nose speaks of discernment. We must be able to discern good and evil.
4. anything superfluous - If something is too large, it will cause an imbalance. Some major on one pet doctrine and get unbalanced, and all you notice is the superfluous feature.
5. brokenfooted - Proverbs says an unfaithful man is like a bad ankle. Just when you need them most, they let you down. Some Christians are untrustworthy.
6. brokenhanded - Hands speak of service. A brokenhanded person is one who is unwilling to serve others. He just wants to be served.
7. crookbackt - A hunchback never looks up but always looks at the ground or the negative side of things.
8. dwarf - A Christian who never grows up.
9. blemish in eye - Someone who has a blind spot that everyone sees but himself.
10. scurvy - One who can't properly digest the Word of God. Nothing enters his heart.
11. scabbed - One who has a lot of "sore spots" and gets easily irritated.
12. stones broken - One who doesn't reproduce spiritual children, doesn't witness, and doesn't share the gospel.
Look back over these twelve spiritual deformities, and ask the Lord to remove any blemish that might disqualify you from receiving His best. We want to be those that come into all God has available.
February 12 Leviticus 22,23 Psalm 41 (Leviticus 23:22,37,38) "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27 We live in a society of preciseness. In our electronic society everything is figured out to the last detail. Since we live geared this way, it is easy to get caught up in making sure that every penny we receive brings us a profit or that it is utilized to benefit us to the fullest. Yet, here in Leviticus 23, God commanded the farmers to not harvest the corners of their fields. This was so that the poor and the stranger would have something to eat. What was dropped by the laborers was left for the needy. God wanted to make sure that the people did not get overly concerned with making money and forget others.
In the book of Ruth, Boaz had gleaners in his fields, for he obeyed this scriptural injunction. While naturally it seemed to be a losing proposition, yet God blessed him greatly. If he had not let gleaners in his fields, he would not have met Ruth, married her, and had a son. It was through the lineage of Boaz and Ruth that the Messiah came. But, Boaz would not have had that honor if he had not given to the poor.
Do you want Christ to come forth in your life to the fullest? Then be a constant giver to God and to the poor. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." (Pro. 19:17). God will repay what we give to the poor, and his interest rates are a hundred-fold, which is ten thousand percent!
February 13 Leviticus 24,25 Psalm 143 (Leviticus 24:1-4) "But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Matthew 25:4 In the tabernacle of Moses, God commanded that a seven-branched oil lamp be made. It was to be placed in the holy place and to be burned continually. The tabernacle was where God said He would dwell among men (Ex. 25:8). In the New Testament economy, God has come to dwell inside our bodies. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you...?" (1 Cor. 6:19). God desires for His glory to be manifested in our lives in a similar way as it was in Moses' tabernacle.
In Leviticus 24:1-4, we read about the oil used to light the holy place. Let's look at its details:
1. pure - God wants the light that comes from us to be one hundred percent Him and not clouded with our own words or actions.
2. beaten - No oil comes from an olive unless it is crushed. As we are put in situations that seemingly crush us, our light begins to shine brighter and brighter. Persecutions and hardships make the intensity of our light increase.
3. burn continually - There is no time or us to let our light flicker out.
Remember the ten virgins in Matthew? The five that had oil (speaking of an anointed walk with the Lord) were invited in with the bridegroom. The five foolish were left outside. Have you checked your oil level lately? Is your Christian life running hard? Ask God to show you the key to getting the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life and to show you where you may be grieving or not obeying the Holy Spirit (see Acts 5:32; Eph. 4:30). Your light won't shine without the oil of the Holy Ghost.
February 14 Leviticus 26,27 Psalm 7 (Leviticus 26:3-33) "...be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23 In Leviticus 26, God gave Israel some sure promises. If they would walk in God's statutes, He would bless them and give them peace, fruitfulness, and freedom from their enemies. But, if they didn't listen to God and obey Him, sickness, famine, plagues, war, and pestilence would be their judgment as well as their cities would be destroyed. Things would get so bad that they would even eat their children and be scattered from their land.
Apparently Israel didn't take God seriously, for they soon forgot Him and walked contrary to His ways. In the book of Judges, we are shown how time and time again they would forsake God, then the enemy would oppress them till they turned to the Lord. But, they never learned their lesson, for they would rebel again and again.
The promise of God was fulfilled in the positive aspect during David's reign. But, later all the judgments were fulfilled. In Second Kings 6:28-30, things were so bad that they ate their children. In Second Kings 25, the land was conquered, and the cities were destroyed. Famine prevailed, and Jerusalem was burned with fire. God had fulfilled His Word.
Do we really believe that God's ways are best? Our actions show whether we believe His Word. We all want the blessing of Leviticus 26, but do we really search God's Word for new areas in which to obey Him? "For all the promises of God in him [Jesus Christ] are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Cor. 1:20). Let's walk with Jesus, and obey His voice, so that we don't end up like Israel. Believing is evidenced by our deeds.
February 15 Numbers 1-4 (Num. 2) "...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mark 8:34 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, even the numbering of Israel. In Numbers 2, God gives us the order of the tribes' tents around the tabernacle of Moses. There were to be four camps with three tribes in each camp. One tribe would be the leader and would set out its flag or standard. Note the position and numbers of each tribe:
East - Judah- 186,400 South - Reuben - 151,450 West - Ephraim - 108,100 North - Dan - 157,600 By drawing a circle for every ten thousand, we come up with the following formation around the tabernacle: W Ephraim 0 0 000 000 R 000 e 00000 00000 D S u 00000 00000 a N b 00000 00000 n e n 000 000 000 000 000 000 Judah E The pattern is clear. The camps of Israel made a perfect cross. This symbolizes the truth revealed in God's Word that if we desire to have the glory of God revealed in our lives or our churches, we must live the message of the crucified life. We must take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, and learn to give loving service to others. Today, let's deny ourselves of a pleasure and spend that time with the Lord. Also, let's deny ourselves something that we could give to someone else.
February 16 Numbers 5-7 Psalm 68 (Num. 7:1-9) "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men...that the Lord God might dwell among them." Psalm 68:18 The Levities were those chosen by God to care for the tabernacle, to set it up, to take it down, and to transport it in their travels. The Levites were made up of three groups: Merarites, Gershonites, and Kohathites. In Numbers 7, we read of the gifts given to them to do their work of ministry. The Merarites received eight oven and four wagons; the Gershonites, received four oxen and two wagons, and the Kohathites received nothing.
Now, it may seem unfair not to give each group four oxen and two carts. But, God is just. In Numbers 3, one can read what was the job of each. The Merarites had to transport the boards, bars, sockets, pillars, vessels, pins and cords--all the heavy substructure of the tabernacle and outer court. The Gershonites had charge of moving the coverings over the tabernacle, hangings for the door and the outer court, and the leather and cloth of the tabernacle. The Kohathites were to carry on their shoulders the furniture of the tabernacle. So each group was gifted according to their God-ordained ministry.
In the same way, God gives His gifts to us, so that we can fulfill the ministry He's given to us. We must seek God to give us the gifts we need, or we will never be able to be used as God desires. He will build His church through His people, with His gifts, and by His Spirit. As each group set up their particular part of the tabernacle until the tabernacle was complete, we must make sure we fulfill our ministry so that the church is built up into a church without spot or wrinkle.
Read Romans 12, First Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, and ask God to quicken to you the gifts for which you are to pray. The gifts of the Spirit are not optional. On the contrary, they are essential for you to be fully equipped for the service He wants you to do.
February 17 Numbers 8-10 (Num. 9:15-23; 10:11-14) "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3 Israel had a unique system of guidance. When the cloud lifted up from the tabernacle, they would move out, and when it stopped, they camped. All they had to do was follow the cloud. But today God has given us His Spirit to lead us. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God," (Rom. 8:14). God wants us still to get our directions and commands from Him, but we need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. We dare not make a move without first finding out if the Lord is moving.
In chapter 10, we see that the first tribe to move out in their travels was to be Judah. Back then when a person met Israel traveling, the first thing they saw was Judah's flag rippling in the breeze. Judah means "praise."
The question then comes to us: What do others see when they first meet us? Do they see someone praising, singing, and rejoicing? God wants us to lift our standard of praise high, so that others can see it. Let our life and words today be a continual praise to the Lord Jesus Christ.
February 18 Numbers 11,12 (Num. 11:1-10) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11 Although the standard of Judah went first in the journeys of Israel, the truth it portrays was not a part of Israel's lifestyle. In Numbers 11:1, we find them complaining without any particular reason; hence, they were judged by fire. Complaining had become such a part of their life that they would complain when there was nothing to complain about. However, in verse 4, we see that they did not learn their lesson, for they went right back to their murmurings.
A lot of the Israelites' problems stemmed from their thought-life. They were remembering all the food of Egypt and were comparing it with the provision God was now giving them. Philippians tells us that we are to think on things that are pure, just, true, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8). Our battle against Satan is in our mind, and before we sin, a conflict takes place within our mind. Satan will shout thoughts of discouragement, lust, greed, envy, pride.... We must fight by "casting down imaginations..." (2 Cor. 10:5) and thoughts that are not of God.
If we will fill our mind with God's Word, then we will be able to win battles as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil. What we meditate on or allow in our minds controls our actions and words. Israel lost a thankful heart by thinking on the wrong things.
Let us not mediate on problems, but on God's Word. It makes life so much easier when we count all our blessings, for we never get finished, so that we can count our problems.
February 19 Numbers 13-15 Psalm 50 (Num. 14:1-5,26-35) "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:37 When Israel realized that taking the Promised Land involved fighting foes too strong for them, they lost faith in God's ability to fight for them and began to cry and murmur against Aaron and Moses. They said, "...Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (14:2). They were ready to choose another leader and to return to Egypt. But God heard their words and said to them, "...As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall...." (14:28,29). God gave them what they said, and all the males over twenty years old died as they wandered in the desert forty more years.
Our words are very important. Do we ever complain about what God has called us to do? Do we murmur about our work, school, church, or community? God wants the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart to please Him. What would we receive if God gave to us what comes out of our mouth?
Let us trust in God and have a positive confession with the words of our mouth, so that we are full of faith. Let us constantly speak of the attributes, character, and power of God, reminding ourselves of who He is and of all He's done for us. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers," (Eph. 4:29).
February 20 Numbers 16-18 Psalm 53 (Num. 16:20-33,41-50) "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30 When Korah rebelled against God's appointed leader for them, His wrath was kindled to such an extent that He told Aaron and Moses to stand back while He destroyed all Israel in a moment. However, Moses knew the heart of God and began to intercede for Israel by asking God if all should die for one man's sin. The day after God's judgment on the rebellious, the congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron by saying that they had killed God's people. Again God told Moses to leave, so that He could consume them, but Moses fell on his face and Aaron made atonement for them, stopping the plague.
I'm glad that we also have one who intercedes for us. Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Rom. 8:34). While on earth, Jesus was constantly interceding for his disciples (Lk. 22:32; Jn. 14:16; Isa. 53:12).
Intercession is standing between God and man in prayer. An intercessor is one who is praying for others in specific ways. God is looking for those who will intercede for their country, leaders, pastors, brethren, and sinners. Will He find someone willing to stand in the gap?
Oh, let us give ourselves to prayer; not just for our need, but also for others. There was no one willing to travail in intercessory prayer for Israel in Ezekiel 22:30. Will anyone intercede for America, for our churches, or for the unsaved? Will you?
February 21 Numbers 19-21 Psalm 32 (Num. 19:1-13,17-19) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 Numbers 19 is an unusual chapter, for it deals with a red heifer--a female cow. The Old Testament offerings were usually a bullock, ram, goat, or lamb. After this heifer was slain, its blood was sprinkled before the Lord as remittance for sins, then the whole heifer was burned (v. 5,6) with cedar, hyssop, and scarlet. The cedar and hyssop represent the whole world (1 K. 4:33), and scarlet represents our sins (Isa. 1:18). In this we see the work of the cross, for Jesus bore all the sins of the world: great sins, small sins, yesterday's sins, today's sins and tomorrow's sins.
After the burning, the ashes were taken to a clean place "for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin." (v. 9). The peculiarity of this offering is that its ashes were kept. The purpose was that if an Israelite sinned by touching something unclean, he could go to a priest who would mix these ashes with water and sprinkle them upon the unclean person to make him clean. Also, a man who had already presented his offering for sin and later became defiled and unable to have fellowship with God could come to the priest and be sprinkled for a cleansing.
This shows the New Testament believer that if He's been washed by the blood of Christ and commits sin after salvation, he doesn't need to get born again once more, but he must go to the Lord who has already died for the sins he committed before and after salvation. This is not an excuse for sin, but it shows the all-sufficiency of Christ's atoning work.
We need to confess our sins and to apply the fresh cleansing work of calvary, so that our fellowship with God can be restored. The Lord Jesus has died for all our sins--past, present, and future. If we fall, let us go to the Father humbly acknowledging our failure, and ask Him for His mercy to be shed abroad in our hearts afresh, so that our fellowship will be unhindered.
February 22 Numbers 22-25 (Num. 22:1-22; 25:1-5) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 The story of Balaam is sad. He was a man with a prophetic anointing and a powerful ministry. He was known all over Moab, yet he also had a covetous, greedy heart. When Balaam was asked to curse Israel, God emphatically said that Balaam should not go, for Israel was blessed by God. In the morning, Balaam told the envoy from King Balak that the Lord would not let him go. We see that he blames the Lord for holding him back from receiving the money and rewards offered to him. Balaam wanted the honor and wealth, and he despised the Lord for not allowing him to get the money.
This reminds us of Judas, who because of covetousness, betrayed the Lord. The gospel account tells us that when Judas saw the woman pouring ointment (worth a year's wages) on the Lord, he went out to make arrangements to betray Jesus. He despised the Lord in his heart, for not letting him receive that money.
Numbers 31:16 tells us that Balaam wanted the wealth and honor so much that he counselled Moab how they could cause God to curse Israel--by sending their women to commit immorality with the Israelite men and by inviting Israel to worship Baal. So in chapter 25, Israel committed whoredom and idolatry. Balaam was slain by Israel soon afterwards (31:8), and none of the honor or riches became his. So also, Judas hanged himself, and none of the silver was used by him.
Friend, don't despise the standards and principles of God. They are for our benefit and good. God loves us so much He wants to keep us from that which will destroy us; therefore, he gives us His Word to live by. The Lord wants us to have that which is good (Ps. 85:12), and He desires to protect us from Satan's thievery and destruction.
February 23 Numbers 26,27 Psalm 116 (Num. 27:1-11) "...ye have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2 Zelophehad died leaving five daughters and no sons; therefore, there was no one to pass his inheritance to when his land was to be divided among the different families. The daughters were concerned about their father's name being done away with. For until the coming of the Messiah, every family had tried to preserve its identity.
So the daughters asked Moses for a possession among the brethren of their father. God readily granted their request, and He even spoke to Moses to make it a law concerning inheritances. The daughters received because they asked. If they would not have asked they would never have received what God desired to give them. They had a holy ambition to have all that God wanted them to have.
God honors a holy ambition. Indeed, we are to run a race in this life to win; we are to apprehend that for which we were apprehended of Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12). We are to press toward the mark or goal that God has called us to (Phil. 3:14). Yet, there are many "spiritual sluggards." They are content with where they are in their Christian life. They are not "laying aside" every weight and sin that easily besets them and running the race set before them (Heb. 12:1). The daughters of Zelophehad received of God by asking.
Let us begin to ask God for things that we always just let slip away with the attitude, "God knows I'm here if He wants me to have it." Let us ask in faith and be all that God wants us to be here in this life.
February 24 Numbers 28-30 (Num. 30:1-16) "Above all, my brothers,ÉLet your 'Yes' be yes, and your'No', no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12 (NIV) Numbers 30 is the law of vows. If any man vows to the Lord, it shall not be broken, but he shall do according to all that he has spoken. If a woman that is in the man's household makes a vow, the man who is her authority may disallow her vow when he hears of it. If he says nothing at all, the vow shall stand for he confirms it by holding his peace on the day he hears of it.
There are two thoughts concerning vows that I'd like to note. First, a vow before God is never to be broken. In marriage, one makes a vow before the Lord--for better or for worse, in sickness or in health. Yet, even many Christians these days believe that if their partner leaves, they do not need to keep the vow they made to the Lord. Yet, the law of vows shows this is not so. Psalm 15 discusses who will dwell in the house of God. One of the qualifications was "He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not," (v. 4). Vows are not to be kept only if it is convenient, but even when it is painful. Vows are to be kept in order to receive God's best.
Second, how many times do we say we will do something in every day life and then let the other person down? Jesus said that our yes or promise to do something must be yes. We must be faithful. Faithfulness is a characteristic God is looking for. How many will hear, "Well done thy good and faithful servant," from the Lord? Let us be found faithful to our vows before God and in our every day promises.
February 25 Numbers 31,32 Psalm 34 (Num. 32:1-6,16-23) "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known."
Luke 12:2
Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh desired to have land on the east side of the Jordan for an inheritance. However, Moses commanded that the men must first fight with their brethren on the west side of the Jordan before the land would be given to them. After Canaan was subdued, then they could return to the land they desired. Moses warned them that if they did not do so and sinned against God, their sin would surely be found out.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and expose the motives in each man's heart (1 Cor. 4:5). Jesus Himself said that we must all stand before the judgment seat. Everything will be exposed, yet how many times do we try to cover up our sin thinking that it doesn't matter or that we'll get away with it. But, everything will be brought to the light. David tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba. Achan tried to hide his sinful act under his tent. Adam and Eve hid from God in the bushes.
As far back as the fall in the garden, man has tried to hide from God and from each other. But, let us be different. Let us bring all to the light of Christ and confess our sins and shortcomings to Him, for we can be sure that whatever we try to cover-up will be exposed. If we humble ourselves before God and man, then we won't be humiliated before them.
February 26 Numbers 33,34 Psalm 106 (Num. 33:50-56) "They did not destroy the nations,...Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance...Their enemies also oppressed them...."
Psalm 106:34,40,42
The Lord commanded the children of Israel to drive every enemy out of the land that God had promised them. (Num. 33:55,56). If they failed to do it, the enemy would be as thorns in their sides and barbs in their eyes. It would even come to the place that God would do to Israel as He had planned to do to their enemies.
We know that Israel did fail to drive out all the enemy, and the book of Judges shows the problems and bondages that resulted from it. Israel became content to dwell with the enemy and eventually was conquered and thrust out of Canaan. The principle is this: if you don't battle the enemy, the enemy will overtake you and bring you into bondage.
We don't fight flesh and blood like Israel, but we do fight spiritual enemies such as depression, lying, deceit, stubbornness, smoking, irritableness, apathy, laziness, closemindedness, and many more. If we are content to live with these or other spiritual enemies, they will eventually rise up and destroy us! Saul was commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites, but he disobeyed. It was an Amalekite who eventually killed Saul.
Who is the Amalekite of your soul? Don't be content to stay as you are. Cry out to God and take positive action to see that these habits or faults are utterly conquered, so that the Lord can wholly reign in your life.
February 27 Numbers 35,36 Psalm 11 (Num. 35:9-34) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,...a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12
Israel's cities of refuge served a specific function. If any man happened to kill another man accidentally, the slayer could flee to a city of refuge. At the city of refuge, the slayer would be judged to determine if his motive had been to do harm to the slain or not. If he was found innocent in motive, he could remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. After the high priest died, he could return to his inheritance without fear of harm from the slain person's relatives.
God was interested in the heart of the killer. If he had unintentionally slain the dead person, then he was allowed to live. God is still concerned with our motives. It is possible for someone to do a "good" deed with a wrong motive. One could desire an office in the church out of pride. One could give to the poor, so that others would appreciate him. Why do we do the things we do? Pride? Envy? Retaliation? For Acceptance?
"Lord, let us do things only out of a heart of love for You and for others."
February 28 Deuteronomy 1-3 (Deut. 1:1-6; 2:1-4) "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1
In Deuteronomy 1-3, Moses recapitulates their forty years in the wilderness. He is speaking to Israel right before they are ready to go into the Promised Land. Now near his death, Moses gives his last instructions to Israel on how they can enter the land and on how to remain there. Deuteronomy tells us how to enter and stay in revival and gives us warnings about what will take us from our inheritance.
The first words Moses spoke was to remember what God had spoken at Sinai (Horeb): "...Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount," (1:6). There had been wonderful meetings with God at Sinai, yet God told them to move on. In 2:2,3, the Lord told them that they had compassed Mt. Seir long enough, now they were to turn northward.
God gives and has given us each wonderful things and experiences in Him. But, He always desires to move us on in Him. Man has a tendency to shy away from all that is new and different from the past, but God says to look up and to move on toward the goal of the fullness of Christ in our lives. How sad to hear Christians constantly talk of the wonderful way God used them ten years ago and to see that they don't have anything fresh to share. They are still where they were ten or fifteen years ago.
The cloud is moving. Let us arise to grow in Him and to have a new encounter with Him. Let us not dwell on yesterday's blessings but receive our "manna" for today.