Tag: faithful
God loves F.A.T. people!
Scripture reading for February 11: Numbers 1-4
Numbers is so named because of all the counting and lists of numbers in the book. God was apparently very interested in numbers and specifically assigned jobs to each family group. According to the reading today, there were 603,550 men 20 years old or more that could serve in the army and fight from 11 of the tribes. (Numbers 1:46) The only tribe excluded from the duty to fight was Levi. The Levites belonged to God and were set apart to serve in the Tabernacle. (Numbers 3:5-7)
Often, today, many people think that God doesn’t really care about numbers or individual people. The reading today shows just the opposite. God cared about each person and family group. He wanted the leaders to know how many they had to help with the work and protection of the nation. God uses people and knows each one by name! He knows even the hairs on their heads. He knows the purpose and jobs that He has designed and gifted them to do. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, as long as you are (F)faithful, (A)available, and (T)teachable!
To the Gershonites clans was given the care of the tent curtains and coverings. God assigned the Kohathites to be in charge of the sanctuary. (Numbers 3:27-32) He assigned the Merarite clans to carry the poles of the tabernacle. (Numbers 3:33-37) The Levites were to serve Aaron and his sons and they belonged to God because God took them in place of the firstborn from every Israelite woman. (Numbers 3:11-13) He had redeemed them by the blood of the Passover Lamb! All these men were called by God to do a specific job and to do it as unto the Lord. If they got out of line and tried to look into the holy things when they were not assigned, they would die! (Numbers 3:38)
God is looking for faithful and available workers. They must be teachable and humble enough to obey orders. When He finds these workers, He shows Himself strong on their behalf. They are blessed and God’s love and protection covers their homes and families. It is not how much you do, or what kind of talent and position that makes you special to the Lord. He blesses F.A.T. people!
1st Corinthians 12:18– “But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, exactly as he wanted them to be.”
Sin’s deceitfulness
Scripture reading for November 1st: Hebrews 3:1-19
“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all of God’s house. … Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house.” (Hebrews 3:1-2, 5-6a)
Jesus is the focus of all true believers. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ to save us, we are adopted into God’s family and become ‘holy brothers’ with Jesus, the Son of God. (Romans 8:14-15) (Galatians 3:26) Jesus was appointed by His Father to the roles He obediently assumed. The Son of God was obedient and faithful to His calling. In fixing our thoughts on Jesus, we can grow in our worship and understanding of who He is and who we are in Him!
The writer to the Hebrews was contrasting Jesus with Moses. Moses, being picked by God, was faithful to lead God’s people out of slavery and through the desert for forty years. This journey should not have taken forty years. The sin of unbelief caused the people to turn back and die in the desert! Jesus Christ was and is God’s Son, holding a position of greater honor than Moses! Jesus is leading us to Father’s house!
“So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,. . See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at the first.” (Hebrews 3:7, 12-14) The Hebrews had not listened to God speaking through Moses during the Exodus. They had let their flesh turn their hearts back to Egypt and this kept them from entering the promised land. The sin was failure to trust God to bring them into their land! Jesus promises to take us in–Today! We must continue to pay close attention and follow Him to Glory!
“The Mighty Men”
Scripture reading for April 18: 1st Chronicles 10-16
In today’s culture, men of God are often portrayed as not too bright, weaklings, or slightly effeminate. Many men have lost their sense of identity when it comes to serving the Lord. They tend to take a back seat to women and often fail to be the spiritual leaders of the home or the church. The “mighty men” of king David would certainly not fit the current portrayal of men who serve the Lord.
The mighty men of David’s bodyguard knew how to fight and had courage! Jashobeam, the chief of the officers, raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter! (2nd Chronicles 11:11) Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was a valiant fighter who went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day! This man then struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall using only a club. He killed the Egyptian with the man’s own spear! Three of the mighty men risked their lives just to get David a drink from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. David was so humbled that he poured the water out before the Lord. (2nd Chronicles 11:17-19)
To be a mighty man today, we have to be just as tough as King David’s men! We are in the army of God! We are wrestling with principalities, powers, and rulers and authorities in the spiritual battle that is before us. (Ephesians 6:10-18) We need to have the full armor of God and wield the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, with skill and courage. God has called men to lead in the home and the Church. Men are to be men of prayer. (1st Timothy 2:8) We are to be loyal and honor authority! When we do, we honor God and He can honor us!
God is looking for “mighty men” who will serve Him loyally and whole-heartedly! If you are a man, offer yourself to be one of God’s “mighty men”! If you have a husband or son who needs to make this kind of commitment, pray for him today in faith, believing that God is able to bring them into this place of honor! One day we will hear our King say: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things! Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
Sunday Rest and Reflection–Patience
As I read this book of Joshua and think about what he faced in his lifetime, I am reminded of my need for patience. Patience takes strength and courage. When you know what the Lord has said and nobody around you is listening or walking in faith it is hard to have patience. When all around you grumble and complain and see only the problems, it’s hard to be positive and not loose your temper.
Joshua had to wait 40 years to enter his inheritance. He saw it as one of the spies and understood from God’s Word that He it belonged to them. He knew that God would help them with the walled cities and the giants. He had a good attitude and a good confession. He tore his clothes and pleaded with the people when they rebelled at Kadesh. (Numbers 14:5-9) He faithfully served Moses for the 40 years of wandering. He was a good second man to Moses. You never see him trying to usurp authority or grab anything for himself. He walked with those who were destined to die in the wilderness and kept his focus. He was so faithful that he was chosen by God to lead Israel after Moses’s departure. The Bible tells us that the first requirement of a steward is that they be found faithful! (1st Corinthians 4:2) Joshua was faithful through the hard times and patient to wait until God’s time came for him to enter and possess his inheritance.
As you take time to rest and pray today, thank God for his faithfulness in sending His son Jesus Christ! He is our Joshua. He keeps a good attitude even when we whine and complain. He walks with us faithfully. He kept God’s Word perfectly and is the only one who can take us into the “promised land’! He took the lowest place of a servant and God exhalted Him to the hightest place of authority. His patience with us is amazing! What courage and strength it took for Him to save us! Are you letting patience have it’s perfect work in your life today? Have a great day of rest and refreshing! Remember to gather with others of faith and worship the Lord! God bless you! Pastor John
God loves F.A.T. People!
Scripture reading for February 11: Numbers 1-4
Today we begin a new book of Moses, Numbers. Numbers is so named because of all the counting and lists of numbers in the book. God was apparently very interested in numbers and specifically assigned jobs to each family group. According to the reading today, there were 603,550 men 20 years old or more that could serve in the army and fight from 11 of the tribes. (Numbers 1:46) The only tribe excluded from the duty to fight was Levi. The Levites belonged to God and were set apart to serve in the Tabernacle. (Numbers 3:5-7)
Often, today, many people think that God doesn’t really care about numbers or individual people. The reading today shows just the opposite. God cared about each person and family group. He wanted the leaders to know how many they had to help with the work and protection of the nation. God uses people and knows each one by name! He knows even the hairs on their heads. He knows the purpose and jobs that He has designed and gifted them to do. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, as long as you are (F)faithful, (A)available, and (T)teachable!
To the Gershonites clans was given the care of the tent curtains and coverings. God assigned the Kohathites to be in charge of the sanctuary. (Numbers 3:27-32) He assigned the Merarite clans to carry the poles of the tabernacle. (Numbers 3:33-37) The Levites were to serve Aaron and his sons and they belonged to God because God took them in place of the firstborn from every Israelite woman. (Numbers 3:11-13) He had redeemed them by the blood of the Passover Lamb! All these men were called by God to do a specific job and to do it as unto the Lord. If they got out of line and tried to look into the holy things when they were not assigned, they would die! (Numbers 3:38)
God is looking for faithful and available workers. They must be teachable and humble enough to obey orders. When He finds these workers, He shows Himself strong on their behalf. They are blessed and God’s love and protection covers their homes and families. It is not how much you do, or what kind of talent and position that makes you special to the Lord. He blesses F.A.T. people!
1st Corinthians 12:18– “But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, exactly as he wanted them to be.”
Isaiah 6:8–“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” and I said, “Here am I. Send me!”