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I Am Your Portion
Monday, August 08, 2022“And the LORD said to Aaron, ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel’” Numbers 18:20. As high priest, Aaron and his descendants would have nothing of this earth to call their own. God would be their portion and inheritance. The Levites, or the tribe of priests that Aaron came from, would not inherit land but be scattered throughout Israel to better connect the other tribes to God. In the New Testament time, Jesus is our High Priest and Christians are “being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 2:5. We have no inheritance in this world either but God has scattered us throughout the earth to win souls for His kingdom. God is our only portion as well. When the last remaining tribe was being carried off into captivity because of their sins and compromises with the world, Jeremiah expresses this realization of how they should have lived: “‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” Lamentations 3:24. Is the Lord your portion to win lost souls to Christ?
If a Man Does Not Repent
Monday, August 08, 2022“If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow” Psalm 7:12. So confident is David about his innocence in the matter “concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite” from the title that he asks if guilt exists in him that God would let his enemy pursue him, his life be trampled, and his glory be laid in the dust. He asks for judgment to be brought against his enemies—even if he proves to be his own worst enemy. How can he do that? David cites his righteousness and integrity. Wait, David did some awful things. I recall the incidents of Bathsheba and Uriah … and then there was that census! Then, we read of repentance—that God will bring down terrible justice upon those who don’t turn away from their sinful ways. So, David is not relying on his own moral character; what sinful person could? And we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No, instead after we obey the gospel and walk in the light as God is in the light, then we clothe ourselves Jesus’ righteousness and holiness. That’s why David concludes this Psalm by thanking God for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the Lord. Do you repent to be in His righteousness?
All That Is Written
Monday, July 25, 2022“‘Go inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book’” 2 Chronicles 34:21. Because they had drifted away from God’s Word during Manasseh’s idolatrous 55-year reign, the num-ber of God’s people who were left were low. So, it’s no wonder that it had been misplaced and found decades later. What was so wonderful was the new king’s reaction. Recognizing that God’s wrath was poured out because of their drift from His Law, Josiah tore his clothes and declared the fault to be with them. We can learn much from his reaction and restoration. First, he accepted responsibility for their situation. God’s Word needed to be heard. Though we have more copies around us than any time in history, we are largely illiterate about the Bible. Secondly, we need to obey it. Josaiah enacted massive reforms to restore right living among God’s people and all his days the people did not turn away from following the Lord. Are you living out God’s Word?
And the Lord Added
Monday, July 18, 2022“And they devoted themselves … And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” Acts 2:42-47. “God provides the increase,” we throw out to explain away that our numbers are shrinking. Or, “No one is really interested in the gospel anymore”—as if God is to blame or the distractions in the culture are really more powerful than the message of salvation! Is the pagan world of the 1st century really any worse than that of the 21st century? Their message and mission is ours today. Their history is ours as we continue to live it out for future generations to understand. So what’s the difference? We have disassociated Christian living from God’s results. In our minds we have separated Sunday from what we do in word or deed Monday through Saturday. United in their message and mission and believing in prayer and God’s power, the earliest Christians devoted themselves to God’s Word, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer … and then the Lord added to their number day by day. Most of us are strongly committed to restoring New Testament Christianity by doing Bible things in Bible ways. Are we as devoted to devoting ourselves to what’s important?
For the Lord Has Heard
Monday, July 18, 2022“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; My eye wastes away because of my grief … for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping” Psalm 6:6-8. Not knowing the specific situation of David’s anguish in this Psalm can give us hope as we can apply it to how God will treat all his people in distress in various circumstances. Because those of us who have been know this to be true. David’s first concern is that God’s wrath may come upon him. He is very mindful, as many of us are, that we are not different than the “workers of evil” he wants gone from him. God’s grace and our repentant spirit are all that separate us. But he is languishing, troubled, and weary. He questions how long he must endure and begs God to spare his life. Grief has weakened him. Can this be applied to Jesus in Gethsemane, He who was made like His brothers in every way and was tempted in every way, just as we are? If so, the Lord heard His plea and accepted His prayer. What was it? Not to escape the cross He had to bear but to submit to His Father’s will while doing so. So ours are heard and accepted as well—if we trust Him and our will is His. What is your prayer in your grief?