A Visual Reminder

Reading:  Numbers 15
My Verse:  "And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD; to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after" (15:39).

This is an interesting concept - to have a visual reminder of You, LORD God.  How well You know us - our failings, our tendencies to "follow after (our) own heart and (our) own eyes."

You ordered the Isrealites to "make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue."  This was so they would have something to look at to help them to remember You. "That you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God" (15:40).

This makes me think of when the Israelites rebelled and built the golden calf so they would have a visible god to worship.   Is this why we are warned to be careful what we view with our eyes?  We have this awful tendency to"follow after" and "whore after" the things which we want and see with our eyes.  We also seem to need like the Israelites something tangible before our eyes - to give us something to "look" at! 

You, LORD God, know and understand us.  You know our needs - especially this need  of something tangible to view - this need of a visual reminder.  Because of that You provided us much in this way - we just need to know where to look.  A knowledge of You is required in order to appreciate that You are everywhere before us.

I was once out gazing at the stars with another person.  It was so incredibly beautiful and I was just in awe of Your grandeur.  This other person was rather amazed that I could see so much beauty in the sky.  She said it was just the sky.  She did not know You and so her vision was clouded and so limited.  I felt sad for her and so grateful to You for opening my eyes to You!

I think of Your grandeur in the great paintings, such as the Michelangelo's great works, and Da Vinci, Rembrandt.  I think of Your grandeur when I view the heavens, especially the photos that come from the Hubble.  I think of Your grandeur when I view the incredible intricacies of Your creation under powerful microscopes. I think of Your grandeur when I view the amazing symmetry and beauty of flowers in my garden.  Yes, You are everywhere visible to our eye!

"I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless" (Psalm 101:3).  Only what is  beautiful and worthy of You, dear LORD Jesus!  As it says in Philippians 4:8 only what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable are we to think and meditate on!

I know that I need You to open the eyes of my heart to You.  Paul prayed this in Ephesians 1:18
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..."

The psalmist prayed this in Psalm 119:18. "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

Yes, the visual reminders are everywhere before me, I just pray LORD God that You keep my eyes open to them.  I pray that I not be blinded by things which are not of you.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Surety of God's Salvation

Reading:  Numbers 13, 14
My Verse:  "And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes.  And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land.  If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.  Only do not rebel against the LORD . . ." (14:6 - 9).

Oh, LORD God how refreshing and encouraging to my spirit is this story of Joshua and Caleb.  These two wonderful men who were so assured of You, of Your salvation.  They had absolutely no doubt of the victory You would bring them despite the witness of the other eight scouts.  Even though they were the minority here it did not sway them from their trust in You and sureness in Your provision for them.

How we need this encouragement in today's world.  We are in the minority.  But like Caleb and Joshua we need not doubt that You are God, Almighty!  We need not doubt that You will carry us through whatever endeavor we embark upon if we but trust and rely on You and Your guidance and provision.

Throughout Your word You bring us stories of not only Your provision but also the results of rebelling against You.  The eight scouts that brought the bad report, and swayed the people against You were struck with a plague and died.  Then the awful punishment on the rest of the Israelites that rebelled.  They were to wander for forty long years and die in the wilderness.  They would die lost and wandering - never finding the home that only You can provide us - the promised land.

The events of verses 39 -45 are interesting and alarming..  Here the Israelites mourn after Moses tells them Your judgment on them.  They then decide to go up and fight the enemy.  Moses warns them that God is no longer with them and will not help them because of their disobedience.  Even with all that has happened the people ignore the warning of Moses and try to fight.  They are sorely defeated.

Oh, LORD God help me to be ever sensitive to Your guiding hand.  I do not want to be as the Israelites here - constantly rebelling and bringing Your wrath upon themselves.

 There does seem to be a point of no return.  I don't think we can ever know when that is but how I pray for the many loved ones that continue to put You off.  Even though You are ever patient, this story shows that there is a point where there seems to be no turning.

I pray that I live my life in such a way as to show the surety I have in Your salvation.  I pray this that I might be an encouraging witness for You - a witness like Caleb and Joshua. I pray that this surety of who I am - a child of You, will be visible to those around me.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORD's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Help me to bravely pray as Paul did.  "But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until  that Day what has been entrusted to me" (2 Timothy 1:12).

Thank You for the testimony of Caleb and Joshua!

Ditat  Deus - God Enriches!

Face to Face With God

Reading: Numbers 12
My Verse:  "But not so with My servant Moses; he is entrusted and faithful in all My house" (Numbers 12:7).

This is pretty amazing.  Moses was a chosen man, indeed!  Oh, LORD God, You spoke with  him face to face.  And Moses was a timid man.  "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth" (12:3).  I know that he was shy and didn't like speaking in front of people.  When You first called him to service he protested mightily!  But You helped him past that.  I just wonder if after he started meeting with You face to face that he became even meeker, more aware of his sinful nature?

All other prophets You spoke to in visions and dreams.  "Hear now My words; If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make Myself known to him in a vision and speak to him in a dream" (12:6).
When You spoke to Moses You did so clearly.  "With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly and not in dark speeches; and he beholds the form of the LORD" (12:8).  So Moses was unique in this, meeting You face to face.

What is it like to be face to face with You, LORD God?  Is it like looking into a mirror?  Would we  by looking upon You face to face see our very souls - our every flaw glaringly obvious?  You must have had to give Moses an extra measure of grace to handle such an awesome experience.  You are gracious to us, LORD God.  We surely could not handle the reflection we would get back from Your shining, pure face. 

There is something to be said for ignorance.  And yet . . . it is also sad to live one's life in ignorance of You.  Too many in this world live lives that are so devoid of You.  I do not understand how they deal with the void in their souls - for there is a void, a hungering after something.  Even as a follower of You I still sometimes feel adrift, uncertain.  It is sometimes a struggle to keep myself firmly anchored to You!

I know that as a Christian I must grow.  I must become ever closer to You.  I must become more and more like You.  In this growing process, Your light reveals more and more  of my flaws, my sinful nature.  Your light brightens every corner, cleansing me with that beautiful pure light of Yours.  I also become more and more aware of how I cannot live without You.

Moses was a special man -"entrusted and faithful in all My house."  It will be wonderful to meet him.I look forward to that.

But, now I am here on this earth.  I need to keep my eyes ever on You, trusting that You will carry me through.  There is so much I do  not understand - so much ugliness on this earth, so much sadness.  My heart sometimes feels like it cannot bear the pain of all those hurting souls out there.  I sometimes do not know how to handle the tragedies that weigh us down.  Oh, LORD God, this is when I must hang ever tighter onto You!

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:2).

Help me LORD God to live that I too might be counted as "entrusted and faithful" and that I will be ready to meet You face to face!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

How We Complain!

Reading:  Numbers 10, 11
My Verse:  "I am not able to carry all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me" (11:14).

Oh, LORD God, You are gracious to us even in our complaining - and how we do complain!  Forgive me, I am embarrassed to say I do it all the time!  Dear LORD help me in this.

This passage is all about this dreadful habit of ours.  We complain about everything.  The Israelites are complaining about their hardships.  You grew angry with them and punished them for this.  "and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp" (11:1).  Later they complained about their food.  Here You granted them their greedy desires and gave them meat to eat.  When You gave them the meat they did not thank You for it but greedily piled up way more than they needed. So  with the meat You also put upon them a plague that killed many.  In this complaining the people were not looking to You for help but were just griping about their wants and desires and condition.  And so You punished them.

And yet there are times when You are gracious to us as You were to Moses.  He just felt overwhelmed with all the needs of the people.  He was even to the point of asking You to take his life.  ". . . kill me I pray you, at once, and be granting me a favor and let me not see my wretchedness" (11:15).  How often are we there ourselves?  Sometimes things on this earth just feel too burdensome.  And like Moses, we despair.  How we need reminding of Your love for us.  How we need reminding that You will help us to carry these burdens - You in fact will carry them for us. 

In this case You told Moses to gather "men of the elders of Israel whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them" and You would anoint them with Your spirit to help him bear the burdens of the people. This helped Moses to realize that he did not have to bear the burdens alone.

In looking at these two kinds of complaining - that of the people and that of Moses.  The people were literally just complaining.  They were not crying out to You - they were crying out about their situation.  Moses on the other hand was crying out to You.  He had a personal relationship with You and so cried out to You that he just couldn't bear it any more.  And so You responded to him.  You responded to his need.

This is so important.  I need to remember this when I find myself starting to fret.  I know that You love me and so, like Moses I must cry out to You in my every need.  I must instead of focusing on my problem, I must focus on You!  I must be thankful for all that You do for me. 

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall  not be in want" (Psalm 23:1)

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!" (Isaiah 30:18).

Thank You, LORD God for this lesson!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Stand Still!

Reading:  Numbers 7, 8, 9
My Verse:  "And Moses said to them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you" (9:8).

  Such a wonderful command from You, Oh LORD God!  But, oh, it is a most difficult one!  We fret.  We strive.  We cry.  We beg You for immediate help - now!

This passage is such a beautiful illustration of how You want to care for us.  You visually show the Israelites Your guiding presence in the form of "the cloud by day and appearance of fire by night" (9:16). By the cloud they knew when they were to be still and when they were to move.  When You wanted them to move You moved the cloud.  When You wanted them to be still You kept the cloud still.  It is wrong  for us to think they had it easy!  For even with this visual reminder of You  it was hard to be still and wait upon You.  They actually got themselves into trouble by not obeying this guidance.  (Numbers 14:1-4)   www.esvbible.org/search/Numbers+14/1-4

And so today we too get ourselves into trouble.  We just find it so difficult to wait upon You!  We panic because we see the immediacy of our trouble.  The illustration in Joshua 3 is another wonderful picture of You asking us to "stand still."  You told the priests to walk into the Jordan and "you shall stand still in the Jordan" (Joshua 3:8).  Talk about immediacy of trouble!  They were in this raging river, it was the time of harvest,  "now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest" (Joshua 3:15).  No, they were not asked to do a  simple thing.

How I need to keep this in mind.  I am too quick to think my situation as unique.  I need constant reminding that You are LORD of my life!  I need constant reminding that You love me more than I can ever understand.  I need constant reminding that You see the big picture - I do not, I cannot!

 Help me LORD God, to be still and silent when You tell me to.

"The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" (Exodus 14:14).

"Teach me and I will be silent;
   make me to understand how I have gone astray" (Job 6:24).

Help me, LORD God to listen for Your guidance, to be discerning and patient.

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it,"  when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21).

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7).

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the LORD
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning" (Psalm 130:5.6).

Oh LORD God, keep me from rushing out into places I have no business in , or strength and wisdom for.
Yes, LORD God, help me to wait for You.  Help me to stand still.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!





 

God's Blessing!

Reading:  Numbers 6
My Verse:  "The LORD bless you and keep you;
                    the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
                    the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (6:24 - 26 ESV).

How beautiful.  This speaks to Who You are LORD God - You are LOVE!  You want so much to show us this love and compassion that You have for us.

I watched a  movie on Martin Luther.  It impressed on me the great need to "correctly handle the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15).  It also impressed on me the great need Luther felt to know You and to know that You loved him.  So many of that day and even of our day live without this knowledge.  They see You as a great judge in the sky. But You are love.  "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (I John 4:8).

You want to bless us - bestow on us many good things, including Yourself. 

You want to keep us - watch, guard and protect us as You did for Job.  "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?  You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land" (Job 1:10).

You want to "shine" upon us - Your face gives us light, healing, enlightening light.
     This phrase is repeated in Psalm 80, "and cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!"
    "You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light" (2 Samuel 22:29).
    "The unfolding of your words gives light it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130).

You want to be gracious to us - it is Your good pleasure to bestow upon us benefits we do not deserve.

You want to "lift up Your countenance upon us" - You want to look at us with approval.  ESV study notes says this is to take notice of us and treat us with Your favor.

Finally, You want to give us "peace" - You want us to have tranquility of heart and life.  You want us to have this always, even in the midst of turmoil.  "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

"Bless the LORD, O  my soul.  O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty" (Psalm 104:1).

Thank You for this blessing!  Thank You that I can hide away in Your love! http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/Songs/Hide_Away_in_the_Love_of_Jesus/10

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Confess & Restore!

Reading: Numbers 3, 4, 5
My Verse:  "Say to the Israelites, When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess the sin which he has committed, and he shall make restitution for his wrong in full and add a fifth to it, and give it to him whom he has wronged" (5:6, 7).

This is such an enormously important concept!  Oh, LORD God, You leave nothing out when dealing with us.  You know our sinful hearts and You also know our reluctance to own up to our sin.  Here it is pretty plain that we need to  not only confess our sin but seek restoration with those that we sin against!

It really is amazing that this concept has been universally accepted. It has even become step 5 and 8 of the 12 steps to Alcohol Recovery. 
     Step 5:  "Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." 
     Step 8:  "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to made amends to them."

Oh, LORD God, how we need to realize that only through following Your precepts can we find healing and restoration.  The Alcoholics Anonymous have realized this by including Your very law into their program.  They have realized that only through Your law are we restored.

   "The law of the LORD if perfect, restoring the person; 
          the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
    The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; 
          the commandment of the LORD is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.
    The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
          the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
    More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; 
          they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb.
    Moreover, by them is Your servant warned; 
          and in keeping them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:7-11).

It is actually becoming a rather popular thing to do.  One hears of celebrities 'fessing up and asking forgiveness for their sins, well they don't actually say "sin"  but basically admit to doing wrong.  There is such a release of stress and guilt when one does this.  It is one of those things that is so terribly hard to do but once done provides immense relief from the heavy burden of guilt.

Thank You, LORD God for this wonderful lesson. Your Word is sure, pure and true.  It makes me wiser.  It enlightens my eyes.  It rejoices my heart.  It restores me. How I need this reminding every moment of my day!  And I pray for courage to not only own up to my sins but to seek restoration if I have sinned against another.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

How Sweet Are God's Commandments!

Reading:  Numbers 1, 2
My Verse:  "Thus did the Israelites; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they did" (1:54).

As I read this I feel the sweetness of Your love for the Israelites.  You care about them and so You provide them with direction and order as to how they are to  move forward.  They are getting ready to embark on a great adventure.  It probably looked pretty scarey.  Yet, You were preparing them all along and here You show them that You will not leave them.  You show them how they are to proceed with detailed commands. It is sweet, indeed, LORD God!

First, You had them count themselves - take a census.  This gave them some assurance of their great numbers.  They were 603,550 fighting men strong!  Then You told them how to order their camp, plus how they were to break down camp and set it back up.  You also told them how they were to travel.  It was all in an orderly fashion.  This made for less confusion.  They didn't have to spend time trying to figure out how to order themselves.  It was all set and so this provided them with a sense of calm, a sense of place, and a sense of correctness.  This is so important for peace of mind for not only individuals but also for the families, for the children.

You created us in Your image.  You are a God of order and so we Your creatures are also creatures of order.  We respond with a sense of well-being when things are in order. 

As a teacher, that was one of the things my students always wanted to know.  They wanted to know the order of the day.  They loved nothing more than a schedule!  I think then they could anticipate what was coming next.  It gave them a sense of order and oddly enough it also gave them some sense of control of their time.  They could then order themselves, so to speak to the schedule.  I think we all do so much better when we have some sense of order to our days, I know I do!

Chaos is the opposite of peace.  When we see countries that are at war - everything is a mess!  Families are terribly disrupted, governmental functions in disarray, wreckage abounds - it is utter chaos.  Children in these types of situations suffer trauma that haunts them the rest of their lives.  And so this same type of trauma damages children raised in chaotic homes.  How we need order to give us that sense of well-being, of peace.

I love  how Tozer states this idea of You, LORD God ordering our way here on earth.  It is not stifling by any means.  No it allows us to develop to become the people You would have us to be!  Like You did for the Israelites, You do for us - You provide an appointed way for each of Your loved ones.

"The man of true faith may live in the absolute assurance that his steps are ordered by the LORD.  For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility.  He cannot be torn from this earth one hour ahead of the time which God has appointed, and he cannot be detained on earth one moment after God is done with him here.  He is not a waif of the wide world, a foundling of time and space, but a saint of the LORD and the darling of His particular care.

All this is not a mere dreaming, not a comforting creed woven as a garment to warm the shivering hearts of lonely, frightened souls in a dark and unfriendly world.  Rather it is of the essence of truth, a fair summation of the teaching of the Bible on the subject and should be received reverently, and joyously along with everything else which is taught in the Scriptures of truth"  (We Travel An Appointed Way by A.W Tozer).

Thank You LORD God for Your sweet commands! 

"the commandment of the LORD if pure and bright, enlightening the eyes" (Psalm 19:8).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

God Enables Me To Walk Erect!

Reading:  Leviticus 23 - 27
My Verse:  "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves.  And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect" (26:13).

Wow!  I am always amazed when I find these little treasures in Your Word, Oh LORD God!  I shouldn't be but always am.  It is fun for me to come upon these verses that speak so directly to me.  You are speaking to the Israelites but because Your Word is for all time and speaks to all peoples this speaks directly to me.  You broke my chains of bondage.  It is only because of You that I am able to walk erect.  Thank You.

The Israelites were first physically enslaved by the Egyptians.  They then were at the risk of being enslaved by the pagan practices around them.  This whole  book is about You trying to prepare them for living a holy life - a life free of bondage, a life where they could walk erect!  Over and over You tell them who You are.  "I am the LORD your God."

Today we struggle with this very thing - bondage.  It weighs us down and we walk around as though we have this great burden on our backs just like Christian in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.  Sin is incredibly heavy and burdensome.  It sucks away our enerygy and joy.  To make it worse we deny Your LORDship over us!  We often forget or simply deny that You are the LORD our God. 

I just recently inadvertently caused several people pain.  Even though I did not do this on purpose, I was careless and so felt quite awful.  How this burdened me!  I felt like my strength was all gone.  I felt so saddened because I could not go back and fix the hurt I caused.  But, I know that You LORD God keep me.  You forgive me and will enable me to to walk erect again!  Knowing this helps me to look forward and know that it will be all right.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

It is also easy to become burdened down with the cares of the world.  So many loved ones that do not know You LORD God.  So many loved ones suffering in darkness.  I sometimes just become overwhelmed with the needs out there!  But You, LORD God tell me - "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall" (Psalm 55:22).  Philippians 4:6 tells me.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  I do struggle with this but I know that You, LORD God will help me here.  You will enable me to cast my cares on You.  You will enable me to not be anxious.  You will enable me to present all my requests to You with a thankful heart.  And so You will enable me to walk erect!

Thank You for reminding me that You are the LORD my God!  I needed this today!

"May the words of my  mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!







 

I AM The LORD!

Reading:  Leviticus 21, 22
My Verse:  "So shall you heartily accept My commandments and conform your life and conduct to them.  I am the LORD" (22:31).

This is so fascinating, LORD God.  You are so careful to impress upon the Israelites that You are a holy God!  You tell them just how they are to behave, what they are not to do and what they are to do.  But the most important thing You do is remind them over and over just Who You are, "I AM the LORD."

All the rules and regulations You lay out here in Leviticus could seem overwhelming and burdensome.  I have often viewed them as such but today I am impressed by the great need for the Israelites to realize Who You are.  They needed to realize that they served a holy God.  You were providing them a way to see that daily.

And so I look at my day and wonder what is it that reminds me of You, LORD God?  Kindnesses of people remind me of Your goodness.  Your Word constantly reminds and teaches me just Who You are - when I read it.   Answered prayer brings joy and thankfulness to You. The special love of one's family.

And I thank You for the beauty we are still able to see in this fallen world.  We are having a beautiful stretch of weather.  The low winter sun casting beautiful bright light on the snow causing it to sparkle and shine soothes my soul.  The chirping birds eating at the feeder brighten my heart.  The cold crisp air freshens me. My Christmas cactus blooms with its incredibly beautiful bright fuchsia blossoms making me smile.  You are my LORD.  You are creator of all that is beautiful.  I thank You for providing beauty in my life.  You know our need of this kind of balm to our wounded and weary spirits.  In all these things You are telling me,  "I Am the LORD."

When I am at church service and hear the congregation worship You in song - it is a wonderful thing to be a part of that.  When I hear the pastor so passionately teach us Your truths from Your Holy Word I am refreshed and encouraged. The worship songs, the sermon, the prayers all help to point to You and the fact that You are our LORD God.

Knowing Who You are, being reminded of Who You are daily helps me to accept Your commandments.  It helps me to conform my life to them.  It helps me to conform my conduct to Your ways.  Your very goodness draws me to You.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13).
You, LORD God sent Your beautiful only son to do just this.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish" (John 3:16).

We are coming up on that most beautiful of holidays - Christmas!  We get to celebrate You, LORD Jesus!  We get to put up a tree and decorations - all to remind us to ever look up to You for You are returning and on that blessed day - "every knee will bow before me; and every tongue will confess to God" (Romans 14:11).  Oh Blessed Day that will be!  http://www.mamuse.org/music/glorious/

Thank You for reminding me today that You are LORD!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

God Alone Can Sanctify Me!

Reading:  Leviticus 20
My Verse:  "And you shall keep My statutes and do them.  I am the LORD Who sanctifies you" (20:8).

 Dear LORD God, thank You for sanctifying me.  I kind of get this although it is hard to put the fact that only You can sanctify me and that You have sanctified me together with my being holy.  I think this is because I do not always feel holy, in fact I rarely feel holy.  More often than not I feel pretty inadequate and unholy!  But, here You tell me, "I am the LORD Who sanctifies you."

I had to look around a bit to help me better understand this idea of sanctification.  One study points out that "sanctify"  whenever used in the New Testament is in the perfect tense.  Being in the perfect tense means that the action happened in the past, it was completed, but it still effects us today.  In other words it is ongoing - it still applies to us.  Another interesting point was that the verb is passive, which means that the action was done to us not by us.  We have no part in it.  The work that You, LORD Jesus did on the cross was done in the past but still applies to me today. And it was a complete action.

Colossians 1:22 tells me that Your whole purpose in reconciling me was "to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."  I have always had trouble with this.  I just didn't understand how I could be holy, without blemish and free from accusation. Ephesians 1:5 tells me that You, LORD God "chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."  Again, this idea that I am holy and blameless!  I just have had trouble reconciling this with my daily life.  I fall short so often how is this to be?! 

But I begin to get it, however dimly.  I begin to realize that it is all You, LORD God.  Yes, my part is that I need to take this gift You offer me and realize that it is Your work - Your action alone that sanctifies me.  Because You view me as holy and blameless then I must live as one that is holy and blameless.  Still do not fully grasp how it all works out but I can only act on it.  I guess that is what stepping out in faith means.  I can use this fact as a motivator to strive to live as I should, to submit to You each day.  This is what Paul calls us to do in Colossians chapter 3. 

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).

Daily, every moment of the day I need to be reminded that You, LORD God sanctified me and so because You did that You view me as holy and blameless.  My feelings, my doubts, my failings do not affect that at all.    I need only live as You view me - sanctified, holy and acceptable.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

My God is A God of Order

Reading:  Leviticus 17 - 19
My Verse:  "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God; I am the LORD"  (19:32).

These chapters remind me that I serve a God of order.  Thank You LORD God for this wonderful reminder.  You did not leave the Israelites to flounder about and figure out for themselves how they were to be holy.  You told them to be holy and then You told them how to be holy.  You provided them clear directions on how to live a holy and orderly life.

I like this verse here.  It speaks to something that is woefully lacking in today's society - respect!  Rudeness seems to be the order of the day - it is what is cool!  Rude talk, rude dress, rude behavoir.  One sees it everywhere.  Here You remind me that I need to honor those older than myself.  Help me in this LORD God.

This verse also states that I must fear You, LORD God!  The Amplified Bible says "reverently fear your God."   Just what does it mean to "fear" God?  Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."  Hebrews 12:28-29 gives a clear description of what it is to reverently fear or be in reverent awe of You, LORD God.  "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"  Love that! 

Reverently fearing and being in total awe of You, LORD God needs to be the basis of my life.  It is only if I see You as the beginning and the end of all that I am able to live the holy, orderly life You would have me to live.  This reverent fear and awe becomes my reason, gives me a platform from which to operate so to speak. Reverent fear and awe of You LORD, leads to an orderly life.

"Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God.  I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 25:17).

"The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous" (Psalm 19:9).

 Paul taught much on how Christians were to live.  He spoke to this need to be orderly often.

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (I Corinthians 14:33).
"But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way" ( I Corinthians 14:40).

This is a wonderful attribute of Yours, LORD God for us to hang onto today.  We live in such a chaotic world - wars, storms, scandals seem to be more the norm than not.  Thank You for Your orderliness.  It helps me to order my day as You would have me to.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Be Holy, For I Am Holy

Reading:  Leviticus 11 - 15
My Verse:  "For I am the LORD your God.  Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I  am holy.  You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.  For I am the LORD who brought up up out of the land of Egypt to by your God.  You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (11:44,45).

This is really rather fascinating.  So many rules about eating, personal cleaniliness and behavior.  You, LORD God were calling the Israelites out of Egypt into a land filled with a people that denied You and lived lives that were unholy and sinful.  You wanted the Israelites to be Your special and separate people.  For them to be this special, holy people they needed to be set apart.  The ESV study notes states that these rituals and distinctions between animals that were clean or unclean helped the Israelites to realize this apartness.  It helped to remind them that they served a holy God and needed to practice being holy themselves.

While these practices are no longer in effect because You, LORD Jesus abolished all that with Your new covenant with us, this command to be holy has not been abolished. (Col. 2:16-23)  Peter points out in the New Testament that I, as a Christian,  need to be holy in my walk with You, LORD God.

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at this coming. as obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:   "Be holy, because I am holy" (I Peter 1:12-16NIV).
 
I had to look up the word 'consecrate.'  According to dictionary.com  it means - to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity.  So I am to dedicate myself to You, LORD God.  It does seem a bit daunting until I realize that this is something I cannot do on my own.   I must  first submit to You and then You will help me to be dedicated to You. Philippians 4:13 states this so clearly!  "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."

This brings to mind one of my Mother's favorite songs. "Without Him I Can Do Nothing."

This also brings to mind A.W. Tozer's teaching on how before we can be holy or even understand holiness we need to first think rightly about You, LORD God! He said.  "It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate."   Our Sunday school teacher has been bringing up an interesting thought.  It is that we need to be careful to differentiate between ideas and practices that are our own traditions rather than Your teaching LORD God!  This is saying much the same thing as Tozer - help me LORD God to differentiate between Your teaching and  my own erroneous ideas.

So yes, help me to be holy LORD Jesus in all that I do!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

God's Way - Not Our Way!

Reading:  Leviticus 5 - 10
My Verse:  "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the LORD, as He had not commanded them.  And there came forth fire from before the LORD and killed them, and they died before the LORD" (10:1, 2).

On first read this is shocking!  God appears to be a wrathful god indeed!  But, one has to look back at the previous chapters to this event.  LORD God, You  have clearly and deliberately outlined how the people and the priests are to behave and come before Him.  You made it very clear that You are a Holy God and cannot accept anything less than that which is holy and acceptable in Your sight!  That is why You so carefully spell out to the people how to be a holy people before You!

Nadab and Abihu were trying to do things their way.  It says they "offered strange and unholy fire before the LORD."  We do not know all that was involved, just that they were not obedient to Your clear directions.  It is interesting that Aaron, their father, "held his peace."   It may be that he knew they were in the wrong and he could say nothing in their defense.  He could not cry out to You, LORD God and ask. "Why?"  because he knew the why.

Oh, LORD God, I tremble in the reading of this.  I am made mindful of my own waywardness, stubborness, and selfishness!  I am reminded of the times that I have been deliberately disobedient to You - You, my holy LORD God!  I am so thankful that You are patient and ever so loving with me.   I certainly do not deserve it!

I love what Isaiah says about Your ways versus our ways.   

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD.  
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, 
And my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Like David in Psalm 25 I too lift up my plea to You.

"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul, O my God, I trust in You . . .
Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day" (Psalm 25: 1-5).

Thank You for Your patience with me.  Keep me on Your path, in Your way not mine!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

 

Without The Shedding of Blood . . .

Reading:  Leviticus 1 - 4
My Verse:    "If any one of the common people sins unwittingly in doing anything the LORD has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, when the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. (4:27, 28).

I enter into the halls of Leviticus with great trepidation.  This book has such a sense of solemnity, grandeur and  loftiness.  There is so  much fire and smoke and all that letting of blood!  All the rituals are so very specific,orderly and graphic - everything drips with holiness! Oh, LORD God, You are holy.  It is only by the shedding of blood that sins can be cleansed away and forgiven!

I especially like that sin is identified here as "anything the LORD has commanded not to be done."  Too often "sins" are renamed as disorders or lifestyle choice and so are no longer considered sins.  We are intolerant, even hateful if we say something is a sin, is aberrant behavior according to Your Word, LORD God.  Thank You that we do have Your word - the Truth.    We have a guide that is specific and clear about just what sin is!

I also like how this verse points out that we need to be responsive to those around us or to Your nudge, to Your conviction.  For "when the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed."  Sin is so dreadful, it separates us from You and so we need to deal with it immediately before it starts to make us ugly!
  
All this ritualistic sacrificing  makes me realize that there has to be an accounting on my part -  I need to ask, seek Your forgiveness. The Israelites had to physically go through a ritualistic act to bring their sin before You, to let You know they are aware of their sin and are asking for Your forgiveness.  So we today need to come before You with our sin, for You only can forgive and cleanse us.  Thank You for this lesson.

I am  so grateful to You, LORD Jesus for what You have done for us.  What the Israelites were doing had to be repeated every time they sinned.  You made the ultimate, final blood sacrifice with Your own blood.  Just before You died on that cross You cried, "It is done!"  Hebrews 9:25 and 26 tells us.  "Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly . . . But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

No, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22). You, LORD Jesus shed Your blood for me!  Thank You.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

God Provides the Will and the Skill!

Reading:  Exodus 35 - 40
My Verse:  "And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and wisdom, with intelligence and understanding, and with knowledge and all craftsmanship" (35:31).

This is a  most beautiful section of the Bible.  LORD God, here You remind me of whence all our skills and abilities come!  You tell Moses how You want Your place of worship to look and be.  You are very detailed and orderly in how You want this to come about.  Then You provide each man and woman with that which is necessary to make this all come about - the will and the skill.

I am reminded here of teaching art to children.  Too often children are told to draw or paint a picture of something without any preparation.  The teacher expects them to just come up with it - then of course the child is intimidated and feeling inferior or inadequate because they can't come up with something.  No, there needs to be much preparation.  The student needs to be provided some guidance, direction and material from which to draw their own creative ideas. When provided this kind of guidance the results are beautiful.

That is what You do here LORD God.  First, You tell the Israelites what You want then You provide each and everyone the material - "filled with the Spirit of God, with ability and wisdom, with intelligence and understanding, and with knowledge and all craftsmanship."  You do not expect the people to draw from a blank to do what You expect. 

Even when You asked them to give of their own bounty to build the temple - You provided them the desire to give - "And they came, each one whose heart stirred him up and whose spirit made him willing, and brought the offering to be used for the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and the holy garments" (35:23).  You provided them the desire and they had the option to respond to that or not.  So You do with us.

Even the ladies that were to do the sewing, were able to do so only because You gave them the ability and the desire to do that service. "And all the women who had ability and whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats' hair" (35:26).

Yes, You endow each of us with the will and skill to do that which You would have us do.  Looking back on Moses is a wonderful picture of this - You provided him each step of the way in his journey with what he needed to carry out Your will.

Thank You, LORD God for providing me all that I need to live an abundant life!  I have a hard time seeing that but I need only trust on Your all sufficiency! 

You, LORD God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I love this prayer of Paul's and claim it for myself.  "I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being"  (Ephesians 3:16).  And I pray it for those dear to my heart.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

A Merciful and Gracious God!

Reading:  Exodus 34
My Verse:  "The LORD said to Moses, cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke" (34:1).

Poignant is the word this verse brings to mind.  I am intensely, strongly moved by what You LORD God say here.  Moses lost his temper and broke the first set of tablets that You wrote on.  But You tell him here that even though he "broke" the stones, You will again "write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables."  You mercifully and graciously forgive him.  You mercifully and graciously are willing to do the writing again for the rebellious nation of Israel.  In doing this You, the Almighty LORD God show Your mercy and grace.

So much to learn from this verse.  There was an interlude in  Your program.  The people messed up terribly.  Moses lost his temper.  You told Moses that You would not stay with them.  Things are not good.  There is a lot of tension and anger and remorse.

Yet, here You show how truly loving You are.  You could have completely destroyed the Isrealites as You said in 32:10.  "Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and that I may destroy them. . ."  Moses begs You to not do that and so You graciously agreed. "Then the LORD turned from the evil which He had thought to do to His people" (32:14).  Then You say You will not accompany them to the promised land. (33:3)  Again Moses begs You to not abandon them.  And again You mercifully and graciously relent. 

Oh, LORD God, here I am made fully aware of Your Mercy.  It is an active thing.  You are not a far away entity - coldly dealing with us as we deserve.  No, You intervene in our lives over and over as we so often mess up!  If You did not we would be so lost as were the Israelites! 

I like Tozer's definition of mercy and grace in The Knowledge of the Holy.  "Mercy is an attribute of God, an infinite and inexhaustible energy within the divine nature which disposes God to be actively compassionate."  "Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving."

This example of Your loving mercy and grace reminds me of how I too need to be merciful and gracious in my daily walk - in my interactions with those around me.  Sometimes this is so hard to do and yet You require that of me.

"The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in  mercy and loving-kindness"  (Psalm 103:8).

"Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful" (Psalm 116:5).

Thank You, LORD God, for this lesson on Your mercy and grace!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

The Intercession of Moses

Reading:  Exodus 33
My Verse:  "And the LORD said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name" (33:17).

This is powerful in so many ways!  Moses has grown so incredibly not only as a leader but also in his relationship with You, LORD God.  Moses again intercedes for the people of Israel.

This man who once claimed he couldn't talk before people now boldly comes before You, asking that You  not leave the people. You, LORD God told Moses.  "Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way" (33:3).  You said You would send an angel before them but You Yourself would not be there.  Moses would not accept this.  He pleaded with You that You go with them all the way.  He would settle for nothing less.  He even begged You to not send them if You would not be there with them.  "And Moses said to the LORD, if Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here" (33:15)!

Oh, LORD God, what does this teach me - this story of the intercession of Moses?

You tell Moses that You "will do this thing also that you have asked"  for several reasons.

First, because  he has "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight."  Oh, LORD God You are a merciful God.  You are a loving God.  You are a kind God.  Simply by following You, LORD God, by being obedient to Your guidance You will bestow upon us the fruits of the Spirit.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). You will heal and transform us to be the kind of people You want us to be that we may find favor, loving-kindness and mercy in Your sight.

Then You tell him, "I know you personally."  Oh, LORD God what a wonder - to be known personally by You!  When Moses went to the tent to call on You, You did not ignore Him but You met with him there. "When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would talk with Moses" (33:9).  You were angry with the people but You would not turn Your back on Moses because You knew Him personally.  You had a relationship with him.  You loved him.

Finally, You say You knew his name.  That is a powerful thing.  I do not fully understand the power in this but I sense that there is so much more to this than I can grasp.  You use You name at crucial times throughout scripture to show the power of it.  When Moses requested that he be allowed to see Your glory You said to him.  "And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD before you. . ."  Back in Exodus 3:14. You say.  "I AM WHO I AM.   This is what you are to say to the Israelites; I AM has sent me to you."  Philippians 2:10 tells us, "so that at the name of Jesus every knew should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."  Yes, there is great power in a name, especially in Your name, LORD Jesus!

Thank You for this lesson of how if I have a relationship with You, You will answer me when I call on You, because I have "found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy" in Your sight and  You know me "personally and by name."

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Our Impatience!

Reading:  Exodus 31,32
My Verse:  "They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, These are your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt" (32:8)!

Oh, LORD God, what the Israelites did here is not so very different from what we do today.  We are so quick to forget Who You are as did the Israelites.  We want immediate gratification today even more.  We live today in a society where we expect things now, not tomorrow!  Impatience rules our hearts and lives!

Moses went up the mountain to commune with You.  He was to find out what and how You wanted them to proceed.  However, they grew tired of waiting for Moses to return from the mountain so they built themselves an alter - a golden calf to which they could worship.  They wanted something visible and tangent and immediate.  They forgot Who You were, LORD God.  They forgot that You see all and know all.  You saw what they did and grew angry.  You wanted to destroy them and start over with Moses. "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people; now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and that I may destroy them, but I will  make of you a great nation" (32:9,10).

Wow!  You are Almighty God!  How we need to remember that!  You give us life and take it away so very quickly.  We are so impatient but You, LORD God are ever patient with us.  Yet, even You grow weary of the sinfulness of Your people.  Moses intervened and You listened.  "Then the LORD turned from the evil which He had thought to do to His people" (32:14). What a wonderful example of intercessory prayer.  Thank You for this, LORD God.  You do listen to us when we pray to You with a fervent, believing heart.

Thank You, LORD God for Your loving mercy to us who are so undeserving.  Thank You for Your wonderful teaching through this Your Word.  I need to not let the cry of the immediate dominate me and turn me aside from You.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;  they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31).

"Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.  For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land" (Psalm 37:7-9).

"He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10).

Still my heart LORD God when I grow impatient.  Help me to turn from my immediate need and turn my eyes upon You!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

With A Willing Heart

Reading:  Exodus 25 - 30
My Verse:  "Speak to the Israelites, that they take for Me an offering.  From every man who gives it willingly and ungrudgingly with his heart, you shall take My offering" (25:1).

This is so good.  LORD God, You do not ask of us what we do not want to give You.  You risked all of Your beautiful creation by giving us a free spirit, a free will.  You wanted us to be sentient, rationale beings, able to made our own decisions, own choices.  Here You tell Moses to take an offering only from those who give "willingly with his heart."

How we must pain You with our reluctance, with our dragging feet.  We are so slow to grasp Your beautiful gift of salvation.  Even when we do accept Your free gift we are slow to give our all to You.  We tend to be selfish - hanging onto our possessions, our time, our talents - thinking it is ours alone. 

Yet, throughout Your Word You tell us how we would only be blessed by giving to You!  You teach us that giving is all about attitude.  To illustrate this You compared the giving of the poor widow to that of the wealthy scribes. "For they all threw in our of their abundance, but she, out of her deep poverty. . ." (Mark 12:44).

"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to" (Deuteronomy 15:10).

"Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly" (I Chronicles 29:9).

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it" (Proverbs 3:27).

"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back" (Luke 6:30). 

Most of these teach about giving of one's time and possessions. But this teaching of Yours goes deeper.  You LORD God also want our hearts.  You want us to give You our hearts "willingly and ungrudgingly."  In Revelation 3:16 You say.  "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" 

Oh, LORD God, I pray for a willing heart in all that I do.  For all that I do should be as unto You! (I Corinthians 10:31)  That means giving You all my heart willingly!

Ditat Deus- God Enriches!

The Written Word of God

Reading:  Exodus 24
My Verse:  "And the Lord said to Moses, Come up to Me into the mountain and be there, and I will give you tables of  stone, with the law and the commandments which I have written that you may teach them" (24:12).

Here, You tell us LORD God that You wrote the commandments on tablets of stone.  You wrote them that they may be taught.

Today we have the Bible, your written Word.  Many attack it and try to discredit the Bible.   Many try to break it up and say only parts are true or can be taken seriously.    And yet the more I read it the more amazed I am at the cohesiveness of the entire Bible.  Reading it from Genesis to Revelation has become a wonderful journey for me.  I love how everything in Your Word, LORD God, is so connected!

I was trying to research when the use of writing was first spoken of in the Bible and ran across an article of this amazing study done by an Ivon Panin.  It seems Panin is a converted Russian Nihilist and Harvard scholar.   He studied an amazing phenomenon of the Bible having to do with the absoluteness of the Bible's mathematical structure.  The article states that this phenomenon could "only be understood in the light of Divine inspiration."   I am not a mathematician but even I can marvel and be astounded at the wonder of the mathematical connections and cohesivness of the Bible as spelled out by Panin.  "Panin proceeded to prove that every book of the Bible carries such numeric features, that each numeric feature is necessary to cause the numerical scheme of the entire Bible to work out correctly, and that nothing can be added to , or subtracted from, the Bible, as we have it, without spoiling these features" (Panin)

This is marveleous because You tell us in Revelation 22:18, 19 this exact thing.  " If any man shall add unto this writing, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: . . . And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city . . ."

As an ancient document the Bible has a amazing amount of other documents to support it.  There are also a large number of actual scriptural documents that help to support the internal integrity of the Bible - the words we read today can be relied on to be accurate. 

Thank You, LORD God for this preservation of Your Word, the Truth.  You tell us again in Revelation 22:10. "And he told me, Do  not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book and make no secret of them for the time when things are brought to a crisis and the period of their fulfillment is near."

I thank You that I can rely on Your Word to be truth.  I can rely on it to be a guide for my life.  I can rely on it to draw me ever closer to You, LORD God.  Thank You for Your Written Word! 

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!


 

Our God Gives Clear & Specific Directions to Live By!

Reading:  Exodus 20 - 23
My Verse:  "Behold I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.  Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do  not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him" (23:20, 21).

LORD God, here is where You give the Israelites their marching orders so to speak.  You start off with the basic ten commandments that cover all of ones life, then follow with very specific detailed directions as to how to deal with various issues.  It is really an amazing guide for living.  All law makers and leaders should study and know these three chapters of the Bible! 

The wonderful thing is that You do not expect Your people to be totally on their own.  After giving these very specific directions You tell Your people that You will send an angel to "guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared."  That is so like You LORD God.  You are so loving, so compassionate. 

This angel seems to have appeared visibly several times.  Joshua 5:13-15 gives a beautiful visual of this angel.  "a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand."  This "Man" said he was "Prince of the LORD's host."  He is also referred to  in Exodus 33:2.  It is so beautiful when angels are spoken of in the Bible. It is so reassuring to know that they really are there to guard and guide us.

I like how this verse speaks to our part in our walk with You LORD God.  We are admonished to "pay careful attention to him."  Yes, You provide us with very clear directions in the Bible as to how we are to live.  You also provide angels to help us along the way.  Today we even have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us.  And yet we do have to respond to this guidance.  We must do our part to pay attention.  I Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:17.  "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the LORD is."

We must be obedient, "obey his voice."  Throughout Your Word, LORD God You admonish us to obey Your Holy Word.  "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20).  Revelation 1:3 tells us. "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

You really do provide us with all that we need and yet many of us live  bankrupt lives because we do not follow through.  We do not "pay attention to him and obey his voice."  Thank You, LORD God for this lesson.  Thank You for Your sufficiency!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Holy Holy Holy, Is Our LORD God!

Reading:  Exodus 19
My Verse:  "So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified them [set them apart for God], and they washed their clothes" (19:14).


This chapter impresses upon me the incredible holiness of You, LORD God!

You want to show Yourself at least in part to the people, to impress on them that You are indeed speaking to them through Moses.  You want the people to realize that Moses is Your chosen leader.  Yet, You realize the inablity of the Israelites to stand up to You - to Your Holiness.  You know the vast distance between the spiritual condition of the people and Your Holy Self!  So You have Moses prepare the people by setting up boundaries for them.  "And you shall set bounds for the people round about, saying, Take heed that you go not up into the mountain or touch the border of it.  Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death" (19:12).

Dear LORD God You are so specific here and clear as to what the boundaries of the Israelites are.  They know exactly what they can or cannot do in Your holy presence.  You even give them plenty of time to prepare themselves for coming into Your holy presence - three days.  Moses sanctifies them.  They washed their clothes.

Then You appear!  "The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.  Then Moses brought the people from  the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the LORD descended upon it in fire, its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.  As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice"(19:16-19).  How incredible it must have been to be there! 

We so often forget just WHO You are LORD God.  It is easy for me to become a bit careless in my thinking of You.  Forgive me.  I am brought back to Tozer's description in The Knowledge of the Holy of our inability to fully understand Your holiness.  "Quite literally a new channel must be cut through the desert of our minds to allow the sweet waters of truth that will heal our great sickness to flow in.  God's holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered.  We know nothing like the divine holiness.  It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable.  The natural man is blind to it.  He may fear God's power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness he cannot even imagine."  So important that I remember You are The Almighty and Holy God!

I like too the reference to washing their clothes as a part of preparing themselves for coming into Your presence.  I have always felt that as Your disciple and follower going to church is a form of coming into Your presence.  I like to dress nicely because I am going to worship You.  This reference speaks to that for me.  I know that in today's age many think it not cool to do so. But I like "preparing" myself to come into Your presence. 

Thank You, Holy LORD God for loving me and enabling me to want to come into Your Holy presence!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalm 103:1).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
 

Help From Unexpected Sources!

Reading:  Exodus 18
My Verse:    "Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.  You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you.  You are not able to do it alone" (18:17,18).

I truly like this passage about Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.  You show us here a wonderful lesson, LORD God - a lesson that we all need to take to heart.  For You give us guidance and help in many unexpected ways.  Too many think they need to be doing it all, and by doing so burn themselves out needlessly. This not Your plan for us.

Here Moses is doing what he feels he needs to do for the Israelites.  He is trying to meet their every need.  He does not realize that what he is doing is impossible and unnecessary.  It takes an outsider to see the situation for what it is and advise Moses accordingly.

Moses is trying to meet with each and every person that has a problem.  Jethro tells him that he can't do this - it is too much, "you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you." Jethro then tells Moses what to do.  He tells him to include the people in this task - choose wise and good men to help him.  "Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you!  You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do" (18:19,20).  In other words Moses will still be the authority and teacher of God's statutes and laws but he doesn't need to do it alone.  Jethro goes on. "Moreover, look for able men from all the people,, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.  And let them judge the people at all times.  Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves.  So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you" (18:21,22).

Moses, wisely took the advice of Jethro and did accordingly.  What Moses was doing was not only hard on himself but on the people as well, because he was simply unable to deal with each and every one of the problems.  Much time was wasted in the waiting and most likely many problems were not dealt with.  Once Moses set the system up people were able to get on with their lives in a much more efficient way.  As Jethro said. "If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace" (18:23).

This story reminds me LORD God of Your all sufficient grace.  It reminds me that You LORD God are a God of order. You tell us in I Corinthians 14:40. "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."  So when we feel like throwing up our hands and quitting or feel oppressed by the demands on us we need to look to You and be open to Your leading and guidance.  We don't need to let ourselves be burned out.  You will provide us the help we need - and often in the most unexpected ways!

Help me today to keep my eyes and ears open to those unexpected helping hands You send my way!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Murmuring Against God Almighty!

Reading:  Exodus 16, 17
My Verse:  "Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD" (16:8b).

Here the Israelites complain and complain against Moses and Aaron.  They phrase their complaints in many different ways and point to their many different needs but always, as Moses points out here the complaining- the murmuring is not against Moses and Aaron but it is against You, LORD God.

First they complain about lack of water in 15:24 and again in 17:2.  Through Moses You provide water.  Then they complain for lack of food in 16:2.3.  Through Moses you provide manna and fowl.  They are attacked by the Amalakites in 17:8.  Again through Moses You provide them victory in battle. They severely and repeatedly "tempted and tried the patience of the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us or not?" (17:7).

This is such an important lesson, LORD God. It is always against You that we murmur. Though we try to focus our complaining and whining on either those around us or our circumstances it is always ultimately against You that we fret against.  For You, LORD God are omniscient - You know all.  You, LORD God are almighty - able to do all.  You, LORD God love us more than we can ever understand. 

Again here is that tension of our part vs Your part - our response to the testing, to the difficulty and Your part in allowing the testing and enabling us to deal with the trial.  This brings me back to the story of Joseph when he used the opportunity provided him to get himself out of jail.  He trusted You but yet he did not sit back and do nothing.  So I am responsible to act.  I need to use the will You gave me to do that which is right in Your eyes. I need to use the abilities You have given me to live the life You would have me to live in this world.

Oh, LORD God, I cannot even count the times I have murmured against You!  I used to read this passage and wonder at the Israelites - at their seeming blindness to the way You provided for them.  And yet, I find that I do the very same.  Like the Isaelites in the wilderness I quickly forget how You provide for me, how You have blessed me, how You have saved me!

I need to be more careful in how I live.  I need to be more specific and accurate in determining what the problem is that I am dealing with and not just carelessly moan and groan about my situation.  Oh, LORD God You tell us to live purposefully and accurately as much as we are able.

"Look carefully then how you walk!  Live purposefully and worthily and accurately,  not as the unwise and witless, but as wise" (Ephesians 5:15).

"Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the LORD is" (Ephesians 5:17).

Forgive me my murmurings, LORD God.  Thank You for this lesson.  Help me, I pray, to look to You with a heart of thanksgiving.  Help me to trust that You will bring me through each and every trial.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

 

Growing Confident In God's Provision!

Reading:  Exodus 14,15
My Verse:  "And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today.  For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" (14:13,14).

Wow!  Moses has come a long way here!  The Israelites are terrified.  The Egyptian army is in hot pursuit and have arrived right there on the heels of the Israelites.  The Israelites are so sure they are going to die!  ". . . the Israelites were exceedingly frightened and cried out to the Lord.  . . . Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?  Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt?"  Moses is able at this point to trust fully in You, LORD God.  He knows now after all the plagues You brought on the Egyptians - You do provide for Your own.  He is able with full confidence to tell his people that You will fight for  them.  In fact nothing was required of them, they had only to be silent.  You would provide for their deliverance!

That is what it is all about, isn't it LORD God?  You want us to grow confident in You.  You want us to be able when we are in dire circumstances - to say like Moses that You will provide!  You will deliver us. 

And did You deliver the Israelites!  I never tire of reading about the most incredible way You provided for the Israelites.  First, the way You moved the cloud between the Egyptian army and the Israelites.  The way you had the very same Cloud confuse the Egyptians and yet provide light for the Israelites.  Then opening up the sea to make a dry walkway for the Israelites.  Then bringing back to sea to wipe out the entire Egyptian army!  Pretty action packed and all so miraculous! There could be no doubt that all this was of You, Almighty God!

Moses and the Israelites were able to sing a wonderful song of triumph.

"I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously;
   the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song,
   and He has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
   my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The LORD is a man of war;
   the LORD is his name." (15:1-3)

Oh, how sweet that must have been for You, LORD God - to hear Your people singing this song to You.  Miriam and the other women even danced with the tambourines as they sang:

"Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea." (15:21).

And so You continue to provide for us.  It may not be in such a visible way but it is grand and glorious nevertheless.  And whenever You do bring us through a difficulty we grow more confident in You, in Your great love for us.

Thank You for this grand story of Your love and provision for Your own!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!



 

God's Grand Purposes!

Reading:  Exodus 7 - 12
My Verse:  "But for this very purpose have I let you live, that I might show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth" (9:16).

It is quite fascinating to reread these chapters - to see how the plagues were progressive.  LORD God even in this seeming chaos You had a plan.  Even though You knew Pharoah's stubborn heart, You started the plagues off easy - You were allowing him, Pharoah, every opportunity to repent, to submit to You.  Here in the seventh plague of Hail you tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go, that they may serve me.  For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.  For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth"(9:14,15).  Here You are telling Pharoah that You could have wiped him out long ago because You are God Almighty!  You are being merciful and yet if he does not respond because of his stubborn heart You will use his stubborness - his life-  for Your grand purposes.  You will show all the earth that You alone are God, "there is none like me in all the earth."

What a thought!  That we are each of us a part of Your grand plan, Your grand purposes!  You use us whether we submit to You or not as You do with Pharaoh here.

We struggle with that tension  between our free will and Your All Knowing.  That tension between our need to respond to You and yet our inability to respond to You without Your help and intervention.  "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).  You love us.  You call us.  It is up to us to respond when You give us that ability.  "And so each of us shall give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).

As I read about the plagues, I see that Pharaoh had many opportunities to respond to You.  His own
magicians said to Pharaoh. "This is the finger of God!" (8:19)  Even Pharaoh's own people begged him to let the Israelites go.  "How long shall this man be a snare to us?  Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God; do you not yet understand and know that Egypt is destroyed?" (10:7).  But Pharaoh still hardened his heart to You, LORD God.

It is easy to look at this and think, "What was he thinking?"  And yet how often have we been there?  How often have we refused to respond to Your tug on our hearts, Your guidance in some direction we don't want to go? 

Oh, LORD God, thank You for this lesson.  Help me to be ever soft and responsive to what You have to teach me in Your Word.  Help me to realize You are Almighty God.  You are a loving, compassionate God.  I am a part of Your grand purposes and in that knowledge I can be assured that whatever passes this day -  I am safe in Your care.

"The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life."  Psalm 121:7

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

 

How Do We Respond To Adversity?

Reading:  Exodus 5 - 7
My Verse:  "Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses because of their impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their cruel bondage" (6:9).

So the great battle begins - the battle to get the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.  The story of this event is great,  it is powerful.  You do not do it instantly.  You don't just snap Your fingers and Shazaam! The Israelites are free!  No, it becomes a process.  Things get much harder before they get better and You show that this is all for a purpose.  You use adversity here to show the Israelites and the Egyptians just Who YOU are!

The situation of the Israelites becomes seemingly impossible - their burden is magnified to what seems to be beyond their abilities.  When Moses asks Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out to the wilderness to worship their God, Pharaoh responds. "Who is this LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?  I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."  He, Pharaoh, then decides that the Israelites are not working hard enough and orders that their workload be increased!  He said they were to produce the same amount of bricks but would now need to get their own straw.  When the Israelites told him this was not possible.  He responded, "You are idle, lazy and idle!  That is why you say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD."  Of course the Israelite foremen realized their situation was evil, indeed.  They tell Moses he is only making their lives more miserable.

How often do we find ourselves in such a plight?  How often do we cry out to You oh, LORD God, that our burdens are too great?  We have asked You for respite, for salvation from some awful situation, some awful suffering but the relief does not come. Sometimes, like the situation with the Israelites our situation only gets worse and so, we despair. 

It is very hard to hold onto faith at such times.  It is hard to see You and to see Your love for us in the midst of adversity.  We are so often like the Israelites when they could not see You for their "impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their cruel bondage."  Like the Israelites we will blame the messenger and lament our situation instead of keeping our eyes on You. 

Yet, You had a purpose in all this.  You needed to show the Israelites WHO You were!  You needed them to see that You were Almighty God, able to do all that You say You will do.  For You did tell them, "And, I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that it is I, the LORD Your God, Who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (6:7). 

You also had to do a work in the lives of the Egyptians.  You had to prepare them for that day when the Israelites would leave.  You told Moses back in 3:22 that the Israelite women would basically plunder the Egyptians.  "But every woman shall solicit of her neighbor and of her that may be residing at her house jewels and articles of silver and gold, and garments, which you shall put on your sons and daughters, and you shall strip the Egyptians." 

I heard a great lecture this weekend while visiting my son, Ethan's university.  The lecture was about conflict and how we need to look at conflict as a way to reconciliation and reformation.  In the situation of the Israelites their adversity/conflict was leading to something amazing and wonderful.  Adversity/conflict does not have to lead to defeat, it can instead lead us to something far better.

Oh, LORD God help me in times of adversity to not become so focused on the difficulties that I cannot see my way to the solutions, to the growth that comes from the suffering.  You, are a God of love and compassion.  You want what is best for me always!  I need to keep that ever before me!

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!






 

Our LORD God Does Not Give Up On Us!

Reading:  Exodus 4
My Verse:  "But he said, "Oh, my LORD, please send someone else" (4:13).

Dear LORD God, I am forever amazed at how You use Your Word to speak to me where I am - to speak to my need.  I should not be always so amazed but the fact that I am speaks to my little faith.  I keep falling into this cycle of doubt and uncertainty as Moses did here.

You tried so hard to reassure him.  You even performed great miracles just for him to show that it was indeed You, the God of the universe.  You turned his walking stick into a snake then back to his walking stick.  You caused his hand to be "leprous like snow"  then You healed it.  Moses still could not trust You.  You told him, "I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."  Yet after all this Moses still cried to You, "please send someone else."

You, LORD God did grow angry with Moses, "Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses" but even then You did not give up on him.  You basically told him You would provide someone else to be the mouthpiece but he, Moses was still to be the leader.  You were still going to use him even though he did not think he was capable to carry out this great task you set before him.  You did not give up on him.

I heard a wonderful testimony at a ladies luncheon yesterday.  This lady spoke of how she was this very timid, quiet person, who was content to live a very quiet, uneventful ordinary life.  One day she was confronted with Jesus, she accepted Him into her heart and began this journey that lead her far from her quiet contented ordinary life.  It was such a simple story and yet so powerful because it spoke of how You LORD God lead us to live full abundant lives!  You told us in John 10:10, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

How often we must miss out on Your blessings, LORD God!  How often we drag our feet when You want us to step out of our comfort zone to do that which You would have us to do.  You realize this weakness of ours, this reluctance we have to fully trust You because You have provided us in Your Holy Word so many promises that You will carry us through.

"I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29).

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word" (Psalm 119:28 NIV).

"He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way" (Psalm 25:9).

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do  not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 2:6-9).
 
Yes, it is so easy to allow the ugliness around me to drag me down, to make me feel powerless to do anything about it.  Yet, here LORD God You are reminding me that this is not so unusual. Even the greats of the Bible fell into this feeling of despair.  You also show me that You are always there to help us out of this despondency.  You will help us to do what needs to be done when You call us to action.  Thank You for this great lesson - this lesson of how You do not give up on me!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!