“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.” (Numbers 2:2, NLT) In my Bible reading, one of the things I have noticed is the precision, the attention to detail, in everything God does. The pieces all fit together in a well-designed and orderly plan. Every element matters. We see an example of this in Numbers 2. There is nothing haphazard or random in the way God instructed the Israelites to set up their…
“Behold, the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Each year millions die from hunger and malnutrition. While most of us are not personally affected by it, we have seen photos and heard stories of extreme conditions in many parts of the world. There are numerous causes including poverty, war, natural disasters, and political instability. It’s difficult for those of us who have ample food to comprehend these extreme conditions. The statistics are heartbreaking. Available but Ignored But what is described in Amos 8 is not a shortage of food. It’s a famine of hearing the Word of God. How do we comprehend that, especially those of us who are blessed with religious freedom and who often own numerous Bibles? (Have you counted those in your home—four, eight, a dozen or more?) God’s Word is also found on numerous Bible apps and can be read in many languages. Yet most of those Bibles remain unread. A famine of the Word really does exist today, but this famine is not caused by scarcity.…
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV) How much of our lives are controlled by habits? Probably more than we think. Whether we admit it or not, most of us are creatures of habit. A habit is a pattern of behavior that we develop by repetition. We have certain things we do each day or at certain times. Some of these are good habits, while others may not be so good. HEALTHY HABITS Because it is important to take care of my body, I have developed some habits that I feel are healthy. I brush and floss my teeth. I start my day with breakfast, take a multi-vitamin, and fasten my seatbelt. Yes, I will admit some habits are not as healthy, but let’s not talk about skipping exercise and eating junk food. You have your own routines and habits as well. Perhaps you rise early for a morning jog, drink a healthy smoothie for breakfast, or treat yourself to a fancy coffee on the way to work. The word habit is not found in the King James Bible, although some versions do use it.…
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. (Acts 8:5-6, NKJV) Sounds of revival filled Samaria. As Philip preached, souls were saved. Miracles, healings, and deliverance from unclean spirits happened. Multitudes turned to the Lord in this time of spiritual awakening. Acts 8:8 says there was great joy in the city. With so much happening, it seems strange that an angel instructed Philip to leave the Samaritan revival and head south toward the desert. And…
When was the last time you heard someone exclaim, “I enjoy obeying your commands; I love them!”? Yet, this is exactly what David says multiple times in the Psalms. David’s unwavering delight in God’s Word was key to his relationship with God. From Psalm 119 (ESV), here are seven reasons to delight in God’s Word: The Word guards against sin. “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (verse 11). The Bible is infinitely valuable because it exposes sin, which separates us from God, so we can repent and return to Him. The reward of following God’s law is salvation and eternal life. Delight in that! The Word is wisdom. “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (verse 24). The Bible is an advisor we can trust, a friend we seek for counsel. It’s a delight to be guided by the source of all wisdom! The Word inspires obedience. “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies” (verses 35-36). In other words, bend my heart submissively toward Your law, God, and “turn my eyes from looking at worthless things”…
God built into Israel’s calendar about thirty days of feasts per year. Add the weekly Sabbaths, and the total celebration time comes to around eighty days of feasting and rest annually. God is serious about celebration! When God mandated celebration among His people in the Old Testament, He used three Hebrew words: hâlal, châgag and shâbath. At the dedication of Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall in Nehemiah 12 (ESV), these three essentials of celebration are included. Celebration Keeps God Central Nehemiah’s celebration plans included instruments and singers filling the air with triumphant praise. The people sang and offered sacrifices to God with praise that centered their hearts on the source of their joy (verse 27). God is both the reason and the focus of our celebration. Without celebration we lack the strength we need to face life’s greatest challenges and opportunities. In the middle of a day of celebration, we read this familiar phrase in Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Celebration holds the key to the strength we desperately need—the Lord. And, it is powerful when it is habitually practiced. Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Celebration Claims God’s Promises…