Numbers 16:13-14 ~ Devotion

¹³ Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? ¹⁴ Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”  (Numbers 16:13-14; NIV)

 

How easily we can come to blame others for our own sins:  If she hadn’t gotten angry first… If they would have done what they promised… If he had been more helpful…

 

Today’s passage quickly reminds and convinces us that blame-shifting is not some new trend.  We saw it in the Garden of Eden with Adam blaming Eve who blamed the serpent.  Here, Dathan and his followers blamed Moses for the consequences they had brought on themselves.  They had swallowed the fear-provoking report of the 10 spies, not Moses.  They  had refused to believe Joshua and Caleb’s report based on God’s faithfulness, not Moses.  And the result of this rebellion against God?  The Lord caused the earth to open up and swallow the men and their entire families. 

 

How do you deal with the sin in your own heart?  Do you acknowledge it for what it is and open yourself to the Holy Spirit’s examination, forgiveness and cleansing?  Or do you hide behind excuses, blaming circumstances or other people for your own ungodly attitudes, words, and actions?

 

Take a few moments today to prayerfully read 1 John 1:5-9.  Read it several times.  Let God’s love chase away your fears as you talk with Him about your failures and His forgiveness in Jesus Christ. 

 

 

Forgive us our sins, Lord, as we forgive those who sin against us. We are guilty of many sins. We sin daily and deserve nothing but punishment. Because Jesus died and rose, he took the punishment for our sins. Please give us a clear conscience and let us live in peace with you.  We pray in our Savior’s name.  Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible reading:  Numbers 16-18

 

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Today’s evotion is an adaption from the “Sharpen the Focus” from Week 12, Thursday, in the “Today’s Light Bible,” pg. 211-212.

Grace MEMO: Not Me

Grace MEMO: Not Me

 

Sometimes the best gift you can give to someone is to help them admit what they want to keep denying.

 

Denial. It’s the first form of defense for imperfect human beings.

 

The surgeon general issues a report that over 2/3 of Americans are unhealthily overweight. Certainly that doesn’t mean me. Economists warn us about future medical expenses, long term care, and retirement needs, but saving and investing for the future is something I can worry about later.

 

Denial builds its wall of defense in spiritual matters as well, when I lie to myself that there’s nothing spiritually wrong with me. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” the Bible states squarely (1 John 1:8).

 

According to Lutheran theologian and hymn writer, Martin Franzmann, “Not one of us will ever say [we have no sin] outright, but we believe it enough to act on it nevertheless. We act as if sin were a dead issue in our lives, as if we had no sin that … needs to be resisted to the blood; as if the roaring lion who walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, were not allowed to roam our streets; as if the evil day were not in my calendar and the whole armor of God could rust in my closet; as if some good thing dwelt in my flesh after all; as if I could skate on thin ice in the snug assurance that those unfathomable and icy waters are there to drown others but not me.”*

 

Sometimes the best gift you can give to someone is to help them admit what they want to keep denying. The best way to do that is to let them know that everything will be okay, even if they accept what they’d rather deny.

 

So the Bible continues, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (v. 9).

 

Because of God’s forgiveness, there is no need to live a lie. He is faithful, and will not squirm out of his promise to love all people. He is just, not favoring good people or church people or rich people but extending his mercy to all. Whatever is wrong with you spiritually he will make right with his forgiving love. Unless you insist that there is nothing wrong.

 

When your conscience bothers you in the sleepless hours of the night, or someone who cares enough about you points a firm but gentle finger in your face, confess your sin and turn to God. He’ll make it right. No denying it.

 

PRAYER: I admit, God, that I have refused to acknowledge what I know is true about my shortcomings, my sinful habits, and my selfishness toward others. Today I confess these sins, and only because I believe that your promise of forgiveness is true, even for me. Release my burden of guilt, and set me free over the power of sin and temptation. Give me faith to see your forgiveness in Jesus Christ and to deny my sinful flesh, living for you and your glory. Amen.

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A M essage of E xtraordinary M ercy and O pportunity from Pastor Daron Lindemann, Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI, located downtown at Broadway and Juneau    www.gracedowntown.org

Numbers 13:30-31 ~ Devotion

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.“” (Numbers 13:30-31, NIV)

 

Decisions, decisions, decisions… have you ever struggled to make a decision, not sure of what the right course of action might be?  Have you ever been talked out of making a particular decision by someone?

 

The Israelites had finally arrived on the doorstep of the land God had promised to give them.  They had journeyed through the desert for more than a year, experienced God’s goodness and faithfulness, seen God’s power, and now, they were almost at their final destination.  They sent in spies to see what they were up against, and the majority of those spies came back with the news that the land is better than expected, but there is no way we can take it.  The people are too big, we will die trying to get what God has promised.

 

Only 2 spies, Joshua and Caleb, encouraged the Israelites to move forward, trusting in God’s promises to give them the land, to guard and defend them from their enemies.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.  What should the Israelites do?  They went with the 10 spies, rebelled against Moses, and were about to install a new leader to take them back to Egypt!

 

You and I face decisions each day that can show our faith or doubt in God’s promises.  What do we do when the world tells us that with high gas prices, high food prices, and higher costs, we should cut back in our offerings.  Or, do we trust God’s promises that he will provide for our needs and bless us richly as we return back to God a generous portion of what he has blessed us with.  What do we do when we have an evening off, or a weekend free, and the world tells us that we deserve a break, that it would be too much time, effort, and gas to drive back to church for a Bible class or an opportunity to serve.  Or, do we place a higher value on the spiritual nourishment we would receive, and the gratitude and love for God that we would show with our service?

 

As we struggle with these decisions, return to the cross, where you see your Savior’s perfect love for you.  He decided to do what it took to save you from your sins.  As you meditate on your Savior’s love, as you think about the promises he has made to you, God’s continued presence and grace strengthen you as you make wise decisions to his glory.

 

 

There’s so much for me to do, Lord, so many challenges to overcome, decisions to make, problems to solve and worries to put to rest. I’d like to think I can do it all. But I can’t. I won’t. I’ll give it all to you. Let me start small and when I do, give success to my little efforts. Empower them with your perfect wisdom and mighty love. Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible reading:  Numbers 13-15

 

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Devotion ~ Numbers 11:23

The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”  (Numbers 11:23)

 

Do you pray and expect the Lord to answer?  Or, are your prayers a bit more half-hearted – praying because we know God wants us to, hoping that he will answer, but not expecting a whole lot to change.  Maybe it is out of frustration… maybe it is a sense that the problem or situation is just too overwhelming… maybe it is just a feeling that this is my last hope, and those “hail mary’s” at the end of a game normally don’t work well.  Ultimately, we get to the point of wondering if God’s promises are really for me.

 

Moses had a similar situation – the Israelites were complaining again, this time because of their food.  They were sick of manna, and remembering the good old days in Egypt.  Moses was troubled.  The people were complaining, there seemed to be no real workable solution, Moses was about ready to call it quits.  Then, the Lord says he is going to supply meat for all the Israelites for a whole month!  And Moses is having a hard time believing him.

 

Then, “The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”   He not only gave Moses another assurance that the Lord would provide, but reminded Moses who he was talking to – this was the almighty God, with whom nothing is impossible.  The Lord’s arm is never too short when dealing with his people.

 

What challenges, difficulties and hardships are you facing today?  Confidently take them to your God.  As you consider the great deliverance from your sins that he has already worked for you, trust that he will continue to listen, answer and deliver you.  The Lord’s arm is never too short when dealing with you.

 

 

My Savior, you promise to be with me always. Stay with me and use your power to protect me from all harm and danger. Keep violence, accidents, or illness far from me. By your grace keep me from sin and preserve my faith. Keep me as your dear child. Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible reading:  Numbers 11-12

 

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Devotion ~ Numbers 10:35

Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD!  May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.”  (Numbers 10:35)

 

A sea split in two; water from a rock; fire on top of a mountain; manna that was just there every morning; a golden idol; plenty of grumbling.  Just think of all that the Israelites had experienced in the last year.  They had seen God’s power, doubted God’s love, and rebelled countless times as well.  And now, it was time to take the next step toward the promised land.

 

I imagine some of them were a bit nervous – they had left the familiarity of Egypt.  They had gotten into a routine at Sinai, having been there for more than 6 months.  What does the future hold?  What enemies would they face?  What hardships would they endure?  Would the Lord go with them?

 

He did.  We read in Numbers 9 how God guided them by day with a cloud that led the way, and a pillar of fire by night that stayed over the tabernacle.  A regular reminder that God was with them.  A regular reminder of God’s love and faithfulness.  Every time the Israelites set out, Moses would say, ““Rise up, O LORD!  May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.”  With confidence, the Israelites followed the Lord, trusting in his promises, relying on his goodness, and assured of his protection.  They ventured forth in the Lord.

 

What new tasks, projects, challenges lie in front of you today?  Whatever they may be, we too can move forward in confidence and praise because the Lord our God is always with us, protecting and guiding our path.

 

 

Lord, this is another good day. I begin it in your name and with your promise of blessings. Whatever this day brings, I accept as a gift of love from you. Do not let me meet the events of this day alone. Unless you are with me, I will surely fail. Let me face this day with courage and trust in you. For Jesus’ sake, you will not fail or forsake me.  Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible reading:  Numbers 9-10

 

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Devotion ~ Leviticus 16:20-21

“He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.“ (Leviticus 16:21-22, NIV)

 

Occasionally in the news, you will hear someone talking about how they were made a scapegoat.  They might say that they were fired from their position because of the poor performance of a team or company – and while there were many other factors and people that may have led to the failure, they were the one who was fired.  All the blame was placed on them.  They were the scapegoat for their failure.

 

The scapegoat played an important role in the worship of the Israelites.  On the Day of Atonement, the priest would take a goat, confess all the sins of the Israelites over the head of the goat, then send the goat out into the wilderness, never to be seen again.  The picture language and symbolism that God established here was beautiful.  All of the sins being removed from the Israelite, put on something else (here, the goat), and sent far away from them.

 

We see an equally beautiful fulfillment of this picture in Jesus.  God placed the sins of the whole world on the head of Jesus, and with the atonement he made for those sins on the cross, they were removed from us, never to be seen or considered by our God again.  Jesus was our scapegoat.  Our sins were removed from us, put on the sinless Jesus, and paid for by him.  Paul puts it this way, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

As sin and the guilt of sin trouble you in your life, remember your scapegoat.  See the stain of your sins placed on the lamb of God.  Watch as he carried them away to the cross.  Marvel at the love of God that He made his one and only Son the scapegoat for your failures.  Rest in the confidence that you are the righteousness of God.

 

 

Dear Savior, every day is filled with good and with evil. For the good I thank you. I did not deserve it all. For the evil I have done I ask forgiveness. You, my Savior, are the only one who can take away my sins and give me the peace I so desperately need.  Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible Reading:  Leviticus 16-17

 

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Saturday’s “Today’s Light Bible Reading”:  Leviticus 18-19

 

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Grace MEMO ~ What to do?

The following is an email devotion sent out by Pastor Daron Lindemann from Grace Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

Grace MEMO: What to Do

 

Have you ever made a decision only to wish you’d chosen B instead of A?

 

Brett Favre had been the Green Bay Packers’ star quarterback for 16 seasons until this past March 3, when Favre told Packers coach Mike McCarthy that he was going to retire because he could not “commit 100 percent” to football. The Packers announced Favre’s decision the next day.

 

By March 26 Favre was having second thoughts and, in a meeting with the Packers, was offered his old job back. On March 29, however, Favre called McCarthy to say thanks but no thanks. In May, while having lunch with Packers general manager Ted Thompson, Favre wondered aloud if he had made the right decision. In June, Favre told McCarthy, he either wanted to return to the Packers or play for another team.

 

Last week Favre said that he was now 100 percent committed to football. He said that the team had pressured him into the retirement decision.

 

Meanwhile, Packers management, coaches, players, and fans wonder if Favre would play again for the Packers – or if he should play again for the Packers and, if so, what role he’d fill.

 

Decisions. Decisions.

 

Have you ever made a decision only to wish you’d chosen B instead of A? Or have you ever been frustrated with someone who can’t make up her mind? Humans with limited knowledge and sometimes sinful motives don’t always make the right decisions, the best decisions, or a decision at all.

 

But nowhere in the Bible does it say, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” Rather, God offers gracious reassurance to the stumbling and bumbling among us who wonder if we made the right choice or who hem and haw afraid of making a choice. We say to our all-knowing and ever-present God, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn you are there, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:9,10).

 

As a Christian you can make a choice that puts you on either end of the spectrum, it doesn’t matter. You can choose the job in New York or L.A., you can retire or go back to work, you can remain single or get married … God will guide you through it. His right hand (a symbol of power and stability) will make sure you are blessed whatever you decide.

 

Better yet, consider God’s decisions. They’re always perfect, because he is perfect. Before he decided that the sky should be blue he decided to love you and predestine you for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. He decided to have mercy on Adam and Eve instead of starting over with a brand new civilization after they sinned. He decided to come to this earth not as Judge but as Savior. He decided to submit to cruelty and condemnation on the cross for all sinners. He decided to shape your nose and knees just so, and to bring you into this world at the very minute he selected. He decides his answers to your prayers – either, “yes, exactly, right now,” or “yes, exactly, but you’ll have to wait,” or “yes, but I’m going to make some adjustments, or “no, I don’t think that’s good for you.” Perfect decisions!

 

And don’t worry. As far as all the decisions God makes on your behalf, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19)?

 

Our decisions may not always be right, but we trust our lives to a God who always is.

 

 

PRAYER: When I don’t know what to do, Lord, reassure me that any Christian decision I make has your support and guidance. Give me a spirit of understanding and patience with those who can’t make a decision, or choose what I would not. In your mercy, choose to make decisions about me based on the gracious sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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A M essage of E xtraordinary M ercy and O pportunity from Pastor Daron Lindemann, Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI located downtown at Broadway and Juneau     www.gracedowntown.org

 

Leviticus 15 ~ Devotion

“…and he will be unclean until evening.”  (Selected verses from Leviticus 15)

 

Can you imagine what it must have been like to be an Israelite, trying to keep all of God’s commands?  “Every time we turn around, we’re unclean again.  Another ritual.  Another bath.  Another sacrifice.  Where will it all end?”  The burden of staying ceremonially clean must have weighed heavily on their hearts.  And that was just on the outside!  Imagine the burden of unclean hearts and lips and lives.

 

Do you feel weighed down by the guilt of an unclean life.  Maybe our Lord’s expectation that you live a life of perfection, a life set apart for Him, weighs you down at times.  Maybe you have thought to yourself at times, “Every time I turn around, I’ve missed the mark, stepped over the line, spoiled God’s purpose for this part of my life again.  Where will it all end?”

 

If that feeling of failure and guilt has ever been a part of your life, remember this:  it ended at your baptism.  There you died with Christ.  There you were raised with Christ.  Now, you live in Christ.  In Christ, you are perfect and holy.

 

Someone has said, “Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.”  He is your perfection, your holiness.  As we focus our eyes on him, he supplies the strength we need to keep walking in his footsteps.  He is our way to a holier life.

 

 

Dear Savior, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.” You have given me life. You have redeemed me from sin with your own precious blood. I belong to you. What can I do now but dedicate my life and my all to you? It isn’t always easy to be a Christian, but I can’t do it by myself. So I come to you for help. Bless my efforts to serve you, and grant that I may be a light that brings glory to your name.  Amen.

 

 

Today’s Light Bible reading:  Leviticus 12-15

 

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Today’s Evotion is adapted from the Today’s Light Bible “Sharpen the Focus” for Week 10-Thursday by Jane L. Fryar.

Leviticus 10:3 ~ Devotion

 ‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ (Leviticus 10:3, NIV)

 

Have you ever had to do something rather precise, in a certain way, or in a certain order, and messed it up?  Maybe you got through it, looked back, and thought, “Well, it’s not perfect, but it will do.”  I’ll do better next time.

 

The opening verses of chapter ten tell us about how Aaron’s sons and fellow priests, Nadab and Abihu, were struck down by the Lord.  We aren’t told what Nabad and Abihu did wrong, other than that “they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.”  It could have been any number of different things: taken the coals for their incense censers from someplace other than the altar; offered incense at the wrong time of the day; done something only their father Aaron was instructed to do.  Regardless, they were priests and had disobeyed a command of God.

 

So, Moses spoke the words of our passage to Aaron and reminded him, and us, that the Lord will not be mocked by disobedience.  He does not tolerate carelessness or indifference from his people then, or today.  The response to God’s forgiveness needs to be holiness of life.  God had established a covenant with his people out of love, which included the promise of a Savior, and the Israelites were to respond with unqualified and unhesitating obedience. 

 

Our response is similar.  We see an unbelievable demonstration of God’s love in the forgiveness won by His Son.  Our response to God’s unending love is obedience to this commands – both “big” and “small”.  And our obedience is to be perfect – not filled with excuses like, “I did the best I could…”  When we realize our best will never be good enough to meet God’s standards, God’s love in our forgiveness is even more impressive.  Take a few moments today to recognize and confess to your God those times you’ve been far from perfect.  Then, honor and praise the Lord for the perfect standing he has provided for us in Jesus Christ.

 

 

Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Forgive my open sins and my secret sins. Forgive the sins I know and the sins I do not know. Forgive the sins I did to please myself and the sins I did to please others. Forgive them all, gracious Lord, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

 

 

Today’s Light Bible reading:  Leviticus 10-11

 

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Leviticus 8:10,12 ~ Devotion

“Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them…He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.“ (Leviticus 8:10,12, NIV)

 

I like to go running occasionally.  In order to make this as painless as possible, I have a pair of Asics running shoes.  I wear them only when I go running.  They have been set apart from all my other pairs of shoes as my running shoes.  That is their only use and purpose.

 

In our reading today, we hear about Moses anointing or consecrating Aaron, Aaron’s sons, and all the items in the tabernacle.  To anoint or consecrate something is to set it apart for a special use.  In this case, all the items in the Tabernacle were anointed to show that they were set apart for a special use as part of the worship of God.  No “unconsecrated” item was to be used as part of the worship at the Tabernacle.  Aaron and his sons were consecrated and set apart for special service at the Tabernacle as priests before God for the people.  No one else was authorized  or  “consecrated” to serve as a priest before God.

 

“Christ” and “Messiah” means “Anointed One.”  Jesus was set apart for the special role of being the Savior of all people.  Through Jesus life, we see how Jesus lived a perfect life in keeping with his calling as the Messiah.  He suffered and died to save us from sin.  With his perfect life, death, and resurrection, he was set apart, consecrated to carry out the important work of saving the world from sin.

 

You too have been consecrated.  At your Baptism, God washed away your sins and made you his child.  As such, you have been set apart from the rest of the world.  You have been consecrated, set apart to give God glory.  And how do you do that?  By being a voice of the Gospel in your family and in your neighborhood; by being confident in the chaos of our world because of your faith and the solid rock it is anchored too; by making your Savior the first priority in your life.  As a consecrated believer, may all you say and do bring glory to God.

 

 

Holy Spirit, help me live as God’s child today, free from the power of sin. Remind me to place all my needs into my heavenly Father’s hands, and inspire me to praise him continually. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Today’s Light Bible reading:  Leviticus 7-9

 

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