6 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 07/10/04

Numbers 14:26-45   Decision to attack
Acts 15:1-12     Controversy over Gentile believers
Luke 12:49-56     The end of the age

The congregation of Israel had rebelled against God. They had refused to follow his instructions to enter the Promised Land, they had threatened to stone Caleb and Joshua for speaking God’s word, and they had threatened to choose new leaders who would allow them to return to Egypt (see Numbers 13:31-14:25). Moses had interceded for the people, because God was ready to destroy the people and start over. God allowed the people to live, but he forbade every adult in the congregation to enter the Promised Land, except for Caleb and Joshua who had given a good report and had advocated trust and obedience in the Lord. The ten unfaithful scouts who brought the evil report were struck by plague and died.

The Lord sentenced the people to wander forty years in the wilderness, a year for every day it took the scouts to scout the Promised Land, until all who were twenty and older at the time of the rebellion had died in the wilderness. The people mourned greatly when Moses told them the Lord’s judgment. The next day the people decided to go ahead and enter the Promised Land, although Moses warned them that the Lord would not be with them, and that they would be defeated by the people of the land. The people went anyway, even though Moses and the Ark of the Covenant remained in the camp, and they were repulsed and defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in the land.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch (of Syria) on the completion of their first missionary trip to what is now central Turkey in Asia Minor. The Church in Antioch was a largely Gentile congregation. When Paul and Barnabas returned, they found that men had come from Judea and were teaching the congregation that it was necessary to be circumcised (and keep the Jewish Law) in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas got into a big argument with these “legalists” (“Judaizers”) and finally the church appointed Paul and Barnabas to go to the apostles and elders at church headquarters in Jerusalem.

On the way they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles to the believers in those areas. At Jerusalem they gave a report of what God had done through them. Some of the members of the Christian Council at Jerusalem were Pharisees, (and they argued that Gentile believers must be circumcised and charged with keeping the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders debated the issue. Finally Peter spoke.

Peter had led the first Gentile (Cornelius; Acts Chapter 10) to faith. Peter pointed out that God gave his Holy Spirit to the Gentile converts just as he had given it to the Jewish believers, without requiring circumcision, making no distinction (division) between them, and cleansing them by faith (Acts 15:9).  So Peter asked the Pharisees why they insisted on burdening Gentile believers with an obligation to keep the Jewish Law, when neither the Pharisees nor any of the Jews throughout history had been able to keep it. Peter declared that both Jew and Gentile Christians will be saved by grace (unmerited favor; free gift) through faith in Jesus Christ. That ended the debate, and Council listened to Paul tell what God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Jesus declared that he had come “to cast fire (judgment) upon the earth” (Luke 12:49), and he longed for his mission to be completed. Jesus warned that he had come not to bring peace but division. Response to his Gospel will divide the most personal of relationships. Jesus also said that people are more alert and knowledgeable about interpreting the signs of changing weather than they are in noticing and interpreting spiritual crisis.

People divide themselves over God's word. The Israelites were divided by God’s word into two groups: those who believed and obeyed, and those who didn’t and died in the wilderness.  Many of the Israelites thought they could stone God’s prophets and choose their own leaders who would tell them what they wanted to hear and let them do what they wanted to do. They thought they could be God’s people and still live in Egypt. When God judged them and sentenced them to wander in the wilderness until they died, they thought they could get into the Promised Land on their own. They thought they could take it for themselves without obeying God. They ignored Moses’ warning that God was no longer with them, and they didn’t notice or heed the sign that the Ark of the Covenant was no longer leading them.

People were divided over God’s word at Antioch and in the Council at Jerusalem. The Judaizers had not been considering the Scripture as a whole. They had taken one part of it out of context. What Peter related before the council was his personal witness, which has become part of Scripture.  The things that happened to the disciples in their relationship with God were written down for our instruction, just like the things that happened to the Israelites, and together they are the Word of God.

When the Law of Moses was considered in context with the history of Israel’s fulfillment of the Law, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the debate was ended. There was another notable division among people in the early Church over God’s word: disobedience of God’s word. The early Church leaders dealt with that by ex-communicating those who professed belief in Jesus but who refused to renounce unscriptural lifestyles; those who did not obey Jesus’ teachings (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-5).  

Jesus warns that his Gospel will divide people. Jesus warns people that they won’t have peace just because they call themselves Christians (see Matthew 7:21-23).  Jesus warns that he is going to return to judge everyone who has ever lived (John 5:28-29). He will divide the “sheep” from the “goats,” according to the decisions they have made! Those who have trusted and obeyed him will receive eternal life in Heaven with Jesus; those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey him will receive eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Are we more concerned with, and better at predicting the weather than we are at interpreting the signs of spiritual crisis? Do we know more about the weather than we know about the Bible?

How are we doing? Are we paying attention to the spiritual signs? Are we trusting and obeying Jesus, or are we trying to get to Heaven some other way? Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Do we think we can get to Heaven while living in “Egypt;” living like “Egyptians?” Are our Churches making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Jesus’ taught (Matthew 28:18-20), or are congregations choosing leaders who will tell them what they want to hear and let them do whatever they please. Are we and our congregations filled with the Holy Spirit, or has the Holy Spirit departed and we haven’t even noticed? Are we trying to claim the Promised Land without the blessing and empowerment of the Lord?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2). Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

6 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 07/11/04

Numbers 16:1-19    Korah’s rebellion
Romans 3:21-31    Justification by grace through faith
Matthew 19:13-22    Parable of the rich young man

Korah, a member of the tribe of Levi, led a rebellion of other Levites, challenging Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership. Levites were set apart to be servants of the sanctuary and of the Priesthood, which was through Aaron and his descendants. Moses had told the people that the Lord’s favor was no longer upon them, and that the Lord had not gone with them when they attempted to enter the Promised Land on their own (see Numbers 14:26-45; entry for yesterday, Sunday, July 11, 2004). The rebels denied that the Lord’s favor had departed and that the Lord’s presence was no longer with them and they accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the people of God (Numbers 16:3).  

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face (Numbers 16:4). Moses told the rebel Levites that they would all present themselves before the Lord the next morning, carrying censers (burning incense), and that the Lord would choose who would be allowed to approach the Lord. Moses questioned whether the rebels appreciated the fact that the Lord had already given them special status as his servants in the sanctuary, since they apparently weren’t satisfied with that and sought the Priesthood also. Moses warned them that their rebellion was really against God, not just against Aaron.

Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, of the tribe of Reuben, who had joined with Korah in rebellion, but they refused to come to Moses. They accused Moses of taking them from “a land flowing with milk and honey” (describing abundant and luxurious resources, compared with the wilderness) into the wilderness to kill them and of failing to lead them into a corresponding land of abundance as promised. They accused Moses of not being satisfied merely to have led them to this state, but of exalting himself as a Prince over them.

Moses spoke to the Lord about the rebellion, and the Lord instructed Moses to assemble the group of two hundred and fifty with their censers at the tent of meeting the next morning, along with Aaron with his censer and Moses. When the congregation had assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting the following morning, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire congregation.

The righteousness of God is conferred apart from the Law, although the Law and the prophets bear witness to that righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ upon all who truly believe. God is impartial. Every human being has sinned and falls short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23); they are judged righteous by God’s grace (unmerited favor; free gift) through the redemption (repurchase; as by ransom) which is only through Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus has paid the price to redeem us from sin and the penalty of death; Jesus has paid our penalty himself.

Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). God sent Jesus to be the expiation (to bear our punishment in our stead) of our sins by his blood [Jesus death was a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22)]. Jesus died for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for them ourselves Redemption is to be received by faith (Romans 3:25).

God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ demonstrates God’s righteousness. It shows God’s divine forbearance in overlooking our former sins, despite the seriousness with which he regards sin, and it proves that God is righteous and that he regards as righteous everyone who has faith in Jesus. Our boasting is silenced. We cannot boast of anything we have done to merit God’s favor. We are justified by faith, apart from works (keeping) of the Law (Romans 3:28). Jew and Gentile both have the same standing before God. The standard of judgment will be whether each individual has trusted and obeyed Jesus Christ. But this doesn’t mean that we can disobey the Law; quite the contrary, we are to uphold the Law.

People were bringing little children for Jesus to bless, and the disciples told them to stop doing so. But Jesus told them to let the children come to Jesus and not to hinder them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are trusting and obedient like little children. A rich young man came to Jesus and asked what good deed he needed to do in order to have eternal life.
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Jesus asked the man why he was asking Jesus what was good, since only God is good. Jesus said that if the man wanted eternal life he should keep the commandments. The rich young man wanted to know which of the commandments he should keep. Jesus started reciting the Ten Commandments, and the young man asserted that he had obeyed all these from his youth.  Jesus answered that if the young man wanted to grow to spiritual maturity, he should sell his possessions and give to the poor, letting what he considered his “treasure” be Heaven, and following Jesus in discipleship. When the young man heard this he went away in sadness, because he had great possessions.


Moses prefigures (he goes before, as an illustration) Christ. Jesus is our “Moses” who leads his followers through the wilderness of this life. Jesus is also our High Priest, who offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and who intercedes for us before God the Father. We need to follow Jesus, not the servants of the sanctuary who aren’t faithful to God’s word, and aren’t led by the Holy Spirit (and don’t even notice that they aren’t).

Moses was one of the most humble men of all time (Numbers 12:3). The Levites accused him of exalting himself as Lord (Prince), but Moses was actually exalting the Lord and not himself (Numbers 16:4; he humbled himself before the Lord and prayed). It was the rebellious Levites who were exalting themselves and dishonoring the Lord. The Reubenites complained that Moses had dragged them away from "milk and honey" to deprivation in the wilderness and had failed to deliver on the promise of "milk and honey" again in the new land. They wanted their "milk and honey" right now and weren't willing to endure any difficulty or sacrifice in order to obtain it.

God’s plan of salvation (See sidebar) is eminently good and fair. God loves us enough to have sent Jesus to die on the Cross so that we might be forgiven and have eternal life (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). Those who trust and obey Jesus will be judged righteous in God’s judgment, and will receive eternal life in Heaven with Jesus. Those who refuse to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46). Each individual makes his own choice. There won’t be any arguing about who did more or less good works than someone else. There won’t be any boasting about what we did to “earn” salvation and eternal life. The standard for judging whether we have believed in Jesus will be whether we have obeyed Jesus’ teaching. (Matthew 7:21; Matthew 25:31-46).

Jesus used little children to illustrate the childlike trust and obedience of faith. (They also represent innocence. We become as innocent as little children in the eyes of God through faith in Jesus Christ.)  The rich young man asked Jesus what good deed he needed to do in order to have eternal life. Sure, he wanted eternal life, but he was only interested in doing the least he could get by with in order to obtain it. Jesus asked the young man why he was asking Jesus. The point is that what the man needed to do to have eternal life was to recognize that Jesus is Lord! Jesus is God the Son (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28)!

If the young man had truly believed Jesus was Lord, he would have done what Jesus told him (Luke 6:46). Jesus told the young man that if he wanted to have eternal life he should keep the commandments. The young man asked Jesus which of the commandments he had to keep. Jesus named six of the Ten Commandments omitting the three pertaining to honoring God (and combining two pertaining to coveting into one which sums up our obligation to love others just as much as we love ourselves).

The man probably didn’t think he coveted what his neighbors had, because he had much more than his neighbors already. But he didn’t love his neighbors as much as he loved himself, because if he had, he would have given his possessions to those who were poor.  Yet the man asserted that he had kept these commandments from his youth. Jesus said that if the young man wanted to be “perfect” (complete and lacking nothing; spiritually mature) he should sell his possessions and give to the poor, changing what he regarded as valuable from earthly, material things to Heavenly ones, and to follow Jesus in discipleship. Hearing this, the man turned away in sadness because he loved his possessions.

Is Jesus our Lord, or do we want to be Lord? Are we following Jesus, or someone who claims to be following the Lord? Are we exalting the Lord or are we exalting ourselves? Do we want Heaven now without the discipline of the wilderness experience? Are we serving God in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, or in our own strength? Are we thankful to be servants of God? Are we Jesus’ disciples? Are we trusting and obeying Jesus, or are we trying to get into Heaven some other way?

6 Pentecost - Tuesday

posted 07/12/04

Numbers 16:20-35     Revolt of Korah punished
Romans 4:1-12     Abraham justified by faith    
Matthew 19:23-30    With God all things are possible

Korah, Dathan and Abiram had led a revolt by the Levites (sanctuary servants) against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-19). Two hundred and fifty Levites had assembled at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. The glory of the Lord descended upon the tent of meeting, and the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation, because the Lord intended to destroy the congregation.

Again Moses and Aaron interceded for the congregation, asking the Lord not to destroy the whole congregation for the sins of a few. The Lord told Moses and Aaron to have the congregation move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and not to touch anything belonging to any of the three households, lest they be swept away with these men’s sin. Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel went to the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram and warned the people to stay away as the Lord had instructed. Dathan and Abiram, who had refused to go up with Korah and the Levites to the tent of meeting, came and stood at the doors of their tents with their wives and children.

Moses declared that if these three men died an ordinary death common to all men, then Moses was not following the Lord, but if the Lord did something new and the ground opened and swallowed them up then everyone would know that these men had despised the Lord. When Moses finished speaking, the ground opened up and swallowed all that belonged to Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and the earth closed over them. All the people standing by fled in fear, lest the earth swallow them up also. And fire came forth and consumed the two hundred and fifty Levites offering incense.

If Abraham had been justified (judged righteous) by works (keeping) of the Law he would have had something to boast about before men, but not before God. But scripture says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3; compare Genesis 15:6). One who works receives wages which he has earned; the wages are not a gift. One who does not rely on works, but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2: “Blessed is the (person) whose iniquities (wickedness; offense) are forgiven and whose sin is covered; …against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin.”

This promise applies to both Jews and Gentiles. Abraham was reckoned by God to be righteous before Abraham was circumcised. “Abraham received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised” (Romans 4:11 RSV). God’s purpose was to make Abraham the spiritual father of the uncircumcised who are accounted by God as righteous through faith, as well as the father of the circumcised who do not rely on their keeping of the Law for salvation, but follow the example of Abraham’s faith.

Jesus had just finished talking with a rich young man who was unwilling to give up his possessions to follow the Lord (Matthew 19:16-22; see entry for yesterday, Monday, July 12, 2004). Jesus told his disciples that it will be hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, saying it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The disciples were amazed and asked how, in that case, anyone could hope to be saved. 

Jesus replied that what is impossible for humans is possible with God. Peter asked what he and other disciples who had left everything they had to follow Jesus might expect to receive. Jesus said that the disciples would be rulers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses or family or lands for Jesus’ name’s sake will receive (in this lifetime; compare Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30) a hundred times what they gave up, and will receive eternal life. “But many that are first will be last, and the last first” (Matthew 19:30).

Korah, Dathan and Abiram had led a revolt of the Levites, against Moses, Aaron and the word of God. The rebels denied that the Lord’s favor had departed and that the Lord’s presence was no longer with them and they accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the people of God (Numbers 16:3). The Lord warned the People of God to separate themselves from the rebels or be destroyed with them.

It is those who trust and obey God’s word who are “children of Abraham” and heirs to the Promised Land of eternal life in Heaven. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). [Jesus is God’s word in human flesh (John 1:1, 14).] There is no other way to be saved and live eternally with the Lord in heaven.

We cannot earn salvation by good works. We are not saved by church membership, by inviting neighbors to church, by teaching Sunday School or singing in the choir. Only by faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, in a personal relationship, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, will anyone be saved and receive eternal life.  The Holy Spirit is the new “seal” of faith; the new “circumcision” (Romans 4:11). The Holy Spirit is the mark and guarantee that one belongs to Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16. God does not give his Spirit to those who are not willing to obey him (Isaiah 42:5e).

The rich young man chose to hang on to his worldly possessions and he turned away from the Lord and did not obey Jesus’ instructions. The love of material possessions and worldly pleasures can make it impossible for us to follow Jesus. Yet our salvation is not impossible for the Lord if we will trust him and follow his instructions. If we will seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, we will have the material things we need as well (Matthew 6:33; compare 19:29).

One possible understanding of the last being first and the first last (Matthew 19:30) is that the Jews, who were originally God’s chosen people, have been succeeded by the Gentile Christians who came to God later through Jesus Christ, but that many Jews will be saved during the Great Tribulation. Another possible understanding is that some professing(nominal) “Christians,” who were born and raised in the Church may be the last to be “born-again,” through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, while some who recently turned to Christ may receive the fullness of the indwelling Holy Spirit before the lifelong church members.

The history of God’s dealing with the people of Israel is also a parable. The Church is the “New Israel”, the new “People of God”. The Church and individual believers are well warned not to have fellowship with those who are in open, unrepentant defiance of God’s word, not meaning, however, that we are not to associate with such people in normal daily life. Believers are to seek the lost, in order to share the Gospel with them, but we must not participate or co-operate with them in their sin. We certainly should not allow them to have fellowship in the Church. Believers should separate themselves from such congregations.

Jesus said that not every one who calls on his name will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who obey God’s word will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will claim to have prophesied in Jesus’ name and to have done great works in Jesus’ name, and Jesus will condemn them to eternal death because they haven’t obeyed God’s word (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:31-46).

What are our riches? What do we treasure? Do we treasure Church History more than God’s Word? Do we treasure Tradition more than God’s Word? …Family ties? …Friends? …Social position? …Houses? What is keeping you from obeying God’s word? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you growing in daily personal fellowship with Jesus? Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

6 Pentecost - Wednesday

posted 07/13/04

Numbers 16:36-50    Plague
Romans 4:13-25    True descendants of Abraham
Matthew 20:1-16    Laborers in the vineyard

The Lord had destroyed, by supernatural earthquake, the households of the leaders of a rebellion against Moses, Aaron, and the word of God, and had slain, with fire, the two hundred and fifty Levites (sanctuary servants) who had rebelled (see Numbers 16:20-35). The Lord had Moses make an altar covering from the bronze censers of the two hundred and fifty Levites who had been destroyed by fire. The covering was to remind the people that only the priests authorized by the Lord are to serve at the altar.

The next day the congregation grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying that Moses and Aaron had killed the people of the Lord. The Congregation assembled against Moses and Aaron, facing the tent of meeting, and the presence of the Lord descended upon the tent of meeting. The Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation so that the Lord could destroy the congregation. But Aaron and Moses  fell on their faces (in prayer) and Moses  told Aaron to take his censer and wave incense over the people and make atonement for them, for a plague had begun among the people.

Aaron did so and Aaron stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped. Those who died of the plague were about fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those destroyed in the rebellion. “Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting when the plague was stopped” (Numbers 16:50).

God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants “did not come through the Law but through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13). If only the adherents of the Law inherit, then faith wouldn't count, and the promise would be worthless. Transgressions aren’t counted where there is no Law, but the Law brings punishment. The reason the promise depends on faith is so that the promise is a free gift guaranteed to all Abraham’s descendents, not just to those who keep the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, since according to scripture (Genesis 17:5).

Abraham is the father of many nations. The promise is guaranteed by God, “who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17b). Abraham believed God’s promise, even though he was about one hundred years old, and Sarah had never been able to conceive children (and was past the age of childbearing). “No distrust made him waver, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised” (Romans 4:20-21 RSV).

That faith is the reason Abraham was accounted righteous by God (see Genesis 15:6). The Scripture records this for our benefit; we will also be accounted righteous, who believe in God the Father who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, who died for our sins and was raised so that we could be accounted righteous by faith in Jesus.

Jesus told a parable about laborers in the vineyard to illustrate the kingdom of heaven and illustrate his comment about the first being last and the last first (Matthew 19:30). A householder went out early in the morning to hire day-laborers for his vineyard. He agreed to hire the laborers for a day’s wages, and sent them into the vineyard. Three hours later he was in the market place and he noticed other laborers standing idle, unemployed, so he hired them to work in the vineyard also, and he promised to pay them fairly. Going by again at the sixth and ninth hours, he found others idle and hired them also, as before. Finally at the eleventh hour, he hired still more unemployed laborers.

At the end of the day he assembled the workers and began to pay them for their work, beginning with the last hired. He gave the last hired a day’s wages, so the first hired thought they would get more, but when they were paid they also got a day’s wages. They grumbled at the owner, complaining that the those that worked only one hour got the same pay as those who had worked all through the heat of the day. But the owner answered that the first hired had agreed to a day’s wage, and that the owner should be allowed to be generous with what belonged to him. Thus the first will be last and the last first.  

There is a plague that is killing people in this world. It is the plague of sin; the plague of rebellion and disobedience to God’s word. All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only cure for that plague (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Moses and Aaron prefigure (go before, as an illustration) Christ. Jesus is both our “Moses” who leads us through the wilderness of this world to the Promised Land of Heaven, and our “Aaron,” our High Priest, who intercedes for us before God and saves us from God’s punishment of sin.

He gave his life as a sacrifice to God to redeem us from death for our sins as Aaron risked his life by going into the midst of the congregation bearing incense when God had announced his intention to destroy the congregation. Christ stands between the eternally living and the eternally dead in this world. Aaron was restored to Moses’ side at the door of the tent of meeting, as Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God in the heavenly sanctuary.

All of Scripture (the Bible) is written for our instruction (2 Timothy 3:16). God loves us and doesn’t want anyone to perish eternally (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ is God’s only plan for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Those who trust and obey Jesus will be accounted as righteous as a free gift, received by faith, apart from works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9). The faith of Abraham is obedient faith.

When God told Abraham to leave his homeland and follow the Lord to a new land, Abraham obeyed; he followed the Lord’s instructions. (Genesis 12:4; Abraham was formerly called Abram; see Genesis 17:5). Abraham grew spiritually as he trusted and obeyed the Lord (Romans 4:20-21 RSV). The Lord causes our “mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31, 17:20) of faith to grow to spiritual maturity as we follow him obediently. As we trust him and do what he says, he is able to show us that he is able and faithful to fulfill his word. The Lord always keeps his promises!

The kingdom of heaven is like Jesus’ parable of the vineyard. It’s not how long or hard you’ve worked; it’s whom you’re working for that makes the difference. Are we working for Jesus in the Lord’s vineyard, or are we working for ourselves in the vineyards of the world? 

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Are you growing spiritually in personal fellowship with Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed? Are you producing fruit in the Lord’s vineyard? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

6 Pentecost - Thursday

first posted 07/14/04

Numbers 17:1-11    Aaron’s rod
Romans 5:1-11    Peace with God through Christ
Matthew 20:17-28    Christ’s passion foretold a third time

The Lord told Moses to collect the rods which were the symbols of tribal authority from the head of each tribe. Each tribal leader was to write his name upon the rod, and then the rods were placed in the tent of meeting, in front of the testimony (the Ark of the Covenant, containing the “testimony,” i.e. the tablets of law). The Lord would indicate his choice of leader by causing one of the rods to sprout, thus ending the discontent (Numbers 16:41-50) among the people. Moses did as instructed.

The next day Moses went into the “tent of the testimony” (the holy of holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant) and found that Aaron’s rod had not only sprouted; it had produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds, while none of the other rods had sprouted. Moses brought out the rods and showed the people, and each leader reclaimed his rod. The Lord told Moses to keep Aaron’s rod and place it back in front of the testimony, as a sign for the rebels, so that they would stop grumbling against the Lord, lest they die. Moses did all that the Lord commanded.

Since we are judged righteous through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained the free gift of salvation, and we rejoice in the hope of sharing the glorious destiny God intended for us. We can rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering develops endurance, character and hope. That hope is not unfulfilled, because we experience God’s love now through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

While we were slaves to sin, Christ died for us sinners. Most people would not be willing to die even for a righteous or good person, but God shows his love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were sinners. If we are judged righteous through Christ’s death, we can be sure that we will be saved from eternal death by Christ’s Resurrection. While we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; since we have been reconciled, we will surely be saved by his life. Through Jesus Christ we can have joy and fellowship with God now.

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and told them that he would be arrested, tried and condemned to death; he would be mocked, scourged and crucified by Gentiles, and he would be raised on the third day. The mother of James and John (sons of Zebedee) brought her sons to Jesus and asked for special honor for them in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus replied that they didn’t understand what they were asking. He asked them if they were willing to endure the “cup” of suffering that Jesus was going to face, and they replied that they were.

Jesus said that they would drink his cup, but that the special honor they sought was not within Jesus’ authority, since it was to be determined by God’s will and plan. The other ten of Jesus’ original disciples were indignant at James and John, but Jesus called the twelve to him and told them that in this world those who are great exercise authority over those under them, but in the kingdom of God greatness is servanthood. Those who want to be great must be the most humble servant of all the rest, just as Jesus came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” ( Matthew 20:28).

The Levites (sanctuary servants) had rebelled against Moses and Aaron (Numbers Chapter 16). They had complained that Moses and Aaron had brought them out of “comfort” in Egypt (Egypt had not been comfortable; they had been slaves) into suffering in Egypt and had not delivered on the promise of comfort in the Promised Land. (Numbers 16:13-14). The Levites wanted to be the leaders. They wanted to be the Priests and be served by others, instead of suffering as servants in the wilderness. The Lord caused Aaron’s rod to sprout in order to resolve and end the dispute over who should lead God’s people. It is God’s Spirit that causes us to blossom and bear fruit in his service. Notice that Moses was the Lord’s obedient servant (Numbers 17:11), in contrast with the rebels, who refused to serve or obey.

Moses and Aaron prefigure (go before, as an illustration) Christ. Jesus is both our “Moses” who leads us through the wilderness of this world to the Promised Land of Heaven, and he is our “Aaron,” our High Priest, who intercedes for us before God and saves us from God’s punishment of sin. Jesus is the righteous branch, the shoot which comes forth from the stump of Jesse (David’s Father; Isaiah 11:1; Jesus is the Messiah, Son of David). It is the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers who causes them to blossom and bear fruit for God’s kingdom.

We will have to endure some suffering and discomfort in this world in order to follow Jesus, but suffering produces endurance, character and hope. Our hope is not the “pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by” kind, because believers experience God’s love and fellowship right now through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Believers have a personal relationship with the risen Jesus through his Holy Spirit within us. Because we know, by his indwelling Holy Spirit, that Jesus has been raised to life from the dead and now lives eternally, we can be confident that believers will live eternally with Jesus as he promised.

James and John wanted to be leaders in Jesus’ kingdom. They wanted to sit on thrones beside Jesus. Jesus told them that the way to be great in the kingdom of God was to be obedient to God’s will, to the point of giving one’s life to accomplish it. Jesus is our example of the suffering, obedient servant who came to give his life to save sinners. Believers are called to give our lives in obedient service to God in order to save sinners and to restore them to peace and reconciliation with God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Too many “Christians” want to worship at the altar, but don’t want to be servants of the Lord. Too many “Christians” want to drink the Cup of the Lord’s Salvation, without drinking the Cup of obedient servanthood and discipleship. Do we expect the Lord to provide us with comfort, and complain when he doesn’t? Are we willing to give our own efforts to reach and save the lost, or do we leave that up to the pastor and missionaries?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you blossoming and bearing fruit before the Lord, or are you a dead stick? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

6 Pentecost - Friday

first posted 07/15/04

Numbers 20:1-13    Water from the rock
Romans 5:12-21    Adam and Christ contrasted
Matthew 20:29-34     Two blind men of Jericho

The people of Israel came into the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. There was no water and the people were contentious with Moses over the lack of water. They assembled themselves against Moses and told them that they had rather died with Dathan and Abiram (in Korah’s revolt; Numbers 16). Moses and Aaron went to the tent of meeting and prayed, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord told Moses to take the rod and, in the presence of the people, tell the rock to yield its water. “And Moses took the rod from before the presence of the Lord as he had commanded him” (Numbers 20:9).

Moses and Aaron assembled the people before the rock and said, “Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock”? Moses struck the rock twice and water came forth abundantly. But the Lord told Moses that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land with the people, because he had not glorified the Lord in the peoples’ presence (but had taken credit for the miracle himself). So the place is called Meribah (contention), because “the people contended with the Lord and he revealed himself holy among them” (Numbers 20:13).

Sin and death came into the world through one man’s (Adam’s) disobedience and spread to all people, because all people have sinned. Sin existed before the giving of the Law, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who were not willfully disobedient to God. Adam is a type of (negative; anti-) Christ. The free gift is the opposite of the trespass. Many died as the result of Adam’s sin; even more has the grace of God and the free gift (of salvation) in Jesus Christ abounded for many. Judgment following one sin brought condemnation; the free gift following many sins brings justification (judicial declaration of righteousness; acquittal) through Jesus Christ.

Adam’s sin led to condemnation for all people; Christ’s righteousness led to acquittal for all people. One person’s disobedience made all people sinners; Jesus’ obedience makes many righteous. Law was introduced to reveal sin. Law makes sin known and incites sin (see Romans 7:7-13). As sin increased, grace (free gift) abounded more. Sin triumphs through death; grace triumphs through righteousness to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was going to Jerusalem, knowing that he would be crucified (Matthew 20:17-19). He passed through Jericho, with a great crowd following him as he left. Two blind men were sitting along the road, and they heard that Jesus was passing by. They cried out, acknowledging him to be the Son of David (the Messiah; heir to David’s throne) and asking Jesus to have mercy on them and heal their blindness.

The crowd rebuked the blind men, but they cried out even more. Jesus stopped and asked them what they wanted him to do for them, and they asked Jesus to open their eyes. Jesus touched their eyes and they immediately received their sight and followed Jesus.

The people were quick to blame Moses (and the Lord) for every problem that arose on their journey, and didn’t remember or give thanks and glory to God for all the great things that he had done for them along the way. They constantly longed for the “good old days” in Egypt, when they were slaves.

Moses failed to give God the glory for bringing the water from the rock, and he was forbidden to enter the Promised Land as the result. Jesus Christ is the rock (Matthew 7:24; 16:15-18), which is the source of living water (1Corinthians 10:4; John 4:10, 13-14), which God has given us to sustain us in the wilderness of this earth on our journey, out of the “Egypt” of slavery to sin and death, to the Promised Land of Heaven.

All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). “The wages (i.e. penalty) of sin is (eternal) death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A Day of Judgment is coming when everyone who has ever lived on earth will be accountable to God for what each has done, individually, in life. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey him will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)..

God loves us and doesn’t want anyone to perish eternally (John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation; the only way to have forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). We are saved by grace (free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, not by works (keeping) of the law (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must either follow Jesus Christ to eternal life, or we will follow Adam to eternal death. We will either give God glory through Jesus Christ, the rock of our salvation, or we will be forbidden to enter the Promised Land of Heaven.

The two men of Jericho were physically blind, but spiritually sighted, because they acknowledged their blindness, and they acknowledged Jesus as the Christ (Messiah; Son of David). They needed to be healed of their blindness in order to follow Jesus. Jesus healed their blindness, and they immediately followed him. Only Jesus can heal spiritual blindness. The Lord opens the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45). Are we physically sighted, but spiritually blind? Jesus is passing by, on his way to “Jerusalem,” the eternal city in the eternal kingdom of Heaven. Do we recognize our blindness? Do we acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, the eternal King; the heir to David’s throne?

Are we following Jesus obediently and glorifying God through his name, or are we complaining to God for everything that's not perfect in our lives, and failing to glorify and thank him for all that God has done for us, particularly through Jesus Christ? Are our eyes focused on the Lord and the Promised Land or are we longing for the pleasures and sins of this world?

Have you seen Jesus? Are you following Jesus? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?

6 Pentecost - Saturday

first posted 07/16/04

Numbers 20:14-29     Death of Aaron
Romans 6:1-11      Dying and rising with Christ
Matthew 21:1-11      Entry into Jerusalem

The Israelites were again camped at Kadesh, ready to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for forty years. All the adults of the generation which had been condemned to wander in the wilderness had died in the wilderness. Moses sent messengers to the King of Edom, asking permission to pass through his land on the main south-to-north route to Syria, intending to enter Canaan from the east, since their attempt to enter from the south had failed forty years earlier (Numbers chapters 13-14). But the king of Edom refused to let them enter his land. The people left Kadesh and traveled to Mount Hor, near Kadesh on the border of Edom.

The Lord told Moses and Aaron that Aaron (and Moses; Numbers 20:12)  would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, because of the disobedience of Moses and Aaron  when they brought forth water from the rock at Meribah (Numbers 20:1-13; entry for yesterday, Friday, July 16, 2004). The Lord told Moses and Aaron to bring Eleazar, Aaron’s son, and ascend Mount Hor, and there Aaron’s priestly garments were to be removed and put upon Eleazar, and Aaron would die and be buried there. Moses did as the Lord commanded. When Moses and Eleazar returned and the people saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for thirty days.

Christians should not presume upon God’s grace by continuing to sin. By our baptism into Christ we are joined with him in his crucifixion and death, so that we can also share in new life through his resurrection.  Our old sinful nature is crucified with Christ, so that our sinful earthly nature might be destroyed and we might no longer be enslaved by sin. If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Having experienced physical death once, Christ lives eternally. Death no longer has power over him. He died to sin once for all so that he might live to God. So we must also consider ourselves spiritually dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.

Jesus was going to Jerusalem knowing that he would be crucified and would be raised again from the dead (Matthew 20:17-19). At Beth-phage, a village on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, Jesus sent two of his disciples into the village where they would find an ass and a colt which they were to bring back to Jesus. They were told that if anyone questioned them they were to say that the Lord had need of them and would return them promptly. This was done to fulfill scripture (Zechariah 9:9). The disciples did as directed and returned with the animals.

They laid their clothes on the animals for Jesus to sit on, and the crowd spread clothing and branches on the road for the animals to walk on. Part of the crowd went ahead, and part followed and they all shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9). Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem stirred the entire city, and everyone was asking who Jesus could be. “And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee’” (Matthew 21:10-11).

Israel was again poised to enter the Promised Land, and they didn’t want to repeat their past mistakes. They were ready to enter the Promised Land because the old generation that sinned had died; the new generation didn’t want to follow the same route that had led to the former defeat. The old generation had been defeated by disobeying God’s commands. God had told them to enter and claim the new life, and they had refused to do what the Lord commanded. Then they had tried to enter the Promised Land on their own, contrary to God’s word. Moses and Aaron had both been forbidden to enter the Promised Land because they had disobeyed God’s command in providing the people with water from the rock. Both Moses and Aaron died in the wilderness, just as the Lord had said.

Christians are cleansed of sin and given new life eternally through their baptism into Jesus Christ. In Christ we’ve been given a second chance. Believers should be careful not to repeat their past mistakes; not to return to the same old path that caused them to be alienated from God in the past. Moses and Aaron were forbidden to enter the Promised Land because they did not obey God’s word. We must remember that Jesus died on the Cross to provide the grace (free gift of salvation) in which we stand. We must not dishonor Christ’s sacrifice for us by using this grace as an excuse to continue to sin and disobey God’s word.

God’s word is absolutely dependable. What the Lord says, happens just as he has said! Jesus told his disciples that he would be crucified and raised from the dead, and that is what happened. Jesus told his disciples that they would find the ass and its colt in Beth-phage and they obeyed his word and found it just as Jesus had said. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem fulfilled the scriptural prophecy. His followers rejoiced at Jesus’ coming and acknowledged him as the Son of David (the Messiah; the heir to the throne of David) coming in the name of the Lord. Some were trying to decide who Jesus is. Some thought he was a prophet. Jesus warns not to call him our Lord if we are not willing to do what Jesus says (Luke 6:46), or obey God’s will (Matthew 7:21-23).

Jesus has promised to return to judge the earth (Matthew 25:31-46). When he returns, he will not be humble, and riding a donkey. He will come in glory, with all the angels (Matthew 25:31), riding on the clouds (Acts 1:9-11), as the triumphant King of the Universe. Everyone will see his coming (Revelation 1:7).

When he returns, will you still be trying to decide who Jesus is? Will you be rejoicing at Jesus’ coming, or will you be in fear and mourning (Luke 21:26-27)? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus, or are you trying to get into the Promised Land of Heaven some other way? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you moving toward the Promised Land and claiming territory in Jesus’ name? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity?