Month: September 2022

Zealous for God’s Honor

Scripture Numbers 25: [11] “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them.

Observation: God sees if we are zealous or not for Him. If we allow others to talk disrespectful about God or use His name in vain we should tell that person we don’t want to hear that type of talk about our God and use it as a witnessing experience telling that person what God means to us. There is so much that happens on this fallen world that dishonors God are we going to ignore it or do something that pleases out Lord?

Application: I need to be observant and have the courage to stand up for God’s honor. I need to express the way I feel about my Lord to others and stand firm to what I believe. I’m to live a godly life on this earth and I can’t do it if I allow others to think I accept their behavior without defending my God’s honor.

Prayer: My Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit and make me aware of what is going around me. Help me seek out the things that are not of you and make me zealous for your honor.

Seeing What Pleases the Lord

Scripture Numbers 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.

Observation: Yesterday Teri and I did a cook out for the Bread of Life. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs which is really a treat for the shelter for homeless people. When I do these things I know it pleases the Lord, so why don’t I do more of it? You know when you are doing something that pleases God, His word makes it clear and your spirit will tell you when you are on the right path. So why don’t we do it more often, because it takes obedience and caring for God’s desires above our own.

Application: I need to rid myself of this laziness I have and desire to do nothing when I get home from work. I need to make a list of things I can do that would please God. I’ll be doing my depression class this coming Monday, which I know pleases God and ticks off the Devil. It will take some effort and faith and that is what will be pleasing my Lord and Master who deserves everything that I have.

Prayer: My Lord you are worthy of all my love, praise and obedience. Guide me and show me what pleases you and help me meet those desires of yours.You have met all of my needs and have loved me unconditionally. Help me love you back with that same type of love.

Doing Whatever the Lord Says

Scripture Numbers 23:26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?”

Observation: How I wish that is all I would do, what my Lord says. I do so much more what I want instead of what God wants and I pay the consequences. I hurry and do things because I think they are either right or just what I want to do for the moment without taking any consideration if this is something God could bless or what.

Application: I need to stop and ask God before I do anything. I should be doing only what God says and what honors Him. I need to study to make sure I know the things that glorify God and that He would want done. In everything I should be giving God the glory and honor and be careful not to do the things that would displease Him.

Prayer: My Lord guide your servant and show me how to do only what You desire. Take this selfishness away from me and give me a spirit of discernment for what you desire. Help me finish this race well before I come home to You.

Saying God’s Words

Scripture Numbers 22:38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

Observation: I wish that was all I was able to say, was what God puts in my mouth, but unfortunately that isn’t so. Most of the words that come out of my mouth are the things from my wicked heart, sarcasm, hateful and selfish things and not things that are uplifting or honoring to God. If I would think and pray before I speak I know God would fill my mouth with the words He desires me to say, but I’m so fast to speak.

Application: I’m here as God’s servant and so I should only speak the words of my Master and remember my position as servant. I need to be slow to speak and quick to listen, to make sure the words that come out of my mouth are God honoring and encouraging to others.

Prayer: My Lord you are my Master and Lord. Use your servant to speak to others the things that You want them to hear. Quiet my own thoughts and giving me loving heart for others that I will hear your commands and do them in glory and honor to you.

Look Onto the Lord

Scripture Numbers 21: [9] So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

Observation: This is a prophecy about Jesus when He was crucified. We are all sick with sin and are destined to die with no hope, but Jesus died for our sins and all we have to do is look upon Him and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our only hope we have the cure for our sin bitten life.

Application: I need to look to my Lord every day for guidance and direction for my life. I’m destined to die, but first I need to know how to live the life that would honor my Lord. If I stay focused on Him I won’t be distracted by sin and can fulfill the purpose that I’m here for.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for the love you have for me and the sacrifice you made. I want to live in a way that glorifies you, but I need to be able to see you and to know what you want of me. I can’t wait to be with you, show me what to do so that I may be welcomed with open arms.

Trusting and Giving Honor to God

Scripture Numbers 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Observation: I don’t know why but one of the hardest things for me is to trust, even in God. He has been trustworthy in the past and has never let me down. I have also done things in the past that would honor God, but some of the times I end up taking the credit instead of guiding others to my Lord. God has entrusted me with gifts, talents and a heart to serve and I know they were given to me for His glory and not mine.

Application: I should be doing so much more than I am for my Lord. I need to go out and get busy bringing others to Jesus, especially as bad as things are in this world with sin, the end must be getting close. Whenever I do anything worthy of praise I need to direct it to my Lord for He has given me the abilities and opportunities to do these things.

Prayer: My Lord soften my heart that I will trust in you with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding but in all of my ways acknowledge you. Show me what you desire of me and get me off this couch and busy for you and that I will stay busy till the end of my race..

We Are All Unclean

Scripture Numbers 19: [20] But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he must be cut off from the community, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, and he is unclean.

Observation: Apart from Jesus we are all unclean, we have only been cleansed through the blood of Christ. Even with that we make ourselves unclean by the things we do and people we hurt out of our own selfishness. We set ourselves outside of the community at times when we think of our own wants over the needs of others. When this happens we need to be purified with our Lord asking for His forgiveness and guidance so we can get back on track to the life He has called us to.

Application: I need to realize I’m only clean, because of Jesus and need His help to stay that way. Without my Lord I continue to sin and make myself unclean. He needs to be the most important thing in my life and I need His guidance to stay clean and be part of the community He has placed me in.

Prayer: My Lord your servant comes before you unclean and unworthy. Please clean your servant and open my eyes to how to be the best servant I can be for you and be a representative of your love to others.