Daily Devotional

Scripture Numbers 31: [50] So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired–armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces–to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

Observation: These soldiers gave their offerings to the Lord because they went out to battle won and not one soldier of theirs was missing. They gave God all of the gold they plundered as an offering. God has led us in so many battles and has watched over us and kept us safe, so what is our atonement to Him. He doesn’t need gold, money or anything else of this world, He created it. All he desires of us is our genuine love and obedience, that is what He requires for our atonement and as easy as that sounds since He has provided everything for us we rarely give it to Him.

Application: I know God deserves my total commitment and love and I truly want to give it to Him, but my pride and sinful nature stops me from giving it completely. My focus is still too much on myself and I struggle each day to be obedient to all my Lord’s desires. I need to keep His commandments and know it is not an option to disobey. I need to show my Lord the love I have for Him and to draw close to Him each day.

Prayer: My Lord you deserve all of my love, praise and obedience and I want to give it to you. Help me stay focused on you and the task you set before me. I want to be the man you call me to be and do your will each day of my life. Help me honor you.

Scripture Numbers 30[2] When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.:

Observation: Every day I tell God I’m going to be a better man for Him and yet everyday it seems I break that promise. When I make a vow to God it’s biding and I have obligated myself to keep that vow no matter what. If I promise this day I will do better than I need to search for a way to accomplish that goal. God has made me promises and has kept each one so you know he doesn’t take it lightly and that He is a God of His word and expects us to be people of ours.

Application: This should not keep me from making vows but to think carefully to know how I will accomplish them. I need to have a plan of doing what I say and be a man of my word and that I will take the actions needed to keep my vow to God and others. By me keeping my promises to others glorifies God to them, it’s just one of the attributes of God that we should be showing to others.

Prayer: My Lord I do what to make vows to you, but I need your help to keep those vows. Give me wisdom and the discipline to follow through with everything I say to you and others, that I will be a man of my word and a lover of you.

Scripture Numbers 29:7 ” `On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.

Observation: That is one thing I have trouble with denying myself. I seem to put myself first and take care of my needs above others, the opposite of what God wants. Even doing work is something I feel I have to do. I find it hard to sit still without doing anything, even though God calls me to, so that I will spend more quality time with Him.

Application: I need to do what God calls me to do, put Him first, then my wife, others and then myself. I’m here as a servant and a servant serves others. I have a calling on my life a job do to while I’m here and I’ll never know what it is if I’m more focused on myself then what God wants me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord fill me with your love and give me the wisdom I’ll need to fulfill the purpose you call me for. Show me how to rest and think only of you and your desires. I’m here because you chose me to be, may I complete the tasks you have set before me in glory and honor to your name.

Scripture Numbers 28: [8] Prepare the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you prepare in the morning. This is an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Observation: We don’t have to make sacrifices like the old testament, so what do we do that would be pleasing to the Lord? Since Jesus sacrificed His life as the final sacrifice for our sins, the sacrifice we are called to make that would be an aroma pleasing to God is what we do with our lives. Obedience of God’s word, loving Him and others, bearing fruit and witnessing to others that Jesus is the Christ are all things that are pleasing to God.

Application: My Lord I know what pleases you, yet I do so little of it. Tomorrow I start up my class on depression and I know this is pleasing to you and that you will be there. Help me use the other gifts I have like serving, organization and cooking to your glory so when I cook and serve others it would go up as an aroma pleasing to you.

Prayer: My Lord I am lazy and self-centered, help me overcome this so that I may do more that is pleasing to you. I do want to serve in a way that pleases you give me the strength and discipline to do that, Help me finish this race in a way that honors you.

Scripture Numbers 27: [14] for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

Observation: Do my actions honor God to others? Victoria, a girl in the office left today, but sent out an email telling everyone that she will miss them and how her life was impacted by knowing us. She used God several times and prayer and even if you didn’t know her God was honored by whoever read that email. We can honor or dishonor God by the way we act and treat others. We can be His representative or opponent by the way we live our life.

Application: I want to show God holy to all that He puts in my path. Besides telling others about my Lord I need to live a life that honors Him. I need to follow the commands that He has given me through His word. I need to treat others the way I want to be treated and when I encourage someone, bless them, help them or do anything that I know pleases God, I need to give God the glory so others can see where my heart comes from.

Prayer: Dear Lord I want to honor you and glorify you to others. Give me all that I need to do that. Give me a loving heart like your Son and show me how to demonstrate your goodness through me. May I always give you all the honor and glory.

Scripture Numbers 26: [54] To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed.

Observation: I look at some of the scriptures and notice how God is fair and just. In this chapter He is making sure the inheritance gets divided by the number of people so each person gets an equal share of the promise land. You wouldn’t think God had the time to be concerned about the details of simple man, but He loves us and treats us fair. So many of us don’t think that when we look at the trials and tribulations we go through, but each one is a test to see where we end up in our eternal life, after all that seems only fair.

Application: Remember God’s faithfulness and fairness each day. Knowing that He is God and He is with me and plays no favorites, but treats us as equal children in our inheritance. I should never complain about a situation or feel I’m being treated unjustly, but always remember my Lord is just and knows all things.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me when I moan or complain. Give me a heart and mind to trust you always, knowing that you’re fair and that you love me. Give me the courage to share all that you place in me to others so that they may be comforted with the fact that you love them and they have an equal part of the inheritance.

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.