Joshua 19-21

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%2019-21&version=NIV

In Numbers, God had commanded that the Israelites establish cities of refuge and cities for the Levites. The Promised Land is not just going to be a land of milk and honey, but a land of worship and a land that is just and fair. In our passage today, Joshua obeys that command and establishes those cities.

Rather than give the Levites their own allotment of land, God chose to disperse the holy priests throughout the land. This provided easy access to a priest for all of the Israelites. The priests’ job was to act as a representative between man and God. They made sacrifices and executed rituals, taught and ministered, and interceded for others.

How does this relate to us today? First Peter 2:5 tells us that we are a royal priesthood and gives us a job description. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Our job description continues in 1 Peter 2:11 and 12 “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Our duties of the royal priesthood are not just meant to be fulfilled on Sunday mornings during church. We are to be dispersed among the community, fulfilling our duties as a part of our lifestyle that we live daily, just like Levites. We can shine the light of Jesus at home, work, school, and in the community so that others can see the glory of God!

Today, I encourage you to give yourself a job evaluation. On a scale of 1-10, how well are you fulfilling your duties as a member of a royal priesthood? Are you:

• Declaring the praises of Him who called you out of darkness? Share the good news! Share your personal testimony! Sing his praises while you get ready in the morning! Spend time praising Him in prayer and song for who he is, what he has and will do, and who you are because of him!
• Abstaining from sinful desires? Avoid situations where you might be tempted. Pray for strength to overcome your strongholds.
• Living a good life among non-believers so that others may see your good deeds which glorify God? Look for patterns and habits in your life that don’t shine the light of Jesus. We should allow the light of Jesus to shine through us in the way we dress, act, react, speak and serve.

Pray about the areas where your scores are low and ask God to show you how to move toward a perfect job evaluation!

Today’s post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Joshua 16-18

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%2016-18&version=NIV

Joshua 16:10 “They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.”

When I read Joshua 16:10, I thought – you’ve got to be kidding me. They were warned that they should not leave anyone alive “lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God” (Deut 20:18); They were also commanded to drive all the inhabitants out for “They will give you trouble in the land where you will live” (Numbers 33:55). If you want to peek ahead to Judges 2:10-12 you will see that God gave them this warning for a reason. The truth is, we are all probably guilty of failing to heed God’s warning. He can throw up a red flag the size of Texas and we just walk right past it without even giving it a second thought. If only we would do a better job at heeding God’s warning we would keep ourselves out of such troubles!

In chapter 17:3-6, we meet the daughters of Zelophehad again. Since their father had no sons, they had to request that laws be changed so that they could receive their fathers’ inheritance. Here we see the fulfillment of the promise that they would not be left out of the inheritance. We are reminded that God rewards those who, in faith, claim His promises.

Also, Chad pointed out Caleb’s amazing character and faith in yesterdays reading. Today we see a stark contrast in the requests of the sons of Joseph. They complain that they haven’t been given enough land in Joshua 17:14-18.

Calebs request for his inheritance in Joshua 14:12 came with a commitment to drive out the Anakim using the power that the Lord had given them. Caleb wasn’t looking for the easy way out or a handout. He was willing to do the work and go into battle for his land. The sons of Joseph however were whining about the giants and their chariots in ch 17:16. They had not completely taken the land that was in their midst because it would be hard and dangerous work, so Joshua put them right in their place. He tells them in verse 17 that, yes, they are powerful and therefore they can clear the land and drive out the Canaanites and their chariots. Their greatness was a gift of God and He gave them that great power in order that they might use to drive out the Canaanites. Joshua was not going to let them take the easy way out. He was going to require that they exercise their gifts of greatness and power to take the land of their inheritance.

Sometimes, we fall into this pattern in our own lives. We expect the promises of God to just be handed over to us, but we must first believe in faith and act in obedience using the gifts with which He has equipped.

So we see on one hand, the daughters of Zelophehad. They are not fully equipped to receive their inheritance, but God honors them when in faith, they claim His promises. On the other hand, we see the sons of Joseph. God had equipped them with the tools needed to fully receive the promises, and they were expected to fully exercise those gifts. In either case the glory should always go to God who fulfills His promises one way or another.

In chapter 18, we find that seven Israelite tribes had not yet received their inheritance. Joshua must again encourage them to take what is theirs. God has offered it up to them, and promises to deliver the land into their hands, but they must move forward and take it. Why haven’t they done so? Maybe they feel that what they have is good enough, so they will just be content with what they have. Maybe they fear the unknown new live that is in front of them. How sad would that be to miss out on a promise of God? Take inventory of your own heart. Are there any promises that you are failing to claim due to fear or contentedness? Ask God to open your eyes to these promises and reveal your path to obtain them.

Todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe

A Faith Like His - Joshua 12-15

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2012-15&version=NIV

JOSHUA 12 - 15

The most compelling story in today’s passage is that of Caleb, who stakes his claim on the promise that God gave him forty years before. It was then, when Caleb and eleven others were instructed to survey the land promised them and report on the prospects of conquering its inhabitants. Of the twelve who went, only Joshua and Caleb returned with a faithful confidence that God would assure their success, saying:

"The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." Numbers 14:7-9

Unfortunately, fear and doubt prevailed that day, and as a consequence, the Lord forbade the Hebrews from claiming their promised homeland for forty years. However, the Lord, recognizing the faithfulness exhibited by Caleb, said:

“24But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” Numbers 14:24

With a promise like that, Caleb knew he had a good thing coming, and he was willing to wait for it. In the forty years that ensued he faithfully committed himself to the will of God and led the fight in claiming the land promised his people. Now at the age of 85, Caleb petitioned Joshua to honor the promised bestowed by God:

"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. 7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 8But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' 10And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war andfor going and coming. 12So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said." Joshua 14:6-12


What an amazing testament of faith! And notice how he credits the Lord at every turn! We should all strive for a wholehearted faith like Caleb’s – a faith that sees beyond our immediate circumstances and remains focused on the prize God promises to us. Let’s pray this week that God will teach us to have a faith as bold as Caleb’s.

Rock on.
Chad Searcy

Just As God Said He Would - Joshua 9-11

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%209-11&version=NIV

Scripture is rich with the promises of God fulfilled – both big and small – good and perfect promises. Promises made from sovereign wisdom and unfailing love. As we continue our journey through Joshua, we watch God do exactly as he said he would in Exodus 23: 27-30. As a reminder, here is how God said he would give the Israelites the Land of Canaan:

I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittities out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

And so he did. Joshua 11:18 says that “Joshua waged war against these kings for a long time”. It is estimated that the duration of Joshua’s conquests can be made from the life span of Caleb who was 78 (Duet. 2:14; Josh. 14:7) at the beginning of the conquests until he took Hebron at age 84 (Duet. 14:10). Therefore seven years passed as God did exactly as he said that he would and little by little drove the people out.

“So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions”. Joshua 12:22

God’s promises are not just for the people of Israel – we must remember that they are for us because through Christ we are also His people. His promises are true and for us – even when they are yet unseen. God is faithful – will you believe and not doubt?

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God”. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

The Old Testament Gospel - Joshua 5-8

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%205-8&version=NIV

The Gospel of the Old Testament

Conquering through God’s power and promises

The battle of Jericho is a celebrated battle in Bible history. I sure we’ve heard the song, “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down, down, down.”

What is the significance of the battle of Jericho? First, because it was on the outer edge of the Promised Land, it was a key city for the Israelites to conquer if they were to posses Canaan. In the way the Lord delivered the city into the hands of the Israelites, a strong message is sent. That message – believe that I will do as I have promised, obey me in faith, and I will go before you and fight for the battle in your stead.

This message to the Israelites is the same for us today. We are to walk every day in the belief that:

-God is the God that he says he isGod is a God who keeps his promises
-He will do what he has said He will do
-God goes before us
-When we walk in faithful obedience he is faithful to fight for us
-He will deliver us

We can live our lives and fight our battles like the Israelites fought for Jericho and watch walls fall. People of faith throughout the ages have watched the walls of their own Jericho fall over and over again – conquering through the Lord’s power and promise.

Sin and consequences

As today’s reading continues, I believe chapter 7 represents God’s wisdom in dealing with his people. In Jericho, He first establishes his power and his faithfulness when they walk in obedience in. And then he makes it clear that we must continue to walk in obedience so that we continue to live under his hand of protection. The battle of Ai doesn’t go according to plan, prompting Joshua to cry out to the Lord in great anguish – how could God bring the people so far only to allow them to lose this battle. Imagine the doubt that Joshua must have felt at the loss of this battle as he looked at how many more cities they must conquer to take the land of Canaan.

But, in his wisdom he does not stop believing. Rather, he falls face-down in front of the Lord and cries out for understanding. God reveals that there was a specific reason the battle was lost – the sin of the people in the community. Achan let his flesh and greed take precedence over God as he kept some of the devoted things of Jericho that where to be left for the Lord for himself.

As I read, I thought to myself, “thank goodness my own sin doesn’t affect the whole community around me” (although we must also realize that sometimes it can and does). But this leads to the question of why the whole community experienced consequences of Achan’s sin. I believe that it was so that God could make clear to the whole community the consequences of disobedience. The sin was dealt with as an illustration of God’s holiness and Israel’s responsibility. The lessons we learn:

-Beware of allowing fleshly desires to allow you to step outside of God’s commands
-God’s hand of protection is removed when we walk in disobedience
-Because protection is removed, their will be consequences for our sin
-There are times when the consequences of our choices are far-reaching
-Walking in disobedience can affect us and those around us
-We should also fall face-down before God and seek understanding

Repentance, Restoration, Deliverance

Before our reading ends for today, we receive a picture of the grace and restoration of God – the gospel message in the Old Testament. In chapter eight we see the renewal of the conquest as the sin of Achan has been dealt with. With the removal of sin the people again have victory. The message – there will be times when we faith to fulfill our responsibility towards God. But in unfailing love and faithfulness, when we come to God with repentant hearts, God will always restore us to our former position where we live under His power and protection.

We are conquerors in the land - Praise God for his Love and Faithfulness!

Anyone care to share a story of when God went before them and brought walls down or when God restored them and again brought victory in their lives? We’d love to hear your story.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

Joshua 1-4

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%201-4&version=NIV

Joshua 1:7-9 " Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites." (v.2)

That is what the Lord told Joshua as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The people were fixing to receive the promises they had from God about this land. But notice that the Lord tells the people to get ready.

We are promised many things in the Word of God as well as New Testament believers. But are we ready for them? Are we walking in purity and holiness and obedience? Do we want the promises of God in our lives, but not want the sacrificial living God desires for us as well?

I find it comforting that the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. On today's culture, tolerance is what everyone espouses, except when it comes to Christianity.

Christianity puts forth an exclusive way to God. The culture says that is intolerant. How do you respond? By being strong and courageous. Be strong with your convictions for the Lord, and yet speak the truth in love.

We are not here to please people, but to please God. The Gospel is offensive to so many people because of it being exclusive. God ordained that man be saved through His Son Jesus Christ, and He is the only way. (John 14:6)

Joshua was strong. He was obedient. He studied the Word and fought for His God. I love Joshua. I love that he respected Moses and even more so honored and obeyed and loved the Lord.

As Easter nears, be ready to hear the atheists, and agnostics, and heretics, talk about how Jesus' death on the cross means nothing to them. Be strong in telling people about what Jesus did and how it does matter, yet do so in a winsome manner. (1 Peter 3:15) Remember, we are to proclaim the message of the Gospel, God will do the saving of the souls.

Get ready as we continue to read through the book of Joshua. We'll read about Jericho, the day the sun stood still, and how the lands were distributed to the 12 tribes of Israel.

Some say that Joshua is to the Old Testament what Acts is to the New Testament. It is a book that transitions from the beginnings of time to how God would continue to work throughout the Old Testament.

So, enjoy this look at a great man of faith. Continue in prayer, continue in your readings, and become strong and courageous in the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's Post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2032-34,%20Psalm%2091&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 32:47 "They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

So, today we finish with the Pentateuch, which is comprised of the first five books of the Bible.

Chapter 32 is also known as the Song of Moses, which he wrote just before the people entered the Promised Land. In it, Moses talks of the character of God:

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." (v.4)

Then he reminds the people of Israel of how much God has done for them. He has led them, protected them, provided for them, and now is leading them into the Promised Land.

Then he goes on to tell of how Israel rebelled against the Lord, in the past and in the future, and how the Lord will again protect and provide for His people.

And look at what he tells the people to do when they get into the Promised Land:

"he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." (v.46-47)

The Word of God is to be our life. The first part of Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is living and active."

If you want to grow in your faith, you must grow in the Word of God. Kelly and Carol came up with the idea of this blog, and I think it has been a real blessing to the Bridge.

I hope that each of you is reading each day along with us.

Just as Moses told the people that the Word of God was their life, this is just as true today. But how does this work out in one's life? By taking every thought captive to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

I'll give you an example of how taking the Word of God as your life could work out in your life. Let's say you are offered another job, out of the blue. It offers more pay, it is at a more prestigious company, and the commute may be a bit shorter.

But, will you be able to still be active in your church and small group if you take this job? Are there people in your existing job that you are ministering to and they have come to trust in you and are opening up to the Gospel as a result of your sharing with them? And does the company operate in an industry that is honorable and not on the fringes of being questionable?

See, when we make the Word of God our life, our decisions should not be based on what we want, but they should be based on what God wants for us in our lives. And the only way to know this is through reading the Scriptures and prayer.

Are you making the Word of God your life? Are you taking every thought captive to Christ?

Continue reading the Bible with us this year, and pray each day as you read the Word that God through His Holy Spirit would incline your heart to a greater, and greater love for Him and His Word.

Soli Deo Gloria.


Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 30-31

Today's passage:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2030-31&version=NIV

First, what we have to remember is that the old covenant was more than just the following of the Law. It also included sacrifice and atonement. God never expected the Israelites to follow the law perfectly. That would be impossible due to our sin nature. The Israelites had a need for atonement and so do we. Agreeing to the covenant meant placing faith in the cleansing process of atonement. They were made righteous not because they were able to follow the law to the letter, but because of the atoning sacrifice of an innocent.

I’ve heard people say before – well he was a good man, he must be in heaven. But what we have to remember is that we can never be good enough in and of ourselves. The Israelites couldn’t perfectly follow the letter of the law and neither can we. Heaven is a holy place and in order to be in the presence of God in that holy place for eternity, we must be holy. That’s why God sent the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus Christ. It is because of the cross that we are made holy. Titus 3:5-7 says “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” We cannot save ourselves through our acts of goodness. If we could, we wouldn’t need a Savior.

The second part of chapter 30 is Moses’ plea to accept the covenant. It was a choice between life and death, blessings and curses. Today, we have that same choice – to accept and believe that Jesus Christ is that perfectly innocent, unblemished lamb chosen by God to serve as our ultimate atoning sacrifice or to reject it and spend an eternity separated from God. It seems like a pretty easy choice to make if you ask me. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, just say a prayer acknowledging that you are a sinner and need a Savior and that you accept Jesus as that Savior in your life. Talk to me, Russ, Carol, Kirby or any of the leaders of your class if you’d like to know more about Jesus as your Savior.

One other thing that I love about this covenant is that God gave Israel a way back to Him. He warned them that the blessings and curses would occur. He warned them that they would turn away from Him and be scattered, but He would not abandon them. He promised to move in their hearts and re-gather them. He promised to purify their hearts. Deut 31:6 says "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you". I’m so thankful that he offers us a way back to Him! How many of us have found ourselves far away from God only to have Him work in our hearts and gather us back to him? When the prodigal son returns with a repentant heart, God opens the door wide and celebrates his homecoming!

Todays post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Deuteronomy 28-29

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy%2028-29&version=NIV

In Chapter 28, Moses warned the Israelites of the consequences for their actions - blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. This reminds me that today, we can count on consequences for our actions just like the Israelites – some are positive blessings for obedience and some are negative curses for disobedience.

In chapter 29, The Lord renewed His covenant through Moses. Moses told the Israelites about the disastrous consequences that would occur if they abandoned God, and then the chapter ends with this verse:

Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Some commentators suggest that Moses was responding to looks of astonishment that God would use such harsh punishment. Moses was reminding them that although they may not understand God’s big plan, they had to trust that it was a good plan and that He knew what He was doing.

This verse serves as a reminder that God simply doesn’t reveal everything to us, but we have to trust Him anyway. Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Some things are kept from us because they are just too big for us to wrap our heads around. We simply can’t understand.

Other things are kept from us because God wants us to develop trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." If we knew everything, we wouldn’t have to lean on Him to lead us us through our wilderness periods of life. God wants us to lean on him and trust that the plans He has for us are good plans (Jeremiah 29:11).

Instead of revealing everything at once, He keeps us operating on a need to know basis. He will reveal to us exactly what we need to know, when we need to know it. He is not a silent, unavailable God who expects us to figure things out on our own. He gives us direction through scripture, prayer & meditation, and our Christian friends & mentors.

When things don’t quite make sense, sometimes we just have to acknowledge that the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways and that His wisdom and knowledge is beyond us. We can then rest in the knowledge that He is in control.

The last part of the verse – “That we may do all the words of this law” – is important as well. He doesn’t reveal things to us just for the heck of it. He’s given us instructions on how to live our lives that we may bring Him glory. We are instructed to be not just hearers of the word, but doers of the word as James 1:22 says “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” And also Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Just because Jesus came and fulfilled the law, doesn’t mean we are excused from obedience. If we have faith and truly believe, the fruits of the spirit should shine through in our obedience.

So I encourage you to take inventory of your life. Has God revealed a part of His plan to you that you are refusing to submit to? Or is there some detail of His plan that you are just dying for Him to reveal that just needs to be surrendered to Him? Are you a doer of the word, who allows the fruits of the Spirit to shine through in your life? Pray about it and ask God to show you the path!

Today’s post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Faithful Obedience

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2024-27&version=NIV

DEUTERONOMY 24 -27

This passage in Deuteronomy touches on so many subjects: Marriage. Divorce. Health. Justice. Fair dealing. Offerings. Blessings. Curses. When you consider how these four chapters fit within the greater context of the Law, I think they serve to emphasize the supremely important fact that God is sovereign over every aspect of life. The question we must face is: Do we acknowledge His sovereignty with a spirit of obedience?

So much rides on our faithful obedience to His will. Not only do we as individuals benefit from obeying God and affirming His ways, but our homes, our communities, and our nation stand to benefit as well. In Chapter 26, we see this clearly:

16"This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. 18And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, 19and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised."

Ah! To be a treasured possession of God! Who could want anything more than that? And yet, that is exactly what we are in the new covenant of Christ Jesus. Through His Son, God has granted us the opportunity to be in perfect fellowship with Him. What better way can we honor Him but through our obedience to His commands? We can honor His steadfast love for us by exhibiting fidelity and permanence in our marriages. We can honor His love of justice by treating every person fairly and without prejudice. We can honor His abundant blessings by giving back to Him the best that we have received. In our obedience we can glorify God and give testimony to a fallen world that needs to know that there is a God -- a loving God -- and that He is sovereign over every aspect of life.

Rock on.
Chad Searcy

Deuteronomy 21-23

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2021-23&version=NIV


Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."

As we near Easter, I thought I would share how some others, particularly Jehovah's Witnesses, view the cross of Christ.

I pulled this from the Watchtower website, which is the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses:

"True Christians do not use the cross in worship. The apostle Paul says: “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake [“a tree,” King James Version].’” (Galatians 3:13) Here Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:22, 23, which clearly refers to a stake, not a cross. Since such a means of execution made the person “a curse,” it would not be proper for Christians to decorate their homes with images of Christ impaled. Why, then, was this pagan symbol promoted? Apparently, to make it easier for pagans to accept “Christianity.” Nevertheless, devotion to any pagan symbol is clearly condemned by the Bible."

From: http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/appendix_05.htm

This is a heresy. The cross of Christ is the heart of Christianity. This is where Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for us, which was accepted by the Father, for our sins.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult. They sound much like Christians, but their view on Jesus and the cross are heretical.

I looked in the King James Version, and in Galatians 6:14, Paul writes:

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

So, the logic of the Jehovah's Witnesses does not make sense. They use Galatians 3:13, to say that Christ died on a tree. Yet, they do not look three chapters later to see that Paul is talking about the cross. This is selective use of the Bible. As I wrote earlier this week, we should always test everything against the Scriptures. (1 Thess. 5:21-22)

All throughout Galatians, Paul talks about living a crucified life and about the cross.

Christ suffered for us when He was crucified for us. This is central to Christianity. Think about the cross today and as we near Easter.

The cross is where Jesus bore our sins, where the forgiveness of our sins took place, and where Jesus became the accepted sacrifice for us to the Father that now puts us in a justified standing with the Father, if we place our faith in Christ.

One of my favorite verses is Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Think about this verse. It would be a good one to memorize. Ponder and meditate all that Jesus did for us on the cross during this Easter season.

The cross was offensive to Jews back at the time of Jesus. In the same way, the cross of Christ is offensive to so many today. People want to earn their salvation, they want to contribute to it. The only thing we contribute to it is sin. Even the faith we place in Christ is a gift from Him. (See Ephesians 2:8-10)

Praise be to God that there was a cross, and a resurrection!! As I heard one pastor say, It's Friday, but Sunday's comin!!

Soli Deo Gloria

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 17-20

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2017-20&version=NIV



Deuteronomy 18:15 “15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.”

In today’s readings, we have some tremendous truths to meditate on. I will briefly mention them below.

In chapter 17, verse 14 to 20, Moses lays out the moral principles, if you will, of the future kings of Israel. The king is to be one that the Lord chooses. The king must be an Israelite. He must not acquire great numbers of horses, take many wives, and accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Look at verses 18 to 20 of chapter 17. He was to write down all the law on a scroll and he was to read it all the days of his life so that he would learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left.

How the history of Israel would have been changed for the better if its kings had obeyed verses 18 to 20!! If the Word of God was sufficient enough to enable the kings of Israel to govern the land properly, don’t we as Christians need to hold the Word of God equally as high and authoritative in our lives?

In chapter 18, verses 10 to 11, Moses tells the people that they should avoid sorcery, divination, witchcraft and the like. Why? Because when one is seeking these things he or she is basically placing their faith in them. They are replacing God in their lives. Today, our culture has a fascination with the occult. Vampire movies from the Twilight book series and reality TV shows like Ghost Hunters appear to be the rage. The Bible says we should stay away from this. This week, look at the media you consume, and see if some of it tends to the occult. Have you bought into the culture, with its fascination of the occult?

Lastly, in verse 15 of chapter 18, Moses writes of the great prophet who is to come. Moses writes that we must listen to him. This scripture is placed right where it needs to be. For in verses 20 to 22, Moses writes of what entails a false prophet.

The prophet in verse 15 is our Lord Jesus Christ, who of course is the true prophet.

Listen to what Jesus said about this:

“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

(John 5:46)

And why must we believe in Him?

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

(John 5:24 – The Bridge’s class verse by the way.)

Soli Deo Gloria

Today’s post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 14-16

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2014-16&version=NIV


Deuteronomy 15:1-6 “1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 3 You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you. 4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.”

The Sabbatical Year. At the end of every seven years, the people of Israel, those who were creditors, were to cancel the loans they had made to their fellow Israelites.

This is such a great, great foreshadowing of what Christ would do and has done for us.

Colossians 2:13-14 says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

I feel that we as Christians too often take this for granted. As we near Easter, meditate on Colossians 2:13-14. How great it is that Christ forgave us all our sins and canceled the regulations of the Law that were against us and that stood opposed to us.

In John Piper’s book, 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die, he writes of this. In lieu of my thoughts, I would like to share his with you:

“If we are saved from the consequences of our bad deeds, it will not be because they weighed less than our good deeds. It will be because the “record of [our] debt” in heaven has been nailed to the cross of Christ. God has a totally different way of saving sinners than by weighing their deeds. There is no hope in our deeds. There is only hope in the suffering and death of Christ. There is no salvation by balancing the records. There is only salvation by canceling records. The record of our bad deeds (including our defective good deeds), along with the just penalties that each deserves, must be blotted out—not balanced. This is what Christ suffered and died to accomplish. The cancellation happened when the record of our deeds was “nailed to the cross” (Colossians 2:13). How was this damning record nailed to the cross? Parchment was not nailed to the cross. Christ was. So Christ became my damning record of bad (and good) deeds. He endured my damnation. He put my salvation on a totally different footing. He is my only hope. And faith in him is my only way to God.” (Page 33)

Today and this weekend and as we near Easter, ponder the thought that each day that we live the forgiveness under Christ is so much greater than the forgiveness given to the Israelites in the Sabbatical Year.

Soli Deo Gloria

Today’s post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 11-13

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2011-13&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 “ 1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”

After reading in chapters 8 to 10 that we are not to forget the Lord, Moses now encourages the people to keep the commands of the Lord, and he tells them to seek the place where the Lord will choose for them to worship Him.

But yet, there is another potential pitfall in the Israelites path. Moses tells the people to not follow after other gods in chapters 11 to 13. He gives three ways in which people may be led into following other gods: through a false prophet, through friends and family, and through the world or culture.

I would like to focus on the following of a false prophet today. If you turn on the television to one of the “Christian” television stations today, you will see personalities that call themselves Prophet Bill, or Prophet Jack, for example. In and of itself this seems harmless. However, prophets in the Bible often times revealed new revelation to the people from the Lord.

Today, we do not receive new revelation from the Lord. The canon of Scripture is closed. What we receive is new illumination, or understanding, by the power of the Holy Spirit into the application of the Scripture’s message to our lives. When people call themselves prophets, people who are new to the faith may believe that such a person is going to give new revelation that has the same authority of that of Scripture. Second Baptist Church holds that the revelation of God is closed. This is the orthodox belief of evangelical Christians today. So, it is best to not use the title prophet as a title for oneself.

In the example above that Moses details, these prophets were able to do miracles. So miracles, in and of themselves, are not always indicative of God’s work. In this situation, it was a theological test. Was the prophet leading the people to or from the Lord? Now today many so-called prophets say they are for Jesus Christ. But are they really?

Are their lives indicative of what they say they believe? And are their beliefs in alignment with the Scriptures? Don’t get fooled by persons that have huge ministries, or say they can heal people in the name of God. As the Scriptures state, “Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-23)

Jesus also spoke of this when he said:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

This is such an important principle for us to follow today. Test everything according to the Scriptures. Test what I write, or Kelly, or Carol writes. Test what Dr. Young preaches against the Scriptures. Test what you hear on the radio or read in Christian books against the Scriptures.

Much of what you hear and read will be and is true to the Word of God. But ignorance will not be an excuse for us. The Lord has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit so that we can be discerning in this world.

Below is a list from Norman Geisler’s book, Correcting the Cults, that has criteria to determine if one is a false prophet or not. Test this list and see if it agrees with the Word of God.

1. Do they ever give false prophecies? Do 100% of their predictions of future
events come true? (Deut. 18:21-22)
2. Do they contact departed spirits? (Deut. 18:11)
3. Do they use means of divination? (Deut. 18:11)
4. Do they involve mediums or witches? (Deut. 18:1)
5. Do they follow false gods or idols? (Exod. 20:3-4; Deut. 13:1-3)
6. Do they deny the deity of Jesus Christ? (Col. 2:8-9)
7. Do they deny the humanity of Christ? (1 John 4:1-2)
8. Do their prophecies shift the focus off Jesus Christ? (Rev. 19:10)
9. Do they advocate abstaining from certain foods and meats for spiritual reasons? (1 Tim. 4:3-4)
10. Do they deprecate or deny the need for marriage? (1 Tim. 4:3)
11. Do they promote immorality? (Jude 4,7)
12. Do they encourage legalistic self-denial? (Col. 2:16-23)

Feel free to comment on this list or share your thoughts on this post.

Soli Deo Gloria

Today’s post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 8-10

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%208-10&version=NIV


Deuteronomy 8:11 – “ Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.”

Have you forgotten the Lord? Do you forget the Lord when you are having a busy or stressful day?

In chapters 8 to 10 of Deuteronomy, Moses is telling the people of Israel to not forget the Lord.

In chapter 8, Moses warns the people about getting “fat and happy”, if you will. He reminds them that the Lord guided them through the desert and provided them with nourishment. And in verses 17 and 18 Moses warns the people to not get puffed up because of their accomplishments.

17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

How true this still is for us today. It is so easy for us to rely on our own strength and think that we are the reason for our success. Yes, we are responsible for our actions, yet it would be better for us to look at ourselves more as stewards of the abilities He has given us, than as the reason for our success.

In the Scriptures, we are told not to boast in ourselves or what we have done, but only in God.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote:

“ This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

And Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

So how should we then live? Moses writes of a fine way of living that was suitable for the Israelites and is suitable for us today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

Soli Deo Gloria

Today’s post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Deuteronomy 5-7

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%205-7&version=NIV


Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

If you attended the worship services at Second over the last month you would have heard the Broken America sermon series. Dr. Young preached each week and explained what was broke with America and how to fix it. He went through the government, family, education, Wall Street, and other topics.

Over and over in the series Dr. Young said we need to get back to a biblical worldview. We need to look at everything and analyze everything through the lens of the Scriptures.

Moses wrote of this to the Israelites just as they were fixing to enter the promised land. He said the people of Israel should love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength. In essence to love the Lord with their whole being, or whole self.

How do we do that? Well, one way is by doing what you have been doing this year as we are reading God’s Word together. But Moses says we need to take this to the next level. We need to read the Scriptures, we need to meditate on the Scriptures, we need to memorize the Scriptures, and we need to be able to discuss the Scriptures with our friends, families, co-workers and strangers. The Scriptures need to be so pervasive in our lives that people should look at us as talking Bibles.

We should not only know the Scriptures but we should know the context of them, the meaning of them, and how they apply to our lives and to the lives of others.

I know that sounds like a daunting task. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and with the fellowship of your friends in the Bridge we all can grow in the Scriptures. And this growth is not to know more things just for knowledge’s sake, but to know more of God so that we can live a life that is honoring and pleasing to Him.

Over the last seven or eight years the Lord has really impressed it upon me to study His Word. I have tried to make it a goal to read the Bible through each year for the rest of my life. I haven’t made it every year, I will be honest with you. But I have made it most. Continuous reading of God’s Word each year has really been a blessing to me. There have been so many times that friends or family have come to me and asked a question about the Bible and I have been able, by God’s grace, to point them to a verse or section of Scripture to study, or use it as a time to encourage them, or give them comfort in a time of trouble or distress.

When I first started out it those years ago it was so intimidating to me. But as the years have passed the Bible has become more and more dear to me. When I read it, I pick up on things I did not in the years past. I can discuss the Bible with my mother, friends in my small group, and with my friends in the Bridge.

So, as you read through the Bible this year, think about how these passages apply to your life today. And try to take a longer view than just this year of reading the Bible.

For many of you this is a challenge I know. To try to read through the Bible in a year does seem daunting. But as you continue to read it day by day I hope and pray that it becomes less and less of a chore or duty and more and more of a joy and a way in which you can worship the Lord.

Remember what Peter wrote:

1 Peter 2:2-3

“2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Soli Deo Gloria

Today’s post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.

Pray Like Grown-ups!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%203-4&version=NIV

So what is the one thing I take away from reading Deuteronomy 4? In a word: Discernment. Discernment has been a recurring theme in my life of late: in church and at work; with friends and with strangers. When I was child I can remember the prayers of grown-ups asking God for the gift discernment. “How dull,” I would think! “Of all the things to ask for, why choose discernment?” Of course life comes at you fast and as an adult you realize that you are never really as clever as you need to be. If we are ever going to navigate through this world, we need to listen to someone who sees things from a better vantage point and who has our best interest at heart.

In Deuteronomy 4 we see Moses and he knows what must soon transpire. He knows that God will not permit him to cross the river Jordan with his people. Because of this he knows he will not be there to instruct them and remind them about Yahweh: His ways, His promises, and His commands. Like a loving father, he wants to make certain that the children of Israel are properly equipped for their future, and he reminds them of the faithfulness God has demonstrated and urges them to remain obedient to Him. This leads in to verses 5 through 8, which of all the verses in this passage, resonated with me the most:

5See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

How blessed it would be to so highly regarded! What better way can we reflect the character of God but through the discernment we display in our lives – as individuals and as the church? What better way is there for us to build true community in this world but through the application of God’s truth in our decisions? What better way is there to lead others to Christ but through the active demonstration of His wisdom and His understanding? The answer is simple. There is no better way.

From this day forward, let’s pray like grown-ups. Let’s pray for discernment, so that we may be a blessing to all people in every situation.

Rock on, dear ones.
Chad Searcy

Deuteronomy 1-2

Todays passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy%201-2&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 1:3 “In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them."

Moses reminded his people:
That God delivered them from slavery of the Egyptians
That God had multiplied their people as promised
That the Lord God carried them through the wilderness as a father carries his son
That God went before them to seek out a place to encamp and showed them the way to go
That He delivered Shihon, King of Heshbon of the Amorites over to them in defeat
That there was not city that was too high from Aroer to Gilead; God delivered them all over to them

Moses also reminded them:
That when the spies returned with the fruits of the promised Land, they grumbled in fear and rebelled against the command of the Lord, He did not allow that generation to see the Promised Land
That Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land because of his disobedience to the Lord
That when they went into battle against his command, they were chased out and crushed

So...when the Israelites walked in obedience, they were victorious because God fought their battles for them; when they were rebellious and disobedient, harmful consequences followed. God’s plan for the children of Israel was for them to possess the Promised Land. In order for them to fulfill that plan, they had to do it His way. When they tried to do it their own way…they failed.

Sometimes we focus so much on the grace and forgiveness of our Lord, that we forget that He still expects us to walk in faith and obedience. When we walk in disobedience, we get further and further from Him and we don’t allow Him to protect us. But if we are faithfully walking in the direction that he leads, we can count on his protection. God will orchestrate the details of our lives to make sure that we are victorious in fulfilling our calling.

Please share on the blog any battles that you’ve watched God fight for you or times when your disobedient choices have cause you to face painful consequences! With Him we are victorious!

today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 35-36

Today's passage - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2035-36&version=NIV

As we close the book of Numbers, we find the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. Their travels have brought them closer than ever to the Promised Land. The time of being stuck in the wilderness is drawing to a close. David Gurzik on enduringword.com does a wonderful job of showing how God has used this amazing journey from Egypt to the brink of the Promised Land for the growth of His people. Here are a few of his points:

1. From their encampment at Mount Sinai, God gave Israel the opportunity to grow from being a slave people to being a Promised Land people. He taught them how to be ordered, organized, cleansed, separated, blessed, how to give, to be reminded of God’s deliverance, given God’s presence, and received the tools to advance to the Promised Land.
2. Then, as the nation actually set out from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, they found themselves struggling with the flesh - they murmured, complained, and rebelled; most of all, they failed to enter into what God had set before them by faith - and a generation of unbelief was condemned to perish in the wilderness.
3. God led the nation for some 38 years in the wilderness, with much motion but no progress - enduring more rebellion and murmuring, but essentially waiting until the generation of unbelief had died and a generation willing to trust God for big things had come to maturity.
4. So they set out towards the Promised Land again, and faced the same challenges of the flesh - but dealt with them better this time, until they made their way to the threshold of the Promised Land.

As we close the book of Numbers, I encourage you to look at where you are in your journey of faith. I don’t know about you, but I tend to bounce back and forth from a Promised Land person to a Stuck in the Wilderness person. At times I obediently walk in faith, trusting God’s plan for me, & stepping out in faith. At other times I walk in unbelief, afraid of where God is leading me, complaining about the opposition I face and rebelling against His plan for me. If we’re in a Stuck in the Wilderness period of life, God wants nothing more than for our unbelief to perish so that He can move us toward the Promised Land. What should we do if we are in a Stuck in the Wilderness period of life? I love the story in Mark 9: 22-27 where a father asked Jesus to rid his son of a demon. :

"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil[a] spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up."

God can work with and honors a desire to believe. He knows we will have times where we struggle with our faith and all He wants us to do is give that struggle to Him. He doesn’t want us to remain Stuck in the Wilderness because of our unbelief. He wants us to be honest about our doubts and have a heart that is willing to be transformed. If we are struggling with a period of unbelief, we too, can cry out to Jesus, “help me overcome my unbelief.”

Have you had an experience where God has brought you out of a Stuck in the Wilderness period of life. Feel free to share your story by clicking the link below and posting a comment on the blog. Your story might encourage others who are struggling!

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 34-35

In the theater of life, there are some people that are worthy of front row seats and backstage passes, some who end up far away in the balcony and some that don’t even deserve to get past the parking lot. In our passage today, God is tells the Israelites to establish some boundaries and drive out the inhabitants of the land. Numbers 33:55 says "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them." God knew that if these people were allowed to remain, they will do nothing but cause trouble. We already saw this happen with the Midian women back in chapter 25.

This passage reminds me that we, as Christians, should definitely be careful as to who we let into our lives. It’s a slippery slope when we allow people who are non believers to be a big part of our lives. Check out these two verses:

2 Corinthians 6:14 - “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Many of the readers of this blog are single and searching for a mate and we would do well to remember and apply these two verses. I encourage you to search for someone who is walking a path of faith that is similar to your own. Look for evidence of their faith in their daily walk. Don’t tie yourself to someone who is on a completely different level in the hopes that you will pull him or her up to your level. It’s much easier to be pulled down. You’re better off introducing that person to a few mentors (preferably of the same gender) and praying for them.

Of course this goes much deeper than just who you end up marrying. We are attacked by what we allow into our lives in the areas of the friendships and the media and the general culture of our society as well. We have to be careful as to what we allow into our lives or next thing you know we will be conformed to this world instead of transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

If there is someone in your life who is influencing you negatively and you need to move them to the balcony or parking lot of your life, here are a few key principles for setting boundaries, from Kim Avery’s website has to say at http://www.lifecoachingforchristianwomen.com/

Take responsibility for your own actions – Rarely is the problem the fault of only one person. If you own your part of the problem, the other person will be more likely to accept your boundaries.
Invite them to change – The first step in confronting someone should never be a limit, but always an invitation to change.
Warn them – If you just set limits out of the blue, this person may feel ambushed and become angry at you. A warning, on the other hand, gives her a choice.
Be patient – A warning, if not accompanied with patience, is an ultimatum.
Follow through with consequences – Remember that consequences have nothing to do with anger, revenge, or punishment. They are there to protect you and to help this person deal with the reality of her actions.
Practice continual forgiveness – Don’t give negative attitudes a chance to grow – practice forgiveness day by day.

This week, I encourage you all to take inventory of whom and what you are allowing to enter into the theater of your life. Whether it’s a person, a tv show, or a website, if it’s conforming your mind to the beliefs of this world, it’s time to remove it from your life. Ask God to reveal these negative influences and show you a path for sending them to the balcony or parking lot of your life! Please feel free to share your experiences on the blog if God has shown you how to remove unhealthy influences from your life.

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 31-32

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2031-32&version=NIV

This passage reminds me that vengeance belongs to God and God alone. God’s intervention is evident in this battle considering not one of his people was lost in the battle. Clearly this battle was divinely appointed and directed.

Here’s the thing…If God has a plan, it will be carried out. These Midianites had conspired to use their women to turn Israel away from the Lord. They were determined to corrupt God's people and God was not going to let that happen. In this battle, God had His people carry out His vengeance. He instructed the leader of His people to defend the honor, safety and future of his people.

This is not the same as the personal vengeance that is commonly accepted and expected in our culture today. Personal vengeance has its roots in the sins of pride, rage, and jealousy. Due to our sinful nature, it’s pretty much impossible for us to carry out acts of vindication without sinning. That’s why in Leviticus 19:18, it says “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” And Romans 12:17-21 says - “17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

You’ve heard the saying - "The best revenge is living well". Let God impart justice on those who wrong you. Instead, live your life with the light of Jesus shining through you. God can pass judgement much more perfectly than we can. Only He knows all of the circumstances involved. We are here to give glory to God and that’s hard to do when we are swimming in the sins that surround personal vengeance. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lashed back with a comment or action that I regretted. It’s our nature to want to retaliate, but with prayer God can soften our hearts. I encourage you, if you're holding a grudge, to pray about it and ask God to show you how to release it. Please feel free to click the link to the blog below and share your thoughts or experiences.

Today’s post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 28-30

Today’s passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2028-30&version=NIV

In today’s passage, the laws regarding the daily, weekly & monthly sacrifices, as well as the yearly sacrifices at the feasts are being repeated. God reminded the Israelites to seek Him for atonement, for thanksgiving & praise and for fellowship. God wants to be at the center of His people’s lives at all times.

This passage reminds us to seek the Lord in all that we do. Whether we’re traveling through a wilderness period of life without a job or fighting on the battlefield of loneliness and loss or celebrating a season of abundant blessing – He wants to be the center of it! Instead of running to our favorite girlfriend for advice or comfort we should be running to our Wonderful, Counselor. Instead of praising the doctor for the cure we should be thanking our Lord, the Great Physician. Instead being prideful in our accomplishments and success, we should be giving God all the glory! Instead of running head first into battle with a plan we devised for ourselves, we should be seeking a plan from our Shield, our Strength, our Rock, El Shaddai, God Almighty! How many times have we jumped out of bed and run to the shower without even saying thank you Lord for another day, Lord how can I serve you today? How many times have we crashed head first into bed exhausted, just glad we made it through another day without even praising Him for walking us through it? I love how Psalm 63 gives a perfect look at how to seek God:

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Take some time to look at your life and consider whether you are putting Him at the center of it - Thirsting for him, longing for him, remembering him as you go to bed, praising him, lifting up our hands to him, singing of him in the shadows of his wings, clinging to him. Praising and worshipping Him…

Here are some ways to move toward a more God centered life:

* Make scripture cards to leave in your purse, car or tape to your mirror or computer screen
* Sing along with praise & worship songs in the car or while cleaning house
* Enjoy working out? Let your mind focus on Him in prayer & praise as you circle Memorial Park * or lift weights.
* Hit the snooze button and spend a few more minutes in bed asking God to lead your day
* Read the Bible ever day!
* Join a mid week Bible study
* Carve out some quiet time with the Lord for prayer and Bible study
* Fellowship with other Christians

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 puts it perfectly - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 26-27

In Numbers 26, God commands another census to determine the number of men available to go out to war in Israel. This time, however, God would also use the results of the census to divide up the land and provide an inheritance accordingly. When comparing the census results from the first census to the second census, we see a small change in numbers. During this time of wandering about in the wilderness, God has cleaned house. God made good on his promise – there was not a man left from the first census except for Caleb and Joshua.

In todays passage, we see an example of the faith of this new generation through the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. Under current laws, because Zelophehad had no sons, his family would not receive a portion of the inherited land. These girls boldly stood before Moses and in faith, asked for their inheritance. This is a big change from the previous generation who was so busy romanticizing the past that they just wanted to go back to Egypt. These women had faith that God could & would deliver on his promise to his people and they didn’t want to be left out due to the current laws of inheritance.

Here’s the thing that I love about this story – if those girls had not asked, they might have lost out on their inheritance. These girls could have just accepted their situation and lost out on their inheritance, but God honored their faith and rewrote the laws of inheritance. How often we forget that God longs to bless us. Isaiah 30:18 says “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice.” Sometimes, we feel like we are already so blessed (because we generally are) that we shouldn’t bother God with anything else. Sometimes we might even feel like He’s tired of hearing from us. But the Bible says that we should take everything to the Lord in prayer. He does not tire from hearing from us. Especially when we ask Him for something that He already wants to give us. Psalm 37:4 says – “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you all the desires of your heart”. I’m not talking "name it and claim it" prosperity prayer. Here's what Matthew Henry says about this verse: “He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul.” If we are in a relationship with God, the desires of our heart change in accordance to His will. The prayer life of a “renewed and sanctified soul” looks a lot different than the prayer life of one who does not walk with God.

A couple of other verses about prayer:

Ephesians 6:18 - “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”,

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”

Don’t be afraid to go to Him. He wants a relationship with you. He is our Provider, our Defender and our Counselor and He longs to bless us and fill the desires of our renewed and sanctified soul! You can place your desires safely before the Lord!

Today's post submitted by Kelly Coxe

Numbers 23-25

Even without a talking donkey, this passage rocks (Number 23-24). While the Hebrews fade into the background of the story, their enemy Balak comes front and center. And he is distressed. Why wouldn’t he be? The Hebrews that are encamped nearby pose a threat to him and his kingdom, and clearly they are far too numerous for him to defeat on his own. What’s godless man to do? As we see in chapter 22, Balak turns in desperation to Balaam, a diviner who converses with God. Thinking that Balaam will bestow a curse on the Hebrews that will ensure his victory, Balak has certainly got another thing coming.

I think that the reason I love this passage is that Balak and Balaam are as real today as they ever were. Balak is smart enough to know that the situation he faces calls for extraordinary measures; however, he places his faith (or rather, his superstition) in a mere mortal, Balaam. Have you ever encountered someone like this -- who has the sense to seek divine help but is ignorant of the One whose help he should be seeking? And while Balak falsely believes that Balaam possesses the authority to bless or curse whom he chooses, Balaam (after some stern reproach by God) can only utter God’s truth and offer blessing upon the Hebrew people. Balaam interests me because he has knowledge of the Lord and is conversant with Him; however, as a diviner, it’s not clear that he has surrendered himself solely to God. Have you ever encountered someone like this – who has an intellectual understanding of God but fails to yield his heart to Him?

Up until 24:11, I almost feel sorry for Balak. But after three prophesies he still fails to acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty and (foolishly) rebukes Balak for obeying the Lord. After reading that I just shook my head and thought: That’s it, dude. You’re toast!

As Christians we are promised to encounter many challenges and challengers. It’s important for us to know that despite appearances, our enemy often hides trembling behind a façade of strength. But we can take heart in the knowledge that our victory in Christ is as assured to us as the Hebrews’ victory over the Midianites. So let’s press on by loving our enemies as Jesus commands, winning victories for His kingdom, and praising God all along the way.

Rock on!
Chad Searcy

A Talking Donkey - Numbers 21-22

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2021-22&version=NIV

21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. [h] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."

So apparently Shrek isn’t the only one who had a talking donkey! Seriously – I love this story. I think it is proof that God has a sense of humor. But while it’s amusing, I think there’s definitely am important lesson here. Read again the words in verse 32 – “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.”

Balaam was walking on a reckless path, and God put an angel in his path with his sword drawn, yet is was the donkey, not Balaam, that saw the angel. God opened the mouth of the donkey to get his attention. My study Bible says that ‘his dumb beast saw what Balaam was blind to observe.’

I’d say that’s proof of how far Balaam was from God. When one gets far enough from God, he tends to use various things to get our attention. Unfortunately, like Balaam, we are often so far from God that we don’t see or heed his warnings. So I guess the question for you today is this – has God been trying to get your attention? If he’s been tugging on your heart about something, you may want to heed the warning. If he’s moved in your circumstances in ways that are not comfortable, he may be trying to get your attention. If he has moved others to speak words to you that aren’t so fun to hear, he may be trying to get your attention.

I always say that sometimes God warns about our choices by tapping us on the shoulder. If we don’t listening, he sometimes will then slap us upside the head. If that doesn’t get our attention, he may kick us over. And if that doesn’t work, he may break our legs (metaphorically speaking) so we have no choice but to be still and listen.

I think many of us have stubbornly refused to heed God’s warning in areas of our lives. It is my prayer that we never get so far from God that we no longer are able to see the strong warnings he sends. When God opposes us to keep us from a reckless path, I pray that we have more sense then a dumb beast – or we could go down in history as the one whose donkey had to talk some sense into him or her! I pray that our pride does not keep us for hearing, heeding, turning, confessing and running into the open arms of our Father who welcomes us home again. I pray that in each of our lives, we do what Jeremiah 6:16 commands:

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Do you have a thought to share? Anyone have a story they are willing to share about how God got their attention when they where headed down a reckless path? My story is about God giving me a chronic knee condition when I was abusing my body by working out everyday – often 30 days in a row without allowing by body to rest. It really is a beautiful thing the way he worked that out – taking away my running stopped me from running away from dealing with what God wanted to show me and heal in me. By the way, when he worked out what he wanted to do in me, he healed my knees enough so I can run again – but they still warn me when I overdo it. He is so wise and merciful! So what is your story?

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

Searching for Truth - Numbers 18-20

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2018-20&version=NIV

Today’s passage brings to mind something that isn’t necessarily related to the passages, but is always related to the Word of God – the search for truth. The reason this is on my mind is because it was Numbers 19 that led me to a truth from God’s word that refuted a human tradition I accepted as truth most of my life.

Let me explain. I grew up in the Lutheran church – a denomination that has so many amazing aspects. It was, after all, founded on the teaching and writing of Martin Luther. However, as in many denominations, there are human traditions integrated as ‘truth’ or put into practice that have no biblical foundation. Such is the practice of infant baptism in the Lutheran church. The basics of the belief are that because God’s word says baptism now saves you, suffer the little children to come unto me, and to baptize all nations, then infants not only can but should be baptized. Essentially it’s practiced as fireproof to answer the question of whether an unbaptized infant who hasn’t professed faith who dies will go to heaven. The answer to ensure this is to baptize the infant if baptism saves – but this is not supported by scripture.

Now first and foremost, I came to the conclusion that it is not baptism that saves, but rather the faith that precedes the baptism (Mk 16:16). The baptism is a raising of the faith flag. But scripture clearly says believe and be baptized – the proper order is first belief, then baptism. Therefore, infant baptism is not biblical, but rather human tradition. In addition, the thief on the cross who just came to belief in Christ was told that he would that day be in heaven (Luke 23:43) – and there is no record of them pulling him off the cross before he died for a quick baptism. Therefore, baptism is not what saves – rather it is faith. Notice that I found my way to the truth through God’s Word.

The other thing I wondered about in the Lutheran tradition is the sprinkling of the infants – or adults – with water as opposed to submersion. After reading Numbers 19 several years ago I realized that this tradition is based on the old covenant tradition of the sprinkling of the water of cleansing. So the Lutheran church is operating under the traditions of the old covenant while we now live under the grace of the new covenant.

What is my point? My point is that it is of utmost importance that we all search for truth rather than just accept what we’ve been told, taught, or assumed. Some of us are on a search for truth about Jesus Christ – whether he is the Way and the Truth. I assure you that if you search for truth you’ll find the answer is yes! Some of us are trying, as I was, to understand the difference between denominations and beliefs. Others of us are trying to discern truth about some of the tougher teachings in the word or things that are not made completely clear to us.

Now some might feel like the responsibility for truth lies with the church and it’s leaders and teachers. But I caution you in this – if you rely on fallible people to guide you, you can sometimes be misled or taught some damaging doctrine that isn’t based on God’s word. Some of us have already been badly hurt by what someone in the church taught us – or maybe an understanding about God that our parents lead us to believe that isn’t true. So we must always search for ourselves. On the other end of that, however, I will say this. Second Baptist IS a safe place of search for truth. I know this because our church doesn’t just tell you what to believe, but lead you to study the word and find out for yourself. In addition, our church has a structure that provides accountability for every pastor or teacher – from Dr. Young on down.

Regardless of what journey you are on – regardless of what you are searching for, there is but one simple formula that I guarantee will lead you to that truth. Here it is:

Your search + the Word of God + the power of the Spirit = Truth

First and foremost, you need to know that God won’t force truth on you – he wants you to seek it. Secondly, he promises that his Word is Truth and so that is the source we can be certain in which truth dwells. Thirdly, he promises in his Word that if we search for truth, we will find it. If we search for understanding, he will give it. If we search for Him, we will find him. A simple look for at the passages below guarantee that our formula will work. Here’s what the Word says:

“Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he would seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you in all truth.” John 12:13

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

And that’s just the short list of passages that guarantee that the Word is truth, that we have to but seek it and we will find it, and that the Holy Spirit will lead us to it. And we are given bible believing churches, wise counselors, mentors, and fellow Christians also on a journey towards truth that will help us along the way. Search for the truth – for there is nothing of greater beauty!

Lastly, I would love it if you’d share how God revealed truth to you on your own search. Or, if you have questions about God, faith, Jesus Christ, salvation or confusing teachings ask us. We can point you to the truth in God’s word and if we don’t feel qualified, will points you towards Godly people with great knowledge who can help guide you.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2016-17&version=NIV

The Word of God is so much more than a story. It is rich with layers and filled with the purpose of God. It is the story of God’s people, it is an example for us to follow and always points us to Christ and God’s love.

Today I’d like to focus on Numbers 17 where we read about the budding of Aaron’s staff. Let’s review the quick back story from chapter 16. The leadership of Moses and Aaron in being attacked by Korah – a descent of Levi through Kohath. We learned in Numbers 4:1-20 that the Kohathites held high duties in the service of the Lord at the tabernacle. Their role was to care for and carry the holy items of the tabernacle when God commanded the Israelites to move. They could not, however, view or directly touch the holy items – only Aaron and his sons could do that. The items were veiled or wrapped before the Kohathites could carry them.

This duty, it seems, was not a high enough calling in the eyes of Korah. His passion was to claim the role of the priest. And so he insights a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, claiming that they have gone too far in the role of spiritual leadership, and that indeed, all the people where holy – in other words, any one of them could be the priest. And so a trial by fire is set up by Moses. And as expected, God made it quite clear who he accepted as priests in his tabernacle, with sure and sudden punishment – death by fire – to the 250 who dared to present themselves as priests. And then Korah’s men are swallowed up by the earth – another certain display of God’s judgement.

But, as it seems to have become habit, the Israelites begin murmuring again against Moses and Aaron. At this, God decides to make it very clear who HE has appointed to be the priest. This act is seen by many commentators as particularly merciful as God, who can discern the hearts of man, anticipated the people again would challenge Aaron. So he gives them a clear sign that he has appointed Aaron before the people sin again.

So here’s what happened – a staff is brought that represents every tribe with the name of the prince of each tribe written on the staff with Aaron’s name being written on the staff of the Levites. The staffs are then laid before the Lord over night. The next day Moses saw that only Aaron’s staff had budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. He brought out all the staff to the Israelites so they could also see this pain indication that Aaron was the chosen on of God for the priesthood. The Lord then commands Moses to put the staff in front of the Testimony to be kept as sign to the rebellious, to end the grumbling so that the people would not have to experience his wrath again.

So there’s the story – layer one. And even within the story we see the rich mercy of God. But check this out – God was very purposeful in this miracle, because not only does it serve as a sign to the Israelites, but it serves as both an example and points us to Christ.

First, Matthew Henry’s Commentary explains that it provides for us an example or representation of how the ministry of one who is called by God looks – layer two. A ministry that is blessed by God yields increase sometimes even when there is no planting or watering by man’s hands. Indeed, fruitfulness is the best evidence of divine call – and every setting or bough (each person) that is cut and set by this ministry will flourish.
In addition, such a ministry should produce buds and blossoms that promise more hereafter – a seed planted by God should serve him from generation to generation. The fruit should remain (John 15:16).

Next, the miracle points us to Christ – layer three. Check out the parallels: Christ is the man, the branch, that is to be a priest upon his throne (Zec. 6:12). He is to grow up before God like a tender plant, and a root out of dry ground (Is 53:2). In addition, it was a standing miracle in front of the Testimony, so it if probably that the buds, blossoms, and fruit continued fresh as even the leaf of God’s tree do not whither (Psalm 1:3).

Yes, the many layers of God’s Word are rich. His purpose so indescribable and so much higher then ours. His mercy so great. Reminds me one of my favorite Scriptures:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond searching out! Who has know the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. to him be the glory forever! Amen.
– Romans 11:33-36

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels