March 5, 2016
The test for adultery found in Numbers 5 is a troubling passage to modern ears. But before considering its spiritual meaning, we must first remember that the Mosaic law was given to expose our sinfulness and to point towards our need for a Savior to rescue us from the curse of sin. Second, we must remember that marriage is a picture of the covenant relationship that God desires with His people, so adultery also points to how we have broken that covenant with God. In Deut. 27, Moses instructed the people that as they entered the Promised Land, they were to stand and repeat aloud the curses that would fall on them if they broke the laws of the covenant with God. In similar manner, the wife suspected of adultery was to repeat the curses prescribed in Numbers 5 before the Lord. If she was indeed guilty of adultery, then she would be accursed. But if she was innocent, she would be free. Unlike the other laws that required human involvement in carrying out penalties (i.e. “stoning), this law required divine action.
Similarly, our sinfulness today is as adultery against God. We have all gone “astray.” We have all “broken faith” with God. If we were to take this adultery test, every one of us would stand accursed. However, those who have trusted Christ, will not face condemnation, for He has already drank from this bitter, accursed cup. He drained it to the bottom, swallowing the dregs of our sin whole, becoming accursed for us. Christ took the adultery test in our place, so that we might be set free.
March 4, 2016
What is a “parable?” The word parable is from the root word “paraballo” or in the Greek “parabole.” This compound word comes from “para” which means “to come along side or compare” and “ballo” which literally means “to throw.” So, a “parable” is a simple story that stands “alongside” another story and “throws” towards, or points towards, a deeper meaning.
To whom was this parable directed? The chief priests, scribes and elders who had come questioning His authority.
What was this parable’s meaning? The “vineyard” pointed to Israel and the “winepress,” to the temple. The “tenants” were those chief priests, scribes and elders that the owner had left in charge. The “servants” who the owner sent were the prophets. And of course, the son of the owner, that the tenants killed, was Jesus. With this parable, Jesus was actually answering their earlier question concerning by what authority he acted. He was telling them that He was the Son of God and predicting that they would reject and kill Him. And that because of this rejection they would suffer God’s judgment.
He answered them with a parable. But they didn’t understand.
March 3, 2016
Three divine attributes that we experience when we go to God in times of trouble: “Refuge”, “strength,” and “very present help.” God is our “refuge,” our shelter, shielding us from the storms of life when we trust his protection. God is our “strength,” both materially and physically, supplying and empowering us to survive during troubling times. And He is easily found when we call upon Him because He is a “very present help.” He is always only a prayer away. Of course, we know that God is always present with us, yet during times of trouble His presence seems intensified (or at least our awareness of God is intensified). Have you experienced these attributes of our God during times of trouble?
March 2, 2016
Worldly riches are temporary and so is the happiness they bring, for they always contain trouble as well. The new car smell always wears off. The new clothes always fade. Moth and rust destroy and thieves steal. But the blessing of the Lord is eternal and adds no trouble. His blessing cannot be earned, only received. Which do you seek?
March 1, 2016
Every seven years the Israelites were to keep a Sabbath for the land. This was called the “shemitah.” God promised to bless their land with such abundance in the sixth year that it would provide enough for three years (Lev. 25:21-22). After seven of these cycles (49 years), in the fiftieth year they were to declare a Year of Jubilee. This was like the Sabbath Year, yet included cancellation of debts. In the sabbath year, each field was to lie fallow, which appears to be a sound agricultural practice. Every fiftieth year, all leased or mortgaged lands were to be returned to their original owners, and all slaves and bonded laborers were to be freed. This practice reminded the Jews that the land really belonged to God and that they were really just “strangers and sojourners” in the land (Lev. 25:23). It also taught them to depend on God for supply, as they rested every seven years. In Luke 4, Jesus read from Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the “Year of the Lord’s Favor” (Luke 4:19) and declared that He was its fulfillment. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. He is our Jubilee.
February 29, 2016
In John 4, Jesus offered to give the Samaritan woman “living water,” she responded with the practical observation that he didn’t even have anything to draw with. In other words, “You don’t even have a bucket. How will you be able to give me this “living water?” This is sometimes how we feel about God’s ability to generously supply our needs. Yet, God’s Word says that “God is able.” Able to do what? “To make all grace abound to you.” When? “At all times.” What? “In all things.” How much? “Having all sufficiency.” To do what? “To abound in every good work.” So, stop looking for God’s bucket. Instead, trust in God’s promise.
February 28, 2016
The more one talks, the greater the likelihood of sinning. The wise man “restrains his lips,” keeping silent and actively listening to others before carefully choosing words of response. Try talking less and listening more today. Ask the Lord to help you hear His voice and to hear the voices of others before uttering a word yourself. Talkers should talk less.
February 27, 2016
This is the confession of a man who desperately wanted to believe, but still had doubts. This isn’t the greatest of confessions, yet Jesus healed the man’s son nonetheless. Jesus still answers the prayers of those who have a mixture of doubt and belief. The important thing is to confess the doubt, saying, “Jesus, help my unbelief! Increase my faith!” We all begin our journey with Jesus with a “mustard seed” of faith. Following Him, the seed grows into a tree, overshadowing all our doubts, so that only our believing remains.
February 26, 2016
David described the longing of his soul for God. The brilliant French physicist and philosopher, Pascal, proposed that such a longing was present in every human heart, saying, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus” (Blaise Pascal, Pensees). People try to fill this longing with other things, which explains the misery of many. But the human soul can only find its fullest satisfaction in Christ.
February 25, 2016
The crowds that followed Jesus as He passed through the Decapolis (“Ten Cities”) were “astonished beyond measure” at Him. These cities were founded by Greek colonists and were given favor under Roman rule. The gospel writer Mark tells this story after sharing a previous encounter Jesus had with a Greek woman in Tyre and Sidon who begged Him to free her daughter of a demon. These stories are predictive of how the gospel will go out from Jewish to Gentile lands and be more quickly accepted in the latter. People who have no knowledge of Jesus are still “astonished” when they hear the good news about Him. For He “has done all things well.” This is why we must carry the gospel out to every people group, so that everyone has heard.