PLANNED AND PURPOSED

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Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.”

"This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.”

"Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.”

"They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame. Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place. They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame.”

"They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.”

“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting.”

"Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."

The Lord said to Moses, "Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.”

"This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron, the priest."

"Count the Merarites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."

"Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, counted by clans, were 2,750. This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses. The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command.

The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, counted by their clans, were 3,200. This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord's command through Moses.

So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord's command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Numbers 4

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Numbers, Chapter 3, the Lord told Moses to “count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more." We also read where the sons of Levi were "Gershon, Kohath and Merari." These three sons come into play as we move to chapter 4 for each served as the head of three other priestly divisions: Kohathites, Gershonites and the Merarites.

Like the Levites, we find the Lord commanding that a count be made within each of the clans and families of each division, with particular attention paid to “all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting”. Additionally, we see where each division was given specific tasking and assignment of responsibilities within the tabernacle space.

First, we see where the Lord tasked the Kohathites to carry "those things that are in the Tent of Meeting" after "Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move."

Next, He assigned the Gershonites "to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service". All this was to be "done under the direction of Aaron and his sons."

Finally, the Lord told the Merarites "to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use."

Then we find God givi9ng commands to Aaron’s son, Eleazar, specifically appointing him to "have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil”. He was to manage “the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles”. It was an immense responsibility, for sure.

Okay, so how does all this apply to us today?

Well, just as the Lord had a specific plan in mind for the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites, and Eleazar, so too does He have a plan for every Christian believer. We see this affirmed in several places in the Bible which include:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"In Him, we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will". Ephesians 1:11

"…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Through these verses, we discover that although we might have our own plans about what we’ll accomplish in life, it’s the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. For from the moment God created us, He did so with a specific mission in mind. He already had a destiny predetermined and we know and trust that His will and way for us will ultimately result in His glory. All we need to do is seek and carry out His will, and when we do, we will not only experience His purposes but see how He works things for our good, the good of those who love Him.

In closing, some though provoking, self reflection inducing questions:

Have you realized God’s purpose for you in life as yet?

Have you stepped back to inventory the gifts you have and how they can be used in fulfilling the will of God?

Do you prayerfully go to the Lord in prayer, submitting yourself to Him while seeking the things He wants you to do in any one day?

Friends, the scriptures are clear that God has a plan for everyone who places their faith in Him and believes in His Son as their personal Savior. All we need to do as Christians is actively carry out His purposes so to ensure that His will is done as we walk day-by-day to the moment when this earthly life is over and we are drawn to Him to live forever in Heaven.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

REDEMPTION...THEN AND NOW

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord talked with Moses on Mount Sinai. The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before Him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

The Lord said to Moses, "Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.”

The Lord also said to Moses, "I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are Mine, for all the firstborn are Mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for Myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be Mine. I am the Lord."

The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, "Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more."

So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei. The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph, son of Lael. At the Tent of Meeting, the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use.

To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.

The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200. The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel, son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

The total number of Levites counted at the Lord's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.

The Lord said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names. Take the Levites for Me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord."

So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

The Lord also said to Moses, "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be Mine. I am the Lord. To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons."

So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the Israelites, he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

Numbers 3

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Most of the emphasis in the Book of Numbers up to this point has been on the 12 tribes of Israel, the census of all males over the age of twenty, and the organization of the tribal camps around the tabernacle.

As we see in chapter 3, the focus turns to the Levites, God’s appointed religious leaders who were responsible for the tabernacle and all worship practices, therein.

Early on in this chapter, we find God mentioning Aaron and his sons which included Nadab, the firstborn, and Elihu who you’ll recall "fell dead before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before Him in the Desert of Sinai" (Leviticus 10:1-2). After this, the remaining two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. Of interest, we find the scriptures telling us that neither Nadab nor Elihu had any sons.

In regard to the remainder of the Levite tribe, we see where God commissions them to assist Aaron, performing “duties for him” and “the whole community at the Tent of Meeting". Specifically, they were tasked with taking care of “all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle".

As we move through this chapter, we also see that another census was ordered and carried out, this time with two distinct counts made involving the firstborn males (males who are a month old or more). The first count was to be of all firstborn males of Israel while the second was to be of all the firstborn males in the Levite tribe.

So the census was taken and we read where the firstborn of Israel numbered 22,273 while the number of Levite firstborn was 22,000, a difference of 273. The Lord considered every firstborn Levite as redemption for the Israelite nation and so all but 273 of the Israelite firstborn were covered by their Levite brethren.

So what about the other 273?

Well, they could have been sacrificed but the scriptures clearly indicate that the Lord never considered this. Not since Isaac was placed on the altar by Abraham only to be replaced by the ram had a child even remotely come close to sacrifice, except when the people of Israel adopted pagan worship practices.

The 273 could have also been dedicated to the Lord, enslaved to His service for the rest of their life, but that didn’t happen either.

Instead, the Lord offered up a way for redemption, not only for the firstborn boys but the firstborn livestock as well.

What was that redemption?

The scriptures tell us that in order for the “273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites” to be redeemed, there needed to be a collection of “five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel which weighed twenty gerahs”. This redemption offering which covered “the additional Israelites” was to be given to “Aaron and his sons”.

In response to this command from God, we read where "Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. In total, “silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel” was received and then Moses “gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord".

With that, the firstborn were considered redeemed.

What we know is that the God of all creation, the Lord God Almighty, is a redeeming God, a truth He has shown over and over and over. Past and present, He has been known for His great mercy, grace, and love. Consider these reinforcing passages from the Word:

"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You— I, whom You have redeemed. My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long." Psalm 71:23-24

"I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close Your ears to my cry for relief. You came near when I called You, and You said, ‘Do not fear.’ O Lord, You took up my case; You redeemed my life." Lamentations 3:55-58

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Galatians 3:13-14

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

For Christian believers today, the Word of God assures them that their redemption is through Jesus’ precious blood, blood from the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. No other payment was needed, no silver or gold or any other perishable things. Rather, He (Jesus) took up our case, rescued us from the pit, and gave our lips cause to tell of His righteous acts, shouting for joy and singing praises to His name.

My hope today is that if you have not yet committed your life to Jesus, you will do so right now, professing and confessing Him as your personal Savior, the One and only One through which you can have hope, the only One who can rescue you from Hell and deliver you to Heaven so to abide with your God forever (John 14:6).

In support of this message, I was taken back to a great contemporary Christian song from the year 2000. It was simply titled, “Redeemer” and was performed by Nicole C. Mullen. Let me close with the following lyrics as she relates her feelings for her Savior, Jesus and if you want to hear the song, I will be making it the Christian Song of the Day a little later:

He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives

Forever I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin

Was the precious life He gave

And now He's alive and there's an empty grave!

I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know, my Redeemer lives

Today and every day, let us celebrate the salvation and redemption we have in Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father for the gift of His Son (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE SUPREME ORGANIZER

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."

“On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab.  His division numbers 74,600. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar. His division numbers 54,400. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon. His division numbers 57,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.”

“On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur. His division numbers 46,500. The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai. His division numbers 59,300. The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph, son of Deuel. His division numbers 45,650. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.”

“Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard.”

“On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama, son of Ammihud. His division numbers 40,500. The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. His division numbers 32,200. The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan, son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.”

“On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai. His division numbers 62,700. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ocran. His division numbers 41,500. The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.”

These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses. So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.

Numbers 2

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Call me weird but as an adult, I love animated movies. Unfortunately, it seems they, with a few exceptions, are the only decent movies available to watch, ones that so often espouse morals and values without needless profanity or excessive violence.

Some time ago, I watched a very good animated movie, Chicken Run, unique in that it used “claymation”. It was about a group of chickens who were trying to escape from what was sure death while in the hands of a husband and wife chicken farmer team. This couple, the Tweedy’s, had grand visions of making a fortune by making chicken pies out of the captive birds.

Well, during the movie, Mr. Tweedy witnesses the chickens assembling and making preparations to escape, immediately going to his wife with the matter. When he insists that the chickens were getting organized, she chastises him, saying:

"They're CHICKENS, you dolt. Apart from you, they're the most stupid creatures on this planet. They don't plot, they don't scheme, and they are NOT organized."

Little did she know that her husband was right. The chickens were organizing and about to find their way to safety, averting disaster and destruction.

Well in today’s scripture passage from Numbers, chapter 2, we find the Lord showing His interest in making sure His people were organized. For after the census was performed in the first chapter of this book, we see where God provides guidance on how the tribes of Israel were to arrange themselves while encamped, to include the order these groups would be in once they broke camp and moved on.

We see where the twelve tribes were positioned around the tabernacle and the Levites, three on each side (the east, south, west and north). This arrangement ensured there would be full protection for God’s worship place and the priests who worked within it.

Today, the Lord organizes His believers as well, gathering them in churches around the world to commune with Him, learn more about His will for their lives, and then go forth to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Consider this passage from the first chapter of Colossians:

"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." The Message Colossians (15-18, The Message).

Our God, the Supreme Maker of everything, is the Master Organizer. Everything has a place in the order of the Creation which He holds together, and He is the chief Head of the body of Christ (the church). Friends, what an awesome privilege it is to be part of that body and to be used by the Lord in powerful ways as He organizes us and puts us in places He wants us to be so to accomplish His amazing, holy purposes.

Let’s take time today to give thanks to the Lord who always puts us where we’re supposed to be when we submit to His will and way.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

COUNTED

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said:

"Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon, son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel, son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel, son of Ocran; from Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan."

These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the Lord commanded Moses.

And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai: From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

From the descendants of Zebulun: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

From the descendants of Benjamin: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

From the descendants of Asher: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550.

The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. The Lord had said to Moses:

"You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony."

The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Numbers 1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In regard to the historical timeline of the Israelite people, the Book of Numbers begins thirteen months after their deliverance from Egypt and their exodus toward the Promised Land. As they approach that land, we see where God wants to make sure His people are organized for any battle that might occur on the way and definitely for the conflicts that would happen as they faced resisting forces while taking custody of Canaan.

So in Numbers, chapter 1, we find the Lord commanding Moses and Aaron to take a census, counting all men who were age 20 or older. This population of Israelite men was established as Israel’s army.

Imagine what a task it must have been to count every man who was twenty years or older, particularly as we read the final count, minus the tribe of Levi, was a whopping 603,550. Truly, it had to have been a daunting task even though it had been broken down by tribe to make it more manageable, but God commanded it and thus Moses, Aaron, and the people of Israel responded in obedience.

We should notice that the Levites were excluded from the census count. This is because they had special, significant spiritual duties connected with the tabernacle that exempted them from combat. They were in the business of spiritual, not physical, warfare.

Now all of this tabulating of Israelite men might seem a bit dry and mundane. After all, the book is titled Numbers and with that, we should expect lots of statistics but I feel there is a relative message for all of us in this chapter. For this first chapter of Numbers shows us that God values the people He created. They mean a great deal to Him and that’s why they were counted. Whether the men were to fight to protect and preserve the Israelite nation or provide for the spiritual worship of the people, they were equally important to God.

As we move through the scriptures, it’s obvious that the Lord never ceases to be concerned about numbers and although the context of why the numbers are important might change, the fundamental responsibilities of those counted don’t.

Let me explain.

For as the Bible continues to be concerned about numbers, we see ever more that the figures refer to those who believed and trusted in the Gospel message preached by Jesus’ disciples and apostles, those who became disciples themselves. Those new believers, who were now members of God’s family, did indeed count a great deal to Him, just as much as the Israelite men counted in today’s passage from Numbers.

These new believers in Christ Jesus were added to God’s spiritual warriors, unafraid to step out onto the battlefield in His full armor to lead more and more people to believe and trust in His Son themselves. And we should know that many of these spiritual warriors were not only carrying out the Great Commission command to evangelize but caring for the spiritual needs of others just like the Levites of old.

So the main point here is that people count to God. He cherishes every person He creates and yearns for them to come to Him through His Son Jesus who He freely gave up His life as a sin offering upon Calvary’s cross to purchase the pardon of those who would choose to believe in Him.

If you’re a Christian, you are among the Lord’s counted and your name is already written in His Book of Life. Because of this, make sure you put on your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:11-17) for you’re already enlisted in the Lord’s army. It’s time to fulfill your duties to go out into the mission field and help bring come to know and believe in Jesus, adding to the number of His army of saints.

Conversely, if you aren’t among the counted, you can become counted, right here and now. All you need to do is profess with your lips and believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, becoming your personal Savior, and you too can join the Lord’s army. But that’s not all you gain for you get the promise of eternal life once the battle is done in this earthly life, all because your name is in God’s Book of Life, showing that you are counted.

Friends, thanks be to God for His mercy, grace, and love which were displayed in no greater way than when He offered up His Son Jesus, bringing all Christ believers the hope and promise that comes with everlasting life, a forever life with Him in Heaven as He continues to show us that we count.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

BLESSED ASSURANCES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Various passages within the message.

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that we serve a God who communicates with and through His people. In that message, we were reminded in the first verse of the first chapter of the Book of Numbers how God had spoken directly with Moses. We saw where this was something He had done, talking with and through people like prophets, disciples, and apostles since the days of the first man, Adam. We also affirmed that this communication practice of God has continued through the ages, right up to present times.

Today, I would like to extend this discussion regarding God communications to the blessed assurance He has spoken, assurances that give us comfort, hope, and strength as we live this thing called life. The scriptures are full of them.

What is an assurance?

Well, it’s defined as a pledge or something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence. I think it’s best to think of them (assurances) as promises or vows that God has made with us and we know He never breaks a promise. This truth allows us to be edified, inspired, or encouraged anytime we open our Bibles and begin to read what the Lord has to say.

As a primer, let’s examine a few of His blessed assurances:

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

This single verse from Deuteronomy contains eternal promises from God that can help us in times of trial. For while our enemy, Satan, would want to convince us that we’re alone, abandoned, and forsaken in times of trouble, God’s word declares just the opposite. For He has promised us that He will never leave or forsake His people and so we should never allow ourselves to feel isolated, afraid, or discouraged.

Going to the New Testament, we also find these words from Jesus, who we know was One with God the Father (John 10:30):

“…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b

These are words found at the end of what we know is the Great Commission, the command from our Savior to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit while and teaching others to obey what He had commanded. This calling had to feel very daunting to His followers then who were being asked to carry on Jesus’ ministry at a time when Christianity was just getting started as a religion and His ideals were being rejected, so much so that He was crucified. His faithful followers had to be wondering whether they might be next.

And so Jesus blessed assurance, that He would be with them until the end of the age had to be a real confidence booster for His disciples for their Master was promising them that they would not ever be alone as they obediently responded to what He told them to do, despite the potential for danger.

Today, it’s critical for us to remember this as well. For the orders that Jesus gave to His chosen few in New Testament times are the same orders that His followers have been responsible to carry out ever since. And although in many places of the world, Christian believers can share the Gospel in relative safety, there are places where it’s a matter of life and death. In any place with a potential for persecution and harm for being obedient to the Great Commission, the words of Jesus still work to speak blessed assurance into places of fear for indeed, He is still with His disciples as He will be until the end of the age.

Here’s another important promise regarding our God:

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

We can also go back to the Old Testament Book of Genesis and add this verse as Abram and Sarai scoffed at the notion that they might have a child at a time when they had grown very old. God posed this question to them:

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 18:14

Interestingly enough, these blessed assurances both were spoken into matters where women would become pregnant through sure divine intervention which affirmed that there was truly nothing impossible when God was involved. After all He was, is, and will always be the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of all things.

The bottom line is that we serve a Lord through which all things can happen if He wills it to. He is a worker of miracles and holds the power to make the improbable probable, a truth that allows us to be buoyed up in faith, no matter our circumstances.

So what do we do when the hardships of life press down on us, seeking to leave us in despair and feeling hopeless?

God has made some promises that we need to remember in those times which include these two verses:

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Live life long enough and it’s inevitable that we will face hardship at some time. Without having God would lead a person to try and shoulder their burdens on their own and try to find other ways to cope. But in the scriptures, we read that when we place our trust in our Lord, He will bear our burdens daily. We only need to believe and trust in Him, remembering that He and only He can make the seemingly impossible, possible.

And so God believers can find peace and rest in knowing they have the almighty God of creation on their side, daily bearing their burdens. He becomes the calm in the midst of the storm found within life’s difficulties, the One who allows us to live out these words found in verses 6 and 7 of the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Need another assurance for times of trouble?

Here’s one from one of my favorite chapters in the New Testament outside of the Gospels, chapter eight of Paul’s letter to the Romans

“…in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

The claim here sounds simple enough, right?

God works for the good of those who love Him.

But unfortunately, this part of the verse gets misused way too much for many people read it and think it means that God will always bring them good things just because they love Him. And so they yearn for the Lord to give them something or do something for them instantaneously and when that doesn’t happen, they turn on God and blame Him for not being true to His promise, only because He didn’t act within their expectations, as if they have any right to dictate any terms to the Almighty.

We need to see here that the scriptures don’t say that God will give us everything good that we want. Rather, it says that He will work for the good of those who love Him. This means that we might need to persevere through our difficulties as He works, a time intended by our Lord for our spiritual growth as we become stronger in patience, faith, and trust in Him.

In other words, by helping us develop persistence, He is working for our good. To this end, we should also remember these words from Romans, chapter 5:

“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

Okay, time to close this wonderful message with the best promise ever in the Bible, a verse that is arguably the best known even among non-believers.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

What makes this assurance so great is that it’s just not for the here and now. Rather, it holds eternal implications.

For God so loved the world, not the world itself but the people in it, those who could become His children. He loved these people so much that He was willing to offer up His one and only Son so that the punishment of Hell wouldn’t happen to someone at death. Rather, anyone who would believe and trust in His Son, Jesus, wouldn’t perish but gain salvation and the guarantee of eternal life in Heaven.

Note here that there is only one way to Heaven, one way to be able to spend forever with the very God who created us. That way is through becoming a Christian through believing in Jesus as Savior, the Jesus who said this in John’s Gospel:

“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

The same Jesus who calls us to help people become disciples is the One who brings us to everlasting life in Heaven with God. I pray today that you have placed your hope in Him as your personal Savior, embracing the blessed assurance of salvation found within the scriptures.

Amen. 

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE GOD WHO COMMUNICATES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.

Numbers 1:1

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Today, we begin a study of the Book of Numbers by looking at the very first verses, one simple in nature but rich in meaning for all believers – past, present, and future. Here it is again:

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.

Before I get into the message from this verse, some background on the book overall.

Numbers chronicles a period of over thirty-eight years when the Israelites traveled through the desert wilderness on their way to Canaan, the land the Lord had promised them. During this exodus, we see where God constantly speaks to Moses, the leader He hand-selected from His people. After that appointment, there are at least 150 times referenced in the scriptures where God speaks to Moses in some way.

In regard to God speaking to His people, we know it happened to more than just Moses. For if we go all the way back to the beginning of creation, we find Him talking with Adam and Eve. Ditto for Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before Moses even came on the scene. And after Moses, we see where God continued to communicate with the Israelites, either directly or through messengers such as the prophets.

After the times of the Old and New Testament, the Lord has continued to have conversations with believers, words to further illuminate His holy Word in the scriptures through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He is speaking words for me to share with you this very moment and in regard to today’s message, there are three primary takeaways I would like to share.

First, God desires to have fellowship with His people.

I have often said that “communication is the lifeblood of relationship”. This is because someone won’t have much of a relationship with another unless they talk with them. Like a plant will wither and die without water, so too will any relationship where two people don’t stay in touch and speak with one another regularly.

The truth is that God yearns to have a very personal, intimate connection with each person He creates and He constantly seeks to communicate with us via the Holy Spirit. We just need to be ready and willing to talk with Him.

The second takeaway is that God will sometimes communicate with His people through others and we see it in the scriptures over and over again.

The Lord selects those who offer themselves up as His mouthpieces and then He uses them as willing vessels to convey His messages to His people. In the Bible, it was primarily through God-appointed leaders, prophets, priests, disciples, and apostles. Today, He speaks through pastors and ministers who partner with Him every week to write and deliver scripture-centered sermons that He inspires through the power of the Holy Spirit. As touched on previously, there are also Christian writers like myself who write messages daily to share the Gospel and help others come to a better knowledge of the Lord and His Word as it applies to their lives.

Maybe you have a special testimony as well regarding how God has used you to speak truth in His name to someone else. If you want, feel free to write a comment on this message and share your story with others.

The final takeaway for us is this:

God is ready right now to communicate with you and through you.

Maybe you feel like you’ve never heard the voice of the Lord speaking to you. Now that you’ve read this message and know how He desperately is ready to have a conversation, my prayer is that you will devote all of your hearts affection and mind attention to hear God what He has to say. Even if you have been negligent in communicating with Him prior, know and trust He is standing by and ready to receive you, eager to establish or reestablish your relationship with Him. Trust me when I say He will use you if you open yourself up to the opportunity.

Friends, in the end translation, we don’t serve a God who is impersonal and uncaring. Rather, we serve a God who loves and cares for us deeply and wants to be the center of our lives, the One we turn to at all times, whether good or bad, to have a simple conversation.

Have you spoken with Him yet today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE COST OF REDEMPTION

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the Lord by giving equivalent values, set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel; and if it is a female, set her value at thirty shekels. If it is a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver. If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, he is to present the person to the priest, who will set the value for him according to what the man making the vow can afford.’

‘If what he vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy. He must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if he should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. If what he vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord -the animal must be presented to the priest, who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.’

‘If a man dedicates his house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the man who dedicates his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become his.’

‘If a man dedicates to the Lord part of his family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed. If he dedicates his field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains. But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced. If the man who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become his. If, however, he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed. When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord; it will become the property of the priests.’

‘If a man dedicates to the Lord a field he has bought, which is not part of his family land, the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the man must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord. In the Year of Jubilee, the field will revert to the person from whom he bought it, the one whose land it was. Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel. 'No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord; whether an ox or a sheep, it is the Lord's. If it is one of the unclean animals, he may buy it back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If he does not redeem it, it is to be sold at its set value.’

‘But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the Lord - whether man or animal or family land — may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.’

‘No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; he must be put to death.’

‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock — every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod — will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

Leviticus 27

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The final chapter of Leviticus deals with the dedication and devotion of things to the Lord. Whether dealing with people, animals, households or land, one thing we see right away is that the Lord expects anything that He has either created or provided to be attributed and committed to Him.

With this, we see this scripture passage step through covering the various items that could be dedicated to the Lord. Whatever the item, we see where it would become property of the tabernacle unless the provider bought it back by paying a set fee in some instances or a fee set by the priest when the item’s value was in question. In those instances, the priest would establish the value and the subsequent amount owed for repurchasing. We should note that the Lord set different stipulations for the poor. In those cases, if the impoverished person was unable to buy back an item at its face value, the priest was to examine what the person could afford and adjust the redemption value accordingly.

Before the chapter closes, the scriptures tell is that there was one more matter of devotion mentioned, one distinct from the dedication expectations. For anything devoted to the Lord would fully belong to Him and it couldn’t be sold because it belonged to Him and Him alone.

The chapter finishes with guidance on tithing and there is little doubt that the Lord required this form of giving.

“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

By definition, a tithe is a "tenth part of something paid as a voluntary contribution…for the support of a religious establishment." In this passage, the tithe was to be dedicated to the Lord to care for the tabernacle and the priests.

We need to know that the Lord’s requirement for tithing hasn’t changed today. For all believers should still be seeking to return a portion of what the Lord has blessed them with, a portion that rightfully belongs to Him.

As we wrap up Leviticus, chapter 27, we need to keep in mind three main points.

First, the Lord provides us all things and expects that those things be dedicated to Him.

Second, the Lord expects us to dedicate a portion of what He provides back to Him and the work of His church.

And finally, redeeming something doesn’t happen without a cost.

Each of these closing points can help us establish a base foundation for our own Christian living. Let me explain.

First, when we acknowledge that all things come from the Lord, we gain a greater appreciation for what we have. And when that happens, we find ourselves seeing things in a whole different light as a greater sense of stewardship is gained by using all He gives to His glory. We also adopt an inner accountability, ensuring we properly take care of everything that God provides.

Second, the church or other ministries ordained by the Lord can only go forth and do great work in His name if they have the proper resources to do so.

When I first became a church member, I never realized how much the church relied on the tithes and offerings of its members until I was ordained as an elder and gained a first-hand look at how contributions were budgeted and managed. Ultimately, I learned how any church will struggle to carry out their Great Commission responsibilities when there is a lack of funds to do so.

Ultimately, the Lord blesses us with what He wants us to have in accordance with His will and He expects that all believers will redirect a portion into the church as it works to fulfill its purposes.

Unfortunately, too many people fail to carry out their end of this deal. They love to get all that God gives but then they hoard it as it is their own, and not His, and in doing so, they disobey God and diminish the redemptive, Kingdom work of the church and its ministries.

It’s time for all Christians to understand that giving requires personal sacrifice, especially in light of how Jesus gave Himself up fully for us. This takes me to my final point to finish this message for redemption does not come without a cost.

Go back to the times before God made the way so that no person would ever need to perish. Out of love, He gave up His one and only Son so that whoever would believe in Him wouldn’t perish but gain eternal life (John 3:16). It was the greatest sacrifice ever made, one that bought the opportunity for all mankind to be saved from sure destruction in Hell.

In Jesus, we see where something of great value had to paid in order to purchase the pardon of every man, woman and child of the world. The cost calculated to cover creation’s sinful ways was the life of Jesus. Therefore, the sin debt that was owed by all people was paid in full through the surrendered life of one Perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb of God who came and took away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Freedom and liberation comes to all Jesus believers without cost but that’s only because the price was already covered by Christ on Calvary’s cross. Today and every day, let us give thanks for this act of selfless love and sacrifice by our Savior.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.