June 7 -- "A Different Spirit"

Today's Reading: Numbers 14 

"A Different Spirit"

In today’s verse, God describes Caleb as having a "different spirit" and as being someone who "has followed me fully." This statement was made in the context of the Israelites' rebellion against God and their refusal to enter the promised land after the spies' report. While the majority of the spies brought back a negative report, Caleb and Joshua were the only two who believed that God would give them the land and urged the people to trust in God's power.

Caleb's "different spirit" is a reference to his unwavering faith and devotion to God. He had a uniquely deep trust in God's promises and was not swayed by the negative reports or the fear of the people. It is likely that Caleb's "different spirit" was the result of his close relationship with God. Throughout his life, Caleb had cultivated a deep trust in God and had demonstrated unwavering faith and obedience to His will.

This "different spirit" that Caleb possessed is something that modern-day Christ-followers can also aspire to. We too can choose to go contrary to the crowd and have a deep trust in God's promises and an unwavering faith in His power. In a world that is often marked by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, we can choose to have a different spirit that is grounded in the truth of God's Word.

As Christ-followers, we are called to follow God fully and to pursue His will for our lives with all of our hearts. We can learn from Caleb's example of faithfulness and devotion to God and strive to have a "different spirit" that ignores “public sentiment” but instead is grounded in trust, faith, and obedience to God's Word.

Have you prayed for and cultivated a Caleb-like close relationship with God that produces this kind of different spirit in you? If not, do it now.

June 6 -- "We Are Well Able"

Today's Reading: Numbers 13 

"We Are Well Able"

This verse follows the account of the twelve spies that Moses sent to scout out the land of Canaan. Ten of the spies brought back a negative report, causing the Israelites to lose faith in God's promise to give them the land. However, Caleb, along with Joshua, by faith believed that God was with them and that they were able to overcome the obstacles in their path.

The lesson that we can learn from this verse is that faith and trust in God are essential for us as Christ-followers. Just like Caleb and Joshua, we may face challenges and obstacles in our lives that seem insurmountable. However, if we trust in God's promises and believe that He is with us, we can overcome those challenges and achieve great things for His kingdom. Caleb knew that having the Lord on their side meant that they were “well able” to overcome the difficulties that lie ahead.

Furthermore, we should not be swayed by the negative reports and opinions of those around us, but rather remain focused on God's promises and His will for our lives. We should be like Caleb, who quieted the people and encouraged them to have faith in God's promises. As Christ-followers, we should also encourage and uplift those around us, helping them to see the truth of God's promises and the power of His presence in their lives. Having the Lord on our side means we are “well able” to overcome all of the challenges of this life.

A word from the Lord…  “My dear child, do not be afraid of the challenges that lie before you, for I am with you always. Trust in Me and believe in My promises, for they are true and faithful. Do not be swayed by the opinions of those around you, but rather listen to My voice and follow My will for your life. Remember that with Me, all things are possible, and you are well able to overcome any obstacle that you may face. Be like Caleb and Joshua, who had faith in My promises and believed that I was with them. I am with you also, my child, so do not be afraid. Trust in Me, and together, we will overcome every obstacle in your path.”

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June 5 -- "Is The Lord's Hand Shortened?"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 11 & 12

"Is The Lord's Hand Shortened?"

The Israelites had been complaining about their lack of food and were longing for the meat and bread they had in Egypt. God promises to provide them with meat, but Moses doubts that it is possible to feed such a large number of people in the wilderness. God responds with this statement, assuring Moses that nothing is too difficult for Him and that He will keep His promises.

In the Bible, the imagery of the hand is often used to represent power, strength, and ability. For example, in the book of Exodus, God's "mighty hand" is mentioned several times as a symbol of His power and ability to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Similarly, in the book of Psalms, the phrase "the right hand of God" is used to signify God's strength and favor towards His people.

The question, "Is the Lord's hand shortened?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the absurdity of the notion that God's power is limited. It reminds Moses that God is all-powerful and that nothing is impossible for Him.

This is a powerful reminder of His faithfulness and power to provide for His people. This promise is not limited to the Israelites in the wilderness but is applicable to every person who trusts in God. As Christ-followers, we may face trials, difficulties, and challenges that may make us doubt God's ability to provide for us. However, this verse teaches us that we should not doubt God's provision but trust that He will keep His promises.

Let us trust in God's promises and have faith in His power, knowing that He will always be with us and that His arm is never too short to reach us in our time of need.

June 4 -- "Signal for Help"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 10

"Signal for Help"

In Numbers 10:9, God instructs the Israelites to sound the alarm with the trumpets when they go to war. This alarm served two purposes. First, it reminded the Israelites that God is with them and that they can trust in Him to protect and save them. Second, it signaled to God that the Israelites were calling on Him for help.

It's worth noting that the Israelites used several different trumpet sounds for different purposes, including calling the community together, signaling the start of a journey, and announcing the arrival of a festival, and so on. Each of these sounds had a different meaning and was used in a specific context.

The Hebrew word used for "alarm" in this verse is "teruah," which refers to a specific type of trumpet sound that was used in ancient Israel. The "teruah" sound was made by blowing a trumpet or a shofar (a ram's horn) in a rapid, repetitive pattern. The pattern of the "teruah" sound is often described as consisting of nine short blasts, followed by a longer blast. The entire sequence would be repeated several times to create a sustained and urgent sound.

The Israelites were instructed to sound this alarm with the trumpets when they went to war, so that they would be remembered before the Lord their God, and He would save them from their enemies.

This principle of sounding the alarm to God is relevant to us as Christ-followers today. We may not be sounding literal trumpets or facing literal battles like the Israelites, but we do face challenges and struggles in our daily lives. We can apply the same principle of sounding the alarm to God when we face these challenges through our prayers and by calling upon Him. By doing so, we acknowledge our reliance on God and signal to Him that we need Him to be a part of our struggle.

We are not alone in our battles. We can trust in God to be with us and help us through our struggles, and we should always be ready to sound an alarm to Him when we face challenges or spiritual battles. As Christ-followers, we can take comfort in the fact that God is always with us and that He hears us when we signal for His help.

June 3 -- "God's Stunning Presence"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 9

"God's Stunning Presence"

Today’s verse tells us about a spectacular and stunning event that happened on the day the Tabernacle was set up:  God’s presence showed up in a mysterious and powerful way – as a cloud and as fire. Just as the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire had led the Israelites on their wilderness journey, we now see the worship center engulfed with God’s presence in the form of this same cloud and fire.

The pillar of cloud and fire served as a visible dramatic manifestation of God's presence and guidance. As Christians, we do not have a physical pillar of cloud and fire to guide us, but we do have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us as believers.

The Holy Spirit serves as our guide, comforter, and counselor, leading us in the way that we should go and teaching us all things (John 14:26). In a sense, the Holy Spirit is like a spiritual "cloud" that hovers over our lives, guiding and directing us according to God's will.

Additionally, the "fire" aspect of the pillar of cloud and fire represents the power and presence of God. Fire is often associated with purification, refining, and testing, and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to refine and purify us, burning away the impurities and sin in our lives.

Furthermore, the "fire" can represent the passion and zeal that comes from a relationship with God. Just as the burning bush caught Moses' attention and ignited his passion for God's work, so too can the Holy Spirit ignite a passion within us to serve and follow God's calling in our lives.

We can experience the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we seek to follow God's will and live according to His Word. We can trust in the Holy Spirit's leading and direction, knowing that He will guide us to where we need to be and empower us to do the work that God has called us to do.

June 2 -- "A Gift for Aaron"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 8

"A Gift for Aaron"

The Levites who helped serve at the Tabernacle are described here as God’s “gift” to Aaron and his sons, the priests. And what a gift they were! The Levites were set apart as a special tribe in Israel, and their dedication to the service of God was considered a high honor. In a sense, the Levites were God's gift to the priests and to all the people of Israel, as they helped to facilitate their worship and maintain the holiness of the Tabernacle. By giving the Levites to Aaron and his sons, God ensured that the priesthood would have the necessary support and resources to carry out their duties effectively.

As Christians, we are called to serve and love one another within the body of Christ (Galatians 5:13). When we use our gifts and talents to serve others, we become a “gift” from God to our leaders, just as the Levites were a gift to Aaron and his sons. Every pastor is humbled and blessed when he thinks of those “gifts” amongst his congregation who help carry the load.

Christian leaders are tasked with the responsibility of guiding and shepherding the flock of believers under their care (1 Peter 5:2-3). This can be a challenging task, and having a team of dedicated and faithful servants can be a tremendous blessing. When we serve our leaders with humility and enthusiasm, we help to lighten their load and free them up to focus on other important tasks, such as prayer, teaching, and discipleship.

In addition, when we serve alongside our leaders, we help to build up the body of Christ and encourage others to use their own gifts and talents to serve the Lord. We become role models and examples for others to follow, and we help to create a culture of service and selflessness within the church.

By using our gifts and talents to bless others and build up the body of Christ, we become a precious gift to those who lead us in our spiritual journeys.  Become a “gift” to someone today!

June 1 -- "He Heard the Voice"

 Today's Reading: Numbers 7:54-89 

"He Heard the Voice"

How did Moses “hear” the voice speaking to him? Was it an audible voice he heard with his ears? Or was it the quiet voice of the Spirit making impressions on his heart and mind? We’re not certain how Moses heard the voice, but it is astonishing to realize that he actually heard the Lord speaking to him.

Throughout the Bible, there are several instances where people hear an audible voice of God. For example, in the Old Testament, God speaks audibly to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4), and He speaks audibly to the Israelites from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). In the New Testament, God speaks audibly to Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:17) and to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).

While there are instances of people hearing an audible voice of God in the Bible, it is important to note that these occurrences are relatively rare. The vast majority of people throughout history have not heard an audible voice from God. The most important thing for us is to discern whether the message we are hearing is actually from God. There are several ways you can do this:

Test it against God's Word: The Bible is the ultimate standard for truth and morality, and God will never contradict His Word. So, if you hear a voice or impression that seems to go against the teachings of the Bible, it is not from God.

Seek confirmation: Seek guidance and confirmation from wise and godly people, such as pastors, mentors, and friends who have a strong faith. Share with them what you believe God is speaking to you, and ask for their insight and counsel.

Pray for discernment: Ask God to give you the discernment to know His voice from other voices that may be speaking to you, such as your own thoughts or the voice of the enemy.

Look for the fruit of the Spirit: In Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If what you are hearing or sensing aligns with these fruit, it is likely from God.

Remember, discerning God's voice takes time and practice. It is important to be patient, prayerful, humble, and to sit quietly in His presence.