Catch up 2

Saturday, 20 February 2010
Numbers 28-30
2If a man vows a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break and profane his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Words make ways.
Posted by Jingle at 2/20/2010 01:13:00 AM 0 comments
Friday, 19 February 2010
Luke 9
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases

We do not just need power, but also authority. When we move in power of any sort, be it status, money, muscle or even miracles, but without submission to the specific will of the Lord i.e. His authority, we can miss the eternal purposes of God and see only temporal impact.

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Our primary denial each day is not of things or of particular desires, but it is a denial od our very selves. There is no reward for selfish sacrifice.
Posted by Jingle at 2/19/2010 05:53:00 AM 0 comments
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Numbers 25-7
11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.

If we judged ourselves we would not come under judgement.

10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign. 11 Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.

I love it that the children of Korah, with their awful heritage, became known as holy psalmists in future generations. We can see a bad name redeemed.
Posted by Jingle at 2/18/2010 09:03:00 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Luke 8
5A sower went out to sow seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the traveled path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up.

I am wary of giving an interpretation beyond what Jesus gave, nonetheless, this phrase "travlelled path" reminds me of sharing the word with those who have received the word, but trust more strongly in their experience.

6And some [seed] fell on the rock, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away because it had no moisture.

It is relationship with the Holy Spirit (moisture) that causes the root to grow, not just good theological knowledge.

55And her spirit returned [[t]from death], and she arose immediately; and He directed that she should be given something to eat.

The spirit can return to the body, even if it has departed. This is useful to know.
Posted by Jingle at 2/17/2010 10:59:00 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Numbers 22-24
20And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do. 21And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the [a]Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

God is consistent in character: He sends forth a word that Balaam already knows conflicts with His heart, to sift the heart of Balaam.

19God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?

God is faithfully consistent.
Posted by Jingle at 2/16/2010 05:58:00 AM 0 comments
Monday, 15 February 2010
Luke 7
8For I also am a man [daily] subject to authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it.
9Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this].

Jesus connects obedience to faith.


50But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) [s]into peace [[t]in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].

I love the way the Amplified version says "enter into peace" as if peace is a substance or a place. It just makes the statement so weighty: a woman that was subject to continual abuse by profession was finally going to find a safe place.