KJB Daily
Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016
Chapters: Numbers 7-9
Message: Numbers: A Burden To Carry
Hello My Friend,
Burden, To load; to lay on a heavy load. Perhaps some of the hardest things to endure as Christians are the burdens we carry. Some burdens are actually blessings, some come as a result of our own doing, and yet many come when we are just trying to live our lives the best we can. Regardless of the heavy load we are given to carry we cannot handle them on our own. On top of every load we need to carry Jesus, He will not only make the load lighter, He will give us the strength to endure every bit of it. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.
The time had come for the congregation to be able to give sacrifices to God, each prince from the head of each tribe brought their offerings for the service of the tabernacle to the Levites. Each family of the Levites were to carry certain parts of the tabernacle, the wagons and oxen were to be used in carrying the tabernacle, both for their ease of transport, and a safer way to keep all the parts together.
“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.” - Numbers 7:1-3,6-10.
“But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none:” Since the Kohathites were to carry the most valuable parts of the tabernacle upon their shoulders they were not given any wagons to carry. God knows how much of a burden we can take, He often uses the least qualified for His greatest work, but He never gives us more than we can carry upon our shoulders. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Being a pastor or preacher is not the only task God gives people, teachers, caterers, doctors, janitors, and even guards are used to serve Him as well. Many times we are given the burden of serving Him, whether in a church or out of it, and if we are going to be working for God He has standards for us to follow. God chose the Levites to be separated from the rest of the congregation in order to serve Him continuously in His ministry. Moses brought the Levites and entire congregation to the tabernacle, where the Levites were offered to God for His service.
“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.” - Numbers 8:6-11.
“Sprinkle water of purifying upon them,” Baptism, many people and religions for that matter misunderstand what baptism is. The other day I heard the most absurd explanation of what baptism represents, which not a mention of Jesus was made. Baptism is not salvation, baptism does not save us from hell, you cannot just sprinkle a few drops of holy water on someone and be saved from spending an eternity in hell. The only way we are saved is by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of our perfect and sinless Saviour, Jesus Christ. Baptism is a public profession of our salvation, it shows the world that we are only trusting in Jesus Christ to save us. Anyone can get saved without being baptized, but it is only when we get baptized that we understand the fullness of Christ. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” - 2 Colossians 2:12-14.
Perhaps the biggest burden for all Christians is that God wants us to be a living sacrifice, not a dead one. False religion has done everything from sacrificing children to suicide bombings in an attempt to reach God. Let me tell you, God values life, and any religion telling you to kill yourself of someone else in an attempt to reach Him is going to send you straight to hell. Yes, God is a righteous and just judge God, His judgments never change, He never changes, and the same rules apply to all, saved or not. It was the time of Passover, some of the men who were dealing with a death were not able to participate, one because they were defiled by the dead body, and two, they were away from the camp. God gives a command to allow them to observe wherever they are.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.” - Numbers 9:10-14.
“ye shall have one ordinance,” Every religion has its observances in which they are given time to reflect on their sins and seek redemption from God. Can I tell you that none of these observances get you right with God, and none of them can save you from your sins. One ordinance, one law is given for salvation of sin and that is Jesus Christ. We ought to have observances to reflect on what God has done for us, His blessings, His mercy, His grace, we ought to pray, fast, and not think about pleasing our flesh sometimes, and that is what Passover and all these religious observances are for. However, if we do not know God no amount of fasting, praying, or seeking redemption for our sins will be any good, it is just as worthless as getting baptized without being saved. We must be born again through Jesus Christ to know God, to be redeemed, and to be able to carry our burdens.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” - John 3:16-19.
Today's Prayer: God, I offer myself freely to You. May my actions not be based on man’s changing words or the standards of the world, but by Yours. I want Your unchanging, living Word to be an anchor for my soul so that I will keep moving forward with my Saviour Jesus Christ. Whatever burden You have given me to carry, give me the strength to endure it, help me to be watchful for those who are veering off course so that I can encourage them to remain faithful to You, and let me not get caught up in any false doctrine that takes away Your truths. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016
Chapters: Numbers 7-9
Message: Numbers: A Burden To Carry
Hello My Friend,
Burden, To load; to lay on a heavy load. Perhaps some of the hardest things to endure as Christians are the burdens we carry. Some burdens are actually blessings, some come as a result of our own doing, and yet many come when we are just trying to live our lives the best we can. Regardless of the heavy load we are given to carry we cannot handle them on our own. On top of every load we need to carry Jesus, He will not only make the load lighter, He will give us the strength to endure every bit of it. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.
The time had come for the congregation to be able to give sacrifices to God, each prince from the head of each tribe brought their offerings for the service of the tabernacle to the Levites. Each family of the Levites were to carry certain parts of the tabernacle, the wagons and oxen were to be used in carrying the tabernacle, both for their ease of transport, and a safer way to keep all the parts together.
“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.” - Numbers 7:1-3,6-10.
“But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none:” Since the Kohathites were to carry the most valuable parts of the tabernacle upon their shoulders they were not given any wagons to carry. God knows how much of a burden we can take, He often uses the least qualified for His greatest work, but He never gives us more than we can carry upon our shoulders. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Being a pastor or preacher is not the only task God gives people, teachers, caterers, doctors, janitors, and even guards are used to serve Him as well. Many times we are given the burden of serving Him, whether in a church or out of it, and if we are going to be working for God He has standards for us to follow. God chose the Levites to be separated from the rest of the congregation in order to serve Him continuously in His ministry. Moses brought the Levites and entire congregation to the tabernacle, where the Levites were offered to God for His service.
“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.” - Numbers 8:6-11.
“Sprinkle water of purifying upon them,” Baptism, many people and religions for that matter misunderstand what baptism is. The other day I heard the most absurd explanation of what baptism represents, which not a mention of Jesus was made. Baptism is not salvation, baptism does not save us from hell, you cannot just sprinkle a few drops of holy water on someone and be saved from spending an eternity in hell. The only way we are saved is by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of our perfect and sinless Saviour, Jesus Christ. Baptism is a public profession of our salvation, it shows the world that we are only trusting in Jesus Christ to save us. Anyone can get saved without being baptized, but it is only when we get baptized that we understand the fullness of Christ. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” - 2 Colossians 2:12-14.
Perhaps the biggest burden for all Christians is that God wants us to be a living sacrifice, not a dead one. False religion has done everything from sacrificing children to suicide bombings in an attempt to reach God. Let me tell you, God values life, and any religion telling you to kill yourself of someone else in an attempt to reach Him is going to send you straight to hell. Yes, God is a righteous and just judge God, His judgments never change, He never changes, and the same rules apply to all, saved or not. It was the time of Passover, some of the men who were dealing with a death were not able to participate, one because they were defiled by the dead body, and two, they were away from the camp. God gives a command to allow them to observe wherever they are.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.” - Numbers 9:10-14.
“ye shall have one ordinance,” Every religion has its observances in which they are given time to reflect on their sins and seek redemption from God. Can I tell you that none of these observances get you right with God, and none of them can save you from your sins. One ordinance, one law is given for salvation of sin and that is Jesus Christ. We ought to have observances to reflect on what God has done for us, His blessings, His mercy, His grace, we ought to pray, fast, and not think about pleasing our flesh sometimes, and that is what Passover and all these religious observances are for. However, if we do not know God no amount of fasting, praying, or seeking redemption for our sins will be any good, it is just as worthless as getting baptized without being saved. We must be born again through Jesus Christ to know God, to be redeemed, and to be able to carry our burdens.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” - John 3:16-19.
Today's Prayer: God, I offer myself freely to You. May my actions not be based on man’s changing words or the standards of the world, but by Yours. I want Your unchanging, living Word to be an anchor for my soul so that I will keep moving forward with my Saviour Jesus Christ. Whatever burden You have given me to carry, give me the strength to endure it, help me to be watchful for those who are veering off course so that I can encourage them to remain faithful to You, and let me not get caught up in any false doctrine that takes away Your truths. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
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