KJB Daily
Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Chapters: Numbers 25-27
Message: Numbers: Enough Restrictions
Hello My Friend,
There are literally thousands of diets out there, the most common comes from the government, dictating how much and what a person can eat. Do you know what diets have in common with religion? They all place severe restrictions on people that have nothing to do with keeping them healthy. What works for some people does not work for others. We often see religious signs that say something like, “Jesus is my Saviour, not my religion.” To the world Jesus is a religion, filled with restrictions, but to the saved, born again Christian, they understand not by works of righteousness or restrictions are we saved, but by Jesus Christ. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” - Titus 3:4.5.
Do not get me wrong, we do need some restrictions in life, there are just some things in this world we need to stay clear of, but we need to learn exactly what it is that we need restrict from our lives. The problem with that is just like the same diet is not good for everyone, not all restrictions are good for everyone. You see, God knows what we can handle, while He may allow a stronger person in faith to say work with people of different religions or cultures, He will not allow a weaker one to do so. Why? Because the weaker will fall. The Israelites stayed quite a while in Moab, the problem with that was they began to fellowship with the Moabites, who were notorious for idolatry and even sacrificing children. It did not take long for the weaker in faith to start worshiping their god.
“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.” - Numbers 25:1-5.
“and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.” The very first commandment of God, “Have no other gods before me.” Since God gives everyone the gift of free will, He allows us to choose whether or not we want to worship Him. If you choose a false god so be it, but choose God you better not follow another otherwise you are at war with Him, that includes people and lifestyles that compete with Him. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” - Exodus 34:14.
Another thing that places needless restrictions on people is those who preach the Gospel. There is only one way to preach the Gospel, and that is the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we believe in Christ and understand that none of our works can save us from hell, that only He can, we are saved, it is that simple. So many people want to restrict us from teaching this simple plan. Let me tell you, as long as we teach this simple plan it does not matter what illustration God gives us to explain it, one way is not better than the other because not everyone is the same, therefore, God gives us ways to explain it so all can understand. Now, after all that, God ordered a second census to be taken of the Israelites, 602,730 men twenty years old and above were counted, out of those 602,730 only two men were from the first generation that came out of Egypt.
“Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel. And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” - Numbers 26:2-4,63-65.
“And there was not left a man of them,” Not one single person from the generation from Caleb and Joshua lived to see the promised land, and many of the new generation lost that right as well for rebelling against God. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior receive not only eternal life, but an inheritance from God, and while the things we do after we are saved do not keep us saved, they do increase the amount we inherit. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” -Matthew 16:27.
Now, since we must have some restrictions in life, we must not let those restrictions hinder us from doing what we ought to be doing in the first place. We are not going to always get the things we want, and we are going to lose out on some things because we disobey. The Israelite's were days from the promised land, before He gave Moses their final instructions, God sent him up to mount Abarim, the mountain that gave a perfect view of the promised land. It was there that He reminded Moses of that he would not be joining them, while he may have been a little disappointed, he continued to do what God commanded him to do, making sure He had someone who would take his place.
“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.” - Numbers 27:16-20.
“And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him,” Moses wanted to make sure that someone with some honor and obedience in leadership would take his place. While Moses was restricted from entering the promised land,
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Chapters: Numbers 25-27
Message: Numbers: Enough Restrictions
Hello My Friend,
There are literally thousands of diets out there, the most common comes from the government, dictating how much and what a person can eat. Do you know what diets have in common with religion? They all place severe restrictions on people that have nothing to do with keeping them healthy. What works for some people does not work for others. We often see religious signs that say something like, “Jesus is my Saviour, not my religion.” To the world Jesus is a religion, filled with restrictions, but to the saved, born again Christian, they understand not by works of righteousness or restrictions are we saved, but by Jesus Christ. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” - Titus 3:4.5.
Do not get me wrong, we do need some restrictions in life, there are just some things in this world we need to stay clear of, but we need to learn exactly what it is that we need restrict from our lives. The problem with that is just like the same diet is not good for everyone, not all restrictions are good for everyone. You see, God knows what we can handle, while He may allow a stronger person in faith to say work with people of different religions or cultures, He will not allow a weaker one to do so. Why? Because the weaker will fall. The Israelites stayed quite a while in Moab, the problem with that was they began to fellowship with the Moabites, who were notorious for idolatry and even sacrificing children. It did not take long for the weaker in faith to start worshiping their god.
“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.” - Numbers 25:1-5.
“and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.” The very first commandment of God, “Have no other gods before me.” Since God gives everyone the gift of free will, He allows us to choose whether or not we want to worship Him. If you choose a false god so be it, but choose God you better not follow another otherwise you are at war with Him, that includes people and lifestyles that compete with Him. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” - Exodus 34:14.
Another thing that places needless restrictions on people is those who preach the Gospel. There is only one way to preach the Gospel, and that is the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we believe in Christ and understand that none of our works can save us from hell, that only He can, we are saved, it is that simple. So many people want to restrict us from teaching this simple plan. Let me tell you, as long as we teach this simple plan it does not matter what illustration God gives us to explain it, one way is not better than the other because not everyone is the same, therefore, God gives us ways to explain it so all can understand. Now, after all that, God ordered a second census to be taken of the Israelites, 602,730 men twenty years old and above were counted, out of those 602,730 only two men were from the first generation that came out of Egypt.
“Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel. And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” - Numbers 26:2-4,63-65.
“And there was not left a man of them,” Not one single person from the generation from Caleb and Joshua lived to see the promised land, and many of the new generation lost that right as well for rebelling against God. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior receive not only eternal life, but an inheritance from God, and while the things we do after we are saved do not keep us saved, they do increase the amount we inherit. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” -Matthew 16:27.
Now, since we must have some restrictions in life, we must not let those restrictions hinder us from doing what we ought to be doing in the first place. We are not going to always get the things we want, and we are going to lose out on some things because we disobey. The Israelite's were days from the promised land, before He gave Moses their final instructions, God sent him up to mount Abarim, the mountain that gave a perfect view of the promised land. It was there that He reminded Moses of that he would not be joining them, while he may have been a little disappointed, he continued to do what God commanded him to do, making sure He had someone who would take his place.
“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.” - Numbers 27:16-20.
“And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him,” Moses wanted to make sure that someone with some honor and obedience in leadership would take his place. While Moses was restricted from entering the promised land,
he knew that as beautiful as the sight
of Canaan was, it did not compare to the Kingdom of God. You see,
while Moses might have been restricted from going into the land that
was promised to Israel, he was not restricted from entering God's
Kingdom. All saved, born again children of get to enter His Kingdom,
no matter what they have done after they are saved, nothing restricts
us from entering His Kingdom. It is not by our works that we are
saved, but by the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ, His
Son that we are saved. “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians
2:8-10.
Today's Prayer: God, It never ceases to amaze me just how loving and merciful you are to us, no matter what we have done over the years. It is so easy to be led astray when we take our eyes off You, but Your mercy endures.
Today's Prayer: God, It never ceases to amaze me just how loving and merciful you are to us, no matter what we have done over the years. It is so easy to be led astray when we take our eyes off You, but Your mercy endures.
You do not hold restrictions on us that
are grievous, You do everything to make our stay here on earth as
easy as possible with what we are given. No matter how many times we
mess up in our attempts to make something out of this life You gave
us, You are always there to pick us up and dust us off. Lord, lead us
and guide us, let us not be deceived by trusting any other doctrine,
let us not be weighed down by restrictions that have nothing to do
with You, and give us Your power to resist the temptations of the day
and to be a witness to others so they too can know of Your great
mercy and grace, through Your Son. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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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/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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