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HOW LONG?

 Numbers 14:11 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?’”

STUBBORN PEOPLE

We can all agree the Israelites were a little stubborn, right?  They had witnessed all the miracles God had done to free them from bondage, but still they murmured and moaned against God.  How dare they?  Were they just plain stupid?

Hold on now!  We are the same.  God does amazing things in our lives, beginning with salvation, and we still doubt His sufficiency.  We still question His power.  Well, maybe not in those words, but by our disbelief.  Surely a God who can save us from eternal damnation can take care of the day to day things we face.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children will learn to trust Him and be less stubborn as they watch you do the same.  Do they hear you worrying about paying that bill on time or do they hear you asking God for wisdom about it?  Do they witness you to trying to “make something happen” or do they watch you pray and leave it to Him?

Our children are little sponges and will soak up whatever we squeeze out.  What are you squeezing out right now? Is it something you want them repeating?  If not, then stop.  Point them to Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I can be very judgmental of the Israelites.  I think I would have acted differently.  But when I get honest, I am just like them at times.  For that, I am sorry.  I desire to live in a way that is totally dependent on Him.  How about you?

Eternal God, show me how to trust You more?  I believe You are able to do all things in and through me. Let me show that by my actions.

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JUST REST

 Psalm 46:10a “‘Cease striving and know that I am God;’”

THIS IS TOO MUCH WORK

 Have you ever felt like living the Christian life is too much work?  Most of us, at one time or another, have probably felt that way and maybe even said it.  But this verse speaks to that perfectly.  When we realize it is NOT up to us, we can rest and “cease striving.”

We will never walk perfectly with God.  We are going to have ups and downs.  We are going to fall flat on our face.  We are going to do or say things that aren’t godly.  Not on purpose, mind you, but accidentally (sin for a believer should always be an accident and not planned).  God tells us to let Him work through us.  He can do all things.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is one of the best lessons we can teach our children.  When little Gertrude or Elrod realize that they cannot live the Christian life on their own, they will have learned the secret to holy living.  It’s Christ IN us, the hope of glory.  He is the one who will live through them.

When they mess up point them back to Him.  When they feel like a failure, point them back to Him.  When they make a real stupid mistake and are afraid to tell you, point them back to Him.  He is their source of faith, not you.

Have you ceased striving?  Or are you still trying to get it all done through your strength or intellect?  Stop it – NOW!  Let Jesus live in and through you by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He can do it.

Lord of glory, teach me to rest in You.  Help me to let go of my striving.  Take my hand and lead me into the green pastures

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RISE UP, LORD!

 Numbers 10:35-36 “35 Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, ‘Rise up, O Lord! And let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.’ 36 When it came to rest, he said, ‘Return, O Lord, to the myriad thousands of Israel.’”

PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE

 Every time the cloud or pillar of fire moved, Moses would say these words.  Every time!  Now they didn’t move every day, but I just wonder how many times Moses said this.  Remember, Moses wasn’t just talking to a cloud.  He was talking to Jehovah God, the same God who spoke to him above the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.

Can you picture the scene?  If you were a pagan living in the land and saw this happen, what you have thought?  I would think I would have wanted to know more about these people and their God.  How about today?  Do people observe you and say the same thing?  Or do you look any different?

TEACHING MOMENT

 I am thankful my two children and all four of my grandchildren are different.  They are all unique individuals.  But what I desire most for them is that they walk differently than the world.  I want others to see Jesus in them.  I pray they see that in me.

It is so easy for our children to blend in with the world.  We need to look different.  We need to act different. We need to sound different.  We don’t have a cloud or a pillar of fire leading us around, but as believers we do have the Holy Spirit leading us.  He is the same Spirit that led the Israelites.  He is just as powerful.  Our children need to understand that.

Are you living and behaving in such a way that others around you  ask you about it?  Do they wonder what is different about you?  They should.  They should see that you are very different.  Tell them why.

Lord, You make us different because of Your Spirit that lives within us.  Peel back my flesh and let it shine through.  Help me to tell others today about You and all You have done for me.

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GETTING READY TO WORK

 Numbers 8:21 “The Levites, too, purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them.”

IT’S NOT JUST A WARDROBE THING

 Numbers chapter 8 is a detailed description of what the Lord told Moses and Aaron to do to the Levites to prepare them to serve Him.  Cleansing their bodies, sacrifices to make and what to wear.  But verse 21 says, “The Levites, too, purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes.”  You see, preparation wasn’t just done to them or for them.  They had to prepare themselves to serve the Lord.

What do you do to get ready to serve?  How do you prepare your heart and mind?  I am amazed sometimes at the amount of effort or the lack of effort that goes into getting ready physically for worship.  Some people come dressed like a fashion magazine.  Others look like they just rolled out of bed.  But have they prepared their hearts?

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children watch us in regards to how we serve and how we prepare to serve.  We model this for them.  Worship and service to our Lord is a holy thing and should not be taken lightly.  So how do our children see us doing that.  Do they hear, “Kids, get a move on.  We can’t be late or we’ll miss the doughnuts.”  Maybe they hear us behind closed doors say, “I really don’t want to go church tomorrow.  There are so many hypocrites there.”

Your little Susie or Johnny need to know that our privilege to worship and serve our Savior is a high calling.  It is something they should want to emulate in us.  They should see joy radiating from us as we prepare ourselves to serve.

If you, like me, sometimes dread church, repent.  I’m not saying not going to church is a sin.  But I am saying our negative attitudes about church is.  Remember, Christ died for the church.  We should love the Body of Christ as much as He did and desire to see it flourish and grow.

Forgive me, Father, for my negative attitude at times about church.  Forgive me of not being full of joy.  Help me show others how to worship and serve through my obedience.

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YOU’LL PUT YOUR EYE OUT

 Numbers 4:20 “‘but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.’”

TOO HOLY

I bet most people have heard their momma say, “Don’t run with that stick, or you’ll put your eye out.”  Or you remember the famous line from “The Christmas Story” from Ralphie’s mom, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”  We can laugh at those examples, but this verse today was no laughing matter.

When the Lord gave Moses the directions for the Kohathites to pack up and carry the tabernacle, He was specific about who did what and who saw what.  This stern warning was to protect them from the extreme holiness of the objects.  Don’t you wish your life was that holy?  I mean, don’t you wish people could just see the holiness of God glowing on you?

TEACHING MOMENT

 The trouble with our world today is nothing is seen as holy.  I know that the church building is just a building, but there seems to be no respect for it anymore.  I remember a room in my home church that was set aside for prayer.  When you entered that room it seemed you could just feel God’s presence.  It almost demanded a reverence and awe.  We need to teach our kids that same respect for God’s stuff.

What do I mean by that?  Let me name a few:  1) Taking care of the equipment in the church 2) No writing on the walls 3) If you spill something, clean it up.  Now don’t think I am getting legalistic.  Just teach your children that God’s House needs to be cared for and protected.  After all, it is His House.

What can you do to show your respect for God’s House?  Is there a project you could get your kids involved in to help clean or repair something?  More importantly, is your bodily temple of God resembling Him or the world?  Are others drawn to you or repelled by you?  Let them see His holiness shining through.

Lord of Hosts, I know Your holiness is blinding.  I know Your presence is beyond description.  But Lord, let others see You in me.  Let them see Your holiness.

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DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF

 Numbers 3:12 “‘Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine.’”

THESE ARE MINE

In the previous chapters God gives Moses a command to take a census of all the tribes, except the Levites, to count the number of men twenty years of age and older who could go to war.  But He specifically left out the Levites.  Here is why!

God had set them apart as His very own tribe to serve Him in the tabernacle and eventually the Temple.  This tribe would be the one who would also be claimed by God to take the place of the first born of the rest of the tribes.  So the Levites were not only God’s chosen special tribe, but they also represented the rest of the nation while serving God.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Our children represent us, don’t they?  I remember my dad telling me, “Don’t shame the Willis name.”  I represented not only him, but the Willis family.  But, as believers, we also represent a bigger family, the family of Christ.  Our actions and our service should always be done with that in mind.

Little Gertrude is going to mess up.  Elrod is going to blow it.  When we correct them (and we must) we need to remind them that they represent something much bigger than themselves.  Their actions could influence a non-believer to turn even further away from Christ.  That’s the last thing we want, right?

Are your actions as a member of the body of Christ drawing people toward Christ or pushing them away?  How about with your own family?  Do they see you and know you as a true follower or as someone who just pretends?  Commit yourself today.  Allow Christ to reign supreme in you!

Father, I know I am a representative of Christ in this dark world.  Help me always reflect Him and not me.  Show me how to live that each day to influence others to live for You.

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AIN’T NO IDOLS IN MY LIFE

 Leviticus 26:1 “‘You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.’”

ARE YOU SURE?

Most of us will say very quickly, “I don’t have an idol in my house!”  And that would be true, if you are talking about a statue or something like that.  But we, at least we Americans, have the other less obvious ones.  We make technology an idol.  Take away someone’s IPhone or IPad and watch them go mad.  But take away their Bible, and you will get little response.

God is warning the people to make sure nothing comes between them and Him.  He is the only one worthy of worship and reverence – the ONLY thing.  They were just as tempted as us to place other things above God.  So, God gave them fair warning.

TEACHING MOMENT

Teaching about the dangers of idols may seem like a worthless task to you.  But it is so important.  Children can place things above God just as much as the pagan who bows down to an idol in a remote village.  We, as parents, must teach them to keep the Lord first in everything.

What is your child’s obsession?  Is it video games?  How about sports?  You see, these things, though they are fine if kept in perspective, can become their idol, their god.  And the sneaky thing about it is your child won’t even recognize it.  He must be first in all things, not just some.

What do you have on your shelf of worship?  Men, is it your work and career?  Women, is it your children or your wardrobe?  I’m not trying to be stereotypical here in these examples, just making a point.  Clear your life of anything that resembles an idol and put Jesus first.

Father of all, I bow only to You.  You are my only object of worship.  You deserve all my praise.  Help me show others how to truly worship only You.

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JUST DO IT

 Leviticus 24:23b “Thus the sons of Israel did, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

 EVEN THE HARD THINGS

 Man, this was a hard command to follow.  A man was overheard blaspheming God’s name and cursing (even back then this was going on).  God had given the command earlier in the ten commandments about this.  Command number 3 addresses it.  Look it up!

The punishment?  Death!  Wow!  Pretty harsh.  How many of us would have survived this?  Probably not many.  But God was firm!  An example had to be set. He was serious!  And so “the sons of Israel did, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

TEACHING MOMENT

Now, don’t think I am saying we should stone someone who curses.  Jesus fulfilled the Law, so the Lord doesn’t expect us to do that.  But, taking the Lord’s name in vain is still not permissible.  This is one of those things we should correct IMMEDIATELY with our children.  Read them this story – not to scare them – but to show them the seriousness of the offense.

God’s name is precious, holy and to be revered.  When we call His name it should be in prayer or worship, not in anger or rage.  Our children should cherish the name of Jesus and God.  They learn that from us, their parents.  If you hold His name dear, they will learn also.

Are you doing that?  Do you hold His name dear?  When you call His name, do you do it with love and respect?  That is the only way to address Him.  Call His name.  He is listening.

Your name, O Lord, is precious to me.  I hold it dear.  I call it Holy.  Help me teach my children to love it, too.

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AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU’RE NOT PERFECT?

 Leviticus 21:21 “‘No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.’”

 BUT WE ARE FORGIVEN

 I understand why God said this, but I can’t help but feel sorry for the Levite who wanted to serve but couldn’t due to some defect.  Perhaps they were born blind or with a club foot.  That would take them out of service to offer the sacrifices or to enter the veil.  I am sure there were those who faced this.

Aren’t you glad that through Christ we can all serve?  It doesn’t matter if we are deaf or blind or crippled or missing a limb.  We can serve the Lord in whatever way He calls us.  Jesus has fulfilled all our limitations through the cross.  His death freed us permanently from the demands of the Law.  Hallelujah!

TEACHING MOMENT

You may have a child who has some sort of disability or you may know someone who does.  We need to reinforce God’s calling on their life despite that disability.  God doesn’t make any junk.  Every child is created in His image, which does not refer to physical characteristics.

The only limit on how your child can be used by God is your child’s surrender to Him.  God will not use an unwilling vessel.  He won’t force us to submit.  But when we do, He is ready to use us to do mighty things.

How many times have you told yourself (and God) that you can’t do something?  That’s good.  Now you are at the point where He can use you.  When you realize you can’t, He can.

Creator of all, thank You for making me in Your image.  Thank You for giving me the limitations You have.  Even those were Your plan for my life, so I can depend more on You.

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GOD, DON’T YOU SEE ME?

 Psalm 38:21-22 “21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”

 CRYING FOR HELP

 How many times have you felt like this?  You feel like God is a million miles away.  You feel like He has forsaken you.  All your prayers seem to hit the ceiling.  You cry out, and there is no response.  What is wrong?  Where is He?

We are not sure when David wrote this Psalm.  It may have been after the affair with Bathsheba.  It may have been while fleeing Saul.  We just don’t know, but the fact remains, he felt abandoned.  Sometimes we feel that way due to our unconfessed sin and other times it is just a result of God allowing us to be tested and tried for some future victory.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your kids are going to have some hard times.  They are going to question why God doesn’t intervene and solve all their problems.  How do you answer these questions?  How do you explain God’s silence?  By being there for them.  There is no other way.  You pray with them through it.  You keep them focused on His Word.

What causes these silent times in your child’s life?  God allows circumstances in our lives and in our kids’ lives for a purpose.  There is always a purpose.  They need to know that.  You should reinforce all the truths you have taught them and wait with them for God to reveal Himself.  He will!

Are you waiting for God right now?  Is He silent?  Or is He answering, and you just haven’t been listening?  God’s silence is an opportunity to listen.  Be quiet and listen closely.

Father, speak to me!  I want to hear Your voice.  Help me listen to You and You only.

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