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Thoughts in Worship 8.5.2016
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, August 5, 2016
We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.
Today’s Scripture Focus: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” (John 3:14).
Look and live! This is one of the simplest, yet most miraculous words of counsel spoken in Scripture.
When you have an opportunity, read the intriguing story of God’s mercy in Numbers 21. There you will find that His people were disgruntled with Him about the path He chose by which to save them. There were many details, but this the bottom line. God was leading them through the wilderness toward the Promised Land after generations of slavery in Egypt. For some reason, they allowed the temporary difficulties of their journey with God to cause them to lose focus of God. Did you get that? They allowed their temporary trials along their journey with God to cause them to lose focus of God. Does that happen in your life? Do you ever lose focus of God while He is leading you out of sin?
Well, their loss of focus came to a head when their murmuring against God caused Him to send fiery serpents into their camp to teach them dependence upon Him. Unfortunately, many of them died, and the survivors begged Moses to intercede for them with God so He could take the serpents away. Isn’t it amazing how quickly some of us turn to God when we get ourselves in a mess? Moses interceded, and God told him to fashion a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, and those who focused their gaze on it would live. Miraculously, every person who did so by faith lived.
God transformed the object of their fear and sinfulness into their antidote. Isn’t that what He does today? Does He not use trials to refine us? Does He not use our past hurts, sins, and stories as testimonies when we surrender them all to Him. Does He not use our battle scars that came as a result of disobedience as reminders of His grace and mercy when we learn to follow Him in all areas of our lives? The answer is obvious. Yes.
The blessing of this story is that even if your sinful choices have taken you to the brink of spiritual death, you can accept God’s power to focus your love, appreciation, and attention on Jesus, and He will deliver you as long as you continue in Him by faith. Look and live!—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, August 5, 2016
We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.
Today’s Scripture Focus: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” (John 3:14).
Look and live! This is one of the simplest, yet most miraculous words of counsel spoken in Scripture.
When you have an opportunity, read the intriguing story of God’s mercy in Numbers 21. There you will find that His people were disgruntled with Him about the path He chose by which to save them. There were many details, but this the bottom line. God was leading them through the wilderness toward the Promised Land after generations of slavery in Egypt. For some reason, they allowed the temporary difficulties of their journey with God to cause them to lose focus of God. Did you get that? They allowed their temporary trials along their journey with God to cause them to lose focus of God. Does that happen in your life? Do you ever lose focus of God while He is leading you out of sin?
Well, their loss of focus came to a head when their murmuring against God caused Him to send fiery serpents into their camp to teach them dependence upon Him. Unfortunately, many of them died, and the survivors begged Moses to intercede for them with God so He could take the serpents away. Isn’t it amazing how quickly some of us turn to God when we get ourselves in a mess? Moses interceded, and God told him to fashion a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, and those who focused their gaze on it would live. Miraculously, every person who did so by faith lived.
God transformed the object of their fear and sinfulness into their antidote. Isn’t that what He does today? Does He not use trials to refine us? Does He not use our past hurts, sins, and stories as testimonies when we surrender them all to Him. Does He not use our battle scars that came as a result of disobedience as reminders of His grace and mercy when we learn to follow Him in all areas of our lives? The answer is obvious. Yes.
The blessing of this story is that even if your sinful choices have taken you to the brink of spiritual death, you can accept God’s power to focus your love, appreciation, and attention on Jesus, and He will deliver you as long as you continue in Him by faith. Look and live!—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)