The Devotional - God is Faithful

The Devotional

Comment: Priorities, we all have them do we not? Sometimes priorities in life are like “blinders”, you know what a blinder is; that pair of dark squares we put on horses so they are not startled from the things around them. Looking straight ahead focusing on the goal and nothing else. Priority is good, but a danger to those who are in the path of someone who has blinders on. Do we need an example? Well maybe! Have you seen the weaver lately? The person who weaves in and out of traffic on the local interstate. Nothing on their mind but getting to a destination somewhere down the road without regard to the danger of everyone in his or her path, including their own. This kind of priority is not going to stop at the destination. It is that person’s way of life, in the home, the community, the workplace and in the nation too. They keep the pace until one day they hit the bridge abutment and then the light of life goes out. 

Devotional: Israel before going into the Promised Land settled East of the Jordan River and the tribes of Rueben and Gad were satisfied with staying East of the Jordan, but Moses commanded that the men should go first with the rest of the tribes and cross over the Jordan and help all of Israel in the battles ahead to gain the land. Breaking into this event at Numbers 32:18-19 we see that Rueben and Gad agree, but say that when the battle is over they will return to their inheritance on the Eastern side of Jordan.

With the conditional covenant or promise of these tribes with Moses in place, Moses adds these words in Numbers 32:23-24 – “but if you do not do so, than take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep and do what you said you would do.”

We should learn a precept about God’s Plan and Purpose for our life from this event in the nation of Israel at this time in their history. It took Israel forty years to reach this place at the Jordan River, but it is less than a 10 day walk from the Red Sea to this place east of the Jordan, why then did it take forty years? The original generation has passed away because they were not faithful to God who is Faithful. All of the children of Israel at this time are the children of the unfaithful, mostly in their forties except for Moses, Joshua and Caleb who were faithful to God.

God does not need anyone to accomplish His Will, but He does use anyone who will be faithful. This precept runs through scripture from Genesis to Revelation, God is Faithful and He uses faithful men and women. The Patriarchs, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, the Judges, Samuel, David, Solomon, some of the kings of Judah, Ruth, Esther, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and many others of the Old Testament. When you add the folks of the New Testament the list is just as long. A testimony of God’s Faithfulness to faithful people.

We are surrounded by men and women who were faithful eye witnesses of the faithfulness of God, but sadly in churches today we do not see or find this connection between God and man. What we see are those who have on the blinders. Their purpose is less than faithfulness to God and God’s people, causing their congregations to stumble at the cross because it is offensive. So they preach or teach messages; of just “love God” and all is well. Yes we all ought to love God, but many in church today do not even understand why they should love Him. Why? Because they do not understand the CROSS.

A Communion hymn for Christmas, written by Margaret Clarkson, the first three verses, abridged.

Gathered round Your table on this holy eve, Viewing Bethlehem’s stable we rejoice and grieve; Joy to see You lying in Your manger bed, Weep to see You dying in our sinful stead. Prince of Glory, gracing heaven before time began, now for us embracing death as Son of Man; by Your birth so lowly, by Your love so true, by Your cross most holy, LORD we worship You! Bethlehem’s Incarnation, Calvary’s bitter cross. Brought for us salvation by Your pain and loss; Now we bow before You in this holy time and yes we adore You, for Your gift of grace. 

We personally, by family, community and nationally need to stop the weaving in and out of the Truth and return to the pace of the faithfulness of God, by faith in Him who is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, John 14:6 we shall know the love of God fully – 1 John 4:20 through 5:5.