Author Archives: Steve

Irrevocable – Numbers 23:19

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AnchorCross“God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19, HCSB).

This verse was proclaimed over Israel in his second oracle by the diviner Balaam after Balak, king of Moab, hired him to pronounce a curse on the Israelites.

After their forty-year wandering in the wilderness was complete, Moses lead the Israelites toward Canaan, the promised land, following a northward route to the plains of Moab. Israel encamped in Moab on the east side of the Jordan River and across from the Canaanite city of Jericho.

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God’s Private Investigators – Luke 1:1-4

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PrivateInvestigator-Small“Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught” (Luke 1:1-4, NLT).

Luke was not the first to put the history of Jesus into written form. Scholars believe that Luke used Mark’s Gospel and other written and oral sources in his writing.

Like a private invesigator, Dr. Luke carefully examined everything about Jesus from the beginning in order to present a reliable case to his patron, Theophilus.

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Two Ways to Disobey – James 4:17

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just_do_right“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17, NLT).

This verse is probably a maxim that James expected his readers to recognize.

Its source is unknown, but it is consistent with the teachings of Jesus. For example, in a parable about a faithful servant Jesus said: “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished” (Luke 12:47).

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Death Benefit – Psalm 116:15

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Grim_Reaper“The death of His faithful ones is valuable in the Lord’s sight” (Psalm 116:15, HCSB).

We don’t like to think about death and dying and so we really don’t give it much thought…until we have to!

Death is an uncomfortable subject to discuss, and when we talk about it, we commonly use terms like “tragic” or “untimely,” which gives death an undeserved negative connotation.

To us, death is the Grim Reaper!

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Two Choices – Proverbs 18:10-11

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two_choices“The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall”  (Proverbs 18:10-11, HCSB).

At first glance, you may read these consecutive verses as two individual proverbs, each having its own meaning. Upon a closer look you will see that these two proverbs are like two sides of the same coin:
two worldviews,
two ways of life,
two realities,
two choices for life!

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When God Is Your Boss – Proverbs 16:3

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Work“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3, ESV).

For most of us, the job we do to earn a living may seem far removed from serving God and advancing His Kingdom. This proverb tells us how to reconcile this seeming incompatibility of working at your job with serving God.

When you commit the work that you do to the Lord, then you are asking God to consecrate it and use what you do to accomplish His will.

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Tempted! – James 1:13-15

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tempted” Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:13-15, ESV).

Sometimes when we make a mistake and sin, we attribute the cause for the evil that we do to God. We say it is God causing this temptation in order to build our faith. Some may even flippantly say,  “the devil made me do it.”

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What Controls You? – 2 Peter 2:19-20

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whatcontrolsyou“For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” (2 Peter 2:19-20, ESV).

Peter speaks here of false teachers who “bring in destructive heresies” (II Peter 2:1) and the people they lead astray with these detrimental teachings. If you succumb to these false teachings or their teacher, then you are a slave to whatever is controlling you.

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Between the Dead and the Living – Numbers 16:47-48

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censerofAaron“But Aaron burned the incense and purified the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped.” (Numbers 16:47-48, NLT)

Numbers 16 is the record of yet another rebellion by the Israelites against Moses’ leadership and God’s authority.

This rebellion seemed to be a power struggle that was a more egregious challenge to God’s authority than any of the previous rebellions. This rebellion was led by certain Levites who had some of the most important duties related to the upkeep of the Tabernacle.

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Missing the Blessing – Numbers 14:31

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Warning-Challenges“Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised” (Numbers 14:31, NLT).

Moses sent twelve men on a reconnaissance mission to the land of Canaan. When they returned, ten of the twelve reported to Moses and the people of Israel that even though the land was rich and fertile, it was inhabited by potentially formidable foes.

The testimony of the faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, which was to conquer the land immediately, was rejected and rebellion against Moses’ leadership and threats of violence against Joshua and Caleb spread through the entire Israelite community.

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