Numbers + #6

Reading: Numbers 11-12, Romans 6, Psalm 83.

My apologies for being delayed in getting Mannaword written during these past few days. I was out of state for a few days and purposely did not take a computer with me. It was a time of being "away." So I did not need to interact on-line. I know you all understand. I am back with it all now, and will be catching up on the daily reading with you. Most days, I will try to post two times, and in a few days, we will be back on the schedule as published. For those of you who do not have a copy of the actually schedule, I will try to get it up on our web site in a few days. That way you can print off a copy for yourself, or just check it if you wish.

Numbers 11 is a chapter we need to keep in mind. Living in this wonderful country with freedom of speech, we forget that in Jesus that freedom is removed. I refer you to Philippians 2:14 and Ephesians 4:29. We are called to be people who praise and encourage, not those who complain and tear down. Here in Numbers we have two chapters (11-12) which give us the consequences of such speech, but also our Lord's attitude toward what we speak. As we love Him and reflect Him more and more, our speech will be part of that reflection. It is a thing of hope and expectation - not of judgement and condemnation. Oh that we would hear the difference. He invites us to participate in His life of encouragement and love. What an absolute joy to accept this invitation and to be part of His movement on the earth.

Chapter 12 continues with the "speech" theme as Miriam and Aaron talk against Moses in an attempt to overthrow his authority, or at best, share in it. This, too, is very relevant for us. We are to be people who pray for our leaders and who keep ourselves out of the competitive spirit of this world. James 3:13-18 speak to this.

Romans 6 proclaims our placement in Christ as one who has died to sin. It reflects the understanding of 2 Corinthians 5, where we are told that when Christ died, we died. Therefore, "We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2 NIV  As we have received Christ and have been made a participant of all He accomplished, then it is ridiculous to continue to participate in sin. "For we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin." (6:5-7) These understandings are awesome and I pray receive an open heart in us as we process through this book.

Psalm 83 is a cry for vengeance from God upon the enemies of Israel. For us, as New Covenant blood- bought people, this is a bit foreign to our processing. We love our enemies and want the salvation of our Lord to be theirs. So we identify with the last verse more than the rest. It reads, "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD-- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." NIV

Next Reading: Numbers 13-14, Romans 7, Psalm 84.