Devotion

Like I said, I do this ALMOST every day. I would like to think I would get to everyday, but like yesterday, I got tied up working on other projects. I know, pastors (including me) always tell people that they need to make time and prioritize personal devotions. I need to take my own advice I think. That being said, here is what I am reading today:

Numbers 3-4
Often people get bogged down trying to read Numbers (more so even then Leviticus). All the names and assignments and details that don't seem to matter make people not want to read, skip ahead or think, "Really God, why do I need to know this?" Having graduated with a degree in History, I can tell you that all this detail serves a purpose, it shows that what was being talked about was 1) important at the time, 2) vital for the people that read it, and 3) historically accurate. The third one is probably the most important to us. If Moses would have just recorded, "God commanded a census and told the Levites to take down and set up the tabernacle," we would all say, "Ok...but how, and what, and when, and who did what? Is this really reliable? There does not seem to be enough detail here. I think this is all made up." The detail confirms to us that what is written here is true and historical. And therefore important in poinitng us to the one that truely redeems, not with gold, silver or sheckles, but by His precious body and blood!

Psalm 80
I love how readings connect sometimes without me even trying! Verse one makes reference to the Ark of Covenant where God "dwells between the Cherubim." In Numbers we saw God instructing the Levites on how to handle this Ark because it is where God dwells.

Acts 21-22
I hear people tell me all the time, "We no longer live in a Christian nation." This may be true to a certain extent, but Paul certainly lived in a culture that was hostile to Christians. We do not see that today. Paul was willing to preach Christ and Him crucified in the face of what would be certain death. Why are we so affraid to speak the Name that is above every name when we might just be ridiculed or laughed at, but rarely killed for it?