HOW LONG?

Photo provided by Katie Peace

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, 

and cried; and the people wept that night.

And all the children of Israel murmured 

against Moses and against Aaron: 

and the whole congregation said 

unto them, Would God that we 

had died in the land of Egypt! 

or would God we had died in this 

wilderness! And wherefore hath 

the LORD brought us unto this land, 

to fall by the sword, that our 

wives and our children should be 

a prey? were it not better for us 

to return into Egypt?  And they said 

one to another, Let us make 

a captain, and let us return into 

Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on 

their faces before all the assembly 

of the congregation of the children 

of Israel.  And Joshua the son of Nun, 

and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which 

were of them that searched the land, rent 

their clothes: And they spake unto 

all the company of the children of Israel, 

saying, The land, which we passed 

through to search it, is an exceeding 

good land.  If the LORD delight in us, 

then he will bring us into this land, and 

give it us; a land which floweth with 

milk and honey.  Only rebel not ye 

against the LORD, neither fear ye the 

people of the land; for they are bread for 

us: their defence is departed from them, 

and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

But all the congregation bade stone 

them with stones. And the glory of the 

LORD appeared in the tabernacle of 

the congregation before all the children 

of Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses,

How long will this people provoke me? 

and how long will it be ere they believe 

me, for all the signs which I have shewed 

among them?

Numbers 14:1-11

FERVENT LOVE

Provided by Steve Long

OLD WESTERNS, SCATTERED CHRISTIANS, AND HEALING LEPERS

Devotion by Steve Long 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; andeveryone who loves is born of God and knows God.[i]

Jesus’ Apostle, Peter, gives us three ways we are to love each other.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart[ii]

1. God Wants Us to Love One Another Genuinely.

Do you remember the old western movies and television shows? We would see a whole town full of buildings. Usually there would be a Jail, Telegraph Office, Blacksmith Shop, Saloon, Hotel, Stable, Barber Shop, General Store, and maybe some other buildings. Most of the time, however, these were not real buildings. They were often just framed walls made to look like buildings from the front.

We must not wrongly put on just a show of love. Upon inspection, the façade will be easily recognized by others though we may not recognize it ourselves.

Our love for one another needs to be unpretentious. It must be real – sincere. The word “fervently” can literally be translated as unhypocritically.

Love can be faked, but not for very long. Pretty soon, something will penetrate the façade we’ve erected. Love, or a lack of love, will always be tested. We can feign adoration of others until a real trial comes along. Then our true mettle will be revealed. We must first possess love before we can practice love.

We do not well to continually declare the words “I love you,” unless we have done the deeds which say, “I love you.” “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” [iii]

2. God Wants Us to Love One Another Pure-Heartedly.
Love must go deep down. These Christians of the dispersion[iv] had already been purified. Their souls were in right standing with God. Now it would be needed by them and us to be in a right frame of heart in order to love others well.

If we want to truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to have our hearts right with God or we will “burn out” quickly. We should not love others because they are so loveable but because Christ loved us when we were not so loveable.

3. God Wants Us to Love One Another Fervently.

The word fervent is translated from a root that means “to stretch out”. The root word is often said of Jesus who would stretch forth his hand to heal the afflicted. In one place, Jesus stretched forth his hand to heal a man with leprosy (Matthew 8.3). Leprosy was a terrible, dreaded and infectious disease. What would motivate Jesus to stretch out his hand to a contagious leper? Might not the leper contaminate him – not to mention cause him to become ceremonial unclean?

Jesus did not love others from the other side of the universe but deliberately came to this earth to love us with sacrificial love. When he got here, he didn’t love people from the other side of the street, but went to where they were andstretched forth himself. He didn’t just give them a “like” on facebook, but actually came to where they were. He didn’t just say “I love you,” but hestretched forth his hands on a horrible cross so you and I might be saved from our sins.

That is fervent love.

Visit Steve's Blog :  Reflecting the Light

ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD

Every valley shall be filled, and every 

mountain and hill shall be brought low; 

and the crooked shall be made straight, 

and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Luke 3:5-6

HIS MERCY IS UPON THEM!

Photo provided by Kay Rowe

And his mercy is on them that fear 

him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his 

arm; he hath scattered the proud 

in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from 

their seats, and exalted them of 

low degree. He hath filled the 

hungry with good things; and the

 rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, 

in remembrance of his mercy;

Luke 1:50-54

GOD SEES YOU

God Sees You

A devotion by Steve Long 

Often, near where I live, I see a man standing on the corner of a busy intersection with a sign that reads, “God is Watching You.” I’m not sure of the motivation behind this but my suspicion is that he hopes passersby will be frightened by the thought. After all, when we’re tempted to sin and are thinking of giving in, are we ever comforted by the fact that God sees us?

No, I think almost 100% of us, knowing that God sees, would want to think it over before committing the sinful act.

This is not unlike being in the presence of a policeman. We might alter our behavior if we know that an officer is watching.

One example is when many of us are driving on a highway. We may feel content and unthreatened until we realize there is a highway patrolman just ahead. Most of us might let off of the gas pedal immediately whether we’re speeding or not.

But let’s change the scenario just a bit. If we or someone else has been in an accident, we’d probably welcome the patrolman. If we heard gunfire, we might even call the policeman – even the same one we tried to avoid while doing wrong.

Now, we return to our main thought: that “God is Watching You.” Is it possible that this could be a comfort to some of us? Just as it would bring comfort and security to a child to know that his or her parents are watching; it can be that and more for us as children of God to know that God is looking.

We read in the Bible of a precious Egyptian woman by the name of Hagar.[1] Hagar had been the handmaiden of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.[2] Sarah was unable to have children and had gotten very old but God had promised Abraham that he would have a son – and many descendants.

Sarah’s plan, obviously without consulting God, was to let Abraham go in to Hagar so she might give birth. A common practice among the peoples of that day, this would help God fulfill his plan, she thought. I suppose she figured God had run out of ways to get this done and she had to come up with something for him. Abraham “hearkened to the voice” of Sarah. Sarah’s plan was to be a surrogate mother to the child – at least in name.

Quickly Hagar conceived. Very soon, she became prideful and instead of having respect, looked down upon her mistress.

Immediately, Sarah had second thoughts. “My bad! Rewind. Could I get off here?” She realized her error. When Abraham told Sarah to do as she thought fit, Sarah dealt harshly with Hagar.

Hagar felt compelled to flee away. It’s not clear where she was trying to go. Maybe she was trying to get back to Egypt. I think she just went wandering, a young pregnant woman, alone in the desert. I’m sure she experienced numerous negative emotions.

The bible tells us that “the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” He also said; “Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands… I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. The angel of the LORD even said that the child was a boy (and that before ultrasound) and gave her his name – Ishmael, which means “God shall hear.” He tells her that Ishmael would be a wild and hostile man.

“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi (meaning: the well of him who lives and sees me).”

What impressed Hagar about God, Yahweh? It was the fact that this is the God who sees her. GOD IS WATCHING – those words would not be words of fear and intimidation for Hagar. They would become her comfort and encouragement to go back to her mistress and to the father of her son.

How good to know that God is watching! He is not just watching but is watching over us.

GOD IS WATCHING YOU:

If you’re running, that’s scary.

If you’re saved, that’s reassuring.
Not only does he see – he hears.

[1] Genesis 16.1-14
[2] At this time they were known as Sarai and Abram.

To see more devotions by Steve Long visit:
http://stephentlong.blogspot.com/2017/05/god-sees-you.html

WHEN A MAN'S WAYS PLEASE THE LORD

Photo provided by Katie Peace

The preparations of the heart in man, 

and the answer of the tongue, is from 

the LORD.  All the ways of a man 

are clean in his own eyes; but the 

LORD weigheth the spirits.   

Commit thy works unto the 

LORD, and thy thoughts shall 

be established.  The LORD hath 

made all things for himself:  

yea, even the wicked for the 

day of evil.  Every one that 

is proud in heart is an 

abomination to the LORD: 

though hand join in hand, he 

shall not be unpunished.  By

mercy and truth iniquity is 

purged: and by the fear of 

the LORD men depart from 

evil. When a man’s ways 

please the LORD, he maketh 

even his enemies to be at peace 

with him.  Better is a little with 

righteousness than great revenues 

without right.

PROVERBS 16:1-8