JAR OF HEARTS........♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Friday, April 8, 2011
Would you be one of the 300?
Judges 7:3-8 But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there… So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
We read in the previous verse that all those who were really too fearful to fight were allowed to go home. So 22,000 (over two-thirds!) said ‘thanks, but I’m out of here!’ This was in accordance with the command given through Moses in Deut 20:1-8 where those that were fearful, or those that were engaged but not yet married, could go home if they liked[3]. But there was soon to be another test. Out of the 10,000 people that remained, 9700 kneeled down and drank straight from the water where as 300 evidently stood, and used their hands to bring the water to their mouth. God was only interested in the smaller group who were more watchful and alert, and didn’t give themselves over completely to their natural needs.[4] The other thing to note is that the people themselves, all of whom were keen to be used to fight Midian, didn’t even know there was a test going on. Likewise, God tests us, looking for hearts that are truly His, and these tests come in the ordinary events of our daily lives often without our knowing. So in all, 300 people remained… that’s 300 Israelites versus 135,000 Midianites. Israel was outnumbered 450 to 1! Well, outnumbered that is apart from the small fact that Israel had one Almighty God on their side!
We read in the previous verse that all those who were really too fearful to fight were allowed to go home. So 22,000 (over two-thirds!) said ‘thanks, but I’m out of here!’ This was in accordance with the command given through Moses in Deut 20:1-8 where those that were fearful, or those that were engaged but not yet married, could go home if they liked[3]. But there was soon to be another test. Out of the 10,000 people that remained, 9700 kneeled down and drank straight from the water where as 300 evidently stood, and used their hands to bring the water to their mouth. God was only interested in the smaller group who were more watchful and alert, and didn’t give themselves over completely to their natural needs.[4] The other thing to note is that the people themselves, all of whom were keen to be used to fight Midian, didn’t even know there was a test going on. Likewise, God tests us, looking for hearts that are truly His, and these tests come in the ordinary events of our daily lives often without our knowing. So in all, 300 people remained… that’s 300 Israelites versus 135,000 Midianites. Israel was outnumbered 450 to 1! Well, outnumbered that is apart from the small fact that Israel had one Almighty God on their side!
Much Needed Rest
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28
We know what it is like to carry a heavy burden. Our arms begin to ache as we strain to hold up the weight. Our back muscles tighten and our legs tire under the weight. We can only carry the load so long and we are forced to put it down and rest. Sometimes the burden we carry is not with our arms and back and legs, but on our hearts. Burdens of sadness, loneliness, discouragement and dismay are very real and cause us to long for rest from their oppressive weight. Our spirits can be crushed if these burdens get too heavy and we carry them too long.
While Jesus understands these kinds of burdens and is present to help us carry them, these burdens aren’t the most oppressive. When our Savior invites us to come to get rest from him, he has in mind a different kind of burden that makes people weary and tired. That is the burden of sin and how sin disrupts our relationship with God. God’s Law requires perfect obedience. It does not allow for one transgression. God's Word tells us, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The demand which the Law of God makes is impossible for us to keep. We can't fulfill its precepts perfectly. Though we have not murdered anyone, we have hurt other people with spiteful words. Perhaps we have never committed adultery, but God judges the lust in our hearts. We may never have been convicted of stealing, but we are fully aware of the greedy thoughts that are lodged in our minds and the discontent that is harbored in our hearts. Sometimes our worship of God is done with lips only – our minds and hearts are focused somewhere else. We don’t always follow God as faithfully as he asks us. Sometimes we are even defiant against his will.
The Law of God inflicts a heavy burden on each lawbreaker. It is a burden of guilt and fear of God's punishment. Have you felt the burden of your sin, pressed down by the enormous weight as you stand weak-kneed before the almighty, holy God who demands perfection?
We can’t get out from under the burden of sin by our own power. There is only one way for us to have relief. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus came to lift sin’s burden off our hearts. He carried that heavy burden of sin’s guilt for us, and gives us rest. He gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven, that God doesn’t count us guilty. We have the peace of knowing that our relationship with God is restored. Through Jesus there is now, therefore, no fear of God’s strict judgment of condemnation against us. We are free from sin’s burden. In Jesus we have rest, the forgiveness of sins, so that we are not wearied and burdened by sin’s guilt ever again!
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned in many ways and the guilt on my heart is a burden that is too heavy to bear. So I praise you for taking the burden of my guilt and carrying it for me – suffering and dying to free me of its load and giving me the rest of full forgiveness. Amen.
We know what it is like to carry a heavy burden. Our arms begin to ache as we strain to hold up the weight. Our back muscles tighten and our legs tire under the weight. We can only carry the load so long and we are forced to put it down and rest. Sometimes the burden we carry is not with our arms and back and legs, but on our hearts. Burdens of sadness, loneliness, discouragement and dismay are very real and cause us to long for rest from their oppressive weight. Our spirits can be crushed if these burdens get too heavy and we carry them too long.
While Jesus understands these kinds of burdens and is present to help us carry them, these burdens aren’t the most oppressive. When our Savior invites us to come to get rest from him, he has in mind a different kind of burden that makes people weary and tired. That is the burden of sin and how sin disrupts our relationship with God. God’s Law requires perfect obedience. It does not allow for one transgression. God's Word tells us, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The demand which the Law of God makes is impossible for us to keep. We can't fulfill its precepts perfectly. Though we have not murdered anyone, we have hurt other people with spiteful words. Perhaps we have never committed adultery, but God judges the lust in our hearts. We may never have been convicted of stealing, but we are fully aware of the greedy thoughts that are lodged in our minds and the discontent that is harbored in our hearts. Sometimes our worship of God is done with lips only – our minds and hearts are focused somewhere else. We don’t always follow God as faithfully as he asks us. Sometimes we are even defiant against his will.
The Law of God inflicts a heavy burden on each lawbreaker. It is a burden of guilt and fear of God's punishment. Have you felt the burden of your sin, pressed down by the enormous weight as you stand weak-kneed before the almighty, holy God who demands perfection?
We can’t get out from under the burden of sin by our own power. There is only one way for us to have relief. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus came to lift sin’s burden off our hearts. He carried that heavy burden of sin’s guilt for us, and gives us rest. He gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven, that God doesn’t count us guilty. We have the peace of knowing that our relationship with God is restored. Through Jesus there is now, therefore, no fear of God’s strict judgment of condemnation against us. We are free from sin’s burden. In Jesus we have rest, the forgiveness of sins, so that we are not wearied and burdened by sin’s guilt ever again!
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned in many ways and the guilt on my heart is a burden that is too heavy to bear. So I praise you for taking the burden of my guilt and carrying it for me – suffering and dying to free me of its load and giving me the rest of full forgiveness. Amen.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Judges 7:15-18
Shoulld Christians involved in politics? What the fight are for? HIS glory or our own recognization? The answer in us will definate whether Christians should involve in politics.
Judges 7:15-18 He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’”
So Gideon divides his 300 men into three companies and gives them their weapons. Put yourself into their position for a sec… You know you’re massively outnumbered. I guess you would be hoping for some new flash sword utilising the latest te...chnology? So you take your place in the line and Gideon hands out the weapons… an empty clay jar, a torch, and a trumpet! Oh thanks a lot Gideon! What are we trying to do? Burst their ear drums? Drive ‘em crazy by playing off key? Well, we’ll get back to these strange weapons that we have been given shortly, but for now it is simply worth noting that with God natural circumstances don’t come into it! When you are weak, then He will prove Himself strong!
Judges 7:15-18 He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’”
So Gideon divides his 300 men into three companies and gives them their weapons. Put yourself into their position for a sec… You know you’re massively outnumbered. I guess you would be hoping for some new flash sword utilising the latest te...chnology? So you take your place in the line and Gideon hands out the weapons… an empty clay jar, a torch, and a trumpet! Oh thanks a lot Gideon! What are we trying to do? Burst their ear drums? Drive ‘em crazy by playing off key? Well, we’ll get back to these strange weapons that we have been given shortly, but for now it is simply worth noting that with God natural circumstances don’t come into it! When you are weak, then He will prove Himself strong!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)