Today´s reading:
OT: Numbers 6-7
NT: Mark 12:38-44, Mark 13:1-12
Ps: Psalm 49
Pr: Proverbs 10:27-28
Today´s notable verses:
24 The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
The "Aaronic Blessing", or so I have heard. This blessing really is beautiful, and reminds me of a Mercy Me song, Bless Me Indeed, which uses the words of this blessing, as well as the prayer of Jabez (I Chronicles 4:10).
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:13 (NIV)
Two things: one, that Jesus promises that we will be hated because of our identification with him. The ruler of this present age does not like our affiliation with the One who has defeated him. But, two, that we are called ultimately to stand firm - not to fight (which the Spirit does on our behalf), and not to win (which Christ already accomplished on the Cross). Our responsibility is to stand firm - to withstand the onslaught of the one who opposes the body and ministry of Christ. To me, this understanding is such a comfort and relief. While the Spirit contends through us, we are not called to fight Christ's battles on our own. He is always with us, working through us: if God is with me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31)?
The One Year Bible Blog asks:
Comments from You & Question of the Day - Based on Proverbs 10:27 above, do you agree that fear of the Lord lengthens your life? Why or why not? Do you think fear of the Lord is a good thing? Why or why not?
Well, if God says so, then I believe it! With respect to the body, if fear of the Lord yields a reverence for the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and induces me to avoid defiling His temple with harmful things and behaviors, then I will likely maintain a more healthful lifestyle. Likewise, if fear of the Lord results in reverent obedience to His Word, then I am under His blessing of health. Granted, His ways are higher than our ways, and I can no more explain why Christians - heirs to the blessings of Abraham - suffer sickness and disease than I can know the length of my own life. But I know that if we are under the blessing, then we are not under the curse, and God promises not to punish or curse us with sickness and disease (these in Christians I believe are the work of Satan).
Fear of the Lord is absolutely a good thing! It produces in us reverence for God, respect for his commands, and obedience to them. It points us to the awesome nature of God and yields in us humility. Ultimately, fear of the Lord is the path to holiness in our own lives.
