Today in our Bible reading, we heard the complaints and murmurings of the children of Israel. They didn’t like the struggles of the wilderness and would have given up their freedom and their Promised Land for an easier path. Truly it is amazing how the Word of God so often a mirror exposing my own heart.
Jesus did the same thing to us through the reading of the New Testament. His stories seem to always become the stories of our lives.
How many times do we have freedom and we knew God rescued us, but then things get difficult again? And in difficulty, our hearts are exposed. Things intensify, and it is evident that we too, would trade our gift of liberty for slavery. We would choose slavery over freedom because slavery might be more comfortable than bondage. It might be easier temporarily, but bondage will kill us in the end.
This is true of the Israelites, but it doesn’t take much time or effort to recognize it also in my own lives.
To live victoriously and free I believe we will have to fight for freedom. The fight is to resist the enemy and learn to trust Him alone. Now, once you are set free things may get harder for a season but even so…nothing can be taken from you. You can give it back to the enemy as the Israelites thought they wanted to do but if you just stand…nothing can be taken. You know WHO you belong to, and you know that He is the Most High God. For eternity, forever, you will be His child and in fellowship with Him. He is our Promised Land.
But until we know that we know that, we will just keep making circles in the same wilderness, going around and around while God tries to teach us lessons we refuse to learn. Help us, Father!!!
Today’s reading – Exodus 15:19 – 17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalms 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26
If Thou Wilt Diligently Hearken to the Voice of the Lord…
He shall heal me
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. – Exodus 15:26
And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? – Exodus 16:28
He shall call and choose me
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. – Matthew 22:8-14
He shall hide me
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. – Psalms 27:1, 3, 5
He shall lead, keep, and talk with me
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: – Proverbs 6:20-23
Oh, eternal Father, help me I pray to learn the lessons I need to learn in this wilderness. Help me to yield that I can draw ever closer to You and my Promised Land. Help me to diligently hearken to Your voice and to be obedient once I hear. Help me to focus only on You and the abundant gifts you give. Lead and guide me through this day, Holy Spirit. Heal me of my infirmities. Deliver me from the mind battles that try to take me off the path You have chosen for me. Seal this Word and let it grow in my spirit. I ask this all in the Name above all Names. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
a lamp and a light 