Numbers 8:1-9:23 + Mark 13:14-37 + Psalm 50:1-23 + Proverbs 10:29-30
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Old Testament – Today in Numbers chapter 8 we read about the dedication of the Levites and in Numbers chapter 9 we read about the Second Passover:
In chapter 9 we read about the fiery cloud over the tabernacle! Verses 22 & 23 stood out to me in today’s readings: “Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the LORD’s command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.” Below is an incredible image of the Israelites’ camp at rest:
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.
New Testament – In Mark chapter 13 today we read about the signs of the end of the age. For me personally, Jesus’ words in verses 32 & 33 have always been so powerful when it comes to end-times considerations – “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” I think this teaching from Jesus is so important for each of us to keep in mind. No one knows the day or the hour of the end of times. Only God the Father. I have some friends who are very into speculating and discussing end-times prophecies and events. For me personally, these verses above make me realize that we truly do not know when the end of time will come – but, yes, we know it will come. And therefore I believe we should live every day loving God and loving people around us – and not get so focused on speculation of end times that we forget about these 2 great commandments. . . 🙂 My other thought on these verses is this – not only do we not know when the end of the age will come, but we do not know when the end of each of our lives will come. Hopefully we will live long lives. But it’s not guaranteed. You know how life is – there is cancer and there are accidents and the list could go on. So, I guess I’d recommend this – don’t worry about when the end of the age will be. Don’t worry about when the end of your life will be. Instead, be on guard and be alert each and every day to make sure you are loving God and loving people – as if each day might be your last day.
Psalms – Psalm 50 verses 14 & 15 are beautiful words from God to Israel – “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Do you believe these words can apply to us today as well? Are you giving true thanks to God each day? Are you trusting in God in your times of trouble? Are you giving God glory for all that he has done for you? How often do you say “thank you” to God? Below is a great image for verse 1 from Psalm 50 today:
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 10 verse 29 teaches us today: “The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous.” This is a great teaching that those who trust in God are covered with a hedge of protection. Thank God for this protection! I know I need it. And I believe that God oftentimes protects us in ways that we do not even consciously realize… As we pray in the Lord’s prayer – “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Amen.
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Mark about Jesus’ Second Coming reminds me of the FFH song “One of these Days:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHdSgQVIb5c
Are you prepared for Jesus’ Second Coming? Click here and be prepared for that Day!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” Mark 13:26-27 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you are looking forward to the day of Jesus’ return. Pray “Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come.”
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on my reflections above on Mark 13:32-33, I am reminded of something I read on another Christian blog recently and it really did make me think. Here’s how this blog put it, and I think this relates well to these Mark verses – “Breaking News: mortality rate is STILL 100%! You are not guaranteed all the days you believe you have coming to you. What would you do differently if today was your last day alive?” Powerful question for each of us to consider, no? What would you do differently if today was your last day alive? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
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======= Ramona:
Numbers 8-9:23
“Tell Aaron that when he sets up the seven lamps in the lampstand, he is to place them so their light shines forward.”
The light of God is to shine forward in our lives it is not for looking back at things in the past. Forgetting those things that lie behind and pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God (Philippians 3:13-14). Jesus said that one is unfit for the kingdom of God who puts their hand to the plow and then looks back (Luke 9:62). This seems to be one of the hardest things not to do, dwell in the past. Regrets, hurts, disappointments seem to resurface at the oddest of times when there is no thought of them being cultivated by my mind. Like an unwanted neighbor dropping by at the most inopportune time, thoughts, anger, resentments flood my mind without asking my permission to enter: unwanted guests with boundary issues.
I love the image of the fiery cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night as a guide. This is the image of the direction of the Holy Spirit but I’m not as obedient as the children of Israel in following His guidance. One of the things you must do to be able to move at the drop of the hat, so to speak, is to travel light. The acquiring of Ethan Allen heavy type furniture is a no-no. Ya gotta be ready to throw the little stuff you have in a cart and shout, “Head um up, move um out!”
Mark 13:14-37
Every time I read any text of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) where Jesus speaks of the “End Times, I think of the beginning of the Parable of the “other” Ten talents or pound. In this Parable in Luke chapter 19, the servants are given their orders then given ten talents/pounds, and in the King James Version it states, “Occupy till I come.” Yet our tendency is to sit on the curb waiting for the rapture. Sitting around talking about “religious” things gives us the appearance of doing good deeds but what we are really doing is creating a lot of movement without momentum.
We are to notice the times we are living in and when we see them we are not to shut ourselves off and talk about how bad it is ‘cause Jesus already told us it is going to be bad so we should just quit acting surprised. When it is raining “cats and dogs,” get out your umbrella, put you hip boots on and get to work.
Psalm 50:1-23
12 If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you,
for all the world is mine and everything in it.
New Flash: God doesn’t need our help to do anything. God is not going to roll over and have a hissy fit ‘cause we don’t obey Him. The world will not stop rotating when we sin. We are the ones who benefit and are blessed when we obey God. The invitation is from God for us to do “right” not the other way ‘round. God is not our co-pilot, He is our pilot. Just like when our mothers invited us to help them back a cake when we were two or three, God is inviting us to come work with Him. We may think we have really helped our moms’ make that double chocolate devil food cake, but all we really did was spread flour and icing everywhere it really shouldn’t have been.
What God really wants from us is our hearts and truth in the words that flow from our mouths, 14 “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.”
Proverbs 10:29-30
30The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.
This concept of being removed from the land is a theme I keep focusing on ever since we read through Leviticus. The land actually expelling out its inhabitants, Hmmm (Leviticus 18:25, 28)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Amy:
Tangential Thoughts on Leviticus & Numbers…
I’ve enjoyed them much more than last year. Why? I think the pictures on the blog (thanks!), and the reflective questions have been a great help towards applying these teachings to my life.
TRANSITION & WANDERINGS
A commentary from Warren Wiersbe notes Numbers is a book of transition and wanderings. Who cannot relate to that? Everyone feels this way at times and wants to know what their purpose is, what they should do and where they should go… hence the popularity of The Purpose Driven Life. It is a good book.
WANDERING? LEARNING?
While the Israelites were kind of on hold for 40 years wandering in the desert- what were they learning?
One piece from todays reading (Num 9:15-23) is they were learning to follow God- to have some sensitivity and awareness in this. They looked to see if the cloud moved during the day- and if it did- they moved.
“Whether the cloud stayed above the tabernacle for two days, a month,or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.” Num 9:22-23
WHERE IS MY CLOUD/PILLAR OF FIRE?
Okay, sometimes I would not mind seeing this real visible cloud/pillar of fire out on my front lawn, so I would know -yes its time to move on or stay in certain areas of life. I know the Israelites are a bit on the rebellious side, in the past whineing about wanting to go back to Egypt, but at least here they seem to be obedient. They never say-hmmm, this area of the desert is really nice, lets stay a couple days extra, or gosh, I just got my tent set up correctly, or hey you guys unpack I’m gonna go on ahead. Maybe they did mumble these things, but when the cloud moved, they moved. How hard is it to get us to move? How hard is to get us to stay? Are we even paying attention? While we don’t have the Lord’s presence in the cloud, I know we have the Holy Spirit and God speaks to us in a number of ways. We have to be attentive.
I cannot quite make the connection, but all this moving & not moving, makes me think of a quote.
“Understanding what God is about to do where you are is more important than telling God what you want to do for Him.” By Henry Blackaby
DISTANCE>>>
Here is a great question: I once read that the distance between Mt. Sinai and the promised land was not very far. What was the distance? If God had allowed them to walk straight there, how long would it have taken? I thought I heard something like 10 days.
Take care!
AMY
======= Ramona:
Hey Amy, It supposedly should only have been a two-week journey. It took God two weeks to Get Israel out of Egypt but it took forty years to get Egypt out of Israel. The miracle was that it took them forty years to take a two-week stroll, Hmmm!
Ramona
========= Matt:
Mike, God is moving me over here, your comments on the brevity of life and the end times are exactly what God, through the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart as I visited yesterday with some family members.
Matt
======== Anka:
Mark13:30 I tell you the truth, this generation[e] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
I’ve often wondered about this passage because the generation Jesus was talking about couldn’t have been those he was actually talking to since many more generations have come and gone since then…Does anyone have an idea what he meant in that verse?
God bless you all
Anka
======= Ramona:
Anka,
I looked up the Greek word translated “generation” in this verse and the word (Greek) can be applied to man, time, or nation. I’m inclined to think, based on the context, that in this passage it is referring to a period of time or dispensation. From the time of Jesus’ death, we have been in what is known as the “last days.” And many think we are in the last of the “last days.”
As per Thayer’s dictionary:
G1074
γενεά
genea
Thayer Definition:
1) fathered, birth, nativity
2) that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family
2a) the several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy
2b) metaphorically a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character
2b1) especially in a bad sense, a perverse nation
3) the whole multitude of men living at the same time
4) an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied be each successive generation), a space of 30 – 33 years
Part of Speech: noun feminine
Hope this helps,
Ramona
======== John:
Anka,
Matt 24:3
“…when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew adds this perspective – “sign of your coming” – which would have been of interest to the Jewish audience of his gospel. Mark has no need to include this to his Gentile audience.
To answer your question on “this generation”, you need to look at the lesson or parable of fig tree. The events that unfold will be like the leaves starting to bud on a tree. Soon the tree will be in full foliage. (similar imagery using “birth pains”).
“I tell you the Truth” (or “verily” or “amen”) is what a witness said in a Jewish court to indicate he is speaking the Truth.
So Jesus is saying – ‘I am speaking the truth’ – “this generation will certainly not pass”. Jesus is summing up his lesson(parable): the generation that sees these events (signs) unfold (tree budding, beginning of birth pains) will not pass away away before it all happens, culminating in the “Son of Man” coming (second coming).
He ends the lesson by empasizing his “Word” is more durable than the “heavens and earth”.
A genearation of thirty or so years would certainly see things to the conclusion if you view the whole discouse as regarding the “tribulation”. Tribulation lasts “seven years”.
People argue whether the “church” will be there or not, and there are certainly other interpretations on “this generation” as Chip pointed out. In my straightforward interpretation of the Bible, the explanation I gave fits best with my outline of the Bible.
Of course, I could be wrong, and in that case I will have to apologize to you in heaven : )
John
======= Anka:
Thanks Ramona and John for your explanations…I’m sure John I’ll be too awed by heaven to remember the question anyway:)…do you know any site I can do a larger study on that.I know that verse has been a tool for many to discredit the words of Jesus and I want to be able to fully explain it.God bless you all
Anka
======= Mark:
Hi Everyone, I really love the old Testement verses today. The imagery of God being right in the middle. The focal point of their lives, very visible. The Israelites trusted and obeyed God. The were truly following Him. Where do we stand i our lives? Are we following after God? Are we moving when He moves, staying where He stays? I pray that our Lord will develop that passion and desire in my life to seek Him and His kindgom first.
Mark
======= Betty:
What great imagery in today’s readings! God, the Almighty in the midst of His people, a cloud or fire, His obvious presence to lead the nation of Israel. Question for myself: Do I look upward everyday with my heart to see where God is? Without looking for Him, how do I know what He wants for me today, tomorrow, moment to moment? Truely, God is our God forever and our guide through life. I just have to remember always to acknowledge His presence with me and His desire to guide me with His word, and the Holy Spirit. Isn’t God good that He seeks us out in relationship and reveals Himself to us everywhere. We just need to be tuned in.
Betty
======= Ramona:
Numbers 8:1-9:23
Today’s reading in the Old Testament brought to mind things from the New as well as some from the Prophets. The first being,
1 ) Say to Aaron, When you set up and light the lamps, the seven lamps shall be made to give light in front of the lampstand. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps of the lampstand to give light in front of it …. (Numbers 8:2-3 AMP)
The Light of the Word is for our steps going forward not backwards. We are to examine our mistakes and our past so that we will understand and identify the “traps” of the sins that has so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1) when we see them coming, but I believe we are not to so closely examine the past by use of God’s Word at the exclusion of what is up ahead.
Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62 AMP)
2 ) The tribe of Levi pointed to the time when each of us (Believers) would be asked to be a “Living Sacrifice” by presenting their bodies (Romans 12:1)
For they are wholly given to Me from among the Israelites; instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites for Myself. For all the firstborn of the Israelites are Mine, both of man and beast; on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt [not of Israel], I consecrated them and set them apart for Myself. (Numbers 8:16-17 AMP)
The Tribe of Levi was offered up as an exchange for the “first born” of all the other eleven tribes. This to me was clearly a type of Christ.
3 ) God is a God that allows us to “reason” with Him (Isaiah 1:18) He wants us to come top Him to get an explanation of His laws and rules, and when we have faith enough to ask He will honor us so that we receive what we have asked (Matthew 7:7).
Those men said to [Moses], We are defiled by touching the dead body. Why are we prevented from offering the Lord’s offering at its appointed time among the Israelites? And Moses said to them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. And the Lord said to Moses … (Numbers 9:7-9 AMP)
4 ) And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. (Numbers 9:15-17 KJV)
If the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night represents the Holy Spirit guiding and leading us, may we all yield to the leading of the Spirit as He directs our path so we will know when to “pitch” our tents and when to take them up and move. This I pray in Jesus’ glorious name, Amen.
In order to do this we must travel lightly and have made the decision to leave behind the things that cannot be carried.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Daniel:
Excellent site!
¡God bless You!
Daniel
======= Pat:
Numbers 9:1-14, the reading about the Passover, really grabbed my attention this morning. Some of the Levites had become unclean because of being exposed to a dead body and they wanted to participate in the Passover with the other Levites. They came to Moses and wanted to know why they couldn’t participate. Moses told them he would consult with the Lord before giving them an answer. When Moses took the problem to God, God told him that it would be okay for them and for anyone who was on a journey to go on and participate in the Passover rituals. What this said to me this morning is that God wants to be consulted! He wants to be in the loop when there are decisions to be made. When we include God, then He will provide the provisions for us in which we can work out the problem. From our past readings we have learned that it is when we do not consult with Him and leave Him out of our decision-making, that things don’t turn out well.
God Bless!
Pat
======= Johnnie:
I so believe that God surrounds us with His protection. Last night I witnessed this when a topper on a truck blew off on the highway. I watched it in slow motion as if someone was ripping it off from the top and throwing it in front of me. Praise God that I missed it. It literally skipped in front of me and was moved to the side. I went back to the place and it seems as if no one was hurt either. So…God wasn’t just watching out for me, he was watching out for those around me.
Johnnie
======= Ed:
Num 8:9-13, 17-19 – The Levites are appointed specially by God to serve Him, the people of Israel were instructed to lay hands on them to dedicate them as a wave offering. The Levites are God’s gift to Aaron and his sons to assist them to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among them. Application: To those who are called to serve God in the ministry of helps to assist the pastors, it is also a divine appointment from God and the people (congregation) are to lay hands on them to dedicate and bless them for their service to God so that the people will be ministered and blessed (free from plagues).
Ed
======= Angie:
What would you do differently if today was your last day alive? what would i do differently? many things. never would have gotten married and to be in the mess i am today. i would have traveled way way more, and took the scholarship i was offered to the art institute of pittsburg, should have went to australia when tony asked me to come visit him, never have said the things i said to him to ruin our friendship, which i will work to my dying day to fix and resolve. no matter what. and so many more things i would change. to many to mention on here.
mark stands out to me today. i’ve had a few near death experiences where i should be dead now but i’m not. why, cuz it wasn’t my time yet. my time here on earth is not done. like last week with our furnance, i could have laid down and never woken back up. but i didn’t. i called my dad cuz i was smelling gas fumes. that happened one other time 6 years ago. me, my husband and his two kids, (will be nice here) and the dogs could have died that night. i was in a really really bad car accident and walked away from it without a scratch or bruise on me. i was sore the next day but i was alive. even the sherrif couldn’t believe i walked away from it ok. but only god knows when its your time, defiantly. from the second we are born, he has our whole lives mapped out and knows everything.
Angie
======= Jenny:
I am definitely interested in eschatology, it fascinates me. but i dont focus on it more then i should, i am on alert that any day could be my last here and have I shared sufficiently with others? I think it gives us an urgency and to see prophecies fulfilled in my life time, blows my mind!
i recently saw a website of a guy who claims God gave him the month and year of the rapture. i dismissed it, i think its soo wrong to ever say we know something like that when as in Mark, Jesus made it very clear no one would know! but we would be aware of the seasons. If God didnt want us aware, Jesus wouldnt have told us the signs to look for, I believe, so we see the urgency!
What would I do differently if today was my last day? well, that doesnt give me much time to do things, but honestly, nothing. I live every day as if its my last. i have lost many loved ones to ‘expected’ and unexpected deaths, so i learned at a younger age, to tell ppl you love them and tell them often, you may not get another chance. Not just tell them, but show them. Also, we may lose our loved ones at any day, so never say goodbye without the thought this could be your final goodbye, that you are ok leaving things as they are. They know how you feel. not to be morbid, but i suffered so much pain and guilt over this for yearrrrs. A loved one died unexpectedly, and i was in pain and mourning. My best friend (the person closest to me in the world!) was there for me, but a month later she committed suicide as well. this pretty much ruined my life, but God has been mending me greatly.
After that my mom got cancer, and after a year of suffering, she died, but I did get to say all i wanted to her. a year after that a good friend of mine and I had a falling out and we didnt speak for a couple yrs. one day God put him on my heart, ‘find him and make amends!’. why? as far as i knew this guy hated me, but God insisted and I obeyed. i got a hold of this guy through a friend, not sure how he’d react, he was thrilled to hear from me! so i went down to his job and visited him…it was like old times, i ran to him and hugged him and just looking in his eyes, we both knew the past was forgiven. it was a very joyous day. (i gave him my number but he never called. so my mutual friend who saw him often said he would say hi to me, so i gave her my number to give to him and I told her, tell him to call me!) She gave him my ., but he looked away and gave it back and said, no i cant…(????). We were both perplexed by this. Long story short about a year later i got a call from another friend that he died of Aids :(. But what if i hadnt listened to God and made amends, i would have lived in guilt for so long!!!
I lived in fear and anxiety daily after all this that someone else would die. but God doesnt want me to live like that. he wants me to trust Him and I know no matter what He will be there.
Once on the freeway i saw a anti-smoking billboard that said something like 40% of people alive today will die from smoking related deaths. Ok, true maybe, but i was thinking, well 100% of ppl alive today will die! i kinda thought that was silly.
anyways yes, i thank God often for much! “Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” i love that!!
Jenny
======= Jenny:
I wanted to share an amazing story if anyone is interested. I thought of God leading the Israelites by a pillar of fire when I heard it, so when i read this in Numbers, i thought of the story. This was back in Nov or Dec. My sis, a believer, lives in CO, anyone remember the terrible blizzards there last winter? well, my sis had been going through personl things, so we were praying God would help her see things more clearly and some very specific, personal stuff.
Anyhow, my sis arrived to work last winter and then was told to go home bcos the blizzard was getting bad. right as she was leaving she heard the governor declared a state of emergency, “no one leave their house!” but she was on the road already and wanted to get home to her family. On her way, her car got stuck in the snow and she was scared and started praying and two guys ran out of a fast food restaurant n dug her out. Further down the road her car got stuck again, she could barely see anything, no one in sight and she was just crying to the Lord, terrified she’d be stranded in her car in the freezing blizzard. Suddenly she looked up and an old man was there with a shovel digging her out. She kept saying thank you, but he just said, ok, when i say ‘gun it’, go! (where did he come from? an angel perhaps?) So she got out. she made her way to a route but by this time the blizzard was worsening. To make matters worse, her windshield wipers froze! so she had to roll her windows all the way down just to see out, and stick her head out the window while driving! She kinda knew about where she was, but couldnt see and knew there was a drop off cliff nearby! she was terrified and thought she might die. She was praying and praying (she had called me but i missed her call) but she called her kids and told them, ‘stop what your doing and pray for me! (these lil angels are prayer warriors!) So soon she felt a calm surround her, a peace from God and she knew the kids were praying. she couldnt see anything but kept driving and suddenly she looked up and saw a light up several feet high, a flashing light…it must have been from a truck. So she said, Ok God, i’m trusting you. I’m gonna follow this light, i trust you will lead me home. (she lives an hour away from work so she was quite a ways off…and her journey ended up taking her 4 hours!). So, not knowing WHERE the truck was going, could be anywhere, she followed it…thinking at any moment she could go off the drop-off cliff but she said, Ok God, my life is in Your hands 100%.
So she just followed this truck for ages, and who knows where she was going! seemed like an eternity! Suddenly, she looked up and saw a sign for the city she lives in! She lived only about 5 minutes from that sign. UNbelievable, God led her directly home! She was able to make her way home after this. So she got home, car smoking weird and she had a bad headache and felt sick so she lay down. she called her hubby who was stranded at his job (overnight) and explained the way she felt and the way he car was acting funny. he said, sounds like carbon monoxide poisoning. So a day or 2 later they inspected her car, there was snow stuck in the exhaust pipe! she looked up online, if a person has a window rolled down 6 inches and their tailpipe is blocked, it takes about 6 minutes for it to be fatal. she had been driving like that for hours maybe! BUT, her windshield wipers had froze, forcing her to roll both her windows down all the way, the reason she is alive still!!
I thought this was amazing and knowing my sister’s personal struggles right before this, she needed to go through this, to see she needs COMPLETE trust in God 100% bcos he WILL take care of her, a renewed desire for life, and the power of prayer, not to mention the affect this story had on me and others we told. This is 100% the hand of God! I thank Him he spared her life, but also that he spoke to her through this and the things He desired to show her (the specific personal things) were revealed to her in this storm!
Jenny
======= Mae:
What a wonderful & powerful testimony, Jenny!!!
I’ve had experiences like this (well, not exactly like this, but you know what I mean), and it’s so amazing to feel God’s hand helping you.
What would you do differently if today was your last day alive? ~ If this was my last day? I’d go on the streets and spread the Word with a huge megaphone! It’s illegal to use a megaphone without city permission, but hey, what are they gonna do? Arrest me? It’s my last day alive!!! LOL I’ll let the whole city know that THIS is my last day alive and I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid to leave this world because I’m going home! How powerful would that be? I bet I can get a lot of people to be saved that way! So that’s what I would do differently if today was my last day alive: I’d go preach the Gospel instead of going to the office!!!
Reading Mark made my heart go faster … I don’t know what it is, but whenever I read, talk or hear about the end of times, my heart goes faster. Mark 13:33&34 make me think about the song from Crystal Lewis. “People get ready, Jesus is coming, soon we’ll be going home. People get ready, Jesus is coming to take from the world his own”. I love that song so much! We don’t know when it’s going to happen, we don’t know when the rapture is. But get ready! “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
Psalm 50:14&15 “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” ~ I trust Him, I trust Him all the way. Like with Jaden now … I know Jaden will be allright. I trust Him! All the prayers for Jaden, here and all over the world. He’ll listen to those prayers and Jaden will be allright! I give God all the glory! He answered so many of my prayers! He saved my husband, he saved my parents! God desereves all the glory!
Mae
======= Katie:
Good morning!
The Lord spoke to me when I was reading the OT passage this morning about
Num 9:22 & 23:”Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the LORD’s command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.”
I remember when I was younger, when I read this, I would always get jealous that the Israelites had such a clear vision of what they should do. But as I read it this morning, the Lord showed me that as long as I’m reading His Word and praying to Him, He will always give me a clear answer and lead me. “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You…”
This has been very clear to me in recent days. I was having a couple of serious issues, and now that I’m spending time in His Word again, His guidance is so clear and so obvious to me.
His Word, to me, is like the clould (the fire) over the Tabernacle giving me a stop, go, rest here, work here, be with Me signals. Now it’s my turn to be obediant and follow his directions! : )
Thank You Lord
Katie
======= Casey:
I don’t think there would be enough time to do it all. so i think the one thing i’d do is spend time with God. i would definitly feel unworthy because, i do not spend time with Him on a daily bases so i would be ashamed, that now that i know this life is over i’m going to spend it with him, i wouldn’t want Him to say i’m just doing it to get in, but he knows my heart and i truly want to be with Him. Just Yesterday I drove 5 miles with my emergency brake on. I noticed it when i got there. went I came out and started to leave, as i was backing out i went to put my brakes and they would not work so i coasted back into a parking spot. as i sat there i thought, Thank You Lord for bringing me this far and that when i pulled in here the brakes didn’t go out then, i would have hit that woman that was waiting for me to pull in. and that there was noone behind me when i pulled out. so my brakes had gotten so hot they quit working. but they waited till i got to where i was going. belive me it’s a scary thing when you push your brakes and they go all the way down to the floor board. this is only one small example that lets me know he really cares.
Casey
======= Angie:
ok, i guess i mizunderstood!!!!….if today was my last day here on earth, i would spend it doing all kinds of things. i would first of all, spend it with my mom, dad, grandma, jay, jeff, angie and cassandra and bunk and her two kids, lexi and dakota. cuz thats all the family i have left now. i’d have one hell of a huge party with all our friends and live it totally up!!!!! i’d have a few bands, spike and the bulldogs, and a dj of course, and dance all night long and drink all the margaritas and sex on the beaches i could get my hands on with my closest and dearest friends knowing it would be my last time to ever do that with them. i would call tony up and try to apologize to him for the all the things i’ve said to him and try to make amends with him. and i would keep calling him back till he actually listened. whats he going to do? its my last day on earth, right? i’d tell him i’ve always loved and cared about him and how special he is to me and always will be. i don’t care what anyone says, this is how i feel and its how i’m always going to feel. i can’t just turn off my feelings and i don’t want to either. i said i would fight for him to my dying day and i plan on doing just that. and even in the afterlife. but this is what i would do if it were my last day on here on earth. this is exactly how i plan to spend it. living it up with my family and friends for the last time. i want to leave them knowing they got to spend their last day with me on a good note, not one in a hospital dying or sick or whatever. i’ve seen my grandfather and my grandmother dying in a hospital bed and it sucks. i still can’t get the vision out of my head. and its hard. i don’t want that vision in my friends and families head. this may be wrong in some of your guys eyes but i’m to the point in my life i don’t care what other people think anymore. i know that god loves me, i’ve accepted him and believe and trust in him and know when i do die, i’ll be with the ones who i’ve lost before hand, and will be waiting for the rest to join me and we’ll have one big party again up there. and i’m looking forward to it. i’m not scared to die. i used to be. but i’m not anymore. i haven’t been for a good many years. the only thing i’m scared about is leaving my family and friends behind and knowing how dearly they’ll be grieving over me. and i can’t bear that thought. plus, i’m just not ready to go yet. and god himself knows that or otherwise i’d be gone a long time ago!!!!! i’m too mean and fiesty to leave just yet!!!!!!! lol!
Angie
======= Betsy:
The entire account of the journey of the children of Israel being directed by God stand out for me today. The fact fact that they knew the mind of God and followed him is amazing. when He said wait, they waited as long as He wanted them to and when He said move they moved not asking questions. Today most times, we do not focus on God to show us when to move or when to wait in our life’s journey. This a great lesson that we should seek God’s face in all we do. If God directs our path then we shall not miss the it.
In Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” The word of God stands for all generations, It is true and shall not change!
Betsy
======= Caroline:
Mike we love you…
In heaven we will meet so I can thank you….
Because I haven’t seen you until now….
May Our Lord bless you until the end of our journey together at the end of the year….
Caroline
======= Elsa:
Hello,
Yesterday, I wrote to two people about forgiveness, their forgiveness towards me. Many years ago my actions were horrible also my emotions were out of whack. I acted out in the worse way…I have since joined a wonderful church that is teaching me about obedience and submission. I have also been doing my devotions and reading other christian books. In reading one particular book, it made reference to your scripture that we know not when my time or when the end times will come. But rest assure I will be judged for my actions. I got up from bed and decided it was time to stop feeling bad and correct the wrongs that I had been justifying. Thank you for confirming that what I did yesterday and what I will do today is written down and I will be held accountable for my actions.
Elsa
======= Lisa:
Help!
I read the suggested link for Mark, Chapter 13.
Can someone shed light on the following excerpt from the link.
“117 A common misunderstanding about end times—even in Bible-teaching churches—pertains to the preaching of the Gospel to all nations. Many believe that Jesus cannot return until the Gospel is preached to every living soul. Some seek to bring about the return of Christ by preaching to every soul—as if Jesus will immediately return the very moment that last person hears the Gospel. Note the interesting difference between Mark 13:10 and Matthew 24:14.”
I don’t quite understand what the person is stating as far as the “misunderstanding” goes.
Thanks!
Lisa
======= Tom:
Thanks for your site and the work you put into it.
Tom
======= Elizabeth:
Hello All,
Glad that we are finally beginning to MOVE in Numbers…there IS a cloud to follow and onward I march.
One thing I found interesting was this verse
“And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand. ” -Numbers 8:4
Not only did the Lord give Moses the ten commandments and the law, but He gave specific directions for the lampstand–placement of the lampstand–even down to the exact PATTERN He showed Moses. The extent of His specificity, His meticulous attention to obscure details is fascinating to me.
Of course, this entire universe reflects His meticulous and glorious nature. Down to the pattern of the lampstand—WHY does the Lord care about a lampstand? I may as well ask, “Why does He care about the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10 from today’s reading), How can He know “all the birds of the hills” (Psalm 50:11). And why in the world does he bother with the likes of men??
I don’t know, but I’m SO thankful He does!
I find great comfort in the thought that He knows all these details…that when I walk through quiet forest coves where flowers bloom unseen—I know that HE sees them. He ordained the very place that flower would grow and bloom. It strengthens my spirit to think upon such truths.
Elizabeth
======= Reuben:
In Psalm 50, it is interesting that the wicked try to do a religious thing or two, but God see through them/ Also interesting that God stays silent through some of their sin, and the wicked take the silence to mean consent – but He will not be silent forever, meaning judgment is inevitable.
Reuben
======= Luch:
Mike
through your tireless investment of helping people read the scriptures on a daily basis you are helping us all to ‘be on our guard and alert’. Another parallel verse to Mark 13:32-33 is Paul’s closing thoughts to the wayward Corinthians when he writes, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and let all you do be done in love.” I corinthians 16:13, 14 I like the last part ‘let all you do be done in love’, which resonates with 1 corinthians 13 Pursue Love at all costs!! So for balance of the year I will continue to be alert and be on my guard’ but seek to allow the Love of God to influence all of my thoughts, words and deeds. I find that many ‘end day talkers/writers’ are long in the tooth on their prognosticians but short on ‘love’. I’d rather be off on my precise predictions of future but be ‘on’ in my intention to love God and those around me.
And thanks Mike for continuing to make OYB a ‘sacred space’, a place to come and just ‘be alone with God’.
A fitting scripture is Mark 13:31 that OYB helps us to keep in perspective–“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” And if you add 1 cor 13:13 to Mark 13:31, you have “now abide faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.’ So 4 wonderful values to embrace–the scriptures, faith, hope and love. Wow!! It doesn’t get better than that for a Lord’s day, eh!! : )
And here’s another thought for the day that is connected to our watching and waiting, guarding, and embracing faith, hope, love and the scriptures, and this comes from Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard —
God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure , but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” Right on Soren!!!
Luch
======= Steve:
Numbers 8:1-9:23
The Israelites didn’t know when they would suddenly break camp and move. I can’t imagine what it would have been like, living in a camp and having to move at the drop of a hat. One thing for sure, it would make you think twice about accumulating more stuff. Imagine if we were the Israelites today and had to break camp, carrying that big screen TV could be hard on the back. The New Testament apostles and disciples also traveled light and shared things in common.
Think about how amazing it would have been to actually see God working with external visible signs such as the pillar of fire and the cloud telling us when and where to move. As amazing as that sounds, the New Covenant is even more amazing, instead of external signs we have the Holy Spirit inside us, the New Covenant leading and directing us on the path of adventure and fulfillment as the Holy Spirit places His will upon our heart.
Steve
======= Frederick:
Psalm 50:14-15
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
From these two verses, my impression is that God wants us to have a relationship with Him, rather than doing the rituals without any committment from the heart.
Frederick
======= Jill:
I thank God ever day for all he has given me! good and bad! He is shaping and molding me more to His likeness! Thanks mike for your honesty and humbleness. As a commentator you don’t come across as self righteous! My brother and I are following your blog ever day and growing in The knowledge of His word!
Jill
======== Cathy:
The scripture of Numbers 8-9:23 “Tell Aaron that when he sets up the seven lamps in the lampstand, he is to place them so their light shines forward.” and Mark 13:14-37 reminds us that we should be ready at any time. To be ready we have to place the lamps in such a way that their light shines in the future.
It helps me understand that as I don’t know when the end is, i have to be ready, trust God and keep moving.
Thank you all.
Have a blessing day.
Cathy
======= Ron:
If today was the last day that we have, I would step into work , stand on the break room table and tell everyone to repent of their sins for The Lord is coming soon. I would not have to worry about getting fire from my job. Wish I could do that now but working for the government ……
Ron
======= James:
Mike,
Thank you for emphasizing that God says “no one knows the hour or the day of His return”. We are all in end times. 100 years if we are so allowed by God to live on this earth.
The Rapture…. I pray that everyone that anyone who believes in the pre-tribulation rapture read about the man who misinterpreted this as etched in stone prophecy from the Bible in the 1830’s. His name was John Nelson Darby. Please take time to read about this man who came up with this after he fell of his horse.
We all believe that Jesus is coming a second time and it will be the final time. But the idea that the Lord will come and take the believers and leave the unbelievers on earth for a thousand years to rule the earth is not Biblical.
The Christian Research Institute has a very sound interpretation of Jesus’s Second coming back by the Bible itself. http://www.equip.org. We need to seek the truth of every part of God’s Word not books and movies by Tim Lahay.
Thank you and God Bless
James
======== Robert:
Numbers 9:10
The Passover Celebration
“…or are away on a journey”, these few words tweaked my curiosity. I always thought the Israelites moved about in a huge group never straying far from the camp. However, this suggests they may have been traveling, trading, vacationing, away from the group? I would like to research this a bit more, any ideas? NB: Over 40 years, they set up camp 42 times.
Mark 13
End Times
I agree with Mike. Too much speculation on end times and maybe not enough on our own end. Our thing is to keep awake because Jesus doesn’t want us to sleep walk through life. Be attentive to what is going on around us and ask him what does he want me to be aware of?
Ramona: Love your spirit today…raining cats and dogs…. “Head um up, move um out!”……double chocolate devil food cake.
Robert
======== Mitch:
NT – prophecy? When talking to youth at church – I just say – “Jesus is coming back”. There were 200-350 (depending on your source) verses in OT predicting Jesus’ first visit to Earth. Double that number for the second coming of Jesus. (Plus all the NT references). It was correct the first time, and I trust it will be correct about the second.
Mark 13:30 – IMO what this is saying that WHEN people see all these signs – Jesus’ return will be in THAT generation.
Mitch
======= Dee:
Again, Ramona, your insights amaze me! You are right on them sister. I say and noticed in Leviticus too, when it started out telling Aaron to set up the seven lamps in the lampstand so the light shines forward in front of the lampstand. I thought symbollically of us, in that we are the lampstand, the Holy Spirit is our Light that guides our path, the Lord dwells in us and as he descended into Heaven He told His disciples He would send a special helper to guide the Way, The Holy Spirit: John 14-16. Just as God sent the sudden appearance of the cloud of fire by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide so He is sending His Spirit to dwell among you.
In Mark, Wow! The powerful Spirit filled, God Breathed Words that transform our lives: God and His son are saying Get Ready! Don’t sit idle with your head in the ground like an ostrich so to speak, but get ready! Be prepared like the 10 Virgins(Matthew 25:1-13) with the oil, don’t idle or procrastinate, go out and prepare your flock that God has chosen for you to minister to, Everyone has people that God has sent our way to tell of the Good News of the Gospel..However, he tells us, not to get impatient, or run our mouth about when, or where, and not be busy bodies about “telling” others when or what or trying to “help” God out with the finite details, because God owns it all and is the only All Knowing, He is the Great I AM!! Be assured and greatful, that our Daddy supplies all our needs according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus, and He Owns it all, all the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold is His, the silver is His, Be thankful that you are ambassadors to the throne, that you are His children, You are Joint Heirs with Jesus, Your Big Brother!! Romans 8:16-17. Hallelujah!!
Be Blessed,
Dee
