Readings for today: Numbers 18:1-20, II Corinthians 3:9-11

“Behold, I myself have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel, they are a gift to you, given by the Lord, to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting.” Numbers 18:6

In the Old Testament, God specially chose the Levites to do the work of connecting people to Him through the law He had given. Under the New Testament, He has specially chosen us, those who belong to Jesus, to connect people to Him by bringing them to His Son, our Savior Jesus.

Readings for today: Numbers 16:41-17:13, II Corinthians 3:7-8

“On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘You have killed the people of the Lord.’” Numbers 16:41

It’s often hard to understand why God allows bad things to happen, such as the events in Numbers 16 and 17. The Israelites felt the same way: why did God cause all those people to die? But in reality, questioning such things shows a lack of faith. It means we’re not sure God did the right thing. Real peace comes when we believe God knows best, and that He’ll always make the right decision — even if we don’t yet understand why.

Readings for today: Numbers 16:18-40; II Corinthians 3:4-6

When you feel inadequate or unqualified for what you’re doing, or about to do, don’t worry. That doesn’t stop God from using you. In fact, that makes it clear that God is the one making it work.

Readings for today: Numbers 16:1-17, 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

“…clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:3

On one hand this is truly an amazing thought; we as Christians are living epistles of Christ to a dying world in desperate need of God’s love and truth, yet on the other hand do we honestly ask ourselves if we truly are living out this epistle which God has entrusted to each of us in whom He has called?

Readings for today: Numbers 15:22-41 2 Corinthians 2:17

“If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses…” Numbers 15:22

The Old Testament is a cool place to study what God had planned for Israel. In this chapter, if one person sinned unintentionally, then the whole congregation would band together and provide a bull as a burnt offering and a male goat for the sin offering. The congregation didn’t simply cast out the person who didn’t know, but they loved him and took him in. I know that in my life I let people walk by without mentioning a single word about God and the laws that He gave us to live. Ask God how you can share Him this week. God Bless!

Readings for today: Numbers 15:1-21, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,…” 2 Corinthians 2:14

As Christians we are called to be a part of God’s army and to fight the good fight of faith, but sometimes it seems as though the enemy has us surrounded and is winning the battle.  We must remember that the battle belongs to the Lord and it is He that leads us in triumph.

Readings for today: Numbers 14:26-45, 2 Corinthians 2:12-13

“…and a door was open to me by the Lord,…” 2 Corinthians 12

Missionary Jim Elliot said, “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.”  I’d rather have God open or close a door than walk through one on my own.  My prayer is never to be left to my own devices, or my own choices, but to follow where Jesus leads, to walk through a door that His hand has opened, to make sure I see His footsteps where I put mine.

Readings for today: Numbers 14:11-25, 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,…” 2 Corinthians 2:10

Charizomai (forgiven): to grant as a favor, pardon or rescue, to deliver, freely give, or grant. Lord, You have forgiven me untold amounts and granted as a favor countless blessings through your relentless and stubborn love for me.  I’ve been pardoned by the one and only Righteous Judge; rescued by Your strong arm from me.  You have freely given a future I could not obtain on my own - a hope beyond reckoning.  You have granted an open door to sweet fellowship with You.  Lord, make me like You… forgiving.

Readings for today: Numbers 14:1-10, 2 Corinthians 2:5-8

“So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!’” Numbers 14:1-2

So often when we are faced with hard times or problems in our lives we wish we could just give up. But God tells us in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” So next time you feel God is not with you remember He is with you wherever you go.

Readings for today: Numbers 13:26-33, 2 Corinthians 2:3-4

“…to let you know the depth of my love for you.” 2 Corinthians 2:4

Here Paul is proclaiming his love to the church in Corinth and reaches out his hand in love to them. These words were also written for us because they are the inspired Word of God. God wants everyone to know that He loves them with all of His heart and as Paul demonstrates, we can show the depth of God’s love by how we love others. Is there  someone this week that you can show love to even if they have walked away from you?