Reading for Today:  Numbers 13:1-25, 2 Corinthians 2:1-2

“For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?” 2 Corinthians 2:2

Paul wrote his first letter not to burden the people but to give them opportunity to work things out so they could celebrate together when he came.  Do you have this same heart after you prayerfully correct someone?

Reading for Today:  Numbers 12:1-16, 2 Corinthians 1:21-24

“Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24

Contrary to many churches today whose leaders have dominion over their flock, the true call of ministry is not to dominate others but to be helpers of other’s joy, in humility, as we point them to Jesus.

Reading for Today:  Numbers 11:31-35, 2 Corinthians 1:19-20

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

By His grace when we opened our hearts to Jesus, God placed us, weak as we are, in Christ.  And because Jesus fulfilled the “ifs” in the Old Testament, the promises are “Yes and Amen” in Him!

Reading for Today:  Numbers 11:16-30, 2 Corinthians 1:15-18

“But as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no.” 2 Corinthians 1:18

Paul’s word could be trusted.  Can yours?

Reading for Today:  Numbers 11:1-15, 2 Corinthians 1:12-14

“…that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 1:14

So often, we point out one another’s faults.  Paul saw people positionally in Christ.  He saw what they would be by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Reading for Today:  Numbers 10:11-36, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

“Yes, we have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9

Like with Paul, the Lord brings us to the end of ourselves from time to time.  He does this in order that we will have no other choice but to call upon Him and find in Him greater strength that we could ever find in our own ability.

Reading for Today:  Numbers 10:1-10, 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

“…who comforts in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:4

As you go through difficult times, you will discover, as Paul did, that God is a God of comfort.  He is the Father of mercy, who will comfort you so you can comfort others.

Reading for today: Numbers 9:1-23, 2 Corinthians 1:1-4

“At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed…” Numbers 9:23

God doesn’t follow a pattern… ever.  In the desert we read that He might remain above the tabernacle for a few days, weeks, or months.  The Israelites didn’t know when the cloud would be taken up, prompting them to break camp and continue on their journey - they only knew to be ready to move when God decided it was time to move.  Following a routine is not a matter of faith, but staying in tune with God’s will by abiding in His Word and in prayer, and then acting on that perfect will of God, does.

Reading for today: Numbers 8:1-26, 1 Corinthians 16:19-24

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them…’” Numbers 8:5-7a

The Children of Israel certainly had to do a lot of cleansing, and the instructions God gave them to be ceremonially clean went far beyond a shower and a bar of soap.  In fact, to the worldly eye, being ceremonially clean often left you dirtier than before, covered with blood, smoke, ashes, and oil.  Luckily, God doesn’t look at the outside, which will always be filthy, but he sees the condition of the heart.  No matter how the world may see us - and condemn us - God is always willing to forgive us and, with the blood of Christ, make us white as snow.