Why God was so harsh?
Please click this link for the video version of today's blog :
https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningenglish.blogspot.com
Silence
Today's Time with Abba: Psalm 37:30-40; Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Proverbs 10:5-6
Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/
Key passages:
Then the Lord said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses. Numbers 15: 35-36
You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?” Numbers 16: 6-11
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passages we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.
The topic I received today from Jesus is: Why God was so harsh?
When I read this chapter, especially those lines that God wanted the man gathering wood on Sabbath to be stoned to death, I sighed and asked the Lord, "Why were you so harsh?" God said, "Because I want more people to live!"
Human beings always think that God is merciful to a point that we can do anything.
No! God is merciful and righteous, but, just as the message yesterday: God has His bottom line.
Sabbath is for us to rest spiritually and physically so that we can use our time wisely according to God's commandment to worship Him. Also, we need to put down all our works and let our body, mind and soul to rest in God's restfulness. There are a lot of people dying because of depression due to working too much without enough rest.
We think God was so harsh but God wants more people to live!
Then in chapter 16 we see another example of the anger of God.
Pride kills people! The Levites did not know their limitations, and wanted to step into the duty of priests. The words "rose up against Moses", "grumble against God", "in opposition to Moses and Aaron", "attack Moses" happened many times in this chapter. How sad that people did not know the consequences of harming God's servants! Really sad! Do you know how many died that day? The answer is that all Korah's households and all their possessions, the 250 Levites and 14,700 people died, first from the opening of where they stood, then from a plague!
I do hope that we do not learn in a hard way that God is God and we are just humans!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be willing to rest in you and follow you totally each day and that we will not grumble against you and your servants. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?
2. What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do? Family Corner: Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.
For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結): To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/
If you would like to follow my "Subject shifting Devotion Method" from the "Time with Abba, Praising Singing", you are welcome to follow the direction below and then go back to the top of this blog to read today's key passage and my listening and sharing:
Silence1. Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence
Praise and Thanksgiving1. Think through your day, all the times that made you smile
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
2. Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
3. John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)
(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/
"Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
My first blog "Devotion on Fire" was written in English only (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html
My second blog "Discipler 123" was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):
https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html
and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024):
https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html
Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.
My first blog "Devotion on Fire" was written in English only (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html
My second blog "Discipler 123" was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):
https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html
and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024):
https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html
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