THE LORD SPOKE (February 22)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Numbers 1-2

Prompt obedience! It’s what you want from your child when you tell him something. None of this, “I’ll do it later” stuff. When it comes to stepping back from a busy street or taking his hand away from an electrical outlet, you want nothing but immediate compliance.

That’s what God got from Moses on this occasion. The first verse of the book of Numbers tells us that “the Lord spoke” (did you catch that?) to Moses about taking a census of the whole Israelite community. It happened “on the first day of the second month” and when you go to Numbers 1:18, you read that Moses and Aaron called the community together to get started “on the first day of the second month”.

That’s prompt obedience. When you stop to think about it, that’s pretty amazing. With two-million-plus former slaves in a dusty desert, some delay would not have been surprising. Immediate compliance is impressive!

What are some of the excuses we use to delay or put off obedience to what we know God wants us to do?

1. "I’ll get started tomorrow.” But tomorrow always seems to be another 24 hours away.
2. “I’ve got to finish up _________ first.” And that _________ always seems to take more time. It’s just never quite finished.
3. “I’m happy to do it, but I’ve got too much going on right now.” So nothing ever seems to get crossed off the list - just more and more added to the bottom.
4. “I’ll pray about it.” That’s a good one. In many cases you already know He wants you to do it but praying about it buys some more time to put it off.
5. “It’s going to take some careful planning.” But it never seems to get beyond the planning stage.
6. “I’ve got some good ideas I’m working on for that.” When translated this means it’s all just in the head, nothing has been done yet.

No doubt, the list could be expanded almost indefinitely. We’re good at thinking up new ones. Meanwhile, God’s Word goes unheeded and un-obeyed. Compliance is anything but immediate (which means, compliance just isn’t.)

What is it that you need to work on starting today?

Do it now!


New Testament: Luke 9

What does it cost to follow Jesus? If compared to that which you gain, the answer is easy - not much! But there certainly is a price to pay and it’s well to give it some consideration.

First, you must give up your own selfish ambitions. Your choices will no longer be based on creature comforts. You choose instead to follow the Lord’s own example. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Lk. 9:58).

Second, you must redirect your own priorities to conform with His purposes for you. It’s evident that the man who wants to go bury his Father (Lk. 9:59) was talking of a major delay. If his father were already dead he would have already been involved in the burial requirements for, due to the lack of embalming practices, burial usually took place on the same day. In other words, he’s telling Jesus to hold off for a while. He needs to wait until after his father dies, which could have been years away. Jesus said to him, “Let the [spiritually] dead bury their own [physically] dead” (Lk. 9:60) in order that he (the spiritually alive) might be proclaiming the kingdom of God. If you follow Jesus, your priorities must be adjusted and your values conformed to His will.

Third, you must stay on target. It’s so easy to get off track. The Devil will make sure that there will be many temptations to divert your attention. Like the farmer plowing, you must keep your eyes straight ahead or your furrow will reveal your inattention and lack of purpose. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:62).

So what does that mean in practical terms? If you have ever sensed the Lord’s call on your life, you need to get back on track. You need to discard all those selfish ambitions that have kept you from being obedient. You need to tell Him,”I’ll follow you whatever that means and wherever that takes me.” Then you need to do it!