For the Sake of Your Name

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Numbers 14

It is so convicting to read Numbers 14 and see how desperately Moses desires God’s Name to be glorified among the nations. Moses’s top priority isn’t his own comfort, nor the comfort of the Israelites. Rather Moses’s top priority is that God would not be profaned among the Egyptians. Moses feared that “if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.'” (Numbers 14:15-16 ESV)

Moses isn’t the only one who put such a high priority on God’s name among the nations. Read Daniel’s prayers from Daniel 9,

“”O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.

Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act.

Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.””

– Daniel 9:16-19 ESV

And how about the 79th psalm?

“(1) A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

(2) They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.

(3) They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.

(4) We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.

(5) How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?

(6) Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!

(7) For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.

(8) Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.

(9) Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!

(10) Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!

(11) Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!

(12) Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!

(13) But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”

– Psalm 79:1-13 ESV

Heavenly Father, I echo the words of the psalmist and cry out, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”” (Psalm 115:1-2) Father, so many other nations see America as a Christian nation, so we ask for Your sake, for the sake of Your Holy Name, that You will save our land. Draw us back into a right relationship with You, Lord. Heal our land. Forgive us our sins. Give us a heart of repentance, that we would turn to You and turn away from our wicked ways. In the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and King, Amen.

Milk and Honey, or Fish and Onions?

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 13

Yesterday I wrote my thoughts about Numbers 11-12, that the Israelites had made their belly their God – and the truth is that all too often, so do I. Well, today, reading Numbers 13, about that promised land flowing with milk and honey, full of figs and pomegranates and enormous clusters of grapes, I thought, “What about your bellies now? Why are you wishing for fish and onions when you could have milk and honey and grapes?”

And then, again, I remembered how often that’s just how I am, too. All too frequently I’m still wishing for the comfortable, worn-in life that I had in the “good ol’ days” – days that weren’t really all that good if I were honest with myself – rather than being willing to take the risk of pursuing the new, fresh joys that the Lord has waiting for me.

When our heads are turned to look behind us, we can’t see clearly what God has in store for us in the future. Sometimes the only way to press on into the future is to forget what lies behind.

The greatest gifts God has for you aren’t found on this earth. His greatest gifts are found in food or phones, or in family and freedom. Our greatest gifts are found in faith in Jesus Christ. He is our promised land. He is our hope and joy and crown. He is our peace.

And He invites us to come to Him. Now. Today.

There is an enemy fighting against us – the devil, that wiley deceiver, that thief and lion who is masquerading as an angel of light. He is a powerful adversary, but he was defeated the moment Christ rose from the grave.

The winner has already been announced.

Jesus wins! Christ is victorious!

Come and see. Taste and see. God is good!

Heavenly Father, help me to stop thinking about those days of the past where I sat around meat pots and ate fish and onions. I was a slave then, a slave to my belly and a slave to my sin. Jesus has freed me by His blood and welcomed me into Your eternal promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey, full of the abundance of joy found in fellowship with You. Help me to trust and obey, to remember that my foe has been defeated by Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Jesus has triumphed over sin and death, and invited me to do the same through the power of His Holy spirit! Praise the Lord! In the Almighty name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

Is My Belly My God?

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 11-12

Numbers 11 the Israelites are complaining about their misfortunes. Despite being miraculously delivered from their slavery in Egypt, despite being given daily manna that tasted like cakes and fell like dew upon the camp each night, the people are discontent. They are remembering the meat and fish, the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic, that they had back in Egypt. It reminded me of this verse in Philippians.

“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Philippians 3:19 ESV

And I’m afraid that is not only a problem for those greedy Israelites. It’s a problem for me. Sadly, the three F’s have been my downfall in recent years: food, Facebook, and phone. Are any of you with me? I have successfully been loosed from Facebook for over a month now, and it feels amazing!

How can we battle these earthly things that war for our minds? I’ve found two things that really help me: Set boundaries and be thankful for what you have.

Setting limits for how much time I spend on my phone has been crucial in this battle.

And I’m also finally learning to set limits for what I eat. Whew! It’s been hard! My obsession with food began much younger than my obsession with my phone. Over the years, I’ve tried a variety of diets, but nothing has ever been sustainable for me long-term. I’ve been using the Weight Watchers Smart Points system for 3 weeks now, and I’m really liking it so far. It encourages me to get active and make healthy food choices – filling my belly with vegetables, fruit, and lean meats rather than cookies, candy, and creamer.

By the way, for those of you who also struggle with food and phones, I highly, highly recommend both Wendy Speake’s books: The 40-Day Sugar Fast: Where Physical Detox Meets Spiritual Transformation and The 40-Day Social Media Fast: Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion

And BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE!

When the Israelites were back in slavery, they complained. Now they’re free, but they’re still complaining.

Ask yourself this question,
“When will it ever be enough?”

Heavenly Father, Thank You for every single thing I have. They are gifts. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my freedom. Thank you for my faith. These F’s are so much better than food, Facebook, and my phone. Help me to hunger for You as I hunger for fat, rich food. Help me to turn to You rather than turning to my phone. Satisfy me with Your love. You are enough. You are more than enough. By Faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Waiting on the Lord – Thoughts on Numbers 9

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Read Through the Bible: Numbers 9-10

I don’t like to wait. I think quickly, I speak quickly, and I act quickly. I always have.

But this is not who I want to be. I want to wait on the Lord. I want Him to lead, and I want to follow. God has given me this desire, this new “want to,” as part of the new person that I am in Christ.

In Numbers 9, we read about Moses and the Israelites learning to wait on the Lord. They needed to wait for the Lord to speak, to move, to guide — and so do we.

“And Moses said to them,
“Wait, that I may hear
what the LORD will command concerning you.””

Numbers 9:8 ESV

“At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out.

Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.”

– Numbers 9:18-23 ESV

What are you waiting for the Lord about today?

How long are you willing to wait? Five minutes? An hour? An evening? A day? A week? A month? A year? A lifetime?

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we would faithfully wait upon You and that You would renew our strength as we wait. Whether we have to wait for an evening or a week or a month or a lifetime, I pray that we would not run ahead of You, doing whatever seems right to us, and then ask You to bless whatever we have already decided to do … but instead that You would be the One out front leading us. Make us faithful followers. I pray that our lives would be founded on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and Your written word. Like Matthew 7 says, it is the foolish person who hears Your Word and chooses not to obey, but it is the wise person who hears Your Word and obeys. So, Father, I pray that we would search Your Word diligently, listening fervently for Your Holy Spirit to guide us, and I pray that we would have obedient, submissive, humble hearts bent on obeying you in Your way and in Your perfect time. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

Waiting on the Lord – Thoughts on Numbers 9 from a Former Atheist

A Prayer for my Family and my Nation based on the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 6:22-8:26

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

As Aaron and his sons prayed this over the people of Israel, I want to pray this over my family and nation. Will you join me?

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would bless my husband, my children, my grandchildren, and my nation with Your wisdom and peace. Guide them in the way that they should go. Protect them from the deceitful schemes of the evil one. Give them discerning spirits to recognize what is good and what is evil and grant them wisdom to choose that which is good.

I pray that Your face would be turned toward them, and that their hearts would likewise be turned toward You. Be gracious to them, Father. Pour Your love upon them according to Your steadfast love and mercy. May Your goodness shine gloriously upon them and out of them, that the nations of the world would be drawn to faith in Your Son.

I pray that You would smile upon them, filling their hearts with joy, hope, peace, and purpose, that they would know that You have good plans for them, plans to prosper them and not to harm them. May they follow You all the days of their lives, acknowledging You in all their ways. Please, Father, make their ways straight – not crooked or deceitful or false, not devious or evil. May they not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first but also to the Gentile.

Finally, Father, I pray that the peace which surpasses all comprehension would guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the only path to peace. He is the Only Way to You, Father. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His blood is the covering that we need to be reconciled to You, Lord. His blood is the way of redemption. May they have peace with God and peace with man, peace in their hearts and peace in their homes. And may this peace draw them to worship You and tell others about You.

In the Holy, Almighty Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Pray aloud with Me – FormerAtheist58
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” Acappella Hymn – SE Samonte
“May the Lord Bless You” – Sing through the Bible
“The Lord Bless Thee” Scripture Song – Keep the Word

God is my Witness and my Judge

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Numbers 5:1-6:21

Growing up my dad and my grandfather were both lawyers, I participated in mock trial and debate, and I watched countless episodes of Judge Wapner presiding over “The People’s Court.” 😄 I saw the importance of having a good judge as well as good witnesses and good evidence. The judge could only rule so far as the witnesses and evidence proved the case. Without good witnesses and good evidence, you couldn’t win.

In reading the very strange passage in Numbers 5 about how a jealous husband was to prove his wife either innocent or guilty of adultery, I was reminded of how often men and women simply don’t know what is true. In the case of adultery, there will always be at least one witness – the man or woman who you are with – but there is also another witness: God. We may not know what someone else is up to behind closed doors or in the dark of night, but we can trust beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does.

God knows the secret thoughts of our hearts,
and God knows the secret deeds of our bodies.

Is that scary to think about? Yes, frankly, it is. But it is also so very freeing. I don’t need to snoop through my husband’s online history or the pockets of his pants. I don’t need to dig through his trash or his wallet. I don’t need to track his driving history or figure out his whereabouts every minute of the day. Why? Because God always sees him, even when I don’t.

God is not only the perfect judge, He is also the perfect witness. He can judge perfectly, because He knows everyone’s heart and everyone’s motives, everyone’s thoughts and everyone’s actions. He can place blame with perfect righteousness and justice because He knows exactly what happened. He knows who said what. He knows the way of escape that He provided. He knows how your conscience was pricked. He knows it all.

If your life has been touched by the sins of fornication, lust, and adultery, then you know how far-reaching their tentacles can spread. As is often the case, the sins of others can lead you to into the snares of sin in your own life – the sins of bitterness, anger, jealousy, suspicion, manipulation, and the list goes on. Let me encourage you, sisters, with the words of Peter, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling with reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9) and the words of Paul, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

I pray that we would take the higher road, the road of blessing and good, that we would live the more excellent way, the way of love. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not proud; it is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

I pray that we would be like the model wife of Proverbs 31, that our husbands could truly trust us because we are faithful to do them good and not harm all the days of our life, that strength and dignity would be our clothing, that we would be able laugh at the times to come because we have such great faith in God. I pray that we would open our mouths with wisdom and that the teaching of kindness would always be on our tongues. (Proverbs 31:10-11, 25-26)

I pray that we would be like the godly wife of 1 Peter 3, bravely being subject to our own husbands, so that even if they do not obey the word, they might be won without a word by our respectful and pure conduct. I pray that our radiant beauty would come from the inside out, that the imperishable beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit would glow from within us. I pray that we would be holy women whose hope is in God, faithfully doing good and not fearing anything that is frightening.

Dear sisters, someday your boyfriend, your husband, your sons and daughters, will appear before the judgment seat of God. Someday their secret things will be judged. Someday what was hidden in the dark will be brought into the light.

But that isn’t only true for them;
it’s also true for us.
Our hearts and our lives
will be laid bare before Him, too.

What will He find there? What will He unearth in our hearts? What will He witness in watching how we chose to live our lives?

Will He find bitterness, wrath, envy, and jealousy … or peace, faith, hope, and contentment?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, You are the perfect judge, and You are the perfect witness. No one is hidden from your sight. Someday everything hidden will be brought into the light. I pray that my faith would be in You and not in me. I am so weak, Lord. I am so prone to wander, to leave the God I love. Help me, please. I need You. Give me Your strength. Help me to overcome evil with good because You are good and I am Your child. Help me to repay wrong with blessing because that is the example that You gave to me, that You loved me while I was yet a sinner. Help me to go and do likewise. Guide me step by steap in the way that I should go. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Brother, my Friend and Lord, I pray. Amen.

“They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

– Romans 2:15-16 ESV

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

– 1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

– 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ESV

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

– Revelation 21:6-8 ESV

“”Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

– Revelation 22:12-17 ESV
God is My Witness and My Judge – FormerAtheist58

Instead of…

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years Numbers 3:40-4:49.

Hearing “instead of” can be a bad thing. Maybe someone else was chosen for a job promotion instead of your husband. Maybe the Chicago Cubs won the World Series instead of our beloved St. Louis Cardinals. (Highly unlikely.) Maybe Walmart accidentally gave you zucchini instead of cucumbers in your grocery pickup order. (Much more likely.)

In Genesis we read this phrase “instead of” three times, and each time it’s very good. First, God gave Adam and Eve another son after Cain had killed Abel. Eve “called his name Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.’” (Genesis 4:25 ESV) Next we read that, “Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13 ESV) Finally, in Genesis 44:33, Judah asks his brother, Joseph, “Please let your servant [Judah] remain instead of the boy [Benjamin] as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.”

Today we read about the Levites who are being given to the Lord instead of the firstborns whom God had chosen during the Passover in Exodus 13.

And you shall take the Levites for me
—I am the LORD—
instead of all the firstborn
among the people of Israel,
and the cattle of the Levites
instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.

Numbers 3:41 ESV

And I’m reminded of the greatest “instead of” story that I’ve ever heard. God poured out His wrath on Jesus instead of me. God nailed His own son to the cross instead of me. Jesus died instead of me.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 ESV

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Your Son, the perfect, spotless Lamb who died instead of me. And now I can look forward with full assurance to living in eternity with You. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I pray. Amen.

God’s Children are called to Serve in Different Places and for Different Purposes

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 3:1-39

If you read Numbers 2 carefully, you noticed that God specifically told each of these different clans where they were to camp: some to the north, some to the south, some to the east, and some to the west. This pattern is repeated again in Numbers 3, now with the Levites. The Gershonites are to camp to the west of the tabernacle, behind it. They are responsible for guarding the tabernacle itself, the tent and its covering, the screens, hangings, and cords. The Kohathites are to camp to the south of the tabernacle, and they are responsible for protecting the ark, the tables, the lampstands and altars, and all the vessels of the sanctuary. Finally the Merarites are to camp to the north of the tabernacle, and they are responsible for the frames and bars and pillars, the bases and pegs and cords – all that extra heavy stuff.

But what about the front of the tabernacle, the east, the side facing the sunrise? God has a plan and purpose for that place, too. Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons are to camp there.

God has ordained for each of these groups, these clans, according to their father’s households, a specific place and purpose.

Though our specific instructions are no longer written out for us in His Word, God still has unique purposes and callings for His children. Ephesians 2:10 is as true today as when it was written 2,000 years ago! “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

God had planned out unique purposes and places for the Levites, and He has unique purposes and places for us, too. We’re not all called to go serve in Asia or Africa or Europe or South America, but some of us are. We’re not all called to homeschool or adopt or teach English, but some of us are. Were not all called to be pastors or pastors’ wives, but some of us are. We’re not all called to translate the Bible into other languages or write children’s Bible study curriculums, but some of us are!

Whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to do, do it. Do it well. Do it whole-heartedly.

Listen carefully and follow fervently.
That’s something we’re all called to do!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the unique callings and purposes that You have placed on each one of our lives. We are members of one body, the body of Jesus Christ, but You have unique places and purposes for each one of us. You are the all-powerful, all-wise God. Help us to listen carefully and follow fervently — for the glory of Your name. It is in the name of Jesus Christ, the name that is above every name, that we pray. Amen.

According to My Father’s House

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Numbers 1-2

In reading Numbers 1-2, it quickly becomes obvious that the people of Israel were organized “by their fathers’ houses.” This morning as I look forward to honoring my husband and my dad on this Father’s Day, it suddenly occurred to me that I wouldn’t have been placed with my own father’s line, but with the line of my husband and his father.

I’ve always been a bit of a Daddy’s girl. My dad is gentle, humble, and kind. Though he has so much wisdom to share, he’s more likely to be found listening than speaking. My dad will always, always have a very special place in my heart.

Yet, like Ruth of long ago, I was grafted into my husband’s family. “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16b) When I married my husband, his family became my family. His mom and dad became like my own mom and dad. I desire to honor them as I would honor my own parents.

So, Papa Bill, Happy Father’s Day to you, too. God has blessed you with a heart and a house full of blessings – children, grandchildren, and now even great grandchildren. Praise the Lord for His mercy and kindness. God has been so, so good to us.

Sisters, how can you honor your husband, your father, and your father-in-law today?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving my dad to me. He is a treasure. I pray that You would bless him with every spiritual blessing. And thank You, too, for my husband and his family who have welcomed me into the fold with open arms. I pray that You would bless them with peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. Give me opportunities to honor and bless my parents and my in-laws as well. By the grace of Your loving kindness poured out on me through Your Son Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Which Tent are You Serving?

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 13

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:10-14 ESV

Let’s not rush past these verses without asking ourselves some transformational questions?

Am I living for this earthly body, this corruptible, temporary tent or am I living for that eternal tabernacle in the heavens where Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God?

Am I willing to go to Him outside the camp and bear the same reproach that He bore in my place or am I ashamed of the gospel of my salvation and unwilling to endure the shame that the world has for the Name of Christ?

Am I seeking the praise of man, the accolades of this earthly city, or am I seeking the words “Well done, my daughter,” that my Father will one day welcome me with when I pass from the temporary to the eternal?

What am I truly living for … and is what I’m living for worth Christ dying for?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, in our hearts we know the right answers to these questions, but so often we lack the strength to do what we know that we ought. Please strengthen our weak knees and make straight the paths that You want us to walk. We do love You, Lord, but so often it is not with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. We are at best half-hearted followers. Oh, but Father, we want to give You our whole hearts. Please, do it in us. Pierce our hearts with the truth of Your word and help us to see our sin, so that we can be faithful to cast it off and put on Christ. We love you, Lord. It is in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior that we pray. Amen.

I Love You, Lord – Kathryn Scott