Good Morning!! Numbers chapter 6.
A Nazirite was one who took a special vow to serve the Lord requiring a commitment and sacrifice beyond what most Israelites did.
This made me think about followers of Christ today. Christians today are called to a commitment beyond what most Christians think or practice. Luke 9:23 says that we are to deny our self and take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.
1. To deny self is to put the needs and interest of others before our own.
2. To deny self is the willingness to abstain from hate and unforgiveness towards those who have wronged us.
3. To deny self is to love others unconditionally and sacrificially.
This thought Leads to the idea of taking up our cross daily.
1. To take up our cross daily is to die to self and selfishness.
2. To take up our cross daily is to live in a manner that will hopefully bring life to others… Life with Christ.
3. To take up our cross daily means we love others so much that our sacrifice might even lead to our death.
Can you imagine how differently lives would really be if we said we will deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus? Our attitudes toward others, including our enemies, would be different. We would show more love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness. We'd invest in more prayer for others and their spiritual well-being instead of gossiping or seeking revenge.
Let's go one step further: could I lay down my life for another? Jesus gave up his life for all the world so we could all have life eternal with him. Am I willing to give up myself for just one person?
I'm still struggling in my mind with the young man who needs a kidney to live. Am I willing to give up one of my kidneys so he can live, even if it means my “quality” of life on earth may be hindered? Is it wise to be so concerned about the physical body that we forget about our spiritual body?
If I strive to keep and maintain my “quality” of life at the cost of someone dying, am I fully surrendering my interests over the needs of others?
How much am I willing to really put the needs of others before mine?
If we did this every day, think how differently our lives would be and the lives of others. Think of our reward in heaven versus our rewards on Earth.
Numbers 6:24-26 stood out to me in the reading today.
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.
While wanting to have God’s blessing, I think it’s also important for us to be a blessing to Him and to others. Matthew 6:33 gives us the right perspective for what we should be going after.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I think of the same idea as it pertains to our country as we may often hear “God Bless America” spoken, but I wonder how much does America bless God?
A nation that does not honor God should not expect God to bless it.
Check out Proverbs 14:34.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Let’s remember to pray for our nation to turn back to God and be a blessing to Him.
While the priesthood was limited to the Levites, God gave each man and woman from every tribe the opportunity to serve Him by taking a Nazarite vow for a month or up to a lifetime. How awesome … and He gives us the same opportunity to serve Him today! We need to count the cost, deny ourselves and take up our cross each and every day.
The blessing that the Lord gave to Aaron and his sons for the children of Israel (verses 24-26) gives me such joy. While there are consequences to sin, there are many blessings in following the Lord. The blessing applies to us as well because we as believers are also children of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). May the Lord bless and keep each of you.
This doesn’t seem to be such a popular opinion in culture anymore. I’ve read way too many things on Facebook lately that have had something to do with thinking of yourself first or doing what makes you happy. There doesn’t seem to be any thought towards consequences or effects on others, as long as you’re doing what makes you happy.
The blessing at the end of the chapter is one our college choir always sang. It’s a beautiful song.
I have a question about this verse,
During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.
No razor because it changed the appearance of the person or because they were afraid that they might be cut and bleed while getting a hair cut?… or another reason?