Which Ministry?

2Corinthians 3:3-6 - ...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Old and new, death and life. Hearts of stone or hearts of flesh. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

Tablets of stone=Ten Commandments

Tablets of flesh=law of Christ, within our hearts

God made a covenant long ago with Abraham that He would be his God and the God of all his descendants. Abraham had so much faith in God that he was called righteous. 

In the Old Testament God started out with a list of commandments. Because those commandments could not be perfectly kept, there were sacrifices made continually. God finally chose to bring about one final possibility for permanent solution...His Son, who would be sacrificed and die, like all the animals of the Old Testament sacrifices. 

This same  covenant is for those today who seek Him. We become Abraham's descendants when we come into complete and utter submission to Jesus Christ. The other evening in a Bible study we were reminded that living and being in Christ and receiving His promises is predicated on a whole bunch of "if" statements. If we do this, He will do that. I saw an article once that said the Bible is an "iffy" book! It is. A very rough estimate tells me there are hundreds of if statements. It was this way from the very beginning and is still the same today.

God never changes His ways to suit our desires. We must change our ways to suit His. This concept goes so against our human nature...but IF we follow and obey Him, His promises are for us. God only offers one promise to those who do not...eternal death.

Often I write that it is not by our works, our sufficiency, that we attain eternal life. That would be based on the tablets of stone…the commandments, the law, the sacrifices necessary to atone for sin. I came to Christ through the Spirit of God, who changed my heart’s attitude. He took my heart of stone and made it flesh. My sufficiency now is from God. Giving myself to Him I am part of the new covenant. As stated above, the letter (the works, law and sacrifices—apart from God) kill because it is we who try to work for our salvation. But the Spirit gives life...through God’s grace, His Son, His Son’s atoning blood. In Christ alone.

Christ came to fulfill all those laws we could not keep. The laws are there to show us we cannot keep them. If we cannot keep them, there is but one other choice. We must seek a Savior. We must seek the Savior. In Christ alone. It is through the law of Christ and a heart change. Sincerely seek Him and He will save. He will gladly save the lowest of the low, the most wretched person, which we all are anyway. He is no respecter of persons but wishes that none perish. None. When the choice was before me, I chose the ministry of the Spirit, not of the flesh. 

Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

The Command of the Lord

Numbers 9:18 - At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.

At the command of the LORD. While some may argue that God is a dictator telling us what to do and believe in His Word through the Commandments or parables of Jesus or accounts from Old Testament to New Testament, God has never changed and His ways are right and just...for a very good reason. The Father knows best.

Numbers 9:18 tells us pretty much the same thing: So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey. And verse 23: At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 

Whenever the children of Israel did what was commanded they were well taken care of. Again, God has not changed. When we heed His commands, let Him be our guide, He blesses us. In the same manner, when we pick and choose what in the Bible we want to believe we fall under disobedience. So, I guess anyone who chooses not to believe the Bible in its entirety is being disobedient. 

That's not an easy word and can be construed as offensive...and we all fail at perfect obedience...but there were a lot of people who didn't like what Jesus had to say and look where He ended up. It was still all part of God's plan for sinful humanity. While some might disagree with the Bible, they can be forgiven if they turn from those beliefs and turn to God! That's where Jesus came in...He forgave all those who persecuted Him. Praise the Lord! 

This is what happened when Israel listened to God: When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. (‭Numbers‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬)  He rewards us for our obedience often in ways we do not always recognize. 

But here's the other side! Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. (‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬)  Time after time, the LORD relented out of mercy for His children. This doesn't mean if we deliberately live as we desire and assume He will always forgive it will be fine. 

Later in Numbers Moses pleaded with God to forgive these ungrateful people for their desire for meat over manna. Long story short, God relented and gave them what they desired...in abundance...so much so some became ill and died because the people had yielded to craving. Our desires are not always God's for our lives. He does know best. It has been said He will turn us over to those desires in time if we continue in disobedience (Romans 1:24).

We are encouraged throughout the Word to follow Him. Moses implored a man to go with them to a land God promised to them. He said this: And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you. (‭Numbers‬ ‭10‬:‭32‬)  Followers of Christ implore others to do the same for the same results, whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you. We can all share the goodness of our God together. He has a lot to offer and the giving will not run out. It is why we share the Gospel. 

Psalm 31:7-8 - I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place. 

Tomorrow...and the Days After

Psalm 119:1-2 - Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! 

Tomorrow is a big day...midterm elections. I was not going to write this but as I prayed for our country this morning I could not help but share some of the thoughts that came to me. 

We must rule this country in truth and justice. This is what God would have us do. He stands by His Word. Psalm 119 speaks volumes about hanging on to the truth of His commandments. He desires justice and truth in our leaders. He only wants what is best for us...because He loves us. If we do not return this love, He will bring His justice upon us.

Seeking and obeying His Word brings goodness, peace, prosperity, understanding His wisdom. Who wouldn't want these? Who wouldn't want to know that God is for us and not against us? Who wouldn't want to know that His hand is upon us to protect us and guide us through the truth of His Word? Well, there are some who could care less... 

It would be nice to see those in office standing by His Word and commandments. That they would stand by His moral judgments, seek Him for guidance, uphold what is right and true and not be found as fools but as wise men and women. That God's wisdom would become the mandate of the leaders. 

People, this is not just a political election. It's a spiritual one. I know that may be hard to digest. God is so fully aware of what is taking place. His hand is in the trials as well as the good. Like Israel, whom God allowed to wandered for forty years in the wilderness, it was part of His plan to get them to return to Him, the One who knew best what they needed, He wants us to return to Him. As long as they whined, complained, chose to not trust in Him, did wrong, He left them to their own devices. History repeats itself...could this be why we are seeing struggles today? We can look at the things happening in this world as just worldly events brought upon by men. But believe what I say...God's hand is in this. What we see happening is more spiritual than we can imagine. That comes from knowing God's Word, having discernment through the power of God.

Righteousness and truth are not standards today. The world, in general, believes the lies, stands for "what's in it for me?" attitudes. If we do not see a positive change in this country, it also might be God's plan. We have gone too far in the wrong direction, like Israel, and His hand might be removed for a time, that we are heading into (or are already there) a time of trouble or sorrows as suggested in the Bible: Mark 13:8 - For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. 

If we are truly in the beginning of these sorrows...(if that sounds too extreme, just put it on the back burner of your mind for awhile)...we need to be looking up and not at the circumstances. Those who choose to look up will take God for His word, will trust in His power and guidance, will be strengthened in the time of trouble. 

Those who do not look to God still have a chance and maybe that's why these troubles occur. Verse 21 of Psalm 119 tells us: You rebuke the proud--the cursed, who stray from Your commandments. All people will go through this, but He will protect and give strength to those who truly know Him.

If we seek God's guidance and wisdom, He honors that. But let's not be surprised if as a nation things don't get better. Things might look hopeful for a time and it might continue if we get men and women in higher places of leadership whose principles meet with His approval. There is not one party that is perfect, but which party's principles are morally better? Which party stands for the people and their rights and not for their own gain? Sadly, when any mention of God is brought to the forefront, these candidates are viewed as too "out there" and are to be avoided at all cost. 

I believe this country's eyes are being opened. I have felt for some time that God is stirring things up. It's an exciting time...seeing God's hand at work. Yet, for most it may not be viewed as a spiritual change. I've heard both Glenn Beck and some Christian pastors suggest that we might be in for a spiritual awakening. I sure hope so. God wants all to know Him, to seek Him, to be guided by Him, to know the truth of His Word. Perhaps this is why the uproar in this country, in its leadership. God's Word is truth. Don't deny it. 

Psalm 119:4-6 - You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my (our) ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I (we) would not be ashamed, when I (we) look into all Your commandments.