"Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places."
--Numbers 33:52 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on March 27, 2013 of Psalm 64; Acts 27:1-26; Numbers 33:14-34:15.
The children of Israel were camped by the Jordan across from Jericho. Aaron had died in the fortieth year after the house of Jacob left Egypt. Only one man remained from that day who had been over the age of twenty when the Lord banned them from the promised land, one man who with Aaron had rebelled against God and was forbidden from leading his people into the land of Canaan, one man: Moses. Under God's command, Moses had already inaugurated Joshua as his successor and God had granted Moses' authority to him. But God still had some unfinished business for Moses, including giving His chosen people counsel and directions before they enter the land promised to their fathers. Part of these instructions was that the people were to drive out the current inhabitants, to force them from all the land completely. Not one person was to remain, or else they would forever be an irritant to the Israelis. Then they were to destroy any and all idols and false gods that the former residents had made and worshiped, whether engraved or molded or crafted in any manner. And they were to also destroy any temple or shrine erected to honor and worship those false gods. This was to be carried out so they would not be tempted by these idols and idolatry, because they were to worship only the One True God. We know the people did not fully obey these instructions, letting some remain and live among them, and they are still paying a price to this day.
Christ came to erase the slate and give all of mankind yet another chance for a fresh start. He took all our sins upon His shoulders so we could be renewed in the eyes of God the Father. All we have to do is believe, and if we believe we should gladly follow the instructions He gave us. We should drive out the former self, the old person within us, completely and fully from the lands within our being. We should not let any of that old self, the self that resided here before Jesus came into us, remain to live here with us. We must destroy the old idols we once worshiped. All those things we used to put ahead of God, that we would spend more time and energy and resources on than we would give serving Jesus, must be crushed and thrown away from us. The temples of hatred, violence, lust, immorality, and other iniquities we erected in our hearts must be thoroughly demolished and removed from our lives. Otherwise all of this will become an irritant to us forever, a stumbling block between us and God. Jesus took on all the sins of the world for all time and carried them to the grave just for us. Let's try hard to follow the few things He asks of us in return. Amen.
Lord Jesus, forgive us for not completely destroying the false gods in our lives. Forgive us for allowing part of the old self to remain within us even after You came to us. Help us, please Lord, to turn aside from the idols we place ahead of You and to serve You more fully. In Your name, precious Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Christ came to erase the slate and give all of mankind yet another chance for a fresh start. He took all our sins upon His shoulders so we could be renewed in the eyes of God the Father. All we have to do is believe, and if we believe we should gladly follow the instructions He gave us. We should drive out the former self, the old person within us, completely and fully from the lands within our being. We should not let any of that old self, the self that resided here before Jesus came into us, remain to live here with us. We must destroy the old idols we once worshiped. All those things we used to put ahead of God, that we would spend more time and energy and resources on than we would give serving Jesus, must be crushed and thrown away from us. The temples of hatred, violence, lust, immorality, and other iniquities we erected in our hearts must be thoroughly demolished and removed from our lives. Otherwise all of this will become an irritant to us forever, a stumbling block between us and God. Jesus took on all the sins of the world for all time and carried them to the grave just for us. Let's try hard to follow the few things He asks of us in return. Amen.
Lord Jesus, forgive us for not completely destroying the false gods in our lives. Forgive us for allowing part of the old self to remain within us even after You came to us. Help us, please Lord, to turn aside from the idols we place ahead of You and to serve You more fully. In Your name, precious Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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