Category: March

Unpopular

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

At a time when women were considered more of an item of property than an equal person, it is refreshing to see God give Zelophehad’s daughters the right to inherit their father’s property.March 2 2014

This just wasn’t done in this culture.  The sons inherited or the brothers or the male cousins.  Not the daughters.  As we read further in this chapter, I can just hear the male contingent of the family saying, ” But!  But! But!” and so we see God put conditions on the inheritance so it stays within the clan.

It’s a revolutionary decision.  And it’s just like God.  God always treated women well even when men didn’t.  He always weighed in on the side of the oppressed.  We see continuous examples of this throughout the Bible.  Jesus was an awesome example of this – he always stood up for the weak, the poor, the unpopular.

When we are making decisions about supporting the poor, the oppressed or unpopular, we never have to question what God would have us do.  It’s extremely clear.

God calls us to stand for those that are less privileged than we are.  Every time.

A Theocracy

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

In a theocracy, God rules.  He decides the laws and provides guidance for the people in all areas – politically, personally, economically.  There is little need for legislative or administrative groups in this type of government.  God is in control.

As we are reading through God’s laws in Number and Leviticus, we are watching God turn a slave population into a community.  He is giving them directions on hygiene and how to deal with each other in all kinds of situations.

God establishes a court system and defines what a crime is as well as assigning the appropriate punishment.

He also sets up regulations on matters of personal rights and responsibilities. 

As slaves, the Israelites had been under Egyptian law.  Now they needed their own civil laws in order to regulate daily activities and set up a working society.

Through it all, God was teaching them  how to be a holy and separate nation.

“One Nation under God.’

Sound familiar?

When I visited the presidential memorials in Washington, DC several years ago, I was deeply impressed by all of the scriptures engraved on the walls.  I was also reminded of how George Washington refused to be King.  He said that God was King.  So our founding fathers developed the president role.

Our nation began with God in control.  That is our heritage. 

Our nation is gradually wandering away from that but each of us still has the freedom to decide who is in control of our life.  Is is God?  Do we personally live in a theocracy each day?

It’s our choice.

 

Great Distress

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

A new generation of Israelites grew up and they know nothing about God or what he had done for them.

We read of this happening during the time of the Judges and several other places in the old testament.March 17 judges 2

It is extremely hard for me to understand how this could happen.  How can a whole generation of Israelites grow up without hearing about God and his constant faithfulness to them?  They had awesome stories of God leading them and fighting for them and feeding them and freeing them.  What were those parents thinking when they didn’t take the time and effort to pass those along?  Now that I’m a grandparent I also wonder what the grandparents were thinking?

They obviously weren’t thinking.  This passage tells us that they were all wrapped up in their false gods.  They worshipped the various gods from the regions where they lived.

How could they do this?  If we’re honest, we know how easy it is to get distracted from what’s good and true.  Our world provides innumerable false gods that are worshipped faithfully by the crowds of people around us.  These are the gods of money, success, a big house, a new car – the list goes on.

These false gods entice us to spend our time and energy on things other than worshipping, serving and loving our God.

And our children watch.  They know what our priorities are by how we spend our time and money.  It doesn’t matter what we say – what we do has the most influence.

We are told that the Israelite’s lack of faith aroused God’s anger.  Woh.  Not a good thing.

And we are told that their children lived in great distress because of the actions or, probably more accurate, the lack of actions of their parents.

None of us as parents want our children to live in great distress because of things we have done.  Or not done.

If we’re not where we need to be in this area of our lives, today is the best time to start to make a change.  One step at a time.  We first need to get our own priorities straight – lined up with the Truth – and then we can teach our children by example.

Even when our children are adults, they are still watching our lives.  We can influence them by how we choose to live, how we spend our time and our money.  We can stop preaching at them –  they don’t listen anyway 🙂

When our grown children see the love and peace and grace of God shining out of our lives, they will want to check it out.  Because they won’t have it if their lives aren’t lined up with God.

Dear Father, help us to be good examples of fully devoted followers of Christ so that our lives along with our words show your goodness and your truth.

Make a Choice

On By Judy GlasserIn March2 Comments

Whether we realize it or not, we all make a choice about who we serve.March 15 Joshua 24

A lot of us serve ourselves.  Looking out for #1.  Do I like it?  Does it benefit me?  Do I wanna do it?  Do I feel like it?  What’s in for me?  Oh, yeah.  These questions come pretty easy because we use them a lot.  Maybe not out loud….

Many of serve our debts.  We have to work extra hours or extra jobs to pay for all of the stuff we already have.  We’re upside down on cars and houses.  When we’re not working, we’re worrying about paying the bills.  The best line about our money I’ve ever heard is – “The secret is not in how much you make.  It’s in how much you spend.”  Oh, yeah.

Some of us serve our hobbies –  like sports or gambling or shopping.  While we’re shopping today we’re planning about the next time we can go shopping.  Before the game we’re watching is over, we’re flipping to the next channel for the next game and then the next game and then the next.

We all choose who or what we will serve.

Joshua makes this very clear to the Israelites in Joshua 24 as he throws down a challenge.  “Choose this day whom you will serve…  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

We also need to make a conscious choice.  If we’re serving something or someone else, we need to lay down our ‘idols’ at the feet of the One, True, Living God and begin a new chapter of our life by serving him only.

There’s no better time than right now to make this choice.

It’s Cause and Effect

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

A promise made is a promise kept when it’s made by God.

In Joshua 21 we read about how the Israelites received all of the land that God had promised their ancestors.  Then God gave them rest – just like he had promised their ancestors.

Not one of their enemies could beat them.  They had God on their side.

And God was keeping all of his promises.March 15 Joshua 21

Just like he keeps all of his promises to us. The Bible is full of God’s promises to us.  He is working in our lives everyday to fulfill those promises.

God works things out for our good – have you heard that one?  Don’t forget the part of that promise that says he works things out for the good for those who love him.  It’s through us actively loving him that he can work things out for us.  While we’re showing we love him by studying his word, serving him and obeying him, he is working things out for our good.

It is through our faith that he is able to bless us.  It is through our obedience that he can bring us joy.  When we get our priorities straight and put God first – then he can give us peace. 

It’s cause and effect with some supernatural surprises thrown in.  Salvation is a free gift .  After that, when we do the things God asks of us, we get to enjoy all of the fun and benefits of sanctification.  Growing more and more like Jesus.

Until the day we get to actually BE with Jesus.  Hallelujah!

I’m a Caleb Fan

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

 Every time Caleb shows up in the Old Testament, he is being faithful, obedient and courageous.

When I get to heaven, I want to meet him.March 13 Caleb

He’s not a central character in the Bible – he doesn’t have a main story line.   He’s never the star but he does an awesome job in his supporting role.

Caleb shows up as Joshua’s sidekick a couple of times and every time he’s right on target.  He  is always choosing to believe what God has promised.  He is willing to take God’s word and act on it.  He’s brave.  He doesn’t forget what God has already done in his life.  He’s consistent.

Later in the Old Testament we see Caleb’s brother, Othniel, being chosen by God to be a judge who delivers the Israelites from oppression for over 40 years.

The parents of Caleb and Othniel really did a good job!  When their boys show up in Scripture, they are being noble and leading the way as they follow God.

I am encouraged and challenged by Caleb.  I’m encouraged because he was always faithful through many years in good times and bad.  I’m challenged by Caleb because I would like that same thing to be said, in some fashion, about my life.

I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

It’s a Stretch

On By Judy GlasserIn March2 Comments

Strong and Courageous.

God tells Joshua over and over in Joshua 1 that he needs to be strong and courageous.

God had a big job for Joshua to accomplish and he didn’t want Joshua to wimp out, make excuses, take the easy way out or lose focus.  Be strong.  Be courageous.

Do you know what purpose God has for you?  If you’re breathing, there is one……otherwise you wouldn’t be breathing anymore.

If any of us doesn’t know our purpose, we need to figure that out.  God will tell us – he doesn’t keep it a secret if we really listen.

And when God shows us our purpose, we need to be strong.  We need to be courageous.  We need to focus on the goal and move toward it.  No excuses.  No easy answers.

As I’ve walked with God through many years, I’ve seen him change my purpose several times.  It’s always a stretch.  It’s always something different. It’s always a little out of my comfort zone.  A little exciting.  A little nerve-racking.

But it always ends up teaching me new things and helping me to experience God in my life in awesome ways.

I’ve hit what looked like the Promised Land several times……and yet the journey continues.

What’s next, God?

The Good Stuff

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

We want all of the good stuff, right?  We call them blessings.

Prosperity, purpose, good health, joy, love………we want it all.

And God tells us in Leviticus 26:3 – 13 that we can have it all……….we get it from him through obeying him.

That’s how he showers his blessings over our lives – through our obedience.March 6 - blesssings

As I read his promises in this passage of Leviticus, this is what I hear:

When you are careful to obey me, Judy, I can make you productive and effective in your career.  You will work hard and I will make all of your efforts successful and valuable. 

Through your obedience, I will be able to heap blessing upon blessing into your life.  You will have peace and not be afraid.  You will have enemies, Judy, but they are no match for my strength so they will fail every time you trust in me.

Your family will be blessed over and over and over.  You will so be overwhelmed by all of my blessings that you’ll have to work hard to pass the blessings on so that there is room for more in your life.

I will walk with you every day, Judy.  I have broken the bonds of sin in your life so that you can choose to trust in me – every hour of every day.  Then you will experience all of the blessings I have for you.

Thank you, dear Father.

Surprised?

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

God decreed a special yearlong Jubilee  every 50 years which was supposed to be a holy year.   Land and houses were given back to their original owners.   The land would lie fallow so that there was no laboring in the fields and it gave the land a year to replenish itself.Jubilee

The main idea behind the Year of Jubilee was redemption.   The original owners were to return to their family property and their own clan.  It had once been their inheritance so they were supposed to get it back.  Slaves and bond servants were set free.  Houses that weren’t in walled cities were given back.

God told them they he owned all of the land anyway- they were just using it.  So none of it should be permanently sold.

When they showed concern about what they would eat if they didn’t plant and harvest, God told them he would take care of them by giving them a bountiful year the year before so that they had plenty for their holy year.

All of this was a foretaste of the redemption that would happen when the Messiah came.

There is no evidence that the year of Jubilee was ever celebrated.

Are you surprised?  After working hard and ‘earning’ the right to own what we have, how interested would we be in giving it back?  It’s definitely not the democratic, free market way.

But it’s God’s way.  The Bible is one long story of his plan for our redemption.  We can’t earn it.  Jesus paid the price and we get it all for free.  For eternity.

Thank you, dear Father, for our redemption.  We can never earn it.  We’re so grateful that it’s free.

What would I benefit?

On By Judy GlasserIn MarchLeave a comment

Jesus asks us in Luke 9 to give up our lives in order to save them. It doesn’t make sense……..or maybe it’s the only thing that makes sense?

As we look around, we see crowds of people working really hard trying to find happiness and looking for a purpose for their lives. Jesus tells us that we won’t find meaning for our lives in possessions and things we can accomplish on our own. What do we benefit if we chase these things our whole lives and still end up empty?

I was caught up in this at one time in my life. I was willing to do almost anything to advance my career including working 80 hours a week and travelling 3-4 weeks out of the month. I was working extremely hard to move up the ladder of success and, thankfully, God made it clear to me one Sunday that my ladder was up against the wrong wall – my priorities were all messed up. What a disaster it would have been to devote my life to getting to the top only to find that I didn’t want to be there! I would have gained the whole world but lost the things that are now the most important to me.

Thank you, dear Father, for showing me that putting you first in my life is really the only way to find meaning and happiness.!