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April 4

Reading 1 - Numbers 19

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ch.19 - Heb.9:11-14 says it all. May we be sure to remember what was done for us as we read today.
Peter Cresswell
There has to be some significance with the fact that this major sacrifice uses a female animal. There has to be a connection with the concept of the bride of Christ and similar related ideas. This is, in that case, the self-sacrifice we need to make in order to be humbled before God
Peter Cresswell
v.3 Notice that the red heifer was to be offered by Eleazar. As the priest is named this was a 'one off' offering. Also as Eleazar was not yet the high priest but the one who was to become the high priest its preparation foreshadows the work of Jesus.
Peter Forbes
When the people had accused Moses of killing the people of the LORD (Numbers 16:41) 14,700 died. (Numbers 16:49). These bodies would need to be buried - the bodies of Korah and his rebels had been buried by God when the ground opened and swallowed them. The Red Heifer was introduced at this time, for anyone who had touched a dead body, to teach Israel the heinous nature of rebellion and the death that followed on that rebellion.
Peter Forbes
For all the ritual and significance of the red heifer it only purified the flesh (Hebrews 9:13).
Peter Forbes

Reading 2 - Proverbs 14

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v.5 - The false and faithful witnesses are compared a lot in Proverbs. It is very important that we witness faithfully for the truth in any situation. A righteous man hateth lying. Prov.6:19, 12:17, 13:5, here, 14:25, 19:5,9
Peter Cresswell
v.12 is one of the greatest lessons we ever have. The way which seems to us to be right is almost certainly at least to some extent clouded by our own human nature. The only way we will ever find the way that God has placed before us is if we can strip away completely that which feels right because of the traditions with which we feel comfortable. Right, in its absolute form, is almost certainly outside our comfort zone.
Peter Cresswell
v. 5-9 These seemingly disconnected proverbs have one theme. The message is that we should seek counsel of those who we know will give us wise counsel. Of course we might not like what we hear.
Peter Forbes
:1 the contrast between the wise and foolish is striking. We can so often be foolish as we find being destructive far easier than being constructive. We can show where something is wrong very easily but often do not even bother to try to build good things in place of the error. When this happens in the ecclesia or with our brethren and sisters at a personal level then we are actually destroying the 'house' of God.
Peter Forbes
:29 'slow to wrath' (quoted James 1:19) describes the behaviour of the wise. It is contrasted with the hasty see also Proverbs 1:16 19:2 25:8 29:20
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Galatians 5 & 6

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5 v. 1 reminds us of the freedom that we have in Christ. It is freedom from the law, the next few verses go on to tell us - that we might by the grace and mercy of the Father, be counted righteous. But having recognised that the verse goes on to warn us not to go back to our old worldly ways. Prov.23:23, 1Cor.15:58, 16:13, Eph.6:14, Philip.1:27, 1Thes.3:8, 2Thes.2:15.
Peter Cresswell

5 v.14 In saying that the whole law is fulfilled in 'thou shalt love thy neighbour ...' Paul is appealing to the teaching of Jesus Matthew 7:12 Matthew 22:38-40

6:2 and 6:6 seem to contradict each other. However they do not. We are to share the burdens of those who are overtaken in a fault. However the one who has been overtaken still has to bear his burden, even though he is able to share it with those who help. 6 v.9-10 continue the theme of bearing burdens by stressing that it is to be an ongoing activity.
Peter Forbes

2002
5:1 So being free don't follow the Law is the argument that Paul is developing.

6:3 The man who 'thinks himself to be something' actually does not have humility. We should think of others as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Peter Forbes

5:18 'led of the spirit' quotes Matthew 4:1 - the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. In seeing this link we realise there is nothing mystical about our being 'led'. Just as Jesus, full of an understanding of Scripture, went into the wilderness we likewise should be 'led' in our lives by our understanding of Scripture.

6:12 In observing that the Judaisers wanted the gentile brethren circumcised we learn their true motives. It was not a desire that the gentile might be saved. Rather it was that they wanted to avoid persecution. So maybe we gain a little insight into a reason for persecution of the first century ecclesia. The Jews objected to gentiles becoming associated with the Jews without being circumcised.
Peter Forbes

ch 5 - LOVE

Three times in Galations 5, Paul emphasizes that the only thing that is really important in this life is love. He says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing its self through love." And later, "But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love." And again, when he compares the acts of the sinful nature (which are really yucky things), with the fruit of the Spirit, he describes the fruit of the Spirit as love.

Love needs to be our motivation, love needs to be our leader and love needs to be our action and expression. Love must fill our lives just as air fills our lungs. Love will make us into the person God wants us to be. Living in love will keep us from evil. The two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your mind, soul and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself. At the end of everything, love will come shining through.

God loves you so much that he gave Jesus for your sins. Jesus let himself be offered because of his love for you.

Love is the greatest!
Robert Prins