As part of my personal time in Scripture and prayer, I’m reading through the Bible, straight, something I have not done since high school. I was joking with one of the other pastors that I had enjoyed Leviticus, but was finding Numbers a hard slog. To be fair, I was only two or three chapters in, and while I love math, the repetition and tallies were not my favorite. And that coming off the heels of Leviticus, with its descriptions of proper worship and timely, interesting connection points to our current COVID-19 experience in the instructions on handling skin disease, and dealing with matters clean and unclean, holy and profane.
But, all of Scripture is profitable! Of this I am sure. And lest we avoid the difficult work of discipleship looking for pet verses, affirmation, and encouragement, God shows up in the remote wilderness. So, I offer this blessing to you today from Numbers, and with it hope to remind you that your salvation and hope do not depend on your effort; they rest on on the completed work of Christ, the Gospel we are commanded to teach our neighbor. It is the Lord who provides all we need. Labor diligently to care for family, and to love one another, even during this time of isolation. But, rest in Jesus throughout all your labors, so he can make your works shine with the light of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). And finally, we are representatives of the King. We have a glorious calling, each one authorized by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18-20), as ambassadors of an everlasting peace, a peace that abides in sickness, traverses death, and combats sin.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
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.So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:22-27
So, carry the name of Jesus on your very person, in your words, in your hands. Peace and love to you all. May you experience joy, growth, and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ this week.