by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Numbers 20--23

His Confession Did Not Go Far Enough!

After the Angel of the Lord confronts Balaam, and his donkey tries to get away from the Angel who has a drawn sword in his hand, and Balaam strikes his donkey repeatedly for not going where Balaam wants to go, the prophet says,

34 I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back (Num. 22:34).

Oh, it is good to hear Balaam confess his sin finally, but the problem is, he is not confessing enough. His immediate explanation shows that he is only confessing for venting his anger on the donkey. He is not confessing his greed and his attempts to get the Lord to change his mind on cursing Israel.

Confession of sin is good, but it must go all the way.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 6:30--56

Does the Goal Or Job Seem Too Great?

There are about 5,000 men following Jesus and it is time to eat. Out of concern for this multitude, the disciples ask Jesus to send the people away that they may go to the local villages, buy food and eat. Here is what happens next,

37 But He answered and said to them, You give them something to eat. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat? (Mar. 6:37).

Now, these apostles have already performed miracles (verses 12 and 13), including casting demons out of people. Yet, they cannot see that the Lord can still work through them and do something wonderful!

Has the Lord called you or your congregation to do something that you believe is impossible to accomplish? Where is your faith?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Numbers 17--19

Can We Approach the Tabernacle?

After Israel murmured several times, and especially after they murmured about their leaders, Moses and Aaron, God shows whom He has appointed. Finally, here is how Israel responds.

12 And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Surely we die, we perish, we all perish! 13 Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD must die. Shall we all utterly die? (Num. 17:12, 13).

It is easy to understand their fear. They never seem to be happy with the way God set things up. So, they murmur against Him constantly, and He takes their lives. To them, the tabernacle, the place where God meets with Moses and Aaron, is a place of dread!

The church, not the building where the church meets, is where God meets His people today. Murmuring still displeases Him, but the spiritual tabernacle of the Lord is the place He meets His people to show them mercy and grace. He told Israel to stay away from the old tabernacle, but He tells the world to approach the new spiritual tabernacle, because there He meets people to show them what they need most.

What do you think of the church? Do you have Israel's view that they had of the tabernacle? If so, find out what is wrong with your thinking and make the necessary adjustments, knowing that Jesus died to build the church that all people might be a part of it.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

By Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 6:1--29

Is There a Prophet Among You?

I know that technically there are no prophets today, because a prophet is one who receives a message direct from God and speaks it to someone or a group of people. Now, we have the inspired Scriptures, which all people can read, to know the will of God. However, the idea here is that of whether there is someone who is speaking God's word, and how we treat him.

The hometown of Jesus did not receive Him very well.

4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house (Mar. 6:4).

Nazareth had the greatest of all prophets grow among them, but they never acknowledge it. Instead, they are offended by Him, which prompts Jesus to utter the words quoted above.

Is it possible that we have someone great growing up in our midst and we do not recognize it? Do we still see him or her as a boy or a girl?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Numbers 15 and 16

Preventing Your Own Sin

God commands Moses to instruct Israel that they put a blue thread in the tassels of their garments. Here is why.

39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined (Num. 15:39).

He goes on to say that doing the commandments of the Lord will make them holy for God. God loves His people and tells them boldly that they are inclined toward harlotry, meaning spiritual harlotry, which is idolatry. When they commit spiritual harlotry, they are seeking other lovers, rejecting the God who loves them and blesses them. He wants their love. Therefore, He wants them to have something that will remind them of His commandments, and these commandments will insure that they be holy.

Friends, now that we have the completed revelation of God and each of us owns a copy of the Scriptures, our blue thread is to read and to meditate on the Scriptures without ceasing.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100