Thoughts on the readings for April 7th Numbers 24-25; Proverbs 17; Ephesians 5-6

Thoughts on the readings for April 7th Numbers 24-25; Proverbs 17; Ephesians 5-6 WALK IN LOVE AS CHRIST HAS LOVED US Balaam was a false seer (prophet), telling his clients what they wanted to know for money. He had named his price to the King ( He mentioned the equivalent of a house full of silver and gold – Numbers 24:13). And yet, the LORD God had used him to bless Israel rather than curse them. The LORD sometimes uses such people to promote His will, turning their own folly against them and their clients (Prov 26:5). A similar case was the witch of Endor (1Sam 28:7-15). And so Balaam makes an amazing prophecy about the Lord Jesus •Num 24:17 there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, This Star will be all conquering and surely it speaks of the Lord Jesus when he comes to set up his Kingdom. In Rev 22:16 Jesus calls himself •‘the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star’. And Peter states •2Pet 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Jesus, whose star the wise men of the East saw, will return to rule all the nations of the earth. Moreover the ‘dominion’ (Num 24:19) is ultimately to be over sin and death. But Balaam came up with a plan which would alienate Israel from their God and, he hoped, bring about their ruin, so he could get paid! Sent on Balaam’s advice (Numbers 31:16), the women of Moab visited the camp, and invited them back to sample their hospitality. Proverbs tells us to always ask God before we make any big decisions. •Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works unto the LORD. Because •Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. They should have consulted the LORD at the outset, but their walk into the camp of the Moabites led to the death of many "While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed before these gods. So Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them."(Num 25:1-3) And The LORD sent a plague which killed 24,000 people and was appeased by Phineas , son of Elazar and grandson of Aaron putting to death the most prominent sinner; thus putting a stop to the plague. For this he was rewarded by the LORD’S promise that the priesthood would remain in his family forever (25:10-13) Walking to the camp of Israel and taking part in idolatrous worship brought disaster upon the people, for they sacrificed and bowed down to false gods. A lesson to us we should walk in love as Christ has loved us and given himself as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. ( Ephesians 5:2) Proverbs 17:9 tells us that covering over the hurt someone has done to you and forgetting all about it is the way to develop the kind of love which the Lord Jesus showed all his life and which pleases God He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; Today the word ‘love’ is so misused. Scriptural love is far better than just strong affection. To love ‘as Christ loved us’ calls for a special love which has its own Greek word ‘agape’ which means an unselfish and perfect love – such as the love God showed in giving His only Son for us. This is the kind of love the Lord Jesus showed at all times So Paul tells us we ought to •‘walk in love as Christ also hath loved us’(5:2). This is seen in the way that husbands and wives should love and respect each other; how children and parents ought to treat each other; even how slaves should behave towards their masters and masters to their slaves. When you walk in love you try to treat all these people and all mankind, in a kind and unselfish manner- walking in just the way the Lord Jesus Christ walked, remembering the love of God; for God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Here are some guidelines for our walk. Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit ( goodness and righteousness) (5:9) Redeem the time- don’t waste it (16) Make melody in your heart to the LORD through Psalms and hymns (19) Offer thankful prayer regularly for yourself and God’s people, the saints (5:20 & 6:18) Be strong in the LORD in solid defence of the Scriptures and wear the whole armour of God, (6:14-17) .. Wear Truth as a belt and cover your heart with a breastplate of righteousness. As you walk, preach the Gospel, shield yourself with faith; protect your mind with the helmet of salvation and defend yourself with the sword of the Spirit- the Word of God. And let’s not forget how helpful a positive attitude is in our walk for . Prov 17: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine! So Let us not be diverted by the call of the word to sin, as did Israel and thus walked on the path which leads to death but rather travel the way to righteousness. Putting on Christ in baptism to become one of the saints.And making sure that our love for our Saviour, Jesus Christ is not just affection but an undying, practical, thankful agape love. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-april-7th-numbers-24-25-proverbs-17-ephesians-5-6/?feed_id=89185&_unique_id=67f5168762f05