March 11
Num 15:17-16:40 | PS 54:1-7 | Prov 11:5-6 | Mark 15:1-47
We read in Numbers 15:30-31, “But those who brazenly violate the Lord’s will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the Lord, and they must be cut off from the community. Since they have treated the Lord’s word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed his command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt.” Just prior to this we read the description of the sacrifices for unintentional sin. How easy it is to forget that Jesus never erased the law, He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-19). We all like to state that we are not under the law, but under grace instead. This is a true statement. But we, as Christians, are called to holiness, called to be set apart, called to be the light of Christ. May none of us trivialize such a significant sacrifice as was provided us by Jesus and continue on brazenly violating God’s law in the name of grace.
Many go on their way, never acknowledging God and that He alone sets the standards for what is right and wrong. In general there is only a small remnant of faithful followers, with the majority going in the wrong direction as we see with the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16:19-21, “Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to the whole community, and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Get away from all these people so that I may instantly destroy them!” Yes, the whole community was wrong and Moses and Aaron were right. Often people wage these fights from a horizontal perspective, those following Korah vs. those following Moses, but the truth is revealed in 16:10-11, “Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”
People can go on their way, both in the church and outside of it, elevating their version of truth, opposing the standards clearly dictated in Scripture, but one day they will come to the same conclusion as the Roman soldier officiating the crucifixion, as we read in Mark 15:39, “When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” The Roman officer still had time to repent, but for many this realization will not occur until it is too late, until after death. There are so many excuses, but don’t miss the words in Psalm 54:3, “…They care nothing for God.” Is it really possible that everyone is missing it, that everyone is getting it wrong, that everyone is on the wrong side of God’s history? The answer, sad as it is, is “Yes”. While there is still time, please repent, and profess the only name that has the power to save, the name of Jesus Christ. Do this first. He will then help you through the power of the Holy Spirit confront those brazen activities that have no place in the life of the believer.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: