Set Out.

my family and i have been reading through the book of Numbers. it is a very interesting book of the ways that God wants His people to live set apart lives. tonight, the chapter we read made me laugh and then it made me think.

"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; whenever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped..." (verses 17-18)

 Numbers 9:15-23 says "set out" nine times. it is very repetitive but why is that important?

before we figure out why, let's learn some history. The Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land. they were following the cloud of the Spirit of God through the desert. and the Tent was their Tabernacle, the place where God dwelled among His people.

every day, the people would look to the Tabernacle and look to the Cloud of God to see if they were to stay ENCAMPED or if God was leading them to SET OUT.

"When the cloud remained over the Tabernacle a long the, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the Tabernacle only a few days, at the Lord's command they would encamp and then at His command they would set out." (verses 19-20)





so why is this important and how does it apply to me?

what if we lived like this? if you have asked Jesus to come into your heart you are a part of God's family, of His chosen people. He has now asked you to follow Him every day. He has given you His Spirit to lead you and guide you.

just like the Israelites looked to the cloud everyday to see if they should stay encamped or if they should set out. we, as God's chosen people, should live like that also. look to God everyday, listen to His voice and ask Him if you should "stay encamped" or if He is calling to "set out."

clear the stage

on August 8 through August 16, i had the opportunity to go to Colorado and help lead a girls retreat (http://teenpact.com/alumni/endeavor/) in Breckenridge. the focus of the week was "to encourage and equip young ladies to glorify and enjoy Christ now and throughout their lives."

the week was filled with many fun and exciting adventures - shooting guns, tea parties, poise, hikes, mud fights, deep conversations, paintball, laughter, sessions and even a 4-course meal!    

during one of the sessions, we talked about our lives and who was on "center stage." at the end of this session, we listened to a song by Jimmy Needham that talked about the idols in our lives. when i heard this song, it convicted me. please take a moment and listen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6smGew7dGto)

i have listened to this song a lot since i have gotten home. one of the lyrics that sticks out to me every time i hear it says "...we must not worship something that's not even worth it..."

WE MUST NOT WORSHIP SOMETHING THAT'S NOT EVEN WORTH IT.

this got me thinking...what do i worship? what is worship?

worship - "show reverence and adoration for a deity...treat someone/something with reverence and adoration..."

what is in my life that i am adoring more than Jesus Christ?

MAKE SOME SPACE FOR THE ONE WHO DESERVES IT.

"...anything i put before my God, is an idol...

...anything i want with all my heart, is an idol...

...anything i can't stop thinking of, is an idol...

...anything that i give all my love, is an idol."

what do you put before God? what are the priorities in your life? do they reflect who is in the center of your life?

what do you want with all your heart? is that what you are focused on and occupied with fulfilling? "the more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God." -Oswald Chambers

what consumes your thoughts? are they good and pure thoughts? "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." ~Philippians 4:8

what do you give all your love to? love = time, talents, energy. how do you spend your time? how do you use your talents? where do you invest your energy?

what do you have to do in your life to "CLEAR THE STAGE ... IF THAT'S THE MEASURE YOU MUST TAKE TO CRUSH THE IDOLS."

"You shall not make for yourself an idol..." (Exodus 20:4) "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy..." (2 Corinthians 11:2)

Thank you Jesus for the wonderful week in Colorado and for teaching me. Please help me to crush the idols in my life and to focus on you and on you alone because you are the only one who is WORTH IT (revelation 5:12)