9th and Pierce Church of Christ in Purcell

Day sixty-one of striving to mature our faith. The reading for March 2nd, 2021 is Numbers 23 - 25; Mark 7:14-37. Balaam has Balak build altars to offer sacrifices to God. Balak is wanting Balaam to curse the children of Israel, but instead of a curse Balaam prophecies God’s blessing and oversight of them. If this was the last we heard of Balaam we would think he had done well by saying only what God gave him to say to Balak. Unfortunately, we are going to find out it is Bal...aam who is behind the Midianite and Moabite women enticing the men of Israel to worship the Baal of Peor (Numbers 31:16; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). Even though Balaam could not curse the children of Israel he was able to counsel them how to lead the children of Israel astray so God would take His blessing away from them. Balaam coveted the riches of Balak more than he coveted the blessings of God. The children of Israel have the same problem in the days of Jesus. They are more worried about keeping their hands and their stomachs clean by washing and not eating unclean meat more than they were worried about keeping their hearts clean so they might be righteous rather than defiled by the thoughts and actions which come from an unclean heart. There are too many teachers of God who instead of only speaking God’s word are helping the world entice God’s people to defile themselves with the unrighteousness of the world, thus causing them to lose the blessings of God just as the children of Israel did at Peor. The Gentile woman who comes to Jesus on behalf of her daughter coveted just the crumbs of God’s blessing enough to humble herself before Jesus. If we are to be mature in the faith, we must covet the blessings of God, knowing even the crumbs of God’s blessing are more valuable than all the riches of this life. #2021AYearofMaturity The reading for March 3rd, 2021 will be Numbers 26 - 28 & Mark 8. gsf See more

Day sixty of striving to mature our faith. The reading for March 1st, 2021 is Numbers 20 - 22; Mark 7:1-13. The rebellious generation is almost gone, Miriam and Aaron both die and will not be allowed into the promised land either. Before Aaron’s death the children of Israel are still complaining about the life they have been called to lead. Moses and Aaron come before them so God can provide water for the people and their livestock again, but instead of giving God the glory ...they ask the people if they, Moses and Aaron, must bring them water out of the rock. Moses, instead of speaking to the rock as God commanded him, strikes the rock twice causing God to tell Moses and Aaron they will not lead the children of Israel into the promised land. When we do not give God the glory and do as He commands then we are not treating Him as holy before the people. This new generation is still grumbling about the conditions and the food, so God sends a plague of serpents among the people. Moses is told to make a bronze serpent affixed to a pole so when the people are bitten, they can look on it and live. We continue to see God provides salvation and ways of escape, but it is still up to the individual to take advantage of the salvation offered. The priests and scribes of the days of Jesus did not heed the warning of Moses but continue to place themselves and their words above the words of God holding people to their traditions even when they are in direct violation of God’s law. Sadly, there are teachers today who honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him for they teach people to obtain salvation by different methods than the teaching of God to repent and be baptized everyone of you for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38); to instead of offering the fruit of their lips through singing their praises to God to add instrumental music to their offerings or allowing these musicians to offer their sacrifices rather than offering them with their own lips (Hebrews 13:15); and taking manmade titles to elevate themselves above other Christians instead of recognizing all Christians are brothers in Christ (Matthew 23:7-9). If we are to be mature in the faith, we must honor God and show Him holy before the people by giving Him the glory and honor and doing as He commands and not as we want to do striving to be near to Him in our hearts not just with our lips. #2021AYearofMaturity The reading for March 2nd, 2021 will be Numbers 23 - 25 & Mark 7:14-37. gsf See more