Christlike Question
There is a shift in mindset, the mind of Christ, that can take place if you listen to the voice of truth.
"Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
Numbers 20:2-6, 8-9, 11-12, 28-29
With each of these passages take the time to see the contrasts between God's ways and the ways of the people. God contrasts the old and the new. The false and the true. The ways of culture and the ways of the kingdom. In this passage, we see one of the most common practices in our culture take place among the people. People allow frustration and fear to drive their decision making. They were hungry and thirsty so they chose to complain. What should have been hearts of gratitude for all God has done turned into grumbling about what they did not have. Despite their failure to trust Him, God was faithful and provided what they needed.
How is fear, frustration, or failure to know why things are happening impacting how you live out your life of faith? Are you asking God why this is happening rather than seeking the truth of how He will fulfill His promises?
“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"
Psalms 137:1, 4, 6
Do you see what is at the heart of this song of sadness? Hearts that are upset by what they do not have and the way things used to be. It is easy to look back on life with rose colored glasses and forget that the times of old had as much difficulty as times today.
How is your heart today? Do you spend time remembering the golden times not realizing how that can taint your ability to appreciate the present moment? Are you spending emotional energy today worried about what the future might or might not hold?
“There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:1, 8-10, 12
One of the most prevalent causes of pain in our lives is our decision to isolate when we should gather. The default decision for many people when they are offended, upset, or afraid is to isolate. Make no mistake, there can be value in quiet time or time being alone if it is done for the right reasons. If you are seeking God during times of prayer to draw closer to Him then isolation can be beneficial. However, if you are responding to trials by succumbing to the temptation to isolate then which voice are you listening to in that moment? Is that the voice of truth or the voice of the enemy? The enemy wants to separate the flock and keep us from the healing that God gives through community.
Solomon says we are not meant to do life alone. Even though relationships can be hard, they are one of the vessels God uses to deliver us His love. Who are you connecting your life to and how can you develop deeper relationships with others to help you make it through the trials you will undoubtedly face?
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 14:2-3, 6, 11, 23
Hundreds of years before John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance, there was Ezekiel speaking the same words from God. Repent. Change the way you are thinking and listen to the God's voice guide you to heavenly thinking.
Have you taken time to quiet yourself and ask God if there is anywhere in your life that needs repentance? Have you asked Him to search your heart, your mind, your soul and reveal anything that is not in alignment with what He has for you? God knows what you need and wants to meet you personally. He wants you to know that He is your God and you are His child.
“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 7, 13
Jesus said that we need new wineskins for new wine. He did not come to simply improve the lives that we have, but to bring radical transformation so that we begin to mold ourselves to Him. It is a lifelong process and none of us are perfect until our first breath in heaven. We all need Jesus. We all need to get rid of the old yeast and receive the bread of Heaven.
God loves questions and invites us to ask, seek, and knock. Questions are good as they have the ability to draw us closer to Him. There is a consistent pattern where if we will tell the truth about how feel or how we are thinking, then repent and listen to God's highest and best truth and choose to change the way we are thinking, then we will experience life transformation.
Do you want transformation? Do you want to experience the fullness of life? Do you want a life overflowing with joy out of the gratitude of your salvation, the salvation given to us by our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed on the cross that we might find eternal life? Let go of the old. Stop looking back when God is calling you forward. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is here and now and forever more.