Lifted Higher
As you draw closer to God, He will raise you up, reveal anything not from Him, and restore the hope of your salvation.
“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.”
Numbers 21:4-9
This might seem like another example of the people falling short, giving in to their worry about what they will eat, and choosing to complain rather than find comfort in His faithfulness. This passage is more significant though because of where it is referenced later by Jesus himself. John 3:16, for God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Before the John 3:16, Jesus says in John 3:14, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.
This is the passage where God gave Moses the instructions to find healing from the consequence of their sins. This is the passage where Jesus foreshadowed His own death and resurrection. Why was the Son of Man lifted up? So that you and I could find healing from our sins. He was lifted up like the snake to lift us up out of the patterns of our lives that lead us to follow the fleshly desires and sin against God. How can you lift up Jesus today? How can you elevate Him above any of your worldly concerns so that you are not caught in the same trap as the Israelites who gave in to their hunger and complained against the God who loved them?
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart...When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar."
Psalms 138:1, 3, 5-8
David lifts up God in praise and declares the truth that the Lord is exalted. One of the beautiful aspects of this song is how it reveals how grateful David is that the God in heaven would care so personally for him on earth. He says that I called and you answered me God. You look kindly on the lowly. Can you see God's hand personally touching your life today?
The ways of God are in stark contrast to the ways of the world. Kings and people of political power tend to take advantage of the lowly. We live in a social and economic hierarchy that lifts up those with wealth and power while casting aside the poor and desperate. How amazing is God that He promises to lift up the lowly? How amazing is His grace that He cares for the broken hearted? Lift up the God in heaven with your praise for how He loves each person so personally regardless of their power, possessions, or prestige.
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart."
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 5-7, 10-11, 15, 18-20
Solomon gives life changing advice. He says listen and do not let your mouth sin. What would happen if you were to record all that you said over the course of a week and how much time you spent quietly listening to God? Would you be excited to read over the transcript of your words and at peace with the amount of time you spent listening to the voice of truth?
More likely, we all could grow in how much we listen and how we use our words. God knows we are not perfect. Thankfully, He does not leave us where we are. He is guiding us higher and drawing us closer to Him as we learn to walk in the ways of Jesus. How would you like to grow today? How could changing your patterns of listening and the ways you use the words of your mouth lift up the King of Kings?
“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem...Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them...you will know that I am the Lord. I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 15:6-8
God is testing our hearts to see if we will be faithful to Him. How are you doing with the tests you have been given? Do you curse rather than bless the car that cuts you off in traffic? Do you take offense at the colleague or critic in your life? To remain faithful to God means to be faithful at all times, in all ways, with all of our words and actions.
The truth is we all fall short of the glory of God, but we do not have to stay there. God specifically spoke of the challenges the pain people would experience if they were unfaithful. Thankfully, God makes a way for us despite our failures. Just like God lifted up the snake in the wilderness, Jesus was lifted on the cross. The faithful walk is a walk with eyes fixed on Jesus and ears that intently listen to the Holy Spirit.
“Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived...you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
1 Corinthians 6:7, 9-12, 14, 17-20
By His power God raised Jesus from the dead and by His power we are also raised from the death that comes from our inclination to sin. Paul gives great advice that sounds a lot like Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He talks about how to be unoffendable and live with a free heart. It might sound like an odd statement to say why not be cheated, but is this not the same message Jesus said when He said if someone takes your shirt then give them your coat?
How do we get to a place where we live with hearts that are free and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ? Paul says start be focusing on your relationship with God over your current need to be right. Yes, you could be right that someone else is wrong, but how does that help you live out a Spirit led, faithful life of loving others? You will be known by how you love. Paul says don't let the immediate pressures or temptations that come from pride or pleasure separate you from the peace of Christ that surpasses understanding.
At the core of all the passages today is the call to elevate Christ in our hearts to Lord of our lives. As we humble our hearts, He is lifted up. As we let go of offense, He is lifted up. As we delight in the Lord our world desires fade away, and we learn to dwell with gladness in the presence of the Almighty. How can you lift up Jesus in your life? How can you give Him a higher place in your calendar, your checkbook, your compassion, and the cares of your heart? Humble yourself in the eyes of the Lord and He will lift you up.