Unseen Visions

While Tina and I were doing our devotions from Numbers 20, verses 9-12, I saw something that I had never seen before. The chapters leading up to chapter 20 is a culmination of Israel's constant grumblings & complaints.

So after the Lord told Moses to gather the people together and strike the rock to give them water, Moses said, "Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?" After the water gushed out of the rock, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."

Here's the insight that I had. When we get frustrated with the Church and speak against her with these frustrations and deny God's glory to be shown through our actions (responses); we will not be able to enter the promises or visions that the Lord has for us here on earth. Grumblings and murmurings wear us down to the point of not being able to move forward.

Also, another response of disobedience is to back off the visions that the Lord gives and just do nothing.

Our response should be that of Psalm 90.11-17:
11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.

We cannot move ahead without being obedient to God's instructions, therefore we need to follow what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 3.5-6:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

In these days within the Episcopal Church, any other denomination, or independent church; these words from Bishop Mark Lawrence's pastoral letter to the Episcopal Diocese of SC in response to the actions taken by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church are well worth while to heed: "(This) is not a time for alarm. It is a time for thoughtful and steady resolve. We face significant challenges. They are no longer the challenges of tomorrow they are the challenges of today. This cannot be brushed aside as if it is of little consequence." (You can read the entire letter here http://www.dioceseofsc.org/mt/archives/000415.html )

So often we get complacent with where we are and seek to do nothing to extend the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the saving Grace of God as has been revealed in his son, Jesus, the Christ. Too many people these days want to do their own thing and try to find justification for it by blaming others or trying to make the Bible say things that aren't there or if it is there, to reinterpret it to fit their sinful desires.

Father, help us all to repent of all that is against your will. Give us a desire to please you and to respond to the love, mercy and grace that you have given us through your son, Jesus. AMEN.