Question: Why is the Lord letting us walk through wilderness?

Answer: “Obey faithfully all the laws that I have given you today, so that you may live, increase in number, and occupy the land that the Lord promised to your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands.  He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says. During these forty years your clothes have not worn out, nor have your feet swollen up. Remember that the Lord your God corrects and punishes you just as parents discipline their children.

Deu 8:2 “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands”

Lord used Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, Lord brought them out with a lot of miracles and with His powerful hand. Pharaoh, his army, and even the Red Sea could not stop them. The reason to bring them out was to lead them to the Promised Land. And the actual journey from Egypt to Canaan would only take 11 days through the wilderness.

But we know it took 40 years and they got stuck in the wilderness; not only that, other than 2 people (Caleb and Joshua) all men above 20 years who started from Egypt perished in the wilderness. But Lord under Joshua got the next generation into the Promised Land.

The word says due to their unbelief they could not enter the Promised Land. Although they came out of Egypt, it took 40 years for the lifestyle of Egypt to come out of them. In the same way Lord brought us out from sin, and saved us to live a victorious life. But are we also continuing in old ways and going in circles?

Wilderness is not the reason why we were called out. How long because of our old ways, will we continue in the wilderness of struggle? The salvation that we receive through grace should lead to change; in the way we live. It is not ok to live in sin, fear of God is to hate sin.

 Final thought:  A quote from D L Moody “We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow”

Question: Do you want to live a blameless life?

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. 2 Tim 1:9

Answer: Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; nor be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ’s sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength to do it. He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Saviour, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

Praise the Lord, today is Aril 29, would like to meditate on 2 Tim 1:9. Paul told Timothy, the reason for your salvation, ultimately is being in heaven with our savior but it has immediate implications too, that is a call to live holy.

The word translated “holy” means sacred, morally blameless, consecrated, saint. God is looking for some people who are consecrated or set apart for His use. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4).

Paul tells the same message to the church in Ephesians in Eph 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Peter said 1 Peter 1:15-16  As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Few simple questions. Are you intentional to live a life of holiness? Do you really want to live a blameless life? When is the last time, we prayed, Lord, help me to like you and live a holy life.

Question: If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away Mat 21:3

Answer: As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied up with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything, tell him, ‘The Master needs them’; and then he will let them go at once.”

Lord needed a donkey, and the donkey and colt were let go when the disciples said the Lord needed them. Do we realize our savior needs us? The donkey had a glorious walk to Jerusalem on olive branches and cloaks because Jesus was on the donkey. The donkey did not become a horse to walk in glory, the only difference was, that the untied donkey had Jesus on top. Once Jesus has come down, it is the old unnoticed donkey.

Jesus needed only the donkey, but the colt was also untied. It does not matter who you are, all that matters; can the world sees Jesus who you are carrying. Is the spotlight on Jesus? People sang for Jesus, not for the donkey, and never took the glory. Jesus is looking for an available donkey not the ability of the donkey. We need to be His donkey.

Jesus knew where the donkey was, what was the state, who was with the donkey, and who would stop the deliverance. The donkey had no clue of any of these things. Why are we worrying, when our Lord knows every minute details about us?