Just last week our church looked at the cities of refuge as found in Numbers 35. These cities that God sets apart for the promised safety of a murderer until he or she is able to receive a trial before the congregation. If found innocent of intentional murder the person is able to live in the city unharmed, yet if he or she travels outside the city of refuge the avenger may kill them.
God sets up these cities of refuge because he is compassionate. He cares about his people and desires to see them live. Death, sin, and destruction are in direct opposition to our God who is the Creator. Though he loves life He is also just. Therefore he does not set apart a city which any ol' murder could run to and live, but only the innocent. A trial is still necessary.
Unlike the person who accidentally commits homicide, you and I do things everyday against the will of God. Instead of trusting God we turn to our own efforts to work things out. This could be lying, stealing, cheating, and living sexual immoral or this could be trying to be as good as possible, self righteous, or hypocritical. Either way when we come before judgment there is no way that we can be found innocent, we are guilty. There is nothing in and of ourselves that we can do about it.
That is why Jesus had to become man, live a perfect life, die, and rise again. No longer do we stand before God trying to plead our own case, but we depend on what he has done on our behalf to make us innocent. It is only then that we are able to live in Christ, our refuge, just as the murder could live in the city of refuge.
God gives those He loves refuge. All of the unexpected things that happen to us in our lives may through us for a loop, but God is not surprised. In Christ he has given us the ultimate place of safety so no matter our circumstances we can be certain that we will be delivered.
Understanding this has led me to Oakland to minister the Gospel. In no way do I believe that I can change anyone, but God has called us here and He will do the work necessary to change people's hearts. It is only because we find our refuge in Him that we are able to offer refuge to others. At moments while looking at the challenges before us in Oakland we ask if God has abandoned this city. Then we remember that He has called us here and that is the first sign that He loves and cares for the people here.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore you fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, delcares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
There were many cities that the murder could of run to. We have many options as to where we will seek refuge in our lives. The truth is that all other places other than at the feet of Jesus leave us vulnerable. Just as the murderer had to watch his back in any other city other the city of refuge, all other places we seek refuge will leave us to depend on ourselves. He has given us the way, let us take our need to Christ.
God sets up these cities of refuge because he is compassionate. He cares about his people and desires to see them live. Death, sin, and destruction are in direct opposition to our God who is the Creator. Though he loves life He is also just. Therefore he does not set apart a city which any ol' murder could run to and live, but only the innocent. A trial is still necessary.
Unlike the person who accidentally commits homicide, you and I do things everyday against the will of God. Instead of trusting God we turn to our own efforts to work things out. This could be lying, stealing, cheating, and living sexual immoral or this could be trying to be as good as possible, self righteous, or hypocritical. Either way when we come before judgment there is no way that we can be found innocent, we are guilty. There is nothing in and of ourselves that we can do about it.
That is why Jesus had to become man, live a perfect life, die, and rise again. No longer do we stand before God trying to plead our own case, but we depend on what he has done on our behalf to make us innocent. It is only then that we are able to live in Christ, our refuge, just as the murder could live in the city of refuge.
God gives those He loves refuge. All of the unexpected things that happen to us in our lives may through us for a loop, but God is not surprised. In Christ he has given us the ultimate place of safety so no matter our circumstances we can be certain that we will be delivered.
Understanding this has led me to Oakland to minister the Gospel. In no way do I believe that I can change anyone, but God has called us here and He will do the work necessary to change people's hearts. It is only because we find our refuge in Him that we are able to offer refuge to others. At moments while looking at the challenges before us in Oakland we ask if God has abandoned this city. Then we remember that He has called us here and that is the first sign that He loves and cares for the people here.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore you fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, delcares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
There were many cities that the murder could of run to. We have many options as to where we will seek refuge in our lives. The truth is that all other places other than at the feet of Jesus leave us vulnerable. Just as the murderer had to watch his back in any other city other the city of refuge, all other places we seek refuge will leave us to depend on ourselves. He has given us the way, let us take our need to Christ.
posted by michaelstevensrev at 11:40 AM
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