Growing Through Judges

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, "If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).

Jephthah made a vow to God as he headed out to battle. He was trying to bargain with the Lord. Jephthah promised to sacrifice to God whatever came out of his house when he got back home to Mizpah.

Israelites were permitted to make vows as long as they followed the laws given by God that governed vows (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). If a person made a vow, then the Lord expected him or her to keep it (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6).

When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on the tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters (Judges 11:34).

Nowhere in the text are we told that Jephthah actually killed his one and only child. But one vital lesson we can learn from this account is that if we want our promises to be taken seriously we must be willing to do what we say we will do (Matthew 5:33-37). More importantly, we better make sure we don't make a vow that's too painful to keep!

Growing Through Joshua

So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood...--Joshua 4:8-9

To gain the full significance of these verses, consider Romans 6:1-5 from The Message:

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Now when did we die to sin? "All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3). You see, Christ died for you and me--and that is the picture we see here in the book of Joshua. Twelve stones were put into the water of death. Those twelve stones were put into the Jordan to ultimately proclaim the death of Jesus Christ. And the twelve stones taken out of the Jordan and moved to the west bank represent the resurrection of Christ.

When you're baptized, you make a personal identification with Jesus Christ--with his death, with his burial, and with his resurrection. It is only in the measure that we are identified with him that we can enjoy all the spiritual blessings afforded to us.

Now, when the Israelites crossed over the river, they became citizens of a new land. When you become a Christian, you become a citizen of a new land--heaven:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ...--Philippians 1:27

What God did for the children of Israel he did for their benefit, your benefit, and mine. He did it that all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful (Joshua 4:24). Not only that, he did it so all the people throughout all the world would have the opportunity to be his "chosen people."

Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ?

Growing Through Deuteronomy

Editor's Note: This week's post is extremely late due to technical difficulties...sorry.

What does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.--Deuteronomy 10:12

The book of Deuteronomy takes place in the final weeks of Moses' life. It has been 40 years since the Israelites made their exodus from Egypt. A new generation is poised on the east side of the Jordan River ready to cross over and enter the new land of promise.

The theme of Deuteronomy is obedience as this new generation receives their final instructions from the Lord. Moses reminds the people of God's character and reviews for them how God honors obedience to his commandments and punishes disobedience. After all, disobedience brings consequences so Moses recounts the Israelite's history of stubbornness (Deut. 9:27) and rebellion (Deut. 1:26).

Deuteronomy teaches us that God is absolute truth and that a holy, happy life is one lived by his standards. Life without the Lord's standards becomes anti-holy and is characterized by unhappiness and emptiness (Deut. 30:19).

God's Word is the foundation for true freedom and real satisfaction. God is the standard. As a Christian, you are called to be holy as he is holy. Not only that, you are love him "with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (Deut. 6:5).

Join us this Sunday at 10:30a as we continue growing together through the fifth book of the Bible--Deuteronomy. Remember, read and review God's Word regularly--it will guide your steps.

Growing Through Numbers

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.--1 Corinthians 12:4-7

In the 34th chapter of Numbers, we learn that God set the boundaries for the land that each tribe inherited: "When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your special possession, these will be the boundaries" (Numbers 34:2). Some land faced the wilderness (Numbers 34:3), and some of it was beside the Mediterranean Sea (Numbers 34:6). Some tribes received property in the mountains (Numbers 34:7). The tribes accepted and enjoyed the land that God gave to them.

God used human leaders to help define the boundaries of where each tribe would reside. In a similar fashion, God uses human leaders in the church to help define the boundaries of where each Christian will serve:

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.--Ephesians 4:11-12

What a privilege it is to help people claim their gift from God! That's why PLACE Ministry is so vital to the health and welfare of LCC. It is a process to help God's people discover their place in the church. In other words, to accept their assignment from God. Unfortunately, church members are sometimes tempted to complain about their gift (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) rather than enjoy it.

As you read Numbers 34 this week, note how the tribes accepted their assignments without complaint. What about you? Have you accepted your gift from God without complaining or coveting what others possess?

When tempted to fuss about what God has assigned to you, it is important to remember that "God has put each part just where he wants it" (1 Corinthians 12:18).