Doing Everything is Good

Scripture: So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Numbers 29:40

Observation: There has now been a long list of sacrificial compliance just outlined by God. But in the end of all of that, it is all summarized this way - Moses told the people EVERYTHING the Lord had commanded him.

Here is what "everything" included:

-- The rituals - all the sacrificing to be done
-- The details - the exact numbers of animals, measures of grains, etc
-- The relaxation - they are never to do 'ordinary' work on these days
-- The reasons - to celebrate harvest, to remember their salvation, to unite together

By the time David came along and into the divided kingdom, the Israelites were forgetting the reasons. By the time Jesus came along, they had turned the relaxation into its own ritual with its own details. Today, when Christians read this, we are very likely to focus purely on the rituals and wonder at the compliance efforts involved. Jesus took away the rituals and details, and yet we fail to acknowledge what is left ... relaxing and celebrating.

Application: As we have discussed the tithe at church, we know that most Christians look at such instructions as just that - instructions that require compliance. However, the truth is they are the means for celebrating God and relaxing in his abundant blessing. We got to see that first-hand last night, as God took our tithe we are "supposed" to give anyway, and within two hours had increased six-fold in order to fill his purpose in our church.

And these are things to celebrate! None of this ... bringing the tithe to God, participating in a gathering of believers, singing worship and praise, serving at events ... NONE of this is to be a chore, a ritual, or a personal sacrifice. None of it is about numbers, or process, or ritual. It is all about joining God in celebration.

Doing "everything", then, is for our blessing. It brings us closer to God by joining with him in his work for his purposes.

Prayer: Dear God, your work last night is more than 'good', it was a miracle. It might have looked like just several people being faithful, but the need, the timing, the process, and the people involved all make it clear that it was more than that. Last night was your spirit, moving through Laurie, and through your people. May we celebrate your love and goodness forever. Amen.