Today’s Reading Numbers 35-36
Focal Scripture: Numbers 35:34 “Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I dwell; for I, the Lord, reside among the Israelites.”
Refuge matters. Here in this passage of scripture God makes it clear on how to deal with Israelites who kill another person. This can be for murder it can be by accident but the people who commit these acts must be dealt with amongst God’s people. The city of refuge is a place they were sent to be separated from the rest of the people. They have consequences for their actions.
The focal verse for today is very amazing. It implies so much. God cares about the cleanliness of his chosen people and the land where he dwells. God is desiring cleanliness because he is Holy and this matters greatly to him and it should matter much to us as well.
The application of this for believers today is straightforward. Desire cleanliness. Desire holiness. Above everything else in our lives this should be our pursuit as Christ followers. However, not only in our personal lives but also where we go and travel.
God presence was focused amongst a people and a place in the Old Testament. As believers we have been endowed with the Holy Spirit and he indwells us always. This means everywhere we go we must be a people who desire cleanliness. I do not mean in the literal sense but spiritually.
We often lose sight of this as we go along our day but being aware of making places unclean should be a priority. Everywhere we go should be better because we entered. This means church, work, parking lots, gas stations and grocery stores. Another way to put this is what type of impression do we leave on others when we are around them. Are we a people who bring joy, hope, compassion, and life. Or are we a people who gossip, are two faced, harbor ill will and have negative attitudes.
I pray that we will be a people that when we enter a place and leave a place they know we spend and have spent time with Jesus. For that to happen we must surrender everything we have to Christ.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Deuteronomy 1-2
