Scott Beyer

Read it, Write it

“Now it shall come about when he [the king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.” (Deut 17:18)
 
When I’m in a writing rut, I will write my sermons by hand. Something about pen to paper smooths out my brain and slows down the passages. I can personally attest that handwriting verses has a tremendous impact on retention and meditation. I can only imagine what the impact would have been on a king like David if he did this.
 
Having trouble with your Bible study? Maybe, do what the king did.
 
Pick a passage, read the passage, write the passage.
 
“I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” (Ps 119:48)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Never Enough

“Then Moses said to Korah, ‘Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD…” (Num 16:8-9)

Korah’s rebellion ends with the rebels being swallowed up by the earth, but it began with the phrase, “Is it not enough…?” Of all the Levites, Korah had the most significant job. The family of Korah had the privilege of carrying and caring for the most sacred elements of the temple – including the ark of the covenant itself.

These were honored men, with an honored position. They were privileged and had a holy role in the nation… but it wasn’t enough. Pr. 16:18 says “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” That was true for the family of Korah in the most literal of senses.

Pride says, “It’s not enough”. Pride is the opposite of contentment; it is an unquenchable hunger searching for a meal – competitive and focused on self-interest, always seeking to be distinguished above others. Arrogance makes us entirely dependent on “more”. Convinced of our own greatness, we become disillusioned with a world that won’t recognize us for the wonder we are. If Korah had been meek enough to accept their role, would they not have been overjoyed at their privilege to carry the ark? If Korah had been humble, would they not have seen the blessings they had to be God’s chosen tribe?

Pride clouds the vision and removes joy. The meek shall inherit the earth (Matt 5:5), but the proud will never be satisfied.

#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Every Little Bit Counts

“The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beast would grow too numerous for you.” (Deut 7:22)

When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land – it would take years to fight the battles that needed to be waged.  The strongholds would not fall easily and victories took time.  Not just courage, but patience was needed to take the land.

And that was by design.  God saw things they didn’t.  Too much victory too quickly would have been a curse instead of a blessing.  God knew that they needed success “little by little” because instant gratification sounds great but rarely is.

God works all things together for good for His people, but in His time, not in ours.  It is the seasoned warrior that looks back with perspective on the hard-fought battles.  Don’t mistake difficult times with failure.  Difficult times are just part of the process.

Hard is part of the bargain and victories take time because God is patient and wise.  “Little by little” is not failure, but progress in His time with His wisdom and not ours.  Get up every morning and do your “little by little” and let God turn it into a lot.

#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Trust the Process

“Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified…” (Num 13:27-28)
 
The twelve spies never lied about the Promised land. They agreed that the land was good and they were correct in their statements about the cities being fortified (even Moses agreed with their assessment of the inhabitants in Deut. 3:5). They had found the land to be exactly as God had told them it would be.
 
They had found God’s promises to be true, but they didn’t trust the process. We all want to go to heaven, it’s just the process of getting there we don’t like. But the process is part of the promise. The same God that told them where they were going had told them how to get there. Life’s a lot like gardening, we all like the flowers, but most of us don’t like getting our hands dirty.
 
Trust the process. Jesus isn’t just the destination – He’s the Way (Jhn 14:6). When God tells us to carry our cross, keep His commands, love our enemies, be cheerful givers, turn the other cheek, be the light of the world, and a thousand other commands that terrify us: trust the process.
 
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

The Name of the Lord

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Deut 5:11)

The most common expletive in society is the name of the One who created all society.

Think about that for a second.

What if your name was used as a cuss word?  What if everyone on the planet said your name whenever something bad happened or every time they wanted to sound shocking or just as a filler for conversation when they didn’t have anything better to say.  It would hurt.  A LOT.

God’s name is holy.  It represents Him.  Words matter and ideas have power.  It is a satanic plan that has us blaspheming His name.  ‘OMG’ isn’t cute or funny – it is irreverent and sinful.  “Oh my, God!” should be exclaimed as we fall to our knees in adoration, not as we laugh at the latest YouTube shock video.

May God forgive us our sinful words, and may His people circumcise their lips once more in honor of Him that made and died for them.

#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

God-Esteem

“The LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Num 6:24-26)
 
This is the blessing Aaron was told to give the children of Israel. The greatest blessing they could have was to have God shine upon them.
 
Forget about self-esteem. Self-esteem is dependent on self. My ego drives my value? No thanks. My ego can be deflated by a bad night’s sleep or a passing criticism from my neighbor. My ego can be overinflated by watching others fail or a false sense of security.
 
Give me this blessing. If the Lord blesses us than we are truly blessed. If the Lord values us, then we are truly valuable. If His face shines on me than my face truly shines. Moses taught us that.
 
Forget self-esteem. How does God esteem you?
 
“As the Father has loved Me [Jesus], so have I loved you. Abide in My love.” (John 15:9)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Strength Through Adversity

“Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD…” (Num 11:1)
 
Uh oh. The people became like those who complain of adversity? When was the last time I did NOT complain of adversity?!
 
We look at the complaining of the Israelites as a sign of their lack of faith, but it was also a sign of their unwillingness to suffer. Adversity is anything that is less than ideal, anything that fights against us having an easy go of it. The Israelites were complaining because they viewed discomfort as a bad thing.
 
But is it? Discomfort is almost always a sign of growth. Sore muscles mean they are getting stronger. Breaking out of your comfort zone means you are trying something new and probably learning from the experience. Adversity means discomfort and discomfort means growth.
 
The rich man was warned that he received his good things in this life and that is why he was in anguish in the next. Likewise, Lazarus received his bad things, but now is comforted in Paradise (see Lk 16:25).
 
Better to be hungry here and seek the food that satisfies.
 
Don’t complain about adversity – use it.
 
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (Jas. 1:2)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

The Mercy Seat

“Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.” (Num 7:89)
 
The ark of the covenant was a box (albeit a very fancy one) that contained, amongst other things, the tablets of stone engraved with God’s contract with Israel. That contract was God’s promise to them that if they followed Him, He would abide with them. The lid to that box was called the mercy seat and it was adorned with likenesses of two angelic beings, cherubim, whose wings stretched out and overshadowed that box… and it was between those two cherubim that God spoke to Moses.
 
The New Testament tells us that all of these things were shadows of greater spiritual things (see Hebrews 8:5).
 
Every Jew knew – God’s seat of mercy sits on top of His covenant. Without the tablets of stone, there is no box, there are no promises, and there is no mercy seat. If you want God’s mercy, you have to accept His covenant, too.
 
We won’t look for the mercy and the forgiveness without first realizing the law that we’ve broken. Nobody seeks or understands forgiveness without the foundation of a law coming first. The more we learn of the life that we should be living, the more we properly see our failure to be good enough, the more thankful we become for the One that whispers, “I forgive you” from His throne of mercy.
 
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Rom 7:22-25)
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

Humility Helps

Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” (Num 11:28-29)
 
When God allowed men to prophecy other than Moses, Joshua was concerned – but Moses rejoiced that God had elevated others.
 
Moses was the most humble man of his day (Num 12:3), and one of the purest signs of humility is that other people’s successes bring you joy instead of anxiety. The humble man can “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).
 
Pride prevents us from enjoying the victories of those around us and it prevents us from seeking their success. Humility breeds teamwork, happiness, and brotherly love.
 
Want to be a humbler person? Make it your goal to help others meet theirs.
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4

One Standard

“There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the LORD your God.” (Lev 24:22)
 
Standards are important. We set high standards for our children’s education, we expect high safety standards from the automotive industry, and we desire high standards in the hygiene of the people that handle our food. We also like uniformity to those standards. We like knowing that all restaurants expect their employees to wash their hands, and we like knowing that seat belts are functional in any car we buy. High standards must also be consistent standards for them to be effective.
 
And that is exactly what God offers us. He expects much out of us and believes us capable of meeting a higher standard of ethics and godliness. He also refuses to show partiality in that standard. Kings and peasants alike are held to one standard.
 
We should be moved by God’s high and consistent standards – touched that He would set them for all of us. It is a sign of His justice and His love for all of His creation, not just a chosen few. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world, not just part of it. His standards are a reflection of His belief that all of us can meet those standards. They are unified standards because they are attainable ones… especially since we have the hope of forgiveness in Christ when we fall short in our efforts. Rejoice in His one glorious standard, the Bible. He wrote it for all of us.
 
#Biblebites Matt. 4:4