A Precise Process

So, I'm reading the book of Numbers yesterday and the chapter I'm reading is intense. So many bulls for sacrifice, followed by so many oxen, then the goats. The amounts of each sacrifice changed depending on the day, but it was non-stop! In modern times, it would be an all-day affair, let alone, their reality. Thus, one thing is for sure with God...

The process is precise.

One-third of an ephah. One-quarter of a bushel.

At this time... and on this day.
Nothing could be out of order or out of place. It was specific; it was exact.

And we see this elsewhere, such as Noah with the Ark and Solomon with the building of the Temple.

But back to the sacrifice, perhaps there was a unique reason.

Is it not possible, that if evil is overcome with good; then that the worst kind of evil should be overcome with the greatest kind of good? Then it stands to reason, that the sins of all humanity could only be resolved by one who was so perfect, that He was out of this world! (see what I did there)

If we learned anything from the old testament covenant, is that like all relationships, our relationship with God requires work and effort. And it's not that our salvation depends on it, for surely it's what Christ accomplished; however, the quality of our faith and what God desires to accomplish in us is a direct result of the time and effort that we put into our relationship with God (wow... I really need to stop preaching to myself!  #convictedwhiletyping)

Having said that, God does have a plan. And it is precise. There is an order. And yet we struggle to submit to the plan. As Dave Ramsey always says, "Adults devise a plan and follow it. Children do what feels good." Submitting to His plan and how He would have us do things isn't always easy. And we do devise our own plan, we often do so, without His help and leading and in alignment with His will. Tough as it is, it's necessary and works better when we do.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for those pastors struggling with plans and purposes. Pray for those who are having difficulty submitting to God's plan of what He would have and is calling them to do. Pray for wisdom and direction, for those who are need of clarity regarding a situation because there isn't a plan or process, or they are unsure of how to proceed. Pray too, that God would grant a grace, for times past when the plan was missed and fouled and even not submitted to and aligned under. May God help them progress, in the preciseness of the process.

For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC