Day 76

Right. I'm catching up before Christmas... Onto business then,

Today’s readings

Numbers 5:11-6:27
Luke 2:1-20
Proverbs 7:6-20

So the Old Testament readings continue with some tough reading on adultery which seems weighted against women. So much heartache and hurt comes from people misunderstanding or misusing the Old Testament laws and I feel this is another example here where this could really upset people and turn them away from God. So how do we understand it? Where's the truth? Well to me this isn't law or commandment meant for today but a historical record of how God was having to work hard to turn this rag tag bunch of people to Him and to having a loving attitude. They were so far removed from the ideal way of behaving that God seems to be having to drag people back little by little. I think that all of these laws need to be looked on as historical and within a context of Jesus' ethic of love for everyone. If we read something that doesn't seem like it can be carried out with a loving attitude then it can't be the way God intended it.

Reading this I'm straight away thinking of John's sermon at Impact with the POP :) There's two things that have settled on me today from this passage that we've all heard loads recently! First is how the shepherds RUN to see Jesus. I love that. They're terrified but excited and just go running without a thought for what they're leaving behind. Secondly is how their story impresses everyone who hears it. That's like someone on Jeremy Kyle captivating the whole tv audience with their wisdom! God's truth is so exciting and relevant that it makes anyone into an impressive speaker! Excellent news indeed and just showing why we should have confidence in inviting people to hear about God at Christmas.

Finally we get a very confusing bit of Proverbs which kind of needs the rest of its chapter to give it some context. But I think it shows that we have to be careful with being tricked by things that appear ok. This woman has prepared herself to sleep with this guy as though she's going to marry him but then let slips that she's married. I guess this is like the Old Testament laws. We need to be careful that we don't outright dismiss what is written there because God put that law there for a reason and so can't just hide behind what feels easiest. It's a tough cookie certainly...

Onto the next one