Day 78

Here we go!

Today’s readingsNumbers 7:66-9:14
Luke 2:41-52
Psalm 35:11-18


So there're a few bits to the Numbers passage. First we have the end of the identical gifts which is showing again how everyone is valued equally and God doesn't require anyone to give differently than their neighbour, rather that they give their best. Then we have the purification of the Levites. I think this is very hard to get excited about but it does warm me how much attention God pays to those who are specifically going to be working for Him. Certainly we're all equal in His eyes but  I think this shows that God realises how hard working for Him can be and so makes sure that there is provision for those who He calls. Finally we get a passage on the Passover and it made me think of all the hoo hah that happens every year over whether Christmas is too secular or what not. Well to me God is saying that everyone can celebrate and worship Him regardless of their background, as long as they keep Him at the centre. So we should be striving to keep Christian holidays important and God centred but rather than criticising the secular elements I think we should be highlighting the God elements and showing people that they can still have the same Christmas but should recognise God ought to be at the centre of it.

The New Testament passage starts with a quick fast forward as it appears nothing happened to Jesus and His parents for the next 12 years. I wonder what tribulations both of them went through in that time. Jesus was fully human after all and so must have bawled at times. I think it shows to me that God isn't going to make every day a highlight for us no matter how close we get to Him and sometimes it just takes us dedicating ourselves to Him and carrying on existing till He uses us again. It can seem like God forgets us sometimes I guess but here we have a 12 year period where nothing of consequence happens to Jesus, Joseph and Mary and there's obviously no way God forgot them! Then we get Jesus being a naughty runaway! Which some might see it as definitely. I could imagine many parents would go balistic at their child for running away as Mary does but I doubt the majority of them would ever accept an excuse for doing it. And for all the Daily Mail does to try and convince us that this is the scariest time to be a child in the world, things were a lot more dangerous and scary back then for a missing child! And yet through all of this torment and panic there's a sense of serenity and grace at the end as Jesus explains why He was in the Temple and then grows up to be a man obedient to His earthly parents as well as to God. This is a challenge to me at the moment because I feel like this is showing how distractions do happen but they really only ought to be from God. So focus Hancock. There's blogs to write and a God to get to know better!

Finally our Psalm continues and we see that God won't always step in as quickly as we need and I think the Psalmist is getting mixed up as to why they worship. He's seeming to expect that his praise will be rewarded with blessings but we have to realise that praise is what we ought to do regardless of the benefits! Trusting in God's wisdom, mercy and ultimate provision has to be our only hope.

Onto the next one