19 June 2010
Psalm 87, 90; Num. 13:31-14:25; Rom. 3:9-20; Matt. 19:1-12

Why did the people suddenly come to the conclusion that the conquest of the land was up to them? We do this all the time in the church and in our lives, we see well when we see that we lack the resources to accomplish what we believe the Lord has called us to undertake in His Name and yet we come to the wrong conclusion, we lack faith. The people heard the discouraging news that the people of the land were giants and they lost heart. It doesn’t take long for discouragement to spread among a group of people when they realize the odds are against them but what that should mean is that they become a people of prayer. Our faith will be tested in this way from time to time, does our response to the test change or do we continue in unbelief? The cost of unbelief here was that these would not see the great victory of the conquest of the land. What do we miss due to unbelief?

Jesus raises the bar on marriage. Marriage is not something to be entered into lightly, it is meant to be a lifetime commitment. Jesus goes back to the original intent, not to the law of Moses, the man and wife are essentially to be re-joined flesh. Just as woman was taken from man, so in marriage they are reunited with one another physically. Listen to Adam’s exclamation when he first saw the woman: "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." It is only after sin enters the picture that divorce is an issue. It is a great sadness that the church has abandoned this in many places.

Paul says that the law convicts every person of sin, without exception we are all guilty, we all stand before the judgment seat in need of pardon, it is our only hope. There is not a single person, other than Jesus, who has ever lived who can enter a plea of innocence. Jesus is the only one who ever successfully navigated life in such a way as to stand before the throne and be found acceptable (see Revelation 5). His laying down of that perfection in order to take on our sin is the sacrifice necessary for us to have eternal life. His righteousness covers our sins, pays the price so that we can live. All that is required of us is that we believe that He was without sin and that the Father has accepted His one oblation of Himself once offered. Faith is the key to life and that faith changes our lives as we live in it.

Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!