Reflection on Numbers 12:1–16
In
the previous chapter, Moses expressed a desire for all of God’s people to be
able to prophesy, a desire echoed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:1–5.
The ability to hear God and speak forth his thoughts and purposes was not to be
limited to a select few. But when Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, attempted
to downplay Moses’ unique relationship with God and elevate themselves, they
were disciplined. In this case, there were normal prophets (seeNumbers 12:6), and then
there was Moses, who spoke to the Lord face to face (verses7–8).
Astonishingly,
this is the kind of relationship we are urged to pursue. In fact, we are
offered an even better one (see 2 Corinthians 3:12–18).
We are being transformed into Christ’s image and given an invitation to seek
the Lord’s face freely.
HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference
to one another in honor
A
pastor came to see me one day asking, "How can I get out of my
church?"
"Why
do you want out?" I asked him. "What's wrong with your church?"
"I've
got a bunch of losers in my church."
"Losers?
I wonder if they are really losers or if they just see themselves as losers because
that's how you see them."
He
agreed that it was probably the latter. And he was right, because there are no
losers in the kingdom of God--none whatsoever. How can a child of God be called
a loser? As important as it is for you to believe in your true identity as a
child of God, it is equally important that you perceive other Christians for
who they are and treat them accordingly.
I
believe that the greatest determinant of how we treat people is how we perceive
them. If we see people as losers, we will begin to believe that they are
losers. And if we believe they are losers, we will treat them like losers and
they will mirror our behavior and act like losers. But if we perceive our
brothers and sisters in Christ as redeemed, righteous saints, we will treat
them as saints and they will be greatly helped in behaving as saints.
When
Paul led Onesimus, a runaway slave, to Christ, he sent him back to his master
and told Philemon to accept him as a beloved brother (Philemon 16). We need to
perceive and treat all believers, regardless of their socioeconomic strata, as
beloved brothers. Peter instructed husbands to treat their wives as fellow
heirs of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). Your spouse, regardless of his or her
faults, is your spiritual equal and must be treated accordingly.
The
New Testament clearly states that we are saints who sin. Any child of God who
says he doesn't sin is called a liar (1 John 1:8). But we are not to focus on
one another's sins. Instead we are called to perceive the Christlike nature in
each other, believe in each other as saints, and build each other up.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord,
that love covers a multitude of sins. Help me to be loving and accepting of
others today instead of critical.
source:
No comments:
Post a Comment