Fri.’s Devo - Endure Till the End

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 A Nazarite vow was when someone promises to do something concrete for the Lord or to give a certain thing to the Lord. That person is not to drink wine or strong drink because this is something he should be very sober about. Also he must not let a razor touch his head which is to remind him of his promise. In the Hebrew a razor meant to “empty or make bare.” I wonder if this means he is not to empty his mind of or let anything distract him from his vow. He is not to go near a dead body. In the Hebrew one of the meanings of the dead was “anyone worthy of death.” I wonder if this means, we are not to get involved with the world while we are fulfilling our vow. Apparently, this vow is a very serious thing and should not be taken lightly. *** When the vow is completed, the man can finally shave the burden of his hair. He is to bring the hair and put it on the fire that is under the peace offering. Then the priest will take the shoulder of the ram when it is cooked and one unleavened wafer and put it in the hands of the Nazarite. The priest will wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. Then the Nazarite may drink wine. He may have joy! *** God told Moses to have Aaron bless the people with a blessing of peace. He put his name on the people of Israel. *** When Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle the chiefs of all the tribes brought six wagons full of sacrificial animals. Two tribes went together to fill one wagon. He gave two of these wagons and four of the ox to the sons of Gershon and the other four wagons and eight ox to the sons of Merari. He gave none to the sons of Kohath because their duty was the sacred holy things. *** For twelve days the different tribes brought their offering to the Lord. They each gave silver plates, basins, flour mixed with oil, a golden dish, a bull, a ram, a lamb and a male goat. Also two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs were given. *** They all gave the same offering in the order that they marched with Judah going on the first day and Naphtali ended on the twelfth day. All of Leah’s sons, except Asher were listed first, then her concubine’s sons, then Rachael’s sons then her concubine’s sons. *** These offerings ended the dedication ceremony of the altar. Moses went into the tent of meeting and heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him above the mercy seat. Tomorrow we will hear what God said. *** In Mark, after reading all the great offerings that the tribes brought to the Lord, we read about a widow how brought two small copper coins which total one cent. Jesus made the comment that she had given more than all the people who gave out of their abundance. She had given all that she had. He was trying to tell us that it is not how much to give but how you give. *** The disciples were leaving the temple and commented on the wonderful stones and buildings around the temple. Jesus told them that the day was coming when not one of these stones would be left in its place. Jesus was not only referring to the buildings, but the whole system of worship. *** When Jesus was alone with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Peter came and asked him when all this would happen. He told them that when people rise up claiming to be the Messiah, and when they see kingdoms rising up against one another, and hear of earthquakes, and famines, then the birth pains have begun. *** During that time his followers will be persecuted and lied against. They will be brought to trial and judged wrongly, but the Holy Spirit will give them their defense. Families will turn against one another and his children will be hated for bearing the name of Christ. Those who endure till the end will be saved. *** Lord, we rejoice because we are living in these times of birth pains. We can rejoice because the Kingdom of God is at hand! May we endure till the end!