– Scripture:

‘Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you up front when you sent your emissaries, ‘Even if Balak gave me his palace stuffed with silver and gold, I couldn’t do anything on my own, whether good or bad, that went against God ’s command’? I’m leaving for home and my people, but I warn you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” Then he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, decree of the man with 20/20 vision, Decree of the man who hears godly speech, who knows what’s going on with the High God, Who sees what The Strong God reveals, who bows in worship and sees what’s real. I see him, but not right now, I perceive him, but not right here; A star rises from Jacob a scepter from Israel, Crushing the heads of Moab, the skulls of all the noisy windbags; I see Edom sold off at auction, enemy Seir marked down at the flea market, while Israel walks off with the trophies. A ruler is coming from Jacob who’ll destroy what’s left in the city. * * *

                                Numbers 24:15 MSG

– Reflection:

                God’s Plan Will Always Be Fulfilled

Balaam made this prediction of Jesus’ birth 1,400 years before it happened. At that time, the nation of Moab was afraid of the approaching Israelites because of their power. Balak, the king of Moab, tried to use the sorcerer Balaam to negotiate with God, but God’s will could not be negotiated. Although Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites, God used Balaam to bless them and make a prophecy about the Messiah instead. Even though we may not know all the details of a person’s existence, God does, and that’s what matters. If you come from a difficult background, God knows and will help you through it. Prophets may not be as well-known as they were in the past, but occasionally, an elder may have a message that aligns perfectly with a person’s life. Your life is already planned, and you need to honor the Creator and follow the path he has set for you.

Where do we go from here?

The star did come out of Jacob because Jacob fathered Joseph, and Joseph fathered Jesus, the Messiah. A star hung in the sky above Jesus after His birth (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11), prompting the wise men to follow the signal and find the King of the Jews, the scepter risen out of Israel. God’s plan will always be fulfilled, as is evident throughout history. Though we do not know how He hangs the stars in the sky, we can know Who the Bright Morning Star is through studying His Word. Holy Father, let us not negotiate with You and instead honor Your Word with our lives so Your will can be done.

Our Prayer for Today

“Father, thank you for the opportunity to be like a grain of sand on your beach. Even though we are washed and thrown around throughout our lives, you know the reasons why. When the time is right, you will place us in the right place to become the pearls we need to be. Allow us to honor you daily with our praise and worship. Amen.”

‘Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.” ‘

                         John 9:3 MSG

– Reflection:

             Working or Watching

Do you ever feel like you spend too much of your life just watching? I mean, what’s your personal ratio of time spent watching to time spent working on things that align with your purpose and passions, such as those things mandated by the two great commandments?

‘Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” ‘

The words above belong to Jesus, not me. We should use him as a guide to discover who we are meant to be.

Where do we go from here?

It can be difficult for many of us, including myself, to grasp the importance of love and faith. However, these values are essential to being a part of the body of Christ. Without them, our efforts are essentially meaningless. Although acknowledging our human nature makes this challenging, there are people who are committed to living in accordance with God’s will and striving to walk with Him each day. This conviction is what motivates me to wake up every morning and strive to fulfill the purpose for which I was created by our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior.

Our Prayer for Today

“Father, thank you for another day in your presence. We are all ready to begin our day with you leading us. You sent your son to show us how and left your word for us to follow. Today, we will use those tools to honor you, bring glory to your name, and help those who need us. Amen.”