Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Peace”
Our Bible verse for today: “The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:22-26
Our thought for today: “The Lord speaks words of peace over you.”
I love that passage from Numbers chapter six. It so clearly expresses the heart of God for us. He wants us to have a wonderful sense of being blessed by Him, and an awareness of His grace in our lives, and a deep sense of peace – so much so that He instructed Moses to have Aaron and his sons (the priests of the nation) to regularly speak these words of blessing over the people.
In those days the nation of Israel was still in the time of wandering. They had left Egypt but had not yet arrived in the Promised Land. For long periods they traveled, day after day after day. Then they settled in one spot for a while but when they did, they worked hard. They repaired their tents and other equipment, they tended to their animals, they mended their clothes, and much more. Whether they were traveling or stationary their lives were filled with work and activities, from early in the morning till late in the evening, day after day.
That being the case, keeping the Sabbath was an important and even vital part of their weekly routine. They needed the break. Sabbath was about more than just gathering with their church families for times of worship, it was about rest too. Much needed rest. And interestingly, it was on the Sabbath that they would have heard Aaron speak those words of blessing from God. It was on the Sabbath, while they were worshiping and resting, that they would have heard their Minister pronounce words of blessing, grace, and peace from the Lord upon their lives.
By the time you read this you will probably be nearing the end of a busy week. What will you do this weekend? Will it be filled with more work, more activities, more responsibilities, or will you rest and worship? Of course we can experience the blessings and the peace of God at any time, but Sabbath is the time set aside for us by God for rest, renewal, and peace.
The Lord wants to bless you. He wants you to experience rest, renewal and peace. He wants you to hear those words of blessing pronounced over your life. I encourage you to gather with your church family this weekend.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 