DAY 62

MOVING FORWARD…WITH GOD

Numbers 26, 27 & 28 and Mark 8

Christianity is always one generation away from extinction. In fact most religions fall into this situation. Unless there are people of faith, practicing it and living it, then it becomes stale and dies. The key is not so much trying to “hold on” as it is moving forward with God. As the next generation comes of age God is moving, moving forward, and they are invited to join him.

In the Old Testament we truly have the next generation coming into its own. Aaron has passed on and Eleazar is now in his place. All the households are re-counted, and Moses successor is identified. There is a moment (that some might be surprised to read) where God points out that women have rights to land! While God is moving His people forward to the Promise Land, the new generation is reminded of the sacrifices to be offered. These are God appointed offerings; to be God’s people is not to throw off all He has given, rather it is to take hold of it.

In the Gospel Jesus is moving – it must have been a challenge to keep up with him. He: feeds 4,000, refuses to let the Pharisees slow him down with the need for signs, cautions the disciples regarding how the Pharisees and Herod can literally stop them dead in the tracks, and heals a blind man. It is a rapid-fire chapter when we get to Caesarea Philippi; Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus then foretells his death and resurrection. We have looked at this moment before on January 25.

Jesus is moving forward, and it at first seems as if the disciples, certainly Peter get it. But then something happens. Jesus tells people that moving forward involves the Cross. Peter tries to “put the brakes on” and redirect Jesus. Jesus will have nothing to do with this – “Get behind me Satan!” Jesus is moving forward - and sometimes that can appear foreboding.

We must too, we just need to use this Peter moment as a reminder to stay in synch with God. It is the same point the new generation in the Old Testament is being reminded of with regard to the sacrifices. It could have been easy for them to think that now that they were in charge all that could be ignored. The key is to stay in step with God. When we do there will be days we are moving forward into completely new areas, and days we are moving forward using the well establish paths of God – we need to check ourselves and make sure we have not become independent of Him – after all, He is much better at this then we are.