Tues., 5/14/19 Devotion (Num. 21:4b-5a)

Today's encouragement comes from Numbers 21:4b & 5a, where we read these words:

" . . . and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses . . . "

The natural reaction of people walking in the flesh (and not The Spirit) is to lash out at God and His ministers—especially when they (the grumblers) are really discouraged or downhearted. This inevitably happens—even among professing Christians—when faith in Christ (and its resultant humility and re-pentance) is not being exercised. Sometimes we are very sophisticated in our "speaking against God"; and instead of it taking overt forms of expression, it is the attitude and verbiage of our hearts.

Let all the faithful church be careful to ascribe blame to ourselves and other sinners alone; and always to believe and assert (in earnest) the absolute righteousness and perfection of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Father may send troubles our way—but instead of grumbling about them, let us seek to grow by and through them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "A heartless, drooping, and discouraging life and walk is very unbecoming the gospel of Christ.” —James Durham, in, "The Un-searchable Riches of Christ"]