Daily Reading: Numbers 35-36
Numbers 35:34
Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
Just as the Lord God dwelled among the children of Israel, He dwells among us today. II Corinthians 6:16 proves it; And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Since Adam and Eve walked on the face of the earth, the Lord has dwelled among His people. Remember, He fellowshipped with those two in the garden of Eden. II Chronicles 16:9 states: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Five times Isaiah said the arm of the Lord is stretched out still. And the writer of Hebrews confirmed this: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Yes, let it be said a thousand times, the Lord dwells among His people. During His earthly ministry it is said of the Lord Jesus, And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. Luke 24:36 Now, that the Lord is no longer physically on the earth He promised this in Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Mark it down, print it with three-inch headlines, carve it in stone, the Lord dwells among His people.
Paul learned this. After the death of Christ and His ascension Jesus confronted Paul on the road to Damascus with an interesting question. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Paul had authority to arrest anyone who claimed Christ as Savior, and he did so with a vengeance even putting some to death (remember Steven). But Christ said that Paul was persecuting Him. Why, because Christ dwells among His people. Yet, wait! More than dwelling with His people, He dwells in them! Meaning whatever Paul did to a child of God, he did to God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
During Israel's wilderness wanderings God dwelled with His people in the tabernacle. Then He dwelled with His people in the Temple. Today, God dwells with His people in their hearts as proven by 1 Corinthians 3:16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? He is there, He is here, He is everywhere all the time in every place just as verses like Proverbs 15:3 prove: The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Take comfort dear loved one of Christ, He is with you all the way unto the end just as He promised; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Until tomorrow, live for Christ today.
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