I have been reading the book of Numbers the last couple of days. I decided to journal some of my reflections today and thought that you all might like to hear them as well.
Chapter 5: Talking about defilement, God instructs the people to send those who are unclean outside the camp, which are all lepers and those who have any form of discharge. I love Hebrews chapter 13 which says that Jesus went outside the camp to suffer. In Numbers we learn that this kind of uncleanness is disgusting to God because it is a result of sin and separation from Him. So, He sends people away because they have chosen defilement over intimacy with Him. When Jesus comes, He goes outside the camp. He goes to the ones who are physically unclean to show that He has come to redeem all, even the worst of the worst who have been sent outside of the camp. I was listening to a song this morning by Brave Saint Saturn titled “Under Bridges”. In this song the Least of These are the highlight. At the end, the lyrics are: Jesus Christ dying of AIDS can look right through you. And all have hated, Crucified and walked away. The Savior of the prostitutes, Drunkards, rapists and the gays. Jesus suffered with those who were cast out. He continues to suffer with those who are cast out, He loves and came to be the Savior of the entire world, including the prostitutes, drunkards, rapists and the gays. The challenge for us is whether or not we will truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus and choose to go to the prostitutes, drunkards, rapists, and gays. Hebrews 13:12-14 “Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
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Seeing as that we are on kind of a song kick I thought I would throw in my two cents. Well maybe more like Matthew Thiessen's two cents (The lead singer of Relient K). In the song “Failure to Excommunicate.” He says this:
"Jesus loves the outcast, He loves the ones the world just loves to hate. As long as there's a heaven, there’ll be a failure to excommunicate.”
I love the way Matt puts it, there is a “failure to excommunicate”. Jesus came to the earth and died and rose again so that we can be made clean. I think if we truly have the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives; we will be focused on the heart of God. And as far as I can tell, His heart is in helping the helpless and loving the people who love world just loves to hate. We need to be suffering outside of the camp. I guess the next step is to work out what that means in our own life. Thanks for the challenging words Kirsten!
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