The LORD was so angry with Aaron that he wanted to destroy him, too. But I prayed for Aaron, and the LORD spared him.Deu:9:20
Aaron had sinned by building the calf for Israelites to worship when Moses was on the mount of Sinai for 40 days. GOD was so angry with Aaron.
And Moses prayed for GOD to spare him and GOD listened to Moses.
Moses prays for Aaron and Miriam
13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” Num12:13
When Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses. GOD punished Miriam with leprosy. GOD is very angry with both of them and HE speaks highly of Moses.
And when Moses cries out to GOD for Miriam, GOD hears him.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Job:42:9,10
Job prays for his friends
When Job prays for his friends those who were bad to him, GOD listens and forgives them and blesses Job in double measure.
We are called to pray for others
Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.James 5:14,15 NLT
Pray for those who persecute you
44 But I say, love your enemies!Pray for those who persecute you! Mt:5:44
Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is what GOD wants us to do. There is great blessing stored for us when we do that.
Pray for those who hurt you
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Luke:6:28
Blessing those who curse us and praying for those who hurt us makes way for GOD to bless us in return. HE rewards us greatly. When we start fighting our battles on our knees, GOD will send HIS angels to fight on our behalf.
When we choose to pray for those who mistreat us, curse us or do us wrong GOD will speak on our behalf.
We will not need to defend ourselves, when Himself GOD will defend us.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Ps:23:5
Have a great day blessing others specially your enemies!!!
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt:11:29
This is the only verse where JESUS opens up HIS heart to reveal who HE is. HE is humble and gentle at heart.
On this Maundy Thursday as we reflect on the last Supper and the events unfolding leading upto the crucifixion of JESUS, let’s take a closer look at JESUS’s character- humility. Knowing that HE is GOD’s Son, although HE is GOD himself, JESUS set an example to His disciples by washing their feet.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. Jn:13:3-5
The WORD of GOD(JESUS) through whom the entire universe and everything that exists was created HE Himself stoops down and picks up the dirty dusty feet of His disciples with HIS Sovereign Hands and washes it and wipes it clean. It is very hard to imagine thats why Peter one of His disciples wouldn’t let Him wash his feet initially. If the King of Kings Himself can do such a lowly task then neither of us can think of ourselves too highly.
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. Jn:13:12-17
JESUS taught us to serve one another in humility.
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mt:20:26-28
JESUS came to serve and give HIS own life as a ransom for all mankind. Let us humble ourselves like JESUS. GOD hates pride.
Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Prov:16:18
Whether at home or out in the world as children of GOD lets forsake pride and exhibit humility.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James:4:10
The reward for humility is great. The LORD Himself promises to lift us up.
When JESUS was mocked, beaten, spat upon and humiliated like no-one else for no fault of His own, HE never opened HIS mouth. Today how many of us can keep quite when someone insults us or gossips behind our back or accuses of wrong doing or condemns us. It’s very very difficult, our very first reaction is to retaliate and throw insults back. It’s human nature to give tit for tat. Even as we meditate on the Cross and HIS suffering, let’s learn about this beautiful character of JESUS-humility and gentleness.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Gal:5:22-23
JESUS was gentle. Gentleness is a fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT.
When JESUS approached sinners He wasn’t arrogant but gentle. When we are filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, gentleness becomes natural to us as its one of the fruit. A good tree produces good fruit. Let us strive to produce the good fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT even as we spend time with the LORD through HIS Word engrained within us and with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT and HIS divine guidance. When you feel most difficult to show any humility or gentleness in you life, just look to the cross, think about what JESUS did as mentioned in the below verse.
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Is:53:7
JESUS the Lion of Judah took the form of a humble Lamb. How much more should we exhibit humility and gentleness!
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Mt:11:28-30
Learn from JESUS for HE is willing to teach you. HE says “Come to me and I will teach you to be humble and gentle”. And the reward that follows is rest for our souls. Today we are carrying unnecessary burdens, strifes, hatred, bitterness and unforgiveness, let us surrender it all to JESUS and learn to be humble and gentle like HIM.
Spiritual Nuggets 4 U 