Friendly Remarks

March 8
Daily Reading – Numbers 21-22 / Mark 11

GOD SAID:

Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

       Sometimes we have to hear things we don’t want to hear. You report to work, only to hear the foreman say; “the company has been sold and is moving. Your job is finished in a few days.” Maybe it was the flashing lights of a Police Car and the officer says; “you were driving too fast.” It may have been that you walked into the Doctor’s office and heard, “I’m sorry to tell you but you have cancer.” The person making those remarks, often has no choice. It’s the truth, and they were hired to tell you the truth, even if it hurts. In that moment, people often get mad at the boss telling them of the sale, the officer for enforcing the law, or the doctor for the bad news. Yet, before today you may have seen them as friendly. What changed?

     In our passage today, a strange conversation takes place. A donkey speaks to its owner, Balaam and says; “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Three times God allowed only Balaam’s faithful donkey to see the angel of the Lord with a Sword standing in the pathway. Three times the animal did what was best for the safety of its owner. Three times, Balaam was so intent on what he was doing, he forgot that this animal had always been faithful, and never once asked, “why are you doing this.” He simply lashes out at the one who is keeping him safe. Friendly remarks of truth, can often hurt. Don’t hate the messenger for the message.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    The hardest thing to do at times, is to tell someone the truth about themselves. Proverbs 27:5-6 says; “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Will you be a faithful friend?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12