Number 9

"Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud stayed upon the tabernacle, remaining on it, the sons of Israel stayed in their tents and did not journey. But when it was taken up, they pulled up stakes" (Nums 9:22)

People are always looking for methods. Why? Becuase methods are great for getting things done which you don't like to do. Think about washing the dishes. Immediately I think of my method to get them done as fast as possible an efficiently. Think of raking the yard. Often times the method at my house is, one person rakes, the other bags, the other cleans up the remainders and pulls the bags to the front.

Methods are not a good thing for the church, or a Christian. Why? Because the point of a method is to get something done, and that is not the point of our relationships with Christ. In this chapter we learn about the pillar. Observe the verse up above. If the pillar stays, we stay, if it moves, we move. Israel would simply watch the pillar day and night. There was no order. The pillar did not work 8 hours, take a 30, and continue moving. Israel had to stay focused on it always.

In our lives we are to stay wholly focused on Jesus and led of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Pillar. Galatians 5:25 NIV tells us, "If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." There is no way to make a method of your Christian walk. You are either keeping in step or you are falling away. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, follow ever so closely, and keep in step.