Skip to main content

cities of refuge


For a long time I have been intrigued by the Old Testament sharing about cities of refuge.  These were cities set aside as a place where people can find safety when they had a need.  

We often can provide for refuges.  This is a hot topic in our country.  There legal and illegal refugees, but all of them are children of God and special to God. All people ought to have respect and honor for people.

Joshua 21:13  NLT
The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Libnah,

Numbers 35:25  NLT
The community must protect the slayer from the avenger and must escort the slayer back to live in the city of refuge to which he fled. There he must remain until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the sacred oil.

You get the picture.  When someone was accidentally killed, the one accused could find safety in a city of refuge until they are found innocent or guilty.

My point is this just love people.  You don’t have to be the judge and jury.  We do need to be honest and do it with love.  Remember the character of our God when it comes to call people, whether we like them or not, whether we think they deserve grace or not.  Everyone deserves kindness the love of God.

The character of our God is clear:

Psalm 34:18  NLT
The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Romans 5:8  NLT
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

John 13:35  NLT
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

God is close to those who are hurting!  God sent His son when we didn’t deserve it!  God loves us and we show others His love as we love!

May we be like cities of refuge to those who come in to our lives.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!
10 comments
Read more

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...
Post a Comment
Read more

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  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… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....
Post a Comment
Read more