INCARNATE

WHAT DOES GOD need?

Good Bible students might reply, “It depends–on whether we are talking about God the Spirit (John 4:24), or God in the flesh (John 1:14).”

God the Spirit has no needs, while God in the flesh had very real needs.

It’s true.

Paul said, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  Nor is he worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:24-25).

Think about that.

God the Spirit doesn’t need anything.

Anything.

The fancy, theological term for this is “aseity.”

It means God is enough all by Himself (Isa. 4:28-32).

He exists and is self-sustained before us, after us, and is independent of us (Gen. 17:1; Exo. 3:13-14).

He doesn’t need us, nor does He rely upon us (Psa. 50:9-12).

But we can’t say that about God in the flesh–Jesus Christ.

During His earthly sojourn, the Son of Man experienced the very same needs that you and I require to live.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

Jesus shared our human-ness.

“Shared”–yes, that’s the Greek word koinonia from which we get our word “fellowship.”

In a manner of speaking, “He put skin on” and experienced that which man has grappled with since the beginning.

• He hungered (Mat. 4:2; 21:18).
• He experienced thirst (John 4:7; 19:28).
• He knew fatigue and weariness (Mat. 8:24; Mark 4:38; John 4:6).

Let me say it again.

God the Spirit doesn’t need anything, while God who shared flesh and blood needed water, food, and rest.

The Water of Life (John 4:14) needed water, the Bread of Life (John 6:35) needed bread, and He who is our Rest (Heb. 4:1-11) needed rest.

But now, consider this.

We are commanded in the Scriptures to serve God (Deut. 11:13; Josh. 24:15; Psm. 2:11;; Mat. 6:24; John 12:26; Heb. 9:14).

Typically, those who require service have needs of some degree–but as we noted earlier, that can’t be said of God the Spirit.

So here’s the quandary.

If God the Spirit doesn’t need anything, then exactly how do we serve Him?

It’s kind of like asking, “What do I get for the person who has everything?”  (And in this case, He does have everything).

The answer is–one of the ways we serve God is by serving others.

Watch it.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” (Mat. 25:34-40).

Dear reader, are you serving God?

Are you humbling yourself and give of your time, effort and finances to those who have desperate needs?

We are literally surrounded by the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick and once-imprisoned.

They all need help–and most of all, the need to see the Savior–in you.

Think about it (1 Cor. 15:58).

“God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it’s gonna be!” – Mike

It was bedtime.

It was reading from my One Year Bible and highlighting excerpts which caught my attention.

The daily reading had already been pre-chosen, and I simply had to turn to the appropriate date and study the assigned chapters.

This evening’s particular selection came from Numbers 8:1-9:23.

It addressed the arrangement and lighting of lamps in the Tabernacle (vv. 1-4), the installation of Levites (vv. 5-22) and their length of service (vv. 23-26), instructions pertaining to delayed observance of the Passover feast (9:6-14), and certain divine provisions for the nation’s guidance by the cloud (15-23).

As I worked my way through the inspired text, I couldn’t help but be struck by a certain profound repetition.

Over and over again I found phraseology to this effect:

• “As the LORD commanded…” 8:3
• “According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses…” 8:4
• “According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses…” 8:20
• “According to all that the LORD commanded Moses…” 9:5
• “According to all the ordinances…” 9:12
• “At the command of the LORD…” 9:18a
• “At the command of the LORD…” 9:18b
• “Kept the charge of the LORD…” 9:19
• “According to the command of the LORD…” 9:20a
• “According to the command of the LORD…” 9:20b
• “At the command of the LORD…” 9:23a
• “At the command of the LORD…” 9:23b
• “The charge of the LORD…” 9:23c
• “At the command of the LORD…” 9:23d

If my count was correct, I noticed that at least 13 times the Lord through Moses told Israel WHAT to do, as well as HOW to perform these aforementioned tasks.

The nation was obliged to discharge certain specific religious duties–“at the command of the LORD”–and it was evident that could be no deviation or amendment, neither could Israel resign herself from Jehovah’s instructions.

His will was clear, explicit and unalterable.

It was not by accident that Moses laid this recurrent stress.

“The things that were written previously (i.e., in the Old Testament) were for our instruction…” (Rom. 15:4 McCord).

God through Moses wanted not only to impress obedience upon fleshly Israel, but also upon spiritual Israel–the church (Gal. 6:16).

While we live under a different covenant from our ancestors (Heb. 8:7-13), it is clear from Scripture that we too must execute the Lord’s wishes (John 14:15).

Whether it pertains to how to worship, when to worship, the role of women, how to enact forgiveness, church discipline, rebuking error, standing for the truth, our attitude in giving, the role and function of shepherds, repenting of sin, etc., the Lord wants us to do His will and to do it in the prescribed way (Col. 3:17).

He has revealed it to us in His Word.

Beloved, let’s avail ourselves individually and collectively to the guidance He has not only provided but commanded.

“God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it’s gonna be!” – Mike

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in 2012

THE TWO OF you seem to struggle with this particular purchase each year…

It’s not that you have to give me anything.  I understand that you would like to, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but it’s not necessary.

I don’t need another tie.  (Don’t tell your mother I said that).  I have plenty, and the ties I wear, I prefer to pick out myself anyway.

Clothes are hard to buy for me right now.  Maybe it’s something in the Hattiesburg water, or it could be all of these great cooks who want to feed the preacher, but I’ve gained nearly 30 pounds since we’ve moved to South Mississippi!  (Mom keeps patting me on the belly and asking, “When’s the baby due…?”)  Clothes that fit are needed, but finding the right size is something of a challenge.  Let me go to the store instead, if you don’t mind.

Books are always good, but unless you know exactly what particular subject I’m studying right now, another volume might just take up precious shelf space.

Your mother and I have been looking at outdoor grills as of late.  Ever since we left our Weber in Indiana, the two of us have had this craving for barbeque chicken.  That would be a special gift, but I know it’s out of both of your budgets—and that’s okay.  Roger’s Movie Star chicken is better than anything I could cook up anyway.

I’ll tell you what I’d really like—what means the most to me, and I’ve already received it.  I’d like your continued faithfulness to the Lord (Matt. 25:23; Eph. 1:1; Rev. 2:10).

Your mother and I pray for the two of you every day.  We always have.  Even when you were both just infants in our arms, we petitioned the Lord on your behalf.  We prayed that both of you would develop your own faith.  We prayed that both of you would find and marry young Christian men who would help you to go to heaven—and vice versa.  We prayed that both of you would raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I could own all of the best ties in the world, I could wear the nicest, best-fitting shirts Turtle Creek Mall has to offer, and I could have the best library in the brotherhood—but these gifts wouldn’t mean anything if the two of your weren’t following the Savior.  The truth is, my greatest Father’s Day gift can’t be wrapped up in a package or stuffed into an envelope with a funny Hallmark card.  Your devotion to Jesus Christ is what I covet the most.

Katie, you’ll be headed for Freed-Hardeman, Lord willing, next year, and then both of you will be away from home.  Mom and I aren’t quite prepared for that yet, but the transition will be made easier because we know that you and Bethany hold certain spiritual priorities (Matthew 6:33; 2 Timothy 1:5):

• Continue to attend worship “every time the doors are open” (Heb. 10:25).
• Continue to read, study, and investigate the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15).
• Stay involved in Bible camp, mission works, and VBS (1 Cor. 15:58).
• Keep yourselves pure (2 Tim. 2:22).
• Serve those who are in need (Jas. 1:27).

I’m proud of you both.  You’re wonderful Christian daughters!

Love you,

Dad

PS:  Okay, I take it back, a book would be good too.