Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 18
Wednesday


SMILE!

READ:
Numbers 6:22-27
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The LORD make His
face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
__Numbers 6:25
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A recent study that I read concluded that smiling can be good for your health. Research shows that smiling slows down the heart and reduces stress.

But smiling isn't just good for you; a genuine smile blesses those on the receiving end as well. Without saying a word, it can tell others that you like them and that you are pleased with them. A smile can hug someone with love without giving them even the slightest touch.

Life does not always give us a reason to smile. But when we see a heart-felt smile on a child's face or through aged wrinkles, our hearts are encouraged.

Smiles are also a hint of the image of God in us. In the ancient blessing recorded in the book of Numbers we get an indication that God "smiles": "The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Num. 6:25-26). Those words are a Hebrew idiom for the favor of God on a person's life, asking God to smile on His children.

So today, remember that you are loved by God, and that He is pleased to be gracious to you and to shine His face upon you. __Joe Stowell

`````````````````````````Lord, may my life be so pleasing to You that You are``````````````````````
``````````````````````````pleased to have Your face shine on me. And as You`````````````````````
`````````````````````````graciously smile on my life, may I find someone today````````````````````
```````````````````````````with whom I can share Your love through a smile.``````````````````````
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Your smile could be a message of cheer
from God to a needy soul.

**************************Today's Bible Reading __ Numbers 6:22-27*****************************

22 And the LORD spoke to
Moses, saying:

23 "Speak to Aaron and his
sons, saying, 'This is the
way you shall bless the
children of Israel. Say to
them:

24 The LORD bless you
and keep you; 25 the LORD
make His face shine upon
you, and be gracious to
you; 26 the LORD lift up His
countenance upon you, and
give you peace." '

27 "So they shall put My
name on the children of
Israel, and i will bless
them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In showering the people with His favor, God instructed the high
priest to bestow on the people the blessing found in Numbers 6:24-
26. In the New Living Translation, "The LORD make His face shine
upon you" (v.25) is rendered as "The LORD smile on you." The Lord
smiling and "lift[ing] up His countenance" (v.26) expresses that the
people have God's special attention and approval. This benediction,
pronounced by many pastors at the end of church services today,
affirms that God provides for and protects His people, assuring
us of His presence, pardon, and peace. The Hebrew concept of
peace (shalom) is all-embracing and includes the concepts of
completeness, security, health, wealth, tranquility, contentment,
friendship, and peace with God and man.