Today's Passage: Exodus 30-31
I have always been amazed at how our bodies are designed. Every system and organ works together to benefit the body and help it sustain life. One of the most neglected aspects of the function of our bodies is rest. We abuse our bodies by going all night without sleep to finish a paper for school, or to stay up and watch a game on television, or even to travel overseas. If you have ever done any of these before, you are acutely aware of the necessity of rest for your body.
We all know that God designed our bodies to need rest. God is even our example during the creation account. God rested on the seventh day. At the end of Exodus 31, the Lord told Moses and his people to abstain from work on the Sabbath because it is holy. This is a physical and spiritual matter of rest that is being discussed here. God knew that man needed rest; He also knew that man needs to worship the Lord who gave this day of rest. In our culture, rest is a long forgotten discipline. Yes, I did just write the word discipline. There is so much to do during a given week, whether it is sports, academics, or simply just spending time with family and friends. We will never live out the command to keep the Sabbath until we have the discipline to say no to something, in order that we can rest. This is how God designed people, and we should not overlook this. I encourage you to read Exodus 31:12-13 a couple of times. The sabbath is all about the Lord. So this week I hope we all are able to celebrate the sabbath and focus on the Lord and His wonders.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Today's Scripture: Exodus 29
Reading this chapter I am amazed by the level of detail involved in the ceremony of consecrating the priests. I would by no means refer to myself as a priest, but I am called to minister in the Lord's name. This challenges my view of how committed I am as a minister for God. I mean to think that there was a time when God called someone to be His mouthpiece, and they had to perform this very detailed ceremony before He would use them is astonishing and humbling to me.
Any of the passages in the Old Testament that explain, in great detail, how to perform or construct something should be a testimony to how involved and committed God expects His people to be. How often do we think to ourselves that what we do for God is "good enough"? Looking at the great detail in these directions I would have to say that God is very much concerned with the little things in our lives. Which means we should see every instruction and command from God with the same importance--whether it be do not kill or be in the Word daily. God gives blessings and receives glory in even the smallest acts of obedience from us.
Praise the Lord that we don't have to be perfect to be called his child, but let it not leave our focus that He desires complete reverence from us in all things.
Reading this chapter I am amazed by the level of detail involved in the ceremony of consecrating the priests. I would by no means refer to myself as a priest, but I am called to minister in the Lord's name. This challenges my view of how committed I am as a minister for God. I mean to think that there was a time when God called someone to be His mouthpiece, and they had to perform this very detailed ceremony before He would use them is astonishing and humbling to me.
Any of the passages in the Old Testament that explain, in great detail, how to perform or construct something should be a testimony to how involved and committed God expects His people to be. How often do we think to ourselves that what we do for God is "good enough"? Looking at the great detail in these directions I would have to say that God is very much concerned with the little things in our lives. Which means we should see every instruction and command from God with the same importance--whether it be do not kill or be in the Word daily. God gives blessings and receives glory in even the smallest acts of obedience from us.
Praise the Lord that we don't have to be perfect to be called his child, but let it not leave our focus that He desires complete reverence from us in all things.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Today's Passage: Matthew 21
When I read this chapter, I think of one word: rich. There is so much going on, the author is really getting into telling us about the journey of Jesus towards the crucifixion. However, the first eleven verses stand out to me in an incredible way.
Jesus sends two of his disciples into the village with specific instructions: bring him the donkey and the colt they will find immediately upon entering the village. The disciples just go. We are not told if there was any dialogue between Jesus and the two men, but the Scripture is very clear that they went and did just what Jesus told them to do. Of course, everything happened just as He said it would. I am sure that the disciples knew by this point in their time with Jesus, that when he tells you to do something, just do it! Why do we hold back when we know the Lord is giving us instructions? Why do we question Him and His judgment sometimes? The disciples were not perfect people, we know that, but I think we could all use a reminder of this invaluable lesson. When God speaks to you, listen to what He says and obey Him. The way will be marked for you. What you need will be provided and ultimately, He will be glorified by your obedience.
That point leads us to the next section of the verses: the Triumphal Entry. The disciples were obedient and brought the donkey on which Jesus would ride into Jerusalem. During this entry into the city, masses of people were following him and going ahead of him and shouting praises to Jesus. They knew of his works and miracles and they wanted to see Him during His arrival. We are told by Matthew that they shouted the word 'hosanna' (an expression of praise). This word reminds me of a song that I really love. It is called "Hosanna," by Hillsong United. Some of the lyrics are in the form of a prayer:
"Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your kingdom's cause, as I walk from earth into eternity."
This prayer is so beautiful to me in light of this passage in Matthew. The people shouting 'hosanna' were praising Jesus right there in front of their eyes. They knew of his power and greatness and they were able to say to his face, "Hosanna in the highest!" We have this ability every day and at any moment! We can say to the same Jesus, "Hosanna in the highest" and ask him to help us become more like Him. I pray I can become more aware of this during this Easter season and I pray the same for you.
When I read this chapter, I think of one word: rich. There is so much going on, the author is really getting into telling us about the journey of Jesus towards the crucifixion. However, the first eleven verses stand out to me in an incredible way.
Jesus sends two of his disciples into the village with specific instructions: bring him the donkey and the colt they will find immediately upon entering the village. The disciples just go. We are not told if there was any dialogue between Jesus and the two men, but the Scripture is very clear that they went and did just what Jesus told them to do. Of course, everything happened just as He said it would. I am sure that the disciples knew by this point in their time with Jesus, that when he tells you to do something, just do it! Why do we hold back when we know the Lord is giving us instructions? Why do we question Him and His judgment sometimes? The disciples were not perfect people, we know that, but I think we could all use a reminder of this invaluable lesson. When God speaks to you, listen to what He says and obey Him. The way will be marked for you. What you need will be provided and ultimately, He will be glorified by your obedience.
That point leads us to the next section of the verses: the Triumphal Entry. The disciples were obedient and brought the donkey on which Jesus would ride into Jerusalem. During this entry into the city, masses of people were following him and going ahead of him and shouting praises to Jesus. They knew of his works and miracles and they wanted to see Him during His arrival. We are told by Matthew that they shouted the word 'hosanna' (an expression of praise). This word reminds me of a song that I really love. It is called "Hosanna," by Hillsong United. Some of the lyrics are in the form of a prayer:
"Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your kingdom's cause, as I walk from earth into eternity."
This prayer is so beautiful to me in light of this passage in Matthew. The people shouting 'hosanna' were praising Jesus right there in front of their eyes. They knew of his power and greatness and they were able to say to his face, "Hosanna in the highest!" We have this ability every day and at any moment! We can say to the same Jesus, "Hosanna in the highest" and ask him to help us become more like Him. I pray I can become more aware of this during this Easter season and I pray the same for you.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Today’s Passage: Exodus 27-28
Tabernacle blue prints and priestly garments. For many, this chapter seems to only be set of instructions and is not really relevant to our lives today… none of us have to build a tabernacle to travel around with. But 2nd Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is useful for teaching. My wife Krista, a biology teacher, told me a little bit about acacia wood. Aside from growing very well in the desert, acacia wood was used as a building material because it did not rot easily or become infested with insects. The fibers of the wood emitted a very strong fragrance which kept insects and other small animals away. When we read about the tabernacle we are reading about God’s dwelling place. He chose the specific materials that He wanted to use for His home. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we become indwelled with Christ; He lives within us. Are we like the acacia wood, fresh and strong? Are you, figuratively, emitting the fragrance of Christ? Or have we let the small things in that eventually cause us to become rotten?
Just as God was particular in his instructions regarding the tabernacle, He is particular with what we should and should not do with our tabernacles; our bodies. But God isn’t simply giving us an instruction manual, God provides the tools. Look with me if you will at chapter 27, verse 8b, “…As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made.” I don’t know about you, but when someone gives me a lot of specific instruction, typically the first thing I respond with is, let me write this down or can you show me an example. I think this verse would typically be read over with no qualms; however, it caught my eye, simply because there is a lot of detail in these passages; yet, God does not merely give orders and expect His people to fabricate this out of their own abilities. God was the source of all their instruction.
Later on in chapter 28, you will notice the phrase, “…before the LORD.” The tabernacle was to be the place where the LORD would reside; thus, His tabernacle needed to be specifically and perfectly constructed. The things done in the tabernacle and for the LORD need to be acceptable before Him because He is a HOLY God. I, all too often, seem not to view God’s holiness in the right perspective. Verse 43 speaks of, “lest they bear guilt and die..” Death has always seemed to get people’s attention. As so God’s holiness should get His people’s attention.
Challenge this week: Have you let sin roam in your tabernacle? Has God’s holiness become insignificant to you? May we ask God that He may reveal the sin that we may have become comfortable with?
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Today's Passage: Exodus 26
I have to admit that, when reading this passage previously, it's one I kind of skimmed through...at first glance, there doesn't seem to be much "life changing" material in a chapter about building a tent.
All of that changed two weeks ago, when I stood in the middle of the Negev Desert at an exact replica of this very tabernacle tent, built from the specifications found in Exodus 26! (Some of you may have heard the Kingry's talk about this project on Sunday, March 22...just a few days after I was there!) It was certainly not what I had pictured in my head when reading Exodus before...the tent is much larger and much more detailed than in my imagination. There were teams of men in charge of moving the tent when the presence of God (either by cloud or fire) showed the Israelites it was time to move again. The beauty of the handiwork, the detail of the structure, and the stark contrast of the tent in the middle of the desert all showed me just how much God cared about His home among the people.
If God cared that much about a temporary home, how much do you think He cares about His home in your heart? If God were to visit us physically, would we invite God to stay in a rundown, bug-infested hotel in a bad part of town? Absolutely not! There would be nothing too good for the presence of God. Why, then, is it ok with us to let sin turn our hearts into a disgusting place to live? The same Spirit that dwelt in the tabernacle described here lives in my heart today...am I willing to do the work to honor God in the way He deserves?
Examine your tabernacle today...have you followed the directions on keeping it holy and pure?
I have to admit that, when reading this passage previously, it's one I kind of skimmed through...at first glance, there doesn't seem to be much "life changing" material in a chapter about building a tent.
All of that changed two weeks ago, when I stood in the middle of the Negev Desert at an exact replica of this very tabernacle tent, built from the specifications found in Exodus 26! (Some of you may have heard the Kingry's talk about this project on Sunday, March 22...just a few days after I was there!) It was certainly not what I had pictured in my head when reading Exodus before...the tent is much larger and much more detailed than in my imagination. There were teams of men in charge of moving the tent when the presence of God (either by cloud or fire) showed the Israelites it was time to move again. The beauty of the handiwork, the detail of the structure, and the stark contrast of the tent in the middle of the desert all showed me just how much God cared about His home among the people.
If God cared that much about a temporary home, how much do you think He cares about His home in your heart? If God were to visit us physically, would we invite God to stay in a rundown, bug-infested hotel in a bad part of town? Absolutely not! There would be nothing too good for the presence of God. Why, then, is it ok with us to let sin turn our hearts into a disgusting place to live? The same Spirit that dwelt in the tabernacle described here lives in my heart today...am I willing to do the work to honor God in the way He deserves?
Examine your tabernacle today...have you followed the directions on keeping it holy and pure?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Today's Passage: Exodus 25
This story is a great reminder that instruction books for assembly have been around for a while. I am sure everyone has probably bought something, or had a “real” friend who has bought your child a gift that has those three magic words….some assembly required. The title of this chapter should be “Some Assembly Required.”
There is a joke around my house that the last place you go for instructions is the instruction booklet included by the person who designed the product and knows it better than anyone else. I am not sure if you can relate to this, but that is how I do things. However, I can remember two projects that stick out where I looked at all the pieces and then looked at the picture of the finished product and gave in. The first was a grill that I help put together for a friend which included a thirty page instruction booklet with sixty steps. The second though was the one I will never forget. It was a playhouse that Michael, Ethan and I put together. Being the young confident men that we are, we thought that we could assemble this in a few short hours even though the instructions said it was a twelve hour minimum project. Again, by our standards we had already admitted defeat by using the instruction book, and by book I think it is important to note that it rivaled Webster’s in size.
I will never forget that experience because it did take about twelve hours, and we did follow the book every step, and surprisingly enough it turned out just like the picture said it would. That project really gave me an appreciation for the designer of the playhouse and the planning that went into it. As we constructed it, sometimes it seemed that we were going out of order, at least by our “professional” opinion, but shortly after we would say that, it would make complete sense. The guy who made the instruction book knew exactly the way we should do things and the only time we ever had any problems was when we got ahead of the book.
The Israelites must have thought the same thing I did when these instructions came down. I mean they were smart people and could build an ark just fine. But then they saw the magnitude of the project and decided to follow the instructions. Here is the problem, though...when we get a huge project, we are quick to follow the manual and go step by step, but when it is a small project we just “freestyle” it and go on our own. We know the instructions are there, no matter the size of the project. We know that they are correct. Why do we choose to not use them every time, in life and in “some assembly required” projects?
This story is a great reminder that instruction books for assembly have been around for a while. I am sure everyone has probably bought something, or had a “real” friend who has bought your child a gift that has those three magic words….some assembly required. The title of this chapter should be “Some Assembly Required.”
There is a joke around my house that the last place you go for instructions is the instruction booklet included by the person who designed the product and knows it better than anyone else. I am not sure if you can relate to this, but that is how I do things. However, I can remember two projects that stick out where I looked at all the pieces and then looked at the picture of the finished product and gave in. The first was a grill that I help put together for a friend which included a thirty page instruction booklet with sixty steps. The second though was the one I will never forget. It was a playhouse that Michael, Ethan and I put together. Being the young confident men that we are, we thought that we could assemble this in a few short hours even though the instructions said it was a twelve hour minimum project. Again, by our standards we had already admitted defeat by using the instruction book, and by book I think it is important to note that it rivaled Webster’s in size.
I will never forget that experience because it did take about twelve hours, and we did follow the book every step, and surprisingly enough it turned out just like the picture said it would. That project really gave me an appreciation for the designer of the playhouse and the planning that went into it. As we constructed it, sometimes it seemed that we were going out of order, at least by our “professional” opinion, but shortly after we would say that, it would make complete sense. The guy who made the instruction book knew exactly the way we should do things and the only time we ever had any problems was when we got ahead of the book.
The Israelites must have thought the same thing I did when these instructions came down. I mean they were smart people and could build an ark just fine. But then they saw the magnitude of the project and decided to follow the instructions. Here is the problem, though...when we get a huge project, we are quick to follow the manual and go step by step, but when it is a small project we just “freestyle” it and go on our own. We know the instructions are there, no matter the size of the project. We know that they are correct. Why do we choose to not use them every time, in life and in “some assembly required” projects?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Today's Passage: Matthew 20
This chapter continues the theme of selflessness. Two more times we hear Jesus emphasize acts of service and humility in order to be great or first. He is obviously very serious about it...which means we should be too.
I had never considered myself to be a selfish person. Of course I had other flaws, but I always pretty much thought I had selfishness under control. I mean everyone is selfish to some extent, but I wouldn't have described myself that way. And selfishness was one of my biggest pet peeves. I could not stand it when I felt like somebody was being completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Yep, I pretty much had that one all figured out...
...until one summer, when I began to pray the last two verses of Psalm 139...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Now the tricky thing about this prayer is that God is usually more than happy to answer it...quickly. The same week, I ended up throwing a mental FIT about something a friend was going to do that made me jealous. I kept it all on the inside, but God still slapped me in the face with the realization that I am, in fact, very selfish at times. Today's passage reminds me of that summer. Christ's emphasis on selflessness teaches us that not only is it very important, but it doesn't necessarily look the way we may think it looks. Selflessness is not merely the absence of selfishness...it actually entails making yourself LAST so that another can be FIRST.
On Monday, Michael challenged us to consider what we might give up for God in order to make Him first. As God truly becomes first in our lives, may we also consider how to make ourselves last in order to lift up others. Are we sincerely selfless...the way that Christ demonstrated?
This chapter continues the theme of selflessness. Two more times we hear Jesus emphasize acts of service and humility in order to be great or first. He is obviously very serious about it...which means we should be too.
I had never considered myself to be a selfish person. Of course I had other flaws, but I always pretty much thought I had selfishness under control. I mean everyone is selfish to some extent, but I wouldn't have described myself that way. And selfishness was one of my biggest pet peeves. I could not stand it when I felt like somebody was being completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Yep, I pretty much had that one all figured out...
...until one summer, when I began to pray the last two verses of Psalm 139...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Now the tricky thing about this prayer is that God is usually more than happy to answer it...quickly. The same week, I ended up throwing a mental FIT about something a friend was going to do that made me jealous. I kept it all on the inside, but God still slapped me in the face with the realization that I am, in fact, very selfish at times. Today's passage reminds me of that summer. Christ's emphasis on selflessness teaches us that not only is it very important, but it doesn't necessarily look the way we may think it looks. Selflessness is not merely the absence of selfishness...it actually entails making yourself LAST so that another can be FIRST.
On Monday, Michael challenged us to consider what we might give up for God in order to make Him first. As God truly becomes first in our lives, may we also consider how to make ourselves last in order to lift up others. Are we sincerely selfless...the way that Christ demonstrated?
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