In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. (Ex 40:36)
How marvelous to think about the Shekinah glory of God hovering over the tabernacle! And what a great picture of what it means to be truly Spirit-led. Lord, I want to go when you go and stay when you stay. I want to dwell in the middle of your presence. Give me spiritual eyes to see the movement of your Holy Spirit, so I might always be led by you.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Intentional Sanctification
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. (Ps 89:15)
This is something that has to be learned. It is the process of sanctification, and it is intentional. Through long practice I learn to acknowledge God and praise him all day long, and to be aware of his presence and actively led by him. I learn to be yielded to his Holy Spirit throughout the day.
This is something that has to be learned. It is the process of sanctification, and it is intentional. Through long practice I learn to acknowledge God and praise him all day long, and to be aware of his presence and actively led by him. I learn to be yielded to his Holy Spirit throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
An Overflowing Offering
Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. (Ex 36:6-7)
What pastor ever had this problem? We need an epidemic of generosity in the church. We are rich, but we hold onto our “stuff” too tightly. And many of us are stingiest of all with our time. Lord, forgive me for being selfish in how I decide to spend my time and my energy, as well as my money.
What pastor ever had this problem? We need an epidemic of generosity in the church. We are rich, but we hold onto our “stuff” too tightly. And many of us are stingiest of all with our time. Lord, forgive me for being selfish in how I decide to spend my time and my energy, as well as my money.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sins of the Fathers
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. (Ex 34:6-7)
Moses has just returned to the top of Mt. Horeb to get a new set of tablets inscribed with the law, after Aaron and the people had made a golden calf to worship. The Lord came and stood there with him, and here he proclaims himself to Moses. This is God’s description of himself! What does he lead off with? Compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness and forgiveness! What a wonderful picture. The psalmist even sings these words back to God in Ps 86:15, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” But there is still judgment. Sin must be punished. God speaks of both his love and his justice.
Lord, thank you that you have so clearly declared your compassion, grace, patience and faithfulness. You have declared them by both your words and your deeds, because you cannot be untrue to your nature. Lord Jesus, thank you that you took our sins upon yourself, so that we may abide in your love. Thank you for being so patient and compassionate with me. Lord, I know that the temporal consequences of sin do not disappear when we repent, but I pray your mercy on my sons, that you would spare them from suffering for my mistakes. I want to be just the father they need. I don’t want to pass on to them my own sins, or the sins of my own father. Let the chain stop with me. He made mistakes; I made mistakes. Help me now to overcome them and correct them by the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Moses has just returned to the top of Mt. Horeb to get a new set of tablets inscribed with the law, after Aaron and the people had made a golden calf to worship. The Lord came and stood there with him, and here he proclaims himself to Moses. This is God’s description of himself! What does he lead off with? Compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness and forgiveness! What a wonderful picture. The psalmist even sings these words back to God in Ps 86:15, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” But there is still judgment. Sin must be punished. God speaks of both his love and his justice.
Lord, thank you that you have so clearly declared your compassion, grace, patience and faithfulness. You have declared them by both your words and your deeds, because you cannot be untrue to your nature. Lord Jesus, thank you that you took our sins upon yourself, so that we may abide in your love. Thank you for being so patient and compassionate with me. Lord, I know that the temporal consequences of sin do not disappear when we repent, but I pray your mercy on my sons, that you would spare them from suffering for my mistakes. I want to be just the father they need. I don’t want to pass on to them my own sins, or the sins of my own father. Let the chain stop with me. He made mistakes; I made mistakes. Help me now to overcome them and correct them by the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A Pure Mind
The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him. (Pr 15:26)
Oh Lord, I know you see every thought! May my thoughts be pleasing to you. Forgive me for thoughts which dishonor you. Lord, make my heart and mind pure, full of your truth and your grace, for your glory! Amen.
Oh Lord, I know you see every thought! May my thoughts be pleasing to you. Forgive me for thoughts which dishonor you. Lord, make my heart and mind pure, full of your truth and your grace, for your glory! Amen.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The Cleansing Touch of Jesus
You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whoever touches them will be holy. (Ex 30:29)
In the Mosaic Law, normally when something clean touches something unclean, the clean thing is defiled. Sin ordinarily spreads the same way. Here, though, when the Tabernacle and its articles are consecrated to the Lord it is their holiness that spreads by touch, not defilement. This reminds me of, and seems to prefigure, how Jesus cleanses us. When Jesus touched a man with leprosy (which no one else would do!) it is not Jesus who is defiled but the leper who is made clean. In the same way, when we meet Jesus our sins are washed away by the power of his blood. Among the lost, sin is “infectious”, but among the saved, God’s righteousness is, instead.
In the Mosaic Law, normally when something clean touches something unclean, the clean thing is defiled. Sin ordinarily spreads the same way. Here, though, when the Tabernacle and its articles are consecrated to the Lord it is their holiness that spreads by touch, not defilement. This reminds me of, and seems to prefigure, how Jesus cleanses us. When Jesus touched a man with leprosy (which no one else would do!) it is not Jesus who is defiled but the leper who is made clean. In the same way, when we meet Jesus our sins are washed away by the power of his blood. Among the lost, sin is “infectious”, but among the saved, God’s righteousness is, instead.
Friday, May 14, 2010
God and the Philosophers
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (Acts 17:34)
Greece was the center of learning in the Roman Empire, and Athens was the center of learning in Greece, and the Areopagus was the center of learning in Athens. And here Paul was bold enough to preach the Resurrection of Jesus. Although learned himself, Paul would have seemed rustic and barbarous to these Athenians. His strange tale was one to be sneered at (v32). Yet Paul was not deterred. He no doubt relished the opportunity. And that day, even in such a place, there were those “appointed for eternal life [who] believed” (13:48). An actual member of the council, Dionysius, was saved that day. Despite all his learning and all his sophistication, his heart was open and he believed. I must never censor myself because I presume that my audience is too educated or sophisticated to be receptive to the Gospel. Paul was eager to preach in the synagogues and market places, knowing that most would just want to argue and many would ridicule him. Lord, may I be no less eager. Make me bold to testify at every opportunity.
Greece was the center of learning in the Roman Empire, and Athens was the center of learning in Greece, and the Areopagus was the center of learning in Athens. And here Paul was bold enough to preach the Resurrection of Jesus. Although learned himself, Paul would have seemed rustic and barbarous to these Athenians. His strange tale was one to be sneered at (v32). Yet Paul was not deterred. He no doubt relished the opportunity. And that day, even in such a place, there were those “appointed for eternal life [who] believed” (13:48). An actual member of the council, Dionysius, was saved that day. Despite all his learning and all his sophistication, his heart was open and he believed. I must never censor myself because I presume that my audience is too educated or sophisticated to be receptive to the Gospel. Paul was eager to preach in the synagogues and market places, knowing that most would just want to argue and many would ridicule him. Lord, may I be no less eager. Make me bold to testify at every opportunity.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Mighty To Save
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Ps 77:14-15)
The Israelites were fond of recalling the mighty deeds of God on their behalf. It reminded them that they are God’s chosen people. And it reminded them of God’s great power, and his willingness to use it on their behalf. When I am afraid I would do well to remember the same. Lord, you have displayed your power and by your mighty arm redeemed your people. Praise to you, Lord! Your power to save is no less today. Only by a long string of miracles has each of us been redeemed, and you are not done yet. You continue to bring new believers into the fold. Thank you, Lord!
The Israelites were fond of recalling the mighty deeds of God on their behalf. It reminded them that they are God’s chosen people. And it reminded them of God’s great power, and his willingness to use it on their behalf. When I am afraid I would do well to remember the same. Lord, you have displayed your power and by your mighty arm redeemed your people. Praise to you, Lord! Your power to save is no less today. Only by a long string of miracles has each of us been redeemed, and you are not done yet. You continue to bring new believers into the fold. Thank you, Lord!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Holy to the Lord
Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD…It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD. (Ex 28:36,38)
The whole tone of this passage is that Aaron approached the mercy seat tenuously and cautiously, anxiously hoping that all the ceremonies and sacred trappings had been performed just right so he would not die. But we “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16) because the blood of Jesus is a better sacrifice than the blood of goats. And again, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb 10:10) The blood of Jesus is the perfect and eternally secure covering for our sin, so that for us the plate of gold Aaron wore becomes a beautiful symbol of our salvation. I wear on my forehead a golden seal which says Holy to the Lord. And it is not of my own making. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Rom 5:9) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1) Father, thank you! Thank you for this perfect peace that comes from your eternal and perfect gift of your Son. Thank you for the seal of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I do not need to wear an outward seal, but I too am declared “Holy to the Lord” by a salvation more secure than what you had yet shown your people in Aaron’s day. Thank you! Amen.
The whole tone of this passage is that Aaron approached the mercy seat tenuously and cautiously, anxiously hoping that all the ceremonies and sacred trappings had been performed just right so he would not die. But we “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16) because the blood of Jesus is a better sacrifice than the blood of goats. And again, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb 10:10) The blood of Jesus is the perfect and eternally secure covering for our sin, so that for us the plate of gold Aaron wore becomes a beautiful symbol of our salvation. I wear on my forehead a golden seal which says Holy to the Lord. And it is not of my own making. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Rom 5:9) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1) Father, thank you! Thank you for this perfect peace that comes from your eternal and perfect gift of your Son. Thank you for the seal of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I do not need to wear an outward seal, but I too am declared “Holy to the Lord” by a salvation more secure than what you had yet shown your people in Aaron’s day. Thank you! Amen.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Showing His Kindness
Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. (Acts 14:17)
I don’t know why I have never noticed this verse. Paul clearly believed that the beauty and order and bounty of the universe speak directly to the existence of God. (See Rom 1:20). How our modern minds have been twisted so that the secular mind sees nothing of God in his Creation! But God's common grace speaks not only of his existence but also of his character.
I don’t know why I have never noticed this verse. Paul clearly believed that the beauty and order and bounty of the universe speak directly to the existence of God. (See Rom 1:20). How our modern minds have been twisted so that the secular mind sees nothing of God in his Creation! But God's common grace speaks not only of his existence but also of his character.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
