Congratulations! You have begun a new habit - reading a portion of Scripture every day for a month. If you can do it for a month, you can do it for the rest of your life. It is now a habit. No doubt, you have moved closer to God in your relationship with Him.
Today's reading deals with the construction of the Tabernacle. If you ever go to Lancaster, PA (in Amish country), go to the Mennonite exhibit - they have constructed an actual size Tabernacle (minus the precious materials). It really helps visualize what we read about so often.
What strikes me today is that Moses had to tell the people to STOP contributing to the needs of the Tabernacle construction. That is an amazing show of generosity in gratitude for what God has done for them. Let us all have a generous attitude toward the work of God.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Jan 31 Exodus 32-34 Really Being For Others
One of the classics lines in Scripture comes from Aaron, the 1st High priests - "Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" Talk about not taking personal responsibility.
Pertaining to all of you who interact with Catholics, notice how God feels about graven images. The golden calf was used to "worship" the LORD. Over time, man always will end up worshiping the image - that is why there is a commandment against it the making of images.
Notice that Moses acts as a true shepherd of the people by interceding before God and not accepting the option to be made into a great nation himself. Don't be afraid like Moses to pray God's promises to Him - that gives Him glory.
In Ch 34, we get the first of God's many admonitions for His people to not marry those outside the faith. God says that we will be drawn into unbelievers' "idol" worship and away from the Lord. I do not recommend anyone even dating an unbeliever (see the wisdom of Psalm 1).
There is much more to mine from these chapters. What do you see?
Pertaining to all of you who interact with Catholics, notice how God feels about graven images. The golden calf was used to "worship" the LORD. Over time, man always will end up worshiping the image - that is why there is a commandment against it the making of images.
Notice that Moses acts as a true shepherd of the people by interceding before God and not accepting the option to be made into a great nation himself. Don't be afraid like Moses to pray God's promises to Him - that gives Him glory.
In Ch 34, we get the first of God's many admonitions for His people to not marry those outside the faith. God says that we will be drawn into unbelievers' "idol" worship and away from the Lord. I do not recommend anyone even dating an unbeliever (see the wisdom of Psalm 1).
There is much more to mine from these chapters. What do you see?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Jan 30 Exodus 29-31 Bearing a Distinctive Fragrance
There is an excellent summation of this section of Scripture at the end of today's reading. Read it carefully to fully digest the big picture of what all of these detailed descriptions really mean.
I want to focus in on the anointing oil used for Aaron and his sons. It is a specific blend of fragrances that no one else is to use. The High Priest would have a very distinctive smell - unlike no one else. Our great High Priest Jesus Christ is also very distinctive. We as His followers should bear His fragrance. After reading today's reading, flip ahead to II Corinthians 2:14-16. As we live our lives, do we each really bear a distinctive "aroma" to other Christians - sweet and familiar - and to unbelievers - a reminder to them that they walk in death? We should have a distinctive "aroma."
The Old Testament (OT) helps us understand the NT, and the NT helps us better understand the OT. As you walk through the Bible this year, please be sure to make the points of contact.
I want to focus in on the anointing oil used for Aaron and his sons. It is a specific blend of fragrances that no one else is to use. The High Priest would have a very distinctive smell - unlike no one else. Our great High Priest Jesus Christ is also very distinctive. We as His followers should bear His fragrance. After reading today's reading, flip ahead to II Corinthians 2:14-16. As we live our lives, do we each really bear a distinctive "aroma" to other Christians - sweet and familiar - and to unbelievers - a reminder to them that they walk in death? We should have a distinctive "aroma."
The Old Testament (OT) helps us understand the NT, and the NT helps us better understand the OT. As you walk through the Bible this year, please be sure to make the points of contact.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Jan 29 Exodus 25-28 Every Detail of Cultic Worship Is Important
We are beginning a long section in Scripture about God's specifications for His tabernacle (meaning dwelling place or tent) and His worship in it. Every specification is a picture of great meaning. Most of the specifications somehow point to Christ. This is a wonderful study in itself.
In the Gospel of John, when Jesus declares that He is the gate, did you know that He was referring back to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting? The Jews would have gotten His inference. God dwelled in the tabernacle and the High Priest had to go through the gate to get to God.
Notice that all of the things associated with man were made of bronze. Bronze throughout the remainder of Scripture gets associated with sin. Check out Revelation 1:15 and 2:18 and see Jesus' feet of bronze. Understanding the Old Testament unlocks the Book of Revelation and all of its imagery.
This section can get tedious, but look for points of contact with other more familiar parts of Scripture to keep you going.
In the Gospel of John, when Jesus declares that He is the gate, did you know that He was referring back to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting? The Jews would have gotten His inference. God dwelled in the tabernacle and the High Priest had to go through the gate to get to God.
Notice that all of the things associated with man were made of bronze. Bronze throughout the remainder of Scripture gets associated with sin. Check out Revelation 1:15 and 2:18 and see Jesus' feet of bronze. Understanding the Old Testament unlocks the Book of Revelation and all of its imagery.
This section can get tedious, but look for points of contact with other more familiar parts of Scripture to keep you going.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Jan 28 Exodus 19-24 The Holiness (Otherness) of God
For those of you reading non-chronological Bibles, this is where it will look like we are skipping around. I will do my best to call out the readings.
The extreme holiness of God is beginning to be taught to the people. Every stipulation points to the holiness (otherness) of God, including cultic (prescribed) worship that is differentiated from the cultic worship ceremonies of the surrounding pagan cultures.
Notice how particular God was about the people's approach to Him. Because of sin, they had to keep a "safe" distance.
I often wonder how lax we can be about our worship gatherings. God is to be feared and revered unlike anything and anyone in our lives. As we move through the Book of the Law (the 1st five books of the Bible), please pay special note to the reverence God demands from His people.
The extreme holiness of God is beginning to be taught to the people. Every stipulation points to the holiness (otherness) of God, including cultic (prescribed) worship that is differentiated from the cultic worship ceremonies of the surrounding pagan cultures.
Notice how particular God was about the people's approach to Him. Because of sin, they had to keep a "safe" distance.
I often wonder how lax we can be about our worship gatherings. God is to be feared and revered unlike anything and anyone in our lives. As we move through the Book of the Law (the 1st five books of the Bible), please pay special note to the reverence God demands from His people.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Jan 27 Exodus 15-18 Jethro's Model at Calvary Church
Jethro observed that Moses, one man, was wearing himself and the people out trying to do it all himself. Jethro, a shepherd, probably well-acquainted with having undershepherds working under himself, proposed the same model to Moses. He told him to select capable men, train then, and let them handle people and their issues depending on their level of authority.
We will do this also at our church through ministry leaders and small group leaders. We will let our leaders lead. The pastor can't do it all, he needs to be accompanied by many capable leaders for our church to be what God wants it to be. We depart from the "Moses-model" because the New Testament calls for a group (plurality) of men to lead a church called elders, not a one man pastor-led church.
We will do this also at our church through ministry leaders and small group leaders. We will let our leaders lead. The pastor can't do it all, he needs to be accompanied by many capable leaders for our church to be what God wants it to be. We depart from the "Moses-model" because the New Testament calls for a group (plurality) of men to lead a church called elders, not a one man pastor-led church.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Jan 26 Exodus 13-15 How Quickly We Forget
As the Israelites see the oncoming Egyptian army in pursuit of them, they begin complaining against God playing this cruel joke on them. After displaying His might power through the plagues and shielding the Israelites from them, allowing the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians with gold, silver, and other goods, now He is going to allow them to be slaughtered in the desert??? How quickly they forget who He is.
Undeterred, God saves them with one of the most famous acts in all history - the parting of the Red Sea. Fortunately, God knows man well and all of our unbelieving tendencies, and He is so unlike us in temperament - praise the Lord!
Are we much different from the Israelites? Do we quickly forget all of God's provision for us in the past? Are we too quick to "get mad at God" when things get tough or do we immediately think we are going to solve all of our own problems in our way in our time? Prayer anyone!
I would like to encourage all to attend our Prayer meeting on Sunday night. Also, pray unceasingly - about everything in your life. Ask the same God who created the universe (150 billion light years wide) and parted the Red Sea to solve your piddly little item (when compared to His displayed works). Remember also, how God has come through personally for you in the past.
Undeterred, God saves them with one of the most famous acts in all history - the parting of the Red Sea. Fortunately, God knows man well and all of our unbelieving tendencies, and He is so unlike us in temperament - praise the Lord!
Are we much different from the Israelites? Do we quickly forget all of God's provision for us in the past? Are we too quick to "get mad at God" when things get tough or do we immediately think we are going to solve all of our own problems in our way in our time? Prayer anyone!
I would like to encourage all to attend our Prayer meeting on Sunday night. Also, pray unceasingly - about everything in your life. Ask the same God who created the universe (150 billion light years wide) and parted the Red Sea to solve your piddly little item (when compared to His displayed works). Remember also, how God has come through personally for you in the past.
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