Tag: Lord

God with us

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17, 32-38 (day one)

“So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.”–40:38.

At the end of the day, it is our only advantage, the only thing that distinguishes Christians from other people.  The Lord is with us!  Not because we are good.  The golden calf settled that.  Not because we are strong.  Years of slavery gave them (us) nothing to offer.  Rather, because He called us to Himself in covenant, because He has given us His name.  Not fail safe!  Not something that anyone should take for granted!  Years later God would remove His glorious presence from the temple and nation.  Even now, there are “Christians” who by grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit, live without any evidence of His nearness.  Protection. . . Identity. . . Guidance. . . All these are ours when God is with us.

Gifted

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 35:4-10; 20-35; 36:2-7 (day seven)

“Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability.”–36:2.

The biblical idea of spiritual gifts is larger than we sometimes think.  Most of us are familiar with “tests” that can be taken to identify our “gifts”. But these instruments often use a very narrow list of possible giftings.  Bezalel and Oholiab were probably excluded. The SPIRIT had given them artistic skill.  See 35:30.  Metal, stone and wood.  They were craftsmen.  They were also, by the same SPIRIT, gifted to teach others.  See 35:34.  Reminds me of the FBCSA Imago Academy.  SPIRITUALLY gifted artists, training the next generation to serve God through music, voice and art.  Are you gifted?  Don’t be surprised if the Lord “summons” you to develop and use your gift in Kingdom service.  As true with money and freedom (Happy Memorial Day, everyone) as it is with talent, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

The Heart of the Matter

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 35:4-10; 20-35; 36:2-7 (day five)

21 Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought…   22 Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought…   29 The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to the Lord.

It’s a wonderful thing to brush up against someone who has had his or her “heart or spirit stirred” by the Lord’s mission or message:

They see potential and possibilities.  They know their part or piece is important, but also recognize there is a “larger” purpose and mission involved.

They have a sense of urgency.  I remember my pastor growing up used to say, “Delayed obedience is disobedience”.

They work, serve, and give with joy.  That’s a distinctly different perspective.  It looks, sounds, and feels like worship.

They intuitively understand what they must give or do.  The Holy Spirit does this work in the heart of the believer. (John 16)

The Israelites whose hearts were stirred:  they gave, they brought, they worked, and they participated.  Sounds a lot like a New Testament Church too, doesn’t it?

Majestic Creativity

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 35:4-10; 20-35; 36:2-7 (day two)

Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, 6 and blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen…35:5-6

Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. 36:2

This passage not only declares how generous believers can/should be, but it also proclaims boldly that our God is the creative, imaginative, and beautiful designer of the Universe. He didn’t stop “creating” when the world was finished. His majesty and creativity are seen in every sunset, canyon or mountain vista, and especially in the miracle of a newborn’s face. We are to love him beautifully and creatively as well. We must all find our gifts and give them generously to the Lord and his work, and marvel at the creative majesty of our God.

A generous gospel

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 35:4-10; 20-35; 36:2-7 (day one)

“The people are bringing MORE THAN ENOUGH for doing the work the Lord has commanded. . .and so they were restrained from bringing more.”–36:5-6.  Followers of Christ are often marked by extravagance,  a reckless generosity that answers need with enthusiasm and call with over-the-top willingness.  Real faith is not stingy.  Our gospel is generous.  Many examples of it in Scripture.  Mary in John 12.  She POURS perfume on Christ and is criticized for being extravagant.  By everyone but Christ.  He knew.  True love doesn’t pinch pennies.  Another example is the people of Israel in the collection for the tabernacle.  They overgive!  (is that a word?  If it isn’t, it should be).  They respond with such generosity that they have to be restrained.  Hmmmm. . . too many teachers for Bible study, too many dollars for the projects we feel led to accomplish,  too many ideas/ volunteers for reaching people.  True mark of faith, ours is a generous gospel.

The Next Step

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 32:1-19, 30-33; 33:12-17; 34:1-7 (day five)  7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them.

It happened that fast.  Perhaps it was an idea or a fleeting thought.  Maybe it was born out of fear or frustration.  The end result was an immediate derailing from God’s plan and path.

This summer at Youth Camp we are studying Galatians 5:24-25.  25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

This verse speaks to the attention and the determination we MUST have in order to serve and follow the Living God.  Sin and disobedience are as close as “the next step”.

One of my new favorite songs has these lyrics:  To my heart I preach Your sovereignty and the power of Your name.  God, let hope arise and faith become the fortress of my heart.  I will lift my eyes and see You as the awesome God You are, believe You as the awesome God You are.

How and when do we “preach” to our hearts the power, strength, and goodness of the Living God?

Epic fail

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 32:1-19, 30-33; 33:12-17; 34:1-7 (day one)

“He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf.”–v 32:4.   It was an epic fail!  How could it happen?  Just weeks before (in Exodus 24) these same people had promised full obedience to the Lord and His commandments.  “No other gods. . .no images.”  With sincere hearts (we assume) they entered into a covenant of obedience with God.  How, then (by chapter 32), could they stumble so badly, so publically, as to make a golden calf and represent it as Jehovah God?  Those of us who have made promises to God know the answer.  So long as we count on ourselves and our own resources to do God’s will, we fail every time. “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” said Jesus to Peter.  “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it” we sing in confession of this truth.  We need God in order to obey God.

Moments and Meeting

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 25:1-11, 17-18, 23-24, 31-32; 26:1-2, 7-8; 27:1-2; 29:43-46 (day five)

What a sight it must have been, God’s presence and glory surrounding Mt. Sinai.  (Chapter 24)  Can you imagine the majesty and magnitude the people both saw and felt?  The human tendency is to ask or question, “When is the next big moment”?  “What will God do next to grab my attention or have the wow factor”?

God’s plan for leading and caring for His People included more than grandiose moments, it included regular meeting.

We see it in the faith development of teens:  depending on God’s power and presence only at events like Camp, Retreats, and Freedom Weekends.  But the teens (adults too) that spiritually thrive, are the ones who understand and discover that faith grows deeper and stronger as they daily encounter the dwelling presence of God, rather than a “mountain top” moment here or there.

43 I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar;  45 I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. 46 They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.

Our Sovereign God

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 25:1-11, 17-18, 23-24, 31-32; 26:1-2, 7-8; 27:1-2; 29:43-46 (day four) 

The Lord spoke to Moses and called for the Israelites to bring a contribution for the purpose of building a Tabernacle for Him.  But wait…the Israelites have been slaves for over 400 years.  How could they possibly have anything to bring as a contribution to the Lord?  Remember back to Exodus 12:35-36…God told them to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing.  God caused the Israelites to have favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and they plundered Egypt.  God provided for the needs of the Israelites, even before they knew that they had a need.  How often God does that!  Before we even know that we have a need, He has prepared a supply.  God may move in the heart of someone to provide food in the time of hunger, to provide protection in the time of danger, to provide supply in the time of need, or to send a witness in the time of crisis.  God is a sovereign God!

Gaze

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 25:1-11, 17-18, 23-24, 31-32; 26:1-2, 7-8; 27:1-2; 29:43-46 (day three)

“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.”

Someone once said about a famously charismatic politician: “He always made you feel as if he were lucky to be with you.”  Contrast that with a situation in which you attempt to talk in a public space with someone who repeatedly looks past you to other people in the room. Nothing says “You don’t matter” quite like a distracted gaze.  The Israelites—whose display of gratitude for God’s presence was genuine, and not merely political charisma—told the Lord by their intents and their actions that they needed to live with him.  They gave themselves wholly to the creation of sacred space to make such a life possible for themselves.  Are you looking past God, or creating sacred space with him?