Today’s Reading: Exodus 34 – 35; Psalm 119

Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,
“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty…” — Exodus 34:5-7a

Yesterday, we talked about the mercy of God. It is important for us to know how much God loves us — that He is a God of compassion and mercy. He is patient with us and slow to anger, forgiving our iniquity, rebellion and sin when we repent. But we must also recognize that He is a just God and a holy God. He does not excuse the guilty.

GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO CARE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE CHOOSING TO SERVE HIM WITH OUR WHOLE HEARTS.

It matters to Him when we choose to not obey His commands or fail to live out our faith. He wants a personal relationship with us and He is jealous when our heart chooses to be more passionate about what this world has to offer than we are about Him. He wants our full devotion.

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. — Exodus 34:14

When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the new tablets on which God had carved His commands, his face was reflecting the glory of God. He had spent time in God’s presence and it was clearly showing. He had witnessed the anger of God when His people worshiped the golden calf, and He had experienced the mercy of God when He agreed not to destroy them for their unfaithfulness. The impact of Moses’ time in God’s presence had made an impact on Moses and a veil was necessary to cover the glory of God reflecting on his face.

When we harden our hearts and are found guilty and unfaithful, a veil covers our minds making it hard to understand God and His ways. God is holy and sin separates us from Him. But when we believe in God, the veil is lifted and we experience the Lord firsthand as He lavishes His unfailing love on us, forgiving us of our iniquity. We no longer let anything stand between us and God, fully surrendering to the Lord and intentionally spending time in His presence.

SPENDING TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE RESULTS IN US BECOME A REFLECTION OF HIS GLORY.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. — 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Father, we thank you for the freedom we experience when you forgive us of our sins and fill us with your Spirit. As we experience this freedom, we pray for your glory to be reflected in our lives so that you can make an impact on those around us. May your Spirit living within us write a new letter on the hearts of those impacted by the ministry to which you have called us. May your reflection shine off of us and make an impact on others. May we stop living to draw attention to ourselves and give ourselves fully to reflecting you. Amen.

Your lives are a letter written on our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with ink and pen, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. — 2 Corinthians 3:2b-3

WHEN WE SPEND TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE AND DAILY LIVE OUT OUR FAITH, WE BECOME A LIVING MESSAGE FOR OTHERS TO READ AND UNDERSTAND.

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees! – Psalm 119:1-5

Lord, may your holiness be reflected in my life. May my experience of you provide clarity in someone else’s life today. May I never forget the purpose to which I have been called, and may my life reflect the story of your grace and mercy. Amen.