Today’s Reading: Leviticus 20-27; Psalm 97

This is clean; this is unclean. This is permissible; this is unacceptable. You can eat this, but don’t eat that. Chapter after chapter in Leviticus defines how God wants us to separate ourselves from sin and from situations that might tempt us to sin. We serve a God who requires holy living, but who also generously equips and supplies us with HIS holiness. Praise God!

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY. – Leviticus 20:7-8

I love this! The Lord God, who requires us to be holy, makes us holy. That’s the kind of gracious God we serve! He clearly lays out his expectations of holy living and what it looks like to obediently follow his commands, but He knows we cannot make ourselves holy. It takes the hand of the Almighty to reach down and do something in our lives as we submit our will to Him. Then God gets the glory for our life of holiness.

HIS HOLINESS IS ON DISPLAY AND NOT OUR OWN EFFORTS TO PERFORM.

You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. Do not bring shame on my holy name, for I will display my holiness among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY.” – Leviticus 22:31-33

The book of Leviticus lays out the requirements of God for the people of Israel — requirements of how to worship, how to make sacrifices and how to live their daily life. God instructed them on how to live in relationship with a holy God and how to live in relationship with others. Just as we learned in Exodus, God’s command is clear – to love God also requires that we love others.

HIS HOLINESS IS ON DISPLAY WHEN HIS LOVE FLOWS THROUGH US.

Act with justice, speaking up for others (5:1). Do not spread slanderous gossip (19:16). Show respect for the elderly (19:32). Love foreigners as you love yourself (19:33-34). Don’t take advantage of one another (25:14). Help those who have fallen into poverty (25:25,35). Be generous towards the poor:

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 23:22

More than 2000 years later, the apostle Peter reminded the people again of God’s call to holiness. Just as God commanded in the book of Leviticus, Peter taught the same connection between holy living out of love for God and holy living displayed in our love for others.

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”…For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God….You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. – 1 Peter 1:14-22

The God-required response to our salvation is to love each other. Our salvation is not just about us. We were not saved to live focused on ourselves but we were saved to focus on God in obedience and love. We were called to holy living and that call includes living a life of love and kindness toward others. That is what God required of the people of Israel in Leviticus, that is what God required of the Jewish Christians to whom Peter wrote, and that is what God requires of us today.

…you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that GOD SUPPLIES. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. – 1 Peter 4:8-11

Our holy God, who calls us to be holy, will make us holy. What He is asking us to do, He will equip us to do. He will give us spiritual gifts and He will supply us with the strength and energy we need to do what He is asking us to do. Why? So that our lives will bring glory to Him. That is my desire this morning – to live a life of obedience, letting God come in and MAKE ME HOLY for His glory and for His purposes. Lord, this is my prayer!

Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right.
May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
and praise his holy name! – Psalm 97:11-12

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 11-19; Psalm 116

Chapter 16 of Leviticus describes the Day of Atonement – a day in which the sins of God’s people were presented to the Lord in confession and payment for those sins was made in order to make right what was wrong. The blood and life of an animal was presented to God as a substitute for the life of the sinner. As the animal parts were ceremonially presented to God, His anger was appeased and the worship of His people was accepted.

For the life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. — Leviticus 17:11

The priests played an important role in this redemption process. Leviticus contains chapter after chapter of specific instructions for priests. They were fully equipped to do what God had chosen them to do, it simply required their obedience. It was an honor to be chosen to lead God’s people through each ritual and religious custom; it was a privilege to be used by God to cleanse His people from their unrighteousness.

“Then Aaron must slaughter the first goat as a sin offering for the people and carry its blood behind the inner curtain. There he will sprinkle the goat’s blood over the atonement cover and in front of it, just as he did with the bull’s blood. Through this process, he will purify the Most Holy Place, and he will do the same for the entire Tabernacle, because of the defiling sin and rebellion of the Israelites. No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with the Lord.” – Leviticus 16:15-17

The role to which Aaron and the other Levites were assigned allowed the Israelites to experience purification. They mediated the covenant relationship between their holy God and a sinful people. As we study the role of the Levites in the book of Leviticus, we see a reflection of the role of Jesus Christ.

JESUS NOT ONLY BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR US, HE ALSO BECAME THE PRIEST.

Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice and mediated a new covenant between God and His people. Because of this sacrifice, we have been adopted into God’s family and will receive an eternal inheritance. The writer of Hebrews does a beautiful job of explaining this role.

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. – Hebrews 9:11-15

Precious Jesus, thank you so much for dying to set us free from our sin. Thank you for living in us through your Spirit, daily making it possible for us to experience a life of holiness. Cleanse our hearts and purify us from all efforts to be self-righteous and self-centered. Lord, we love you and long to worship you with pure hearts and clean hands. Amen.

“You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” – Leviticus 19:2b

What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people. – Psalm 116:12-14

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 56

What is the purpose of the book of Leviticus? It is often tempting to skip over this book full of priestly instructions, but even in this detailed list of rules and how-to’s God makes Himself known to us. We serve a God of details – a very specific God.

By reading through the instructions for the priests of Israel, we better understand the God we serve. We understand that He is a holy God and that He has provided for the atonement of our sins so that we can worship our holy Father and live in a relationship with our holy Creator. Each sacrifice described, each holy day required, teaches us something about the God we serve and what He requires of us.

“For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy….For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.” – Leviticus 11:44-45

GOD CREATED A PROCESS FOR THE ATONEMENT OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE.

The priests were given specific instructions on how to purify the people from their sins and make them right with the Lord so they could be forgiven of their sins. Even when they sinned unintentionally, God required them to respond at the moment in which they became aware of their sin — to respond with a heart of confession (Lev. 4:35; 5:5,13).

When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle. – Leviticus 4:14

If the entire community sinned, a young bull was to be sacrificed. If one of Israel’s leaders violated one of God’s commands unknowingly, a male goat with no defects was to be brought to the priest for sacrifice. If a common person was found guilty of sin, they were to bring a female goat with no defects. If what they had to give was a sheep, then a female sheep with no defects could be sacrificed. If they could not afford a sheep, two turtle doves or pigeons would be accepted; if that, too, was out of reach, two quarts of choice flour could be brought before the Lord.

GOD HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO SALVATION.

All in all, God provided a way for sinners to be made right with him, whether they were blessed with plenty of choice animals or only a small amount of flour. This reflects the compassion of our holy God. We serve a God who offers salvation to everyone — a God who provides a way for us to be made right in His sight.

“Through this process, the priest will purify those who are guilty of any of these sins, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.” – Leviticus 5:13a

A process was designed for the sake of the admission of guilt and the confession of sin. The moment they realized what they had done or recognized their sinful state, they were to admit their guilt (5:3b). The spilling of blood was required in order for God’s people to be made right in the sight of God.

IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS TODAY.

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. – Ephesians 1:7-8

The death of Jesus on the cross makes it possible for us to be in a right relationship with a holy God – a God who requires us to live a holy life. The blood of Jesus was spilled so that we can be freed from the power of sin and filled with the righteousness of God. It is impossible for us to reconcile ourselves to God on our own. Thank God for His generous plan of salvation. Praise the Lord for the blood of Jesus shed for our sins!

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colossians 1:20

Creator God, thank you for making a way for all of us to live in a right relationship with you. We are unworthy of your gift of salvation and incapable of holiness, yet you fill us with your own righteousness and display your holiness through our lives. We are grateful for your mercy and your grace, and we see it as a privilege to walk in the light you have provided for us today. May we remain humbly willing to confess our sins, daily recognizing all that you provided through the blood of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:12-13

Today’s Reading: Exodus 36-40; Psalm 99

It was always God’s plan to lead His people and to direct them in His ways. They were never alone and never without His leadership. This is evident in His instructions to Moses. He told Moses to build a Tabernacle so that He could live among His people, giving him an exact pattern to follow. There were specific instructions about the Ark of the Covenant in which the stone tablets containing the 10 Commandments would be placed. Moses was given the exact measurements for the table, the lampstand, the framework and curtains for the Tabernacle. There was to be an altar on which to give burnt offerings and a courtyard. Lamps burning pure olive oil were to burn continually.

IT WAS ALWAYS GOD’S PLAN TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE.

God set apart Aaron and his descendants as priests to minister in the Tabernacle and again gave specific instructions regarding their role and their garments. On the ephod (apron) was engraved the names of Jacob’s twelve sons in birth order, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He would carry these names on his shoulders reminding him of who he represented every time he went before the Lord.

The chestpiece was beautifully adorned with twelve stones, again representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It was worn as a constant reminder that it was the priest’s task to bring the people to God and to bring God’s word to the people. He was to wear the chestpiece for seeking decisions from God. Aaron was never meant to lead the people of his own strength, but was to always seek God and follow His lead.

IT WAS NEVER GOD’S PLAN FOR AARON TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE OF HIS OWN STRENGTH.

The preparations God asks us to make are different from those He instructed the Israelites and priests to complete, but He still desires for us to prepare our hearts to enter into His glorious presence. He longs to live among us and be our God, that we might know that He is the Lord our God!

For we are the Temple of the living God. As God said: “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. – 2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1

What a privilege to be in God’s presence!
Who am I representing when I come before the Lord?
Whose needs am I lifting to God in prayer?
Am I seeking God for every decision, following His lead?
Is His will the desire of my heart?

IT WAS NEVER GOD’S PLAN FOR MOSES TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE HIS OWN WAY.

Sometimes the whirlwind of life pushes us to move at a faster pace, or sometimes it slows us down. God says — Let me lead. Let me set the pace. I know where I am taking you. Trust me. Moses was never meant to lead the people at his own pace, but was to always seek God and follow His lead — God’s will, God’s way, in God’s time.

Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. – Exodus 40:36-37

Lord, cleanse us from everything that can defile us. Create in us a clean spirit and make us a masterpiece of your holiness at work, clothing us in your righteousness. Bring the needs of your people to our hearts this morning so that we can lift them to you in prayer. Dwell among us, oh Lord, and lead us on today’s journey. Help us to trust your timing as we relax and let you lead at your pace, taking us where you want us to go. Amen.

IT IS NEVER GOD’S PLAN FOR ME TO TAKE THE LEAD BUT TO FOLLOW THE LORD MY GOD.

Exalt the Lord our God!
Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests;
Samuel also called on his name.
They cried to the Lord for help,
and he answered them.
He spoke to Israel from the pillar of cloud,
and they followed the laws and decrees he gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them. – Psalm 99:5-8a

Send out your light and your truth;
let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you live.
There I will go to the altar of God,
to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
O God, my God! – Psalm 43:3-4

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.

Today’s Reading: Exodus 32 – 33; Psalm 66

The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” – Exodus 32:7-8

God had emphasized over and over again that He was to be the only God, and that His people should not bow to any other idol or worship anything else but Him. When Moses came down from the mountain, he found God’s people doing the very thing God had just stressed not to do — he found them worshiping an idol.

Moses knew how important it was to God that His people not defile themselves in this way and he understood God’s plan to destroy them all and start over. But Moses stood between God and the Israelites; he begged God to forgive them, to allow them the opportunity to repent and try again. And so God mercifully allowed the Israelites to live.

WHAT A MERCIFUL GOD WE SERVE!

Moses had a big job ahead of him and he knew it. He knew that he was called to lead a stiff-necked people. Moses knew he needed God if he was going to accomplish the task set before him. He knew what it was to be in God’s presence and longed to follow God’s leading. He boldly asked God for help.

“You tell me, ‘I know you well and you are special to me.’ If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don’t forget, this is your people, your responsibility.”

God said, “My presence will go with you. I’ll see the journey to the end.”

Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people?…”

God said to Moses: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I KNOW YOU BY NAME.”

Moses said, “Please. Let me see your Glory.”

God said, “I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you…Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I’ll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I’ve passed by. Then I’ll take my hand away and you’ll see my back. But you won’t see my face.” — Exodus 33:12b-23 (The Message)

I don’t know what task God has before you today, but I pray you hear Him say that He will walk this journey with you to the end because He knows you well. You are special to Him, and He knows you by name. May you have the strength and faith needed to put yourself on “this rock” – this place right beside your merciful God. May you feel the protection of God tucking you safely into the cleft of the rock and covering you with His hand. May your heart’s desire always be to remain in God’s presence and allow Him to lead you each step of the way on this journey He has chosen for you.

GOD KNOWS YOU BY NAME.

Just as God cared about Moses and invited Him to experience His presence, He loves us enough to be present — to allow us to feel His presence in the good times and also in the hard times. He has a purpose for our lives and He calls us by name (Isaiah 45:3).

Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands… — Isaiah 49:15-16a

I love the thought that God knows everything about me and yet He loves me! He knows all my faults and all my fears, all my regrets and all my sins, yet He writes my name in the palm of His hands.

OH, WHAT A MERCIFUL GOD WE SERVE! MY NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND AND SO IS YOURS.

In April, the ministry I have the privilege of working for will hold their 23rd healing retreat for individuals who are struggling with the pain of an abortion decision they cannot undo. This weekend allows a woman or man to go “Deeper Still” to find the forgiveness and healing God wants to give them. Will you help me spread the word? There may be someone you know who is holding tightly to a secret in the depth of their heart, and they need to know that God loves them and has written their name on the palm of His hand. For more information about the Deeper Still retreats, go to: https://www.pregnancyresourcecenter.org/services/after-abortion-support

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness — secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. — Isaiah 45:3

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he did for me.
For I cried out to him for help,
praising him as I spoke.
If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me. – Psalm 66:16-20

Today’s Reading: Exodus 25 – 31, Psalm 92

Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. – Exodus 25:8-9

This verse reveals the heart of God. He wanted a place in the community; God wanted to live among His people. He wanted to be present in a new way for them. He had always been there — always leading, always loving. But knowing everything about the humanity He had created, the Lord wanted to be present in a physical way so that His people could acknowledge His presence.

We serve this same God, the One who gives us a physical place to walk into, in order to have a spiritual awakening. We can create a cadence of walking into His presence prepared to experience the God who desires to live among us. The Tabernacle or Church is more than just a fellowship of believers, it is a place of communion with God. We intentionally walk through the doors in order to experience God, learning and growing as we renew our covenant relationship with the Lord once more.

GOD WANTS TO BE WITH US.

Moses went up on the mountain and received instructions from God. He was given plans for how to build the Ark of the Covenant, as well as the table and the lampstand. The description of the Tabernacle, altar, and courtyard are detailed and beautiful. The sacred garments to be worn by the priests are described as glorious and beautiful.

Not only did God give them instructions, he equipped them for the task at hand. To those who were assigned to build the Tabernacle, He gave a spirit of wisdom so that they would be skilled craftsmen (28:3, 31:1-11). To those who were called to be priests, God gave the ability to determine God’s will for the people when they entered into the holy place to go before the Lord (28:30).

“Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God…” – Exodus 28:15a

GOD WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES.

Not only did God create a way to live among His people, He created a process by which He would hear from the leadership and direct them when they had an important decision to make. This holy and glorious God was willing to dwell among man for the purpose of receiving their sacrifices and communicating with them — helping them in their time of need. In the same way, God wants to lead us through every decision in life. He is there to gives us wisdom, increase our understanding, and nudge us in the direction He wants us to go.

When we surrender to His lordship, we are giving our all to the God who wants to be with us and longs to be involved in every moment of our lives. This process of offering up our best to the Lord as a sacrifice is described in chapter 29 as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a special gift for Him. Our holy God is delighted when we go to Him and give all that we have and all that we are to Him.

GOD WANTS TO RECEIVE FROM US.

These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the Lord’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence. Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God. — Exodus 29:42b-46

How blessed we are to serve a God who desires to have a relationship with us. He wants to hear from us, receive our offerings and be our God. He did not create us and then walk away, or sit on a throne at a distance. He is involved in our lives and asking for our full attention.

GOD WANTS US TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR HIM.

“Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy…’” – Exodus 31:13

Sabbath is a gift from God. He loves us enough to call us to moments of shutting out all of the chaos and slowing down the momentum of life just to BE in His presence. We give our lives sacrificially to Him and His gift back to us is time to rest in His presence — to be refreshed by the knowledge that He is God. He is holy, He loves us and He is faithfully doing great works for us. Let’s create a tabernacle — a beautiful place to spend time with Him. Let’s create sabbath — an intimate time to rest in the presence of God. Let’s offer up our best to Him as we give Him thanks.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
Your faithfulness in the evening…
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
Oh Lord, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts. – Psalm 92:1-5

The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple. – Psalm 27:4

Today’s Reading: Exodus 20-24; Psalm 36

God entered into a covenant relationship with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. As we study Exodus, we see God teaching the people who He is and what it should look like for them to have a covenant relationship with Him. What first appears to be a list of instructions or rules (10 Commandments) is actually God teaching His children about who He is — about His character and holiness.

A lot of what God required in this covenant relationship in Exodus is the same that He requires of us today. His instructions on how we can live in relationship with Him include how we live in relationship with others. He clearly instructs us in regards to how His people should treat one another.

TO LOVE GOD IS TO LOVE OTHERS.

If we are to enter into a relationship with the Most Holy God, we must live a life of holiness. It is not simply about salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Once we have been rescued from the bondage of our sins, we are to live out our faith daily in the glory of the presence of God, manifesting His holy character.

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a god who is jealous [passionate] about his relationship with you. – Exodus 34:14

The first four commandments help us understand our Holy God and why He must have our undivided attention. He is the Lord our God and nothing should be more important than Him. We are to treat His name as holy and dedicate the Sabbath to Him. Our covenant relationship with Him requires that we give Him first place in our lives — that we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. – Exodus 20:6

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life. – Psalm 42:8

WE RECEIVE HIS UNFAILING LOVE IN ORDER TO LOVE OTHERS IN THE WAY HE IS ASKING US TO.

The next six commandments are about how we are to treat one another: Honor your parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not testify falsely against your neighbor and do not covet what your neighbor has. God then laid out additional requirements regarding how our covenant relationship with Him should be reflected in our relationships with those around us.

But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. – Exodus 21:23-25

This concept of equal response to each crime or injustice is repeated more than once in the Old Testament. The people’s sinful response was to “one up” each other or to respond harsher than the initial mistreatment, so God instructed them to pay back in kind. It is the law of retaliation. The penalty must fit the crime.

But when Jesus came to fulfill the law, he showed us a whole new way to love God by loving others. What if we did not retaliate at all? What if our focus was on reconciliation instead of retaliation? Jesus said:

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.” – Matthew 5:38-42

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE.

This is a great way to sum up the 10 Commandments given to Moses, and it is exactly how Jesus summed up the Law of Moses when the Pharisees asked him which commandment was the most important. Jesus taught us how to love God; he set the example for us in both his words and actions.

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

TEACH ME HOW TO LOVE YOU MORE, GOD!

Lord, it is such a joy and privilege to be in a covenant relationship with you. I long to understand you, and to be filled with your holiness so that I can love you by loving others. Help me to live out my faith daily through my actions. May my response to your holy character show in my ability to love others the way you love me. God, only you are capable of producing this kind of love in my heart. Fill me with who you are; lavish me with your unfailing love. Amen.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
give justice to those with honest hearts. – Psalm 36:5-7a,10

Today’s Reading: Exodus 19, Psalm 81

Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” – Exodus 6:6-7

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION?

He wants to be Lord; He wants to show us that He is in charge! Just as He allowed the Israelites to suffer at the hands of the Egyptians, He allows us to walk an unknown path. Just as God showed His power to all the Israelites through the plagues, God shows us that His mighty hand is at work. Just as God helped the Israelites in the battle against the Amelekites, He is with you in the most difficult seasons of life. God is using everything going on in your life right now to show you that He is the Lord.

Consider this. If Pharaoh had listened to Moses and Aaron after their first few encounters, it is possible that the Israelites would have seen Moses and Aaron as their rescuers. If Pharaoh had treated them kindly and let them go, the Israelites would have bowed to Pharaoh. But because of the way things transpired, the Israelites saw that God was at work. They saw that El Shaddai, God Almighty, was in control (6:3).

God is saying — Stop looking at food to satisfy you. Let me satisfy you.
God is saying — Stop looking to people to give you what you want. Let me provide for you.
God is saying — Stop looking to caffeine to energize you. Let me strengthen you.
God is saying — Stop focusing on what you want; what will make you feel better. Let me be Lord.

I am the Lord your God. I will be on time.

“Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.” – Exodus 12:40-41

I am the Lord your God. I know what is best for you and I will choose the path.

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’” – Exodus 13:17

I am the Lord your God. I will guide you.

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar by night left its place in front of the people.” – Exodus 13:21-22

I am the Lord your God. Be still.

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” – Exodus 14:13-14

I am the Lord your God. I will heal you.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26

I am the Lord your God. I have heard you and I will provide.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”…When they measured it out, everyone had just enough…Each family had just what it needed. – Exodus 16:11-18

I am the Lord your God. You will be my treasured possession.

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” – Exodus 19:4-6a

YOU HAVE OUR ATTENTION, LORD!

Almighty God, help us to recognize your mighty hand on our lives. Lord we submit to your Lordship — to your will, your way, in your time. Remind us again today that you are Lord — that you know what is best and will guide us, heal us and provide for us. Forgive us for our complaining and help us to rest in your provisions. Forgive us for the times we have been too discouraged, too consumed and too stubborn to trust you. Amen.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. – Psalm 81:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…
For I am the Lord your God who takes your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:10,13 (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 18, Psalm 145

Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel… “Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “…I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.” – Exodus 17:8-11

I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. I WILL USE YOUR STORY TO HELP OTHERS BELIEVE THAT I AM GOD.

The Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s son, Midian. After Sarah died, Abraham remarried and his new wife gave birth to several sons. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham, but their religion had evolved over the years to include the worship of other gods rather than worshiping only the one true God. So this was a significant moment for the Midianite priest, Jethro, to recognize that the Lord God is greater than all other gods.

How wonderful it is when God uses the story of our lives to help others find faith in Him. When Moses fled from Egypt as a young man, he rested near a well in Midian. The seven daughters of the Midianite priest, Jethro, came to the well to draw water for their flocks but shepherds chased them away. Moses came to their rescue, defending them against the shepherds and then drawing water for their flocks. When Jethro heard of the kindness of this young Egyptian, he invited him to dinner and then to stay with them. He eventually gave Moses his daughter in marriage, and together they had two sons. God provided for Moses through Jethro.

This encounter with Jethro in Exodus 17 came 40 years after Moses left to help the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt. Before his encounter with Pharaoh, Moses had been a shepherd for his father-in-law for years. Jethro and Moses had been family now for a long time. I imagine this was a powerful moment for Moses when Jethro acknowledged the supremacy of the God of Israel.

GOD HAD USED MOSES IN THE LIFE OF JETHRO AND NOW HE WAS GOING TO ONCE AGAIN USE JETHRO IN THE LIFE OF MOSES.

The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. – Psalm 145:14

Leading the large nation of Israel came with a lot of pressure and responsibility. Each day Moses would listen to a line of people coming with their disputes to settle and their problems to solve. From morning to evening, Moses would deal with all that the people brought to him. Moses had taught Jethro about God and now Jethro taught Moses about delegation — about leaders leading leaders. Jethro’s leadership advice equipped Moses with a healthy system for governing this large nation.

My daughter persistently invited her friend, Nicole, to come to church when they were in junior high. She began to attend regularly and gave her life to Jesus. She became very involved in the youth group and soon felt a call into youth ministry. Not only did Brooke do something wonderful for Nicole when she invited her to church, Nicole has become an amazing friend for Brooke — a clear gift from God. They both attended Olivet Nazarene University, where each of them got involved in ministry while pursuing God’s call on their life. Nicole is now a youth pastor in South Carolina and Brooke is now a youth pastor in Indiana. Both of them are walking out their “yes” in order that other young people will come to know Jesus and understand God’s calling on their lives.

WHEN WE RESPOND IN OBEDIENCE, GOD BLESSES US WITH THE RESULTS OF OUR OBEDIENCE. I LIKE TO CALL THIS THE BOOMERANG EFFECT.

Thank you, Jehovah, for giving us opportunities to share our faith journey with others. Thank you for the many friendships that are formed as those we love come to acknowledge you as their Savior and Lord. Help us to see the potential of those around us and be persistent in our efforts to lead them to you. Use the story of your great power displayed in our lives. Bring those who do not believe to a saving knowledge of who YOU are as they see your light reflected in us. Amen.

Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you. – Psalm 145:6-7