Sunday, February 15, 2014

When I read these passages about the garments for the priests and the instructions for the setting up of the tabernacle, I am always in awe of the level of detail given by God. The colors of the threads to be used in the garments and the curtain. The precise measurements and placement of each piece and the scripture says that "Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him." (Ex 40:16)

I have to believe that God supernaturally caused Moses to remember and retain all of these instructions. In my mind, I picture Moses siting cross-legged on the ground with a notebook on his lap, writing furiously as the Lord is speaking. "Wait a minute. Could you repeat that part about the blue, purple and scarlet yarn one more time?". It just isn't humanly possible to remember all that detail without missing something. And I have no doubt that God would not have tolerated anything missing.

So aren't we told that God will never give us an assignment without equipping us to accomplish it? I seriously doubt that Moses felt up to the task of receiving all of these commands and being confident of completing them unless he knew God and trusted in him. I was just struck by how much Moses' faith had strengthened since God first called him to free the Israelites. Remember how he told God that he couldn't speak to Pharaoh because he wasn't eloquent enough and tried to argue his way out it. Telling God to send someone else. God told Moses that he himself would tell him what to say and would also send Aaron to back him up. Moses went but I think he was dragging his feet a bit. And now look at Moses. I don't remember him arguing with God this time. Now he had no reason to doubt that God would be with him. A good lesson for us all.

Lord, when you ask me to do something, help me to recall those many times that you were there for me in the past. Help me to know that in my strength, I can do nothing. But with you, all things are possible. In Jesus Name. Amen.



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Saturday, February 14, 2015

Saturday, February 14, 2015 [by Keesha Sullivan]

     I couldn’t help but feel the tears streaming down my face as I listened to their story. I quickly glanced to the right and left and saw my fellow congregants sniffling too. The mother and the father stood side by side as they spoke about their college age son that loved the Lord. Their palpable love for him seemed to seep out through their story, their demeanor, and even their eyes. Their son came to visit them for one last weekend. As he drove back to school, he got into a very serious car accident. These brokenhearted parents drove four hours to the hospital not knowing whether he was dead or alive. They were met at the doors by an officer that relayed the news of their son’s death. 

     However their story did not end with the loss of their only son. They are still alive and raising their daughter. They told us although they are still grieving parents that they are letting the Lord sustain them each and every moment of the day. They let us know that God was the only One that could help them carry this terrible burden. 

     In our scripture, God makes a promise to us to do just that. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;” (Psalm 34:18). The Lord promised us that He would be close to us when trouble comes. Trouble will definitely come. This is also a promise. In John 16:33 it says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

     

     Although we will experience trials, heartache, extreme pain, and grief in this world, the Lord tells us that we can still be hopeful because He has overcome the world. He also says that He is close by to help us as well as to deliver us. 

After the parents finished their testimony, the pastor said, “All I know is that we can either go through with God or we can go through without Him. Those are the two choices.” It is my hope that we all choose the first of the two choices. 

     Lord, please help us to realize that although we will experience tribulation in this world that You will help us through. Thank You for being a God that we can lean on at all times. Thank You for being a God that can provide for all of our needs. Help us to make the choice to always go through with You and to maintain our hope in You. We love You Lord. Thank You for Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Thursday, February 12

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Exodus 34:1–35:9

Matthew 27:15–31

Psalm 33:12–22

Proverbs 9:1–6

 

 

“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’

 

“‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.

 

“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.” (Matthew 27:11–14)

 

 

As Jesus stands before Pilate, He speaks truth to power.  Pilate has only received the power to judge the matchless, sinless Son because of God’s sovereign choice:  “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’” (John 19:11a) 

 

Jesus’s confident and well-deserved assurance in His righteousness stands in stark contrast to Pilate’s moral expediency.  The One from Above stands firm in His will, while Pilate squirms to channel the people’s will and bolster his own standing.  In the end, Pilate accedes to crucify Jesus, even after determining His innocence and finding some resolve “to set Jesus free.  But the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.  Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’” (John 19:12)  The Jewish leaders accused this true King of blasphemy:  for having claimed the eternal “I am” status.  Matthew 27:18 acknowledges that Pilate “knew it was out of self-interest that they [the Jewish leaders] had handed Jesus over to him.”  Pilate even “washes his hands” of Jesus’s death and wishes not to claim responsibility for this popular decision.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ obediently endured this mockery of a trial and the certain condemnation that followed it in order to provide forgiveness to those who would trust in Him.  In doing so, He painted a picture of the rewards of obedience:  despite the pain and the cost, living righteously and for God’s glory will bring about God’s purposes and produce eternal rewards.

 

Have you ever experienced the calm assurance of standing firm in God’s will and His truth?  We struggle and stain to position ourselves where we might fit best, to take the most out of life.  Yet, when we submit to His purposes and direction, we may rest confidently in His provision, care, and presence.  Please note that I am not highlighting the tie between obedience and daily health for its sake alone, but rather these fruit come as a byproduct of living victoriously for the King.

 

As an illustration, consider an upcoming trip.  Often, we rush frantically in preparation for an out-of-town excursion, packing our suitcases, gathering our travel documents, and rushing to the airport or train station.  Yet, once we have sat on the train or plane or car, we may rest, knowing that the pre-set itinerary will govern the next steps.  The itinerary provides structure for the journey ahead.  Similarly, studying God’s Word enables us to order our lives around God’s priorities, in order to travel according to His itinerary for us.

 

Reading about the Crucifixion brings to mind Hebrews 12:1,2:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  May we take great encouragement in Jesus’s obedience to His Father’s will, despite the ultimate personal cost:  to persevere.

 

 

Lord Jesus, we wish to honor You through persevering amidst the trials and disappointments of this life.  Help us to remain focused on Your good purposes.  Give us grace to count everything as gain that involves knowing You and becoming associated with Your sufferings.  Transform our hearts and minds to embrace the eternal and to view today’s world from Your perspective.  Thank You for giving Your everything for us.  We praise You and love You, our King.  In Your precious Name, amen.

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Feb 13

Matthew 27

As I read our passage today I felt I needed to read this on my knees. These words are the most sacred words ever recorded in the history of our planet. They tell us about a love story so magnificent it has revolutionized billions of lives and caused millions of books and songs to be written over the centuries. There are two vastly different ways to read this passage; we can read this to know the facts about Jesus' cross or we can read with the trembling heart of the old Negro spiritual. There were several truths that caused my heart to tremble today.

The mocking of my Savior caused me to tremble. Of all the scenes of the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of sick people would mock a dying man? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain. Yet we read about the insults of the soldiers, the common people and the religious leaders. They aim their insults and mockeries at him and amazingly he doesn't fight back. In fact, he forgives them. Just this fact alone proves that Jesus is God. No human being could do this. He refused to fight fire with fire.  He fought fire with love. Never has the world seen such love.

The cry of "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" caused me to tremble. We read these words earlier in the year when we read the first line of Psalm 22. A devout Jew learned the 22nd Psalm for times of great distress and darkness. When they were in such deep distress, this psalm was prayed. This was the sermon Jesus wanted to preach from the cross but he didn't have the strength. So he recited the first line and meant for us to read it. You will see that the Psalm ends with victory. "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him." This love story is not a tragedy, but a triumph.

And all of this pain and suffering was pursued so that we could be brought into a relationship with Jesus. Like the Negro spiritual says, "sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!!"

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Jan 11

Exodus 32

This is an amazing story and we see so much of human nature and God's nature in this account.  Just like all of us have done, the Israelites grew impatient while waiting on The Lord. We have all been in a position of waiting longer than we thought we should have to for an answer from God and they were no different. In their impatience, they took matters into their own hands.  While waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain, they decided to create their own false god in the form of a golden calf. In essence they were worshiping themselves instead of the God who created them and brought them out of Egypt.   How typical, and aren't we also guilty of creating an image of what we think God might look like in order to fit our own expectations or desires. God was enraged and ready to wipe them off the face of the map. I found this part humorous though - Moses, who stuttered and was afraid to go before Pharaoh, now goes before God and begs for mercy for an entire nation. Here's where we see God's nature.  God relents. He changes His behavior not because He changed His mind or was no longer angry but instead to demonstrate His forgiving nature and the love He has for His people.  The relationship that Moses had with God was unique for the time.  He interceded on behalf of the Israelites and not only heard the voice of God but to some degree came in physical contact with Him. I believe the relationship Moses had with God then is the same as God wants to have with us now.  He wants us to intercede on behalf of others, He wants us to hear His voice. We have to ask God, in prayer, what false idols we have put between us and Him. Just as Moses destroyed the calf, we also have to remove anything we worship that is not God alone. That's the only way we will hear His voice. He wants to forgive us and bless us. Oh how He loves us.


Randi

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32

 

I arose early this morning, prepared a small breakfast for my grandchildren, got myself ready for work, and even packed my own lunch.  I left for work in plenty of time and then realized that I forgot my lunch.  Had to return home to pick it up.  Very simple task, yet I forgot.  I think that if I was around during the time of Moses, I would definitely have great difficulty following the precise instructions that the Lord gave him.  Everything in the Old Testament was extremely detailed to make people, things and sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. 

 

In Matthew 26 - I was so hoping that this verse did not fall on my day.  I cannot understand how Judas could turn on the Lord.  Was it just for the money?  How heartbreaking is that!  Of course, we know that eventually his guilt was his destruction.

 

When I was growing up, I had the painting of Jesus praying at Gethsemane over my bed.  I would stare at it constantly and become so sad that one so innocent and pure had to suffer betrayal at the hands of one of his disciples.  Yet it was written and the prophecy had to be fulfilled. Jesus knew who would betray Him, but the treatment by the high priest and the whole Sanhedrin is still too much for me to think about.  I often wonder what I would have done had I been living back then.  Would I have been caught up in the crowd and go along with accusing an innocent man of wrongdoing when He did none?  We would all like to think that we would stand in favor of His innocence, but even His disciples, who loved Him so much, denied Him for fear of losing their own lives.

 

Nowadays many Christians are being persecuted, tortured and killed.  I pray that even in this day and age that my faith will keep me singing His praises, even when confronted by persecution.  We just never know when it may enter our lives or how we will respond.

I am saddened by the horrific treatment that our Lord endured to save us from eternal damnation.  But - He loves us and that is why He suffered.  How can one not look at the cross and be humbled by this sacrifice? 

 

In Psalm 32:5 - Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" --and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

 

The greatest free gift of all time - repentance and forgiveness.  No matter what we have done, if we come before Him and repent - He forgives.  Lord, let us all continue to give you thanks and praise for what You have endured for us!  Thank you for giving all your people the opportunity to accept, know and love You!

February 9: Why is this necessary?

Exodus 29:1-30:10

Matthew 26:14-46

Psalm 31:19-24

Proverbs 8:14-26

So I started on the OT reading today, and before long I found myself thinking "why is all this necessary?"  The instructions God gave Moses seem to have been worse than the instructions for a really big Lego toy or a really intricate piece of Ikea furniture.  Putting Aaron's garments on alone sounded like it would have taken longer than some actors probably take getting ready for the Oscar red carpet.  Has anyone even thought about how difficult it would be to sacrifice a bull?  And they were supposed to do it each day - as a sin offering to make atonement.  

Then I moved on to the NT reading, and I found myself asking the same question as I read about our Lord praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Our Lord was contemplating a horrible death, a death to make ISIS look like rank amateurs.  And I thought to myself again, "why was it necessary?"

Now don't get me wrong - I have now begun to understand why it was necessary.  Our Lord died for us to remove the stain of rebellion and sin away from us, a stain God in His perfection could not abide in His presence, a stain we could not remove ourselves, that we might be able to approach His throne.  I imagine our Lord knew this as well - but what was interesting was, it never came up in the conversation.  His response to the prospect of a terrible death?  "May Your will be done."

And that is really the crux of it, isn't it?  As was the case when I was a child struggling to understand my parents, and as is the case for my children today; as was the case when reading both the OT and NT readings today - the fact is, I don't need to know why God says it is necessary.  Only that He says it is.  May I always learn to respond, in all the circumstances He permits, however difficult it may be, "may Your will be done."