Exodus 35:10-36:38 ~ Matthew 27:32-66 ~ Psalm 34:1-10 ~ Proverbs 9:7-8
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Exodus 35:10-36:38 - A few things strike me about this passage. It strikes me how much the Israelites looked up to Moses as a leader and accepted all of the instructions that he brought to them, considering that he alone was given these instructions directly from God. They must have been confident that Moses was reciting God's instructions exactly as they were given him. It also strikes me how much they were willing to sacrifice of their time and money for the Lord. They gave their most prized possessions and also dedicated what must have been significant time to constructing the Tent of Meeting exactly as God had instructed them. Finally, it's interesting to note that all those who were called to do God's work were given skills to help them accomplish this work. In the end, they were certainly rewarded for their efforts!
Today, we've been given everything that the Israelites were given and more, since we have not only the Old Testament but the New Testament as well. We should be trusting God without question, as the Bible is His inspired Word and everything we need to know is documented in it. It seems that God is asking such a small sacrifice from us compared to what He asked of the Israelites of Moses' time. What are we building for the Lord with our time and money? What are the unique skills that God has given each of us that can be put to work for Him?
Matthew 27:32-66 - It was far from easy for Jesus to die for us on the cross. After all, He was the Son of Man, flesh and blood like any other man. He must have been in excruciating pain from the beatings and from hanging on the cross for hours. No phrase illustrates His pain and suffering more than Matthew 27:46 when He cried out to His Father in heaven "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" I imagine He must have wished that His Father would release Him from the cross at that moment. Yet, Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price to do the will of His Father. What a commitment.
Imagine how God the Father must have suffered also to watch His Son be beaten and die on the cross. It is unthinkable for me to imagine having to watch my own child in a similar situation. This reading immediately reminds me of my favorite passage in the Bible, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Psalm 34:1-10 - I long to have a relationship with the LORD the way David had. I have faith that by seeking the LORD with all my heart, I will find Him and be transformed by Him. I no longer want evil to come out of my mouth, but rather to have praise on my lips at all times.
Proverbs 9:7-8 - This proverb reminds me of the recommendations we've been giving our children about how to deal with bullies. I believe a bully mocks in order to get a reaction out of his victim. If you give no such reaction, or perhaps even agree with the bully, the bully receives no satisfaction and forgets about you. On the other hand, I hope that when we rebuke our children for bad behavior, it will eventually sink in, they will gain wisdom and they'll love us for it.
Exodus 35:10-36:38 - A few things strike me about this passage. It strikes me how much the Israelites looked up to Moses as a leader and accepted all of the instructions that he brought to them, considering that he alone was given these instructions directly from God. They must have been confident that Moses was reciting God's instructions exactly as they were given him. It also strikes me how much they were willing to sacrifice of their time and money for the Lord. They gave their most prized possessions and also dedicated what must have been significant time to constructing the Tent of Meeting exactly as God had instructed them. Finally, it's interesting to note that all those who were called to do God's work were given skills to help them accomplish this work. In the end, they were certainly rewarded for their efforts!
Today, we've been given everything that the Israelites were given and more, since we have not only the Old Testament but the New Testament as well. We should be trusting God without question, as the Bible is His inspired Word and everything we need to know is documented in it. It seems that God is asking such a small sacrifice from us compared to what He asked of the Israelites of Moses' time. What are we building for the Lord with our time and money? What are the unique skills that God has given each of us that can be put to work for Him?
The Tabernacle at Sunset
Copyright ©1998 Revelation Productions - Reprinted with permission
Matthew 27:32-66 - It was far from easy for Jesus to die for us on the cross. After all, He was the Son of Man, flesh and blood like any other man. He must have been in excruciating pain from the beatings and from hanging on the cross for hours. No phrase illustrates His pain and suffering more than Matthew 27:46 when He cried out to His Father in heaven "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" I imagine He must have wished that His Father would release Him from the cross at that moment. Yet, Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price to do the will of His Father. What a commitment.
Imagine how God the Father must have suffered also to watch His Son be beaten and die on the cross. It is unthinkable for me to imagine having to watch my own child in a similar situation. This reading immediately reminds me of my favorite passage in the Bible, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Psalm 34:1-10 - I long to have a relationship with the LORD the way David had. I have faith that by seeking the LORD with all my heart, I will find Him and be transformed by Him. I no longer want evil to come out of my mouth, but rather to have praise on my lips at all times.
Proverbs 9:7-8 - This proverb reminds me of the recommendations we've been giving our children about how to deal with bullies. I believe a bully mocks in order to get a reaction out of his victim. If you give no such reaction, or perhaps even agree with the bully, the bully receives no satisfaction and forgets about you. On the other hand, I hope that when we rebuke our children for bad behavior, it will eventually sink in, they will gain wisdom and they'll love us for it.
posted by Mike at 12:09 AM
2 Comments:
Could the greatness of Jesus make his Child of God projection be more inclusive than manners are equipped to admit?
It is improbable.
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