35 “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36 Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37 For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.
Exodus 29:37
Before Christ the Israelites needed to follow a strict set of tasks to purify themselves before God. It look complicated measures and rituals for one to be deemed fit which isn't the case after Christ sacrifice. Now with Christ death, the distance between pure and impure is only a step away. It only takes the covering of Jesus' blood to cleanse use from our sinful nature.
How much have I taken for granted what God has given me in Jesus' sacrifice. The Israelites have been waiting for a messiah to come ever since the fall of mankind. They have been striving to be closer with God, but always failing because of their sinful natures. Yet I sin, I have that easy accessibility to come before Christ without going through those rituals. But I think thats the problem. I don't take God seriously. I don't show God the creator of the universe His due respect. God is greater than the president. God is greater than any superstar. Yet I treat him so lightly by not circumsizing my heart before I come to Him. I must consecrate my heart that may be fit to come into his presence. When I look at Stephen, I see a man who forfeited his faith and in the end lived more Christ like than any other. He was a servant first. A administrator and food deliver, yet he lived powerfully for Christ.
God is telling me to live more like Stephen. To consecrate my life and humble myself to see the importance of living more like Christ.
Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice that makes not only my life easier to be cleansed, but also gives me the accessibility to the Holy Spirit. You are no longer a God who sits in the throne of heaven, but you are in my heart. There is no greater gift than what you have given me through your death on the cross. Remind me to be more like the Israelites by preparing and taking my relationship with you more seriously. I love you Jesus.
In Jesus name Amen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Vigilance
20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
Exodus 27:21
God is a god of exactness carrying forth orders that are direct and deliberate. The building of the tabernacle was one that signifies God's tangible presence in the group that Moses led. As forgetful as humans are, we are reminded in a physical way that God is ever present in our lives and we must live morally based on His command. Thankfully since we have the Holy Spirit this ark that travels place to place no longer needs to be carried as the people move, but we have an inner ark in our hearts that tugs at us when the Spirit moves.
God commands us to be vigilance through the night, keeping the lamp burning. In Revelations Jesus will come like a thief in the night, so does that mean we're to literally stay up and keep watch? No... it means to guard my heart at all times. Keep the lamp of the HS burning within me through the storms of my life. When I see injustice, when I see people suffering, when I'm about to commit a sinful act... I need to not snuff out the lamp that God has given me, but to keep it burning by doing the act in which Jesus showed us. To love. In addition, I must always be ready knowing that Christ's time of redemption is around the corner. I must remember this life is a gift, but also considered a mist in the fabric of God's time....I must make use of this time as it is precious for God's work. Who knows if I will die today and not come back home tonight.
God, I thank you for who You are. Thank you Jesus for setting the path in which I can follow whole heartily. Though I will never achieve perfection in this life, I look forward to what is in stored in heaven. Grant me the vigilance to keep my spiritual guard up from Satan's attack. Help me to over come my fleshly nature, as it is weak and burdensome to do Your will. I love you Jesus.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
Exodus 27:21
God is a god of exactness carrying forth orders that are direct and deliberate. The building of the tabernacle was one that signifies God's tangible presence in the group that Moses led. As forgetful as humans are, we are reminded in a physical way that God is ever present in our lives and we must live morally based on His command. Thankfully since we have the Holy Spirit this ark that travels place to place no longer needs to be carried as the people move, but we have an inner ark in our hearts that tugs at us when the Spirit moves.
God commands us to be vigilance through the night, keeping the lamp burning. In Revelations Jesus will come like a thief in the night, so does that mean we're to literally stay up and keep watch? No... it means to guard my heart at all times. Keep the lamp of the HS burning within me through the storms of my life. When I see injustice, when I see people suffering, when I'm about to commit a sinful act... I need to not snuff out the lamp that God has given me, but to keep it burning by doing the act in which Jesus showed us. To love. In addition, I must always be ready knowing that Christ's time of redemption is around the corner. I must remember this life is a gift, but also considered a mist in the fabric of God's time....I must make use of this time as it is precious for God's work. Who knows if I will die today and not come back home tonight.
God, I thank you for who You are. Thank you Jesus for setting the path in which I can follow whole heartily. Though I will never achieve perfection in this life, I look forward to what is in stored in heaven. Grant me the vigilance to keep my spiritual guard up from Satan's attack. Help me to over come my fleshly nature, as it is weak and burdensome to do Your will. I love you Jesus.
In Jesus Name
Amen.
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