April 5, 2014 Life Rest

Life Rest

Exodus 35

Ex 35:2-3 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. 3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”

DO God’s Word seem terribly restrictive? After all, millions of people work on the Sabbath, but God doesn’t kill them. Can we believe God?  

      This circumstance of Moses reminding Israel of the Sabbath command came as Israel prepared to build the Tabernacle. God upheld his Sabbath law first given in Exodus 20:8-11 and added a penalty of death to those who would work on the Tabernacle on the Sabbath. God was sure to command rest as his people built his Holy dwelling. God is not a slave master.

      What, then, are the general work restrictions on the Sabbath? The law requires the cessation of one’s regular workday labors. That’s the framework of God resting from his creation. Creation was the work he did, but he did not stop working to care for his creation. He stopped the work of creation.

      God made the Sabbath for mankind that we would rest to refresh himself physically and spiritually. Otherwise, forgetting our physical rest, we will be too filled with labor to be filled with the Gospel. We will neglect the hearing and reading of God’s Word. Our lives will diminish, and our culture will die.

      Just look around and see what’s happened to our churches and communities since people have stopped stopping their work and play one day a week. Our souls are dieing for God’s Word as we work ourselves to death.  

LIFE Link: Rest is life.

April 4, 2014 Got the Glow?

Got the Glow?

Exodus 34  

Ex 34:33-35 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORDS's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.  

YOU’VE just come home from spending time with your best friends. Your family greets you with, “You look like you had fun!” Yes, it’s impossible to suppress our emotions, isn’t it? People can tell when we’re sad and when we’re glad. Our face, our posture, our attitude and tone of voice quickly convey our state of mind.

      Israel knew when Moses had been with God as he exhibited more than the usual physical features. He glowed. Radiance shined from his face as he reflected the LORD’s glory.

      Wouldn’t that be a good way to be in Christ? You leave church and stop at the store. The checker says, “You’ve been to church!” You play golf with friends Monday evening, and your partner says, “You’ve been to church!” You meet for a business appointment on Wednesday afternoon, and the person you meet says, “You’ve been with God today!”

      Yes, just as Moses’ glowing face pointed to the Holy God we can point the world to Jesus if we carry the glow of His love wherever we go. The glow can shine in our face: smile more. The glow can shine in our eyes: receive people with joy. The glow can shine in our words: “Bless you.” The glow can shine in our hearts: “How can I love you today?”

LIFE Link: Go and glow.

April 3, 2014 Idols or God?

Idols or God?

Exodus 32

Ex 32:2-4 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

PARENTS, you have a very good son. He has special gifts of leadership and speech, and you designate him to teach his siblings about God and to lead the family to worship God. You even honor him with a special suit of clothes to enhance his dignity as he leads his family to worship.

      Then, parents, you go away for a vacation and leave this special son in charge. When you come home you find the house filled with all kinds of immorality that dishonors everything you have taught your family. And the worst part is, your specially gifted son is the leader of the party.

      Aaron became that bad son. How can a man so honored by God to be his High Priest approve of idol worship? How could Aaron allow his people to say the most horrid of words to a metal calf, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

       Be alert. Our nature is to sin, to replace God with the things of this earth. Check what you worship and be sure that you worship God alone.

     

LIFE Link: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3)

April 2, 2014 God's Craftsman

God’s Craftsman

Exodus 31

Ex 31:1-5 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts —  4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.”

IN the creative mind of God was the picture of a beautiful multi-colored tabernacle. The tabernacle would be a place where God would reside, to dwell with his people. The tabernacle would also be the place for God’s people to worship Him. Certainly the tabernacle would be a beautiful, accurately formed structure. How would it be constructed? Who would dare build in God’s perfect design?

      Of course, God could create it as he had intricately created the earth. But he did something perhaps even more remarkable here. The Holy Spirit touched Bezalel “with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts”. In essence, God said to Bezalel, “Come partner with me to form the tabernacle and the beautiful objects that will point to my grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.”

      God is such a good Father, isn’t he? He gives us skills and desires to do wonderful things. With our hands and our minds we are privileged to join God in his plan to add awe and wonder to our lives. Consider the paintings of the masters. Think of the great works of literature and theater. Be inspired at the sounds of music from ages past to your favorite praise song. Rejoice that God gifted mankind to partner with him to add even more beauty to his stunning universe.

      And consider: how has he gifted you to add to His creation?

LIFE Link: Go create with your Father.