Author: Brian Burdett

“For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” – Exodus 40:38

Can you even imagine this wondrous sight? For the ancient Israelites in the wilderness, whenever they stopped and set up camp, the cloud presence of God would descend upon the holy tent that sat at the heart of their camp! The thick cloud made clear that the Living God of the Universe Who created all things was right there with them all day long. Then, night would fall and the cloud would be lit by fire within, glowing all throughout the otherwise pitch dark night.

What would go through your mind if you were there so long ago? How awe-inspiring! How beautiful! How frightening! How overwhelming! God was visibly present in a way unlike anything ever seen before. Day and night. Night and day. God was with His people.

Flash forward to the present day. Know this – if you’re a believer in Jesus, then God is present within you. You have been united with Christ. You are the holy tabernacle now! You are filled with God’s presence! As Christians, Scripture tells us we are temples of God’s Holy Spirit. The same God Who appeared in cloud and fire in the Israelite camp lives within you, empowers you, and wants to change you!

This is why every Christian is called to live a holy life. We’re called to grow in our holiness and devotion to God because now we are the tabernacle. We now live with God’s presence in us, visible in the sight of all those around us. The spectacle of the tabernacle has been replaced by an even more glorious truth about us. Are you living and enjoying that truth?

“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.’” – Acts 22:19

Paul stands as a vivid reminder of God’s power to redeem, restore, and powerfully use anyone! God took a vicious persecutor of Christians and turned him into the most zealous and impactful preacher, teacher, and church planter for Christ ever. God literally used Paul to change the world for Jesus despite (or perhaps because of) his previous hatred for Jesus. God accomplished this despite the widespread fear of Paul within the church.

Everyone knew how Paul used to be. Paul himself never forgot his sinful brutality. But Jesus changed him and used him for His greater glory and Kingdom. What an encouragement that is to us!

If you feel like something in your past or present keeps you from being useful to God, Paul’s story makes clear that isn’t true. If you feel like the sins of your past are too great to serve the Lord, clearly not! If you feel like your apathy, inactivity, or fear in the past or present have gone on too long to serve the Lord, clearly not! If you feel like your reputation in the eyes of other Christians is too stained to serve the Lord, clearly not!

God has prepared good works for you personally to do (Ephesians 2:10). Don’t tell yourself that you aren’t worthy to do them. Don’t tell yourself that you’re disqualified from doing them. If there’s some sin you need to confess to God, go ahead and confess it. Then do whatever God’s called you to do. If Paul can, you can!

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.”
– Psalm 36:5

What a beautiful way to express a critical truth: God’s unshakable, unbreakable love and faithfulness have no limit!!! There’s nothing in your past or present that can keep you from experiencing God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, the holy and eternal Son of God, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and rose from the dead so that through faith in Him, all who believe will receive God’s limitless grace and mercy. Sins forgiven. Relationship restored. Adopted and loved by God.

Because God’s love and faithfulness toward His people are rooted in Christ’s perfect, once-for-all sacrifice you can be certain you’ll never exhaust God’s faithful, steadfast love for you. Ever.

If you think there’s something about yourself that God can’t forgive, you’re wrong. Confess that to God and ask His forgiveness. As soon as you have, He’s already completely forgiven you. Completely.

If you think there’s something about you that makes it impossible for God to truly love you, you’re wrong. God’s already shown His love for you by sending His Son to the cross for you. He already loves you infinitely more than you can imagine and He always will.

If you worry that there’s something you’ll do that will one day send God fleeing from you, you’re wrong. His faithfulness extends to the clouds. He will never leave you or forsake you. Ever.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love.”
– Psalm 33:18

God’s particular love and attention is always on those who live with humble love, honor, respect, awe, and submission toward Him. That’s what it means to fear the Lord. In truth, every created being should love his or her Creator in this way. Many, however, don’t, even amongst those who believe. Nonetheless, if you live in the proper fear of the Lord, know that God is always near at hand and completely aware of everything going on in your life, gazing upon you with love and concern.

That doesn’t mean that God won’t permit those He’s watching over to be tested. God absolutely permits us to be tested. It’s only by testing that we prove to ourselves our confidence in God. Our testing reveals our faith to ourselves, those around us, and to the Lord. Testing prepares us to endure greater testing down the road.

It also doesn’t mean that God won’t permit suffering for those He’s watching over. God absolutely permits us to go through hard times that refine and strengthen our faith. Just as metals are refined and purified through fire, our faith is refined and purified through suffering and hardship. It’s through hard times that we discover the true value and meaning of our relationship with God and more richly experience His steadfast love.

It also doesn’t mean that God won’t permit seasons in which it feels like He isn’t watching at all. God absolutely permits us to go through seasons in the spiritual desert, when it feels to us that He isn’t present, isn’t listening, isn’t watching, and doesn’t care. These times, painful as they are, transform our faith from a shallow emotion-driven experience to a profound source of strength and power rooted in the sure promises and knowledge of God’s Word. Such faith will then sustain us through any and every challenge this mortal life may present.

Despite permitting all these things, know that God’s eye is ALWAYS gazing upon you in steadfast love, care, and concern if you live in fear of the Lord!

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

Not everyone knows they’re looking for God’s Kingdom. However, in God’s kindness, we sometimes meet Jesus and recognize God’s invitation to enter His Kingdom by grace through faith in Jesus. When we come face-to-face with the Kingdom, recognizing God’s grace, we need to respond!

We should respond with joy. With urgency. With complete willingness to get rid of everything we ever thought was important to fully embrace the infinitely precious treasure of God’s Kingdom. Fellowship with God, forgiveness of sins, adoption by God, union with Christ, and eternal life in God’s presence, that’s the Kingdom of Heaven. That’s the most incredible treasure imaginable!

We should be willing to give up everything to enjoy that treasure. The beautiful thing about the Kingdom is that we never have to buy it (and couldn’t) – it’s been bought for us by the blood of Christ. Nonetheless, as citizens of the Kingdom, we’re called to leave behind everything that slows us down or holds us back from living the free, full, holy, abundant Kingdom life Christ died to give us. Are you willing to sell everything for the greatest treasure of all?