Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” – Exodus 34:29

After spending time in God’s presence, Moses’ face glowed with the reflected glory of God. This shining was terrifying to the Israelites because even this fading reflection of God’s awesome presence and holiness reminded them of their profound unholiness as fallen human beings. The people of Israel were afraid of the presence of God, always seeking to keep it at a distance. To calm their nerves, Moses would wear a veil over his face whenever he was around others. He would, however, remove the veil whenever he met with God.

As Christians, we no longer need, or have, a separation between us and God. Jesus removed the need for a veil on the cross. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, our sins are forgiven, we’re made new creation, and God’s Spirit begins to live within us. We’re able to enjoy God’s presence rather than fear it. And yet, we often still shy away from God’s presence. 2 Corinthians 3:18 describes the freedom we have to look on God’s glory with unveiled faces. In Christ, we’re able to enjoy God’s presence rather than fear it. And yet, we’re often still afraid to really spend time in God’s presence. Are you?

As Christians, we can distract ourselves with good works and religious activities to avoid the discipline (and joy) of stilling ourselves before God, asking to experience His presence, and truly worshipping Him without a veil. Do you actively desire and seek God’s presence? In prayer and worship? In silence and solitude? Don’t shy away from God – seek more of Him. He will reward all who seek Him by revealing Himself in ways large and small. Don’t fear God’s presence and don’t live a veiled life. #FollowJesus

“Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.”
– Psalm 25:5

Do you want God to do this for you??? He loves to answer this prayer but make sure you understand what you’re actually asking for! Are you ready to live with the conditions of this prayer?

Are you truly willing and ready for God to lead you? Wherever He may take you??? God often takes us places we never would have imagined. He does it for our good and His glory but it can be unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and visibly unrewarding at times. Do you actually want God to lead you? Are you willing to follow?

Are you ready for God to lead you in truth and teach you? If so, you need to be marinating in His truth! You need to be listening to or reading the Bible for yourself every day. You don’t have to be a great scholar – God’s Spirit in you will lead and teach you. But you must commit to being in His Word regularly. Don’t settle for reading about His word in devotions like this. Make time to read a paragraph, a chapter, or a few chapters of the Bible every day so that God’s truth can soak into your mind and heart. Then, He will teach you.

Are you willing to wait on God? He is eternal, seeing and experiencing time in a very different way than you do. What feels like half of forever to you is like an instant for Him. What feels like an unstoppable flood of events feels like centuries to Him. The point is, He will answer your prayer, lead you, and teach you, but He’ll do it on His timetable, not yours. He may well use a “long delay” to strengthen your prayer life, shape your character, and refine your faith.

Are you ready for these conditions? Are you ready to live by God leadership, God’s truth, and God’s timing? If so, awesome! Submit your life to Him, make this the prayer of your heart, and #FollowJesus

“The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led astray.”
– Proverbs 5:22-23

Our culture tells us that we’re most free whenever we’re indulging whatever gives us pleasure in the moment. It declares sin to be virtue and celebrates it, promotes it, and encourages us to go ever deeper into it. Our culture dismisses or denigrates those who advise against it.

Our culture is wrong! God was right 3,000 years ago!!! Indulging sin only leads us deeper into sin. Sin claims to set us free while dragging us into ever worsening slavery. Addiction fuels addiction. Perversion fuels perversion. Self-obsession fuels self-loathing. Whatever your sin of choice may be, whether anger, lust, pride, greed, idolatry, substance abuse, sexual immorality, adultery, jealousy, etc. it’s a trap! The more you practice sin, the more you want to practice it, the more you feel like you need to practice it, the more you believe it defines you, the further you get from God and the more degraded you become!

While sin tempts us all, we must commit to fight sin. We must endeavor to crucify it in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not somebody else’s sin – our sin! We must not indulge, ignore, or celebrate our sin. Sin kills us – spiritually, relationally, emotionally, financially, and often physically. Our attraction to sin and eager defense of it reflects foolishness rather than wisdom. Indulging sin isn’t freedom, it’s slavery. Indulging sin isn’t you doing you, its you destroying you. #FollowJesus

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein”
– Psalm 24:1

This is far more than a great line praising God. This is THE fundamental reality of the world! The earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. Everything! Everyone in this world belongs to the Lord. Everyone. Including you! God is the Creator of it all and the King of it all. He remains fully engaged in ruling the world. He is absolute in His authority and meticulous in His loving attention to the world and everyone in it. Including you.

This isn’t just one truth among many. This is how we need to understand our lives and our world. As much as we may think we like doing whatever we feel like, our lives belong to God. As much as you’re told to just “do you”, you need to do you under God’s Lordship. Yes, you can live life in rebellion. You can live life in ways displeasing to God. But He absolutely has an opinion on that and there will be accountability for living that way. Why? Because you belong to Him!

If you echo this praise, will you live its reality? Will you devote yourself to living under God’s authority as His beloved child? There is tremendous blessing when you do, but it definitely involves some sacrifice. That sacrifice is well worth making because when you fully submit to God, you’re finally living as you were made to live. Your inner conflicts and turmoils fade away because you aren’t fighting against your fundamental purpose and identity any longer. People around you will think you strange (or worse). You’ll miss out on some of the fleeting and foolish temptations of the world for sure. But it’s absolutely worth it! Will you make that sacrifice and live as you truly are? #FollowJesus

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” – Exodus 25:8

What a command! The Almighty God of the Universe Who Created All Things commanded the Israelites to make a special sanctuary for Him. Not simply so He could be worshiped but so that He could dwell in their midst! God had not only intervened to set them free from Egypt and made a covenant with them, He wanted to dwell amongst them. God wanted to be right there in their midst!

It’s truly incredible. After this verse, God gives Moses the exact specifications for a portable sanctuary called the Tabernacle. Once it was built, God’s visible presence really did rest in the center of their camp. It’s truly astounding to contemplate!

And yet, there’s a more astounding truth to contemplate… When Jesus was born, John’s gospel says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. When God’s eternal Son took on a human body and nature and was born into this world, then once again, God was dwelling in the midst of His people. That’s truly astounding to contemplate!

And yet, there’s an even more astounding truth to contemplate and it’s about you! When you trust in Jesus, you’re united with Jesus and God’s Spirit comes to live within you. God doesn’t just dwell amongst His people anymore. He dwells inside of each one of His people. That includes you, if you’ve committed your life to Jesus. The Almighty Creator of the Universe not only loves you, He lives in you! You’re a walking, talking Tabernacle, or as 1 Corinthians says, your a temple of the Holy Spirit. Take time to contemplate this amazing truth! The God of the Universe lives in YOU! #FollowJesus