Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship” – Exodus 31:3

On the one hand, God uniquely gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and their helpers to construct His Tabernacle in the wilderness. On the far more important other hand, Scripture is clear that every believer in Jesus Christ is sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives every believer one or more gifts to be used to build up the local body of Christ (the church) and its members. Gifts like knowledge, wisdom, teaching ability, a passion for service, a love of helping, mercy, leadership, and more.

These gifts always have a purpose. They’re never an accident. They aren’t given for personal satisfaction, though there is deep satisfaction in doing what God has prepared us to do. They aren’t there for personal exaltation, though God will exalt those who use their gifts faithfully. They aren’t given for personal benefit, though rewards in heaven await those who are faithful to serve on earth. They’re given to be used. To bless others, to make disciples, to guide believers to maturity.

If Jesus is your Lord, you have gift(s) from God to be used for His glory. Are you using yours? Are you doing the good works God has prepared for you to do (Ephesians 2:10) or are you making excuses or dwelling in distraction? How has God gifted and shaped you to serve Him and bless others? Are you walking in the deep joy and satisfaction that comes from doing precisely what God made you to do? If not, figure out what your gifts are and put them to good use for the Lord! #FollowJesus

“Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.” – Exodus 24:17

Take some time, right now, to simply picture this… The presence of God, His glory revealed in fire atop the mountain. Try to imagine what that must have been like. Then let yourself be filled with awe toward God. With reverence. With the fear of the Lord. Why?

Because Hebrews 12 refers to this moment to command followers of Jesus to worship God in reverence and awe, “let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Christians must worship God. And we must do so in reverence and awe for Who He is. The Bible teaches many wonderful things that are true about God the Father. In Christ, He’s our adoptive Father. He welcomes us into His presence. He hears our prayers and petitions. He loves us. He lives within us. These are all true and should fuel our praise and worship.

However, it’s also true that God is this overwhelming, consuming fire. He is glorious and transcendent in ways we can’t begin to process. A vast fire consuming the top of a mountain. That should drive us to reverent worship as well. Deep worship filled with the wonder and awe of the Almighty Creator Who loved us so much He sent His Son to die on a cross. Meditate on your Creator right now. Worship Him, for He is worthy of worship! #FollowJesus

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.'” – Exodus 20:18-19

On the one hand, the people should be commended for their profound fear, awe, and respect toward God and His presence. God is truly overwhelming and they were right to be concerned. On the other hand, God specifically invited them to be present and they let their fear keep them from having the full experience of God to which He invited them. They preferred to keep God at a safe distance rather than experience everything He had for them. Unfortunately, this became a recurring pattern throughout history.

Things SHOULD be different for New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ. God, of course, is still God – transcendent, glorious, and overwhelming. However, when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Separation from God is no longer necessary. In fact, in Christ, everyone who believes in Him becomes God’s temple as His Spirit dwells within them. While God is still overwhelming in His awesomeness, He’s also very near in His presence. We don’t have to keep Him at a safe distance. We don’t have to choose comfort over the deep experience and blessing of God’s presence and power.

And yet, we’re often still tempted to do so. We often fear turning our lives over to God’s Spirit and power living within us. We cherish the small comforts of familiar life over embracing the call of God to live boldly in, and for, Him. Refuse to miss out on blessing! Go deep in prayer and worship of God. Don’t say no to whatever He may be whispering to your soul, simply because you’re afraid. Take up your cross and experience all that God has prepared for you! #FollowJesus

“Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.” – Exodus 16:21

Manna, the Bread of Heaven, was God’s daily provision for His people in the desert. But this miraculous provision had a unique characteristic – it couldn’t be stored up for the future. Each person gathered what was needed for that day and no more (except for the day prior to the Sabbath). This wasn’t just God’s rule, it was an absolute necessity because the manna spoiled overnight (except for the Sabbath). The manna was a lesson in daily dependence on the Lord for a people who were, as yet, unfamiliar with His will and ways.

It also established a pattern that remains relevant to every believer alive today… daily bread! It’s no coincidence that Jesus taught us to pray for our “daily bread”. To ask God for manna, that portion of His grace, strength, forgiveness, and provision we need for the day ahead. And not the day after. Every believer is to seek God’s provision every day, knowing that He gladly gives it. There’s no option to load up on God’s grace like we’re shopping at a big warehouse store of grace. We don’t get to pray for all the grace we might need for the next week, month, or year.

We can’t store up all of the grace we need to endure and glorify God through an entire season of difficulty or pain. Instead, we’re invited and commanded to seek the Lord’s presence and provision each day, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. To pray without ceasing. This isn’t God being stingy with His grace. This is God being generous with Himself and teaching us to seek Him and experience Him more deeply and richly than our limited imaginations ever would otherwise. Rejoice in the invitation to ask God each day for your daily bread! #FollowJesus

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.’” – Exodus 14:13

God will not call His people into something and then abandon them partway through. No matter how difficult or hopeless things may appear to be. When God called the people of Israel to leave Egypt, He knew exactly what would happen. Indeed, He intended it for His glory and to build the faith of a spiritually immature people. When the people saw the Egyptian army charging after them from behind while faced with a body of water ahead, they were naturally terrified. But this wasn’t a surprise to God. It wasn’t a failure in His plan. And He certainly didn’t abandon them!

Instead, God showed that He was powerfully present with them and able to do the impossible. God made the way for them, guarding them from behind and opening the water in front of them. They crossed the water on dry land so they would always remember that God makes the way whenever He calls His people into hard places. God makes the way!

The very same God is still in charge today! He still remains faithfully, powerfully present with His people. Jesus emphasized that He is always with His followers, living in us. There’s no time in which you will be abandoned by your Lord! When Jesus calls you into difficult things – making disciples of all nations, loving God and neighbors, obeying His commands – He will be present with you and may even do the impossible. The things Jesus has called you to do for Him are not impossible in His power, even if they seem frightening or impossible in yours. Pray, obey, and pray some more – do not fear. Stand firm in Christ, no matter the situation. #FollowJesus