Monday Thought – August 31, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.'" (Luke 1:26-31)

The assignment from the Lord that the angel brought to Mary brought a great deal of trouble for her. She was a single young woman, engaged to Joseph, and she became pregnant. Her pregnancy almost cost her the relationship she had with Joseph. He knew the baby could not be his. The pregnancy cost her a great deal of humiliation and ridicule. The people of Nazareth would have been talking about Mary, and Joseph. They would have been sure that they knew the real explanation for her pregnancy.

Before the pregnancy, Mary had a fine reputation among the people. She was a righteous woman. She would not have been chosen by God for this assignment if she had not been. The people would have been aware of her devotion to the Lord. That reputation was gone when her pregnancy became apparent. No one would consider her righteous anymore.

Down the road there will be more pain that Mary will have to bear because of this assignment from God. She'll watch as her Son is rejected by many people. She'll watch as they arrest Him, try Him, and put Him to death on the cross. When she brings the baby Jesus to the temple Simeon will tell her what was ahead for her, "A sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:35)

It cost Mary a great deal to serve the Lord. Yet, it was a privilege to be given this assignment. Gabriel told her, "You are highly favored!" It is a privilege to serve the Lord, no matter what it costs.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – August 28, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

The tabernacle was a marvelous building. It may have been the most exquisitely designed and constructed tent in the history of the world. The materials used in its construction were added up and came to 29 talents and 730 shekels of gold (Exodus 38:24); 100 talents and 1,775 shekels of silver (Exodus 38:25); 70 talents and 2,400 shekels of bronze (Exodus 38:29). In addition to these valuable metals, the finest of wood and yarn and skins were used for the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the garments worn by the priests.

What made the tabernacle most marvelous was not the quality of the materials used to construct it. It was when the presence of God enveloped it.

“Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:33-35)

God gave clear and complete instructions about the tabernacle. God gave its design to Moses. God told Moses how it was to be constructed. The people followed those instructions precisely. The reason for the finest quality materials and the most skilled labor to put it all together was not that God only dwells in the finest places. The reason behind the details of the construction was to test the hearts of the people. God was testing their willingness to obey Him and to sacrifice for Him.

The truth is, even the most ordinary places are made special by the presence of the Lord. No story from history makes that point more clearly than the Christmas story! An animal’s feeding trough for a bed, a barn for a house, and peasants for parents. All made marvelously special and holy by the presence of God.

From the finest palace, the most ornate temple, or the grandest home to the humblest shack, the crudest tent, or the roughest cave … all can be made marvelously special and uniquely holy, only by God’s presence there!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – August 27, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Exodus 36-38 tells the story of the construction of the tabernacle of the Lord. It goes through the details of all the things that were made. They made the tent out of linen, adorned with cherubim by skilled craftsmen. They made bronze loops to tie the curtains together. They made the frames for the tent and all of the implements that were to go inside the tent. It was a massive construction project, using the finest materials available. It’s impressive that they were able to do such a project while they were living in the desert as nomads. One phrase in the story particularly stands out to me.

“All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the surrounding courtyard were bronze.” (Exodus 38:20)

Even the tent pegs were made of valuable bronze!

Who was going to see the tent pegs? They would be driven into the ground each time they erected the tabernacle and only the heads of the pegs would show. It was such a minor detail that they could have used what they already had, whatever kind of pegs were already available to them and used on the rest of the tents of the camp. But those pegs weren’t good enough for what they were doing. God commanded that only the best would be used for His meeting place and they took to heart, all the way down to the smallest detail, even to the tent pegs!

It makes me wonder about the tent pegs in my own service to the Lord. Not literal tent pegs, but the minor details of my service to Him. Do I do as good a job on the tent pegs as I do on the major parts of my service? Do I just make do with whatever is available, whatever is easiest?

The Israelites weren’t satisfied with doing what was easiest. They wanted to do the whole thing right – even the things no one would notice or care about. Down to the smallest detail, they did their best for God!

That’s a great challenge – and a great example to remember as we serve God. To do our best, even if no one sees, even if no one would notice. Because we’ll know – and so will the Lord!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – August 26, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. The people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. The skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.’ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” (Exodus 36:2-7)

Can you imagine a fund-raising effort like this one? The people gave too much! They kept bringing their offerings morning after morning and finally those who were leading the construction project stopped their work and came to Moses to say that they had more than enough to do all that needed to be done. Moses gave the order that the offerings were to stop! They had to restrain the people from giving more!

I’ve never known anything like that. There was such a desire to give, such a desire to honor the Lord with this new tabernacle that the people gave too much!

It reminds me of what Paul said about the Macedonians. “They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4)

They gave as much as they were able to give.

They gave beyond their ability.

They gave with complete willingness, without pressure.

They pleaded for the privilege of giving.

They had tremendous hearts of generosity toward the work of the Lord.

How does your experience with giving compare to the Israelites giving for the tabernacle? How does your attitude toward giving to the work of the Lord compare to the attitude of the Macedonians as they shared with those in need?

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – August 25, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God gave instructions to Moses about the building a tent that would be dedicated to worship. The Jews called it the Tabernacle and it would travel with them from place to place. Years later it would be replaced by the Temple in Jerusalem that Solomon would build. Exodus 35 explains how the tabernacle was to be funded. The instructions about giving toward the construction and the way those instructions were implemented provide a powerful lesson about the kind of gifts that please God.

Moses starts the project by saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.” (Exodus 35:4-9)

The tabernacle would require a great deal of resources and a great many workers to build it. The key word in the instructions about the offering is the word “willing.” Moses said, “Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering.” The rest of the story emphasizes that point.

Exodus 35:21 – “And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering.”

Exodus 35:26 – “And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.”

Exodus 35:29 – “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings.”

Exodus 36:2 – “Every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.”

Exodus 36:3 – “And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”

This was no forced offering. There would be no twisting of arms, no compulsion used. It was an offering given willingly. Work done because the people wanted to do it.

That’s the kind of offering and the kind of service that pleases God. Willing offerings and service! Any other kind of offering and service just doesn’t count with the Lord.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought -- August 24, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. " (Exodus 34:29-32)

Moses was granted the unique privilege of spending time in God’s presence. God spoke to Moses on Sinai. Later, Moses spent time in the tent of meeting and God spoke with him there, too. Moses’ relationship with God was unique and special. And Moses’ relationship with God changed him.

Moses’ relationship with God changed him in a number of ways. The obvious change that occurred in Moses was that when he had spent time with the Lord his face shown with radiance. The people could see the change and they were afraid to come near to Moses.

Spending time with God will change us, too. I’ve never seen anyone’s face glow with the kind of radiance that Moses experienced, but there are other changes that take place in the lives of those who spend time with God. Spending time with God will change our actions … we’ll want to please Him. Spending time with God will change our attitudes … we’ll develop a greater level of peace and joy. Spending time with God will change our hearts … our hearts will become more like His heart. Spending time with God will change our spirits … we’ll develop a deeper longing to be with Him.

John expressed the fulfillment of that truth when he spoke of heaven. “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) God’s work of changing us will be instantly complete when Jesus comes to take us home.

We can advance the process of change by spending time with God! The more time we spend in His presence, the more opportunity He’ll have to change us here!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought -- August 21, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord your God.” (Exodus 34:22-24)

The men of Israel were to gather before the Lord three times each year. The Feast of Passover is mentioned earlier, now He adds the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Ingathering. These were to be times to remember what the Lord had done for them, to renew their relationship and commitment to Him, and to celebrate before Him. These would be so important because they would be so prone to forget and wander away from the Lord.

God made a promise during those three special times each year. All of the men of Israel would leave their land, their houses, their possessions unguarded and travel to Jerusalem. It would be an opportune time for some enemy to invade the nation and capture part of the land. God’s promise was that if they were faithful to come before Him, He would be faithful to protect their land while they do so. Enemies would not invade their land during those feast times, no one would even think to do so, no one would even covet the land.

Jesus gave a promise to us that would have a similar result in our lives. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38) If we freely give to the Lord whatever He asks from us, He will pour back into our lives far more blessings than we have given up.

We must come into a relationship with God willing to sacrifice whatever is required. No matter the sacrifice, a relationship with God is worth it! God blessings far exceed any sacrifice we make for Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought -- August 20, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God told Moses what He was like when He met with him on Sinai. “The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.’” (Exodus 34:6-7)

God’s great characteristics are: compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice.

With compassion, He comes to rescue those in need. Compassion caused Him to hear the cries of Israel in Egypt. Compassion moved Him to bring Moses to deliver them and work miracles to gain their release.

God’s grace causes Him to give what we do not deserve. He doesn’t hand out blessings according to our goodness. He goes above and beyond what we deserve.

God’s patience is easily seen in His response to Israel. Time and again they failed Him; turned away to worship other gods; pursued their own path, rather than walking in His. God did not destroy them. He was patient and worked to bring them back to Him.

In love, God moved to do what Israel needed. He didn’t consider His own needs or what it would cost Him to meet Israel’s needs. He was concerned about making the decisions that were best for them. He was committed to their well-being.

The Israelites could count on God. He was always with them. When they turned away from Him, He did not turn away from them. He didn’t take breaks or vacations. He didn’t sleep or hang out a “Do Not Disturb” sign. He was always there, always available. He was absolutely faithful.

Israel sinned, came to repentance, and found God’s forgiveness waiting for them. Over and over again that same cycle was repeated. God’s forgiveness never ran out. The well of His forgiveness is deeper than the depth of their greatest sins!

He longs to forgive and be in right relationship with all people – but justice must be done. The penalty for sin must be paid – and He paid it Himself for those who willingly come to Him.

All of God’s characteristics, shown so clearly in His relationship with Israel, are still there and they still determine God’s actions toward the world – toward you and me.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought -- August 19, 2015u

Good Morning Friends,

"Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’ Then the Lord said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’” (Exodus 33:18-23)



Moses had one of the closest and most intimate relationships with the Lord ever recorded. A few verses earlier in this chapter it says, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) There are several interactions between Moses and God that demonstrate the intimacy of their relationship. Moses was willing to stand up to God, boldly challenging what God had planned to do. Moses knew God well and held nothing back from Him.



There was still much of God that Moses could never experience. Moses asks to see God’s glory. God gives Moses a glimpse just of the tail end of His glory. To experience the fullness of God’s glory would have been too much for Moses. If God had shown Moses all of His glory Moses would have died. God’s glory is too much for any human to be able to take in.



God reveals as much of Himself to us as we want and are capable of knowing. We’re in for amazing revelations about God in eternity. You think God is great now – wait until you see the fullness of His greatness! You think God is glorious now – wait till you see the fullness of His glory! You think God’s love is astounding – you’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg of God’s love! There is so much about God that we do not yet know. But there will come a day when we will, “know fully.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)



What we already know of God is wonderful, even overwhelming – we ain’t seen nothing yet!



His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – August 18, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

It was time for Israel to move from Mt. Sinai and toward the land of Canaan which God has promised to give to them. Because of the sin of the people in worshiping in the golden calf, God had told Moses that although the people were to go toward Canaan, He might not go with them. Moses appealed to God not to send them alone.

God renewed His promise to go with Moses and the people of Israel. “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” (Exodus 33:14)

“Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’” (Exodus 33:15-16)

Moses’ conclusion was that if God didn’t go with him and with Israel, then he didn’t want to go. Without God’s presence, no blessing would be worth having. Without God’s presence, Moses wouldn’t know what was right and what was wrong. Without God’s presence, Moses would be living in fear of those around him.

Consider where you would be today if God was not with you.

You’d be groping around like a blind man in the dark without a clue what direction was the right one for your life.

You would be forced to live without security, with no reliable power to trust with the problems you face today or the uncertainties of tomorrow.

You’d be alone, because God is the one companion who is always with us.

You’d be lost!

I usually take God’s presence for granted. He’s always there and always has been for me. Although there have been many times in my life when I’ve ignored His presence, I always knew I could turn to Him if I needed Him.

Today, reflect on how much God’s presence means to you and thank God that He’s there, always has been and always will be!

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – August 17, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Moses came down Sinai and knew what he would find when he entered the camp of Israel. The people were worshiping before the golden calf. Moses’ anger burned against Israel and against his brother, Aaron. Moses quickly confronted Aaron.

“He said to Aaron, ‘What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?’” (Exodus 32:21)

Aaron responded, “Do not be angry, my lord. You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:22-24)

Aaron’s response is typical of the human response to sin when it is rebuked. Aaron shifted the blame away from himself in several directions.

He shifted the blame to the people. Aaron told Moses that he wasn’t responsible for the golden calf. It was the people who asked Aaron to make other gods for them to worship. It wasn’t Aaron’s fault, it was the fault of the people.

He shifted the blame to Moses. The people didn’t know what had happened to him on the mountain. What he was saying was that it was Moses’ fault because he took too long on the mountain.

He shifted the blame to some act of nature or God. Aaron said he threw the gold into the fire and out came the golden calf. Aaron lied! Earlier in Exodus 32 it says clearly that Aaron took the gold and made a golden calf. (Exodus 32:4)

Aaron was unwilling to take responsibility for his own sin and looked for someone else to blame. Blame the people. Blame Moses. Blame a miracle. Blame God. Blame anyone but Aaron. Aaron painted himself as an innocent victim in the sin that happened.

Don’t make Aaron’s mistake! When confronted with our sin, by God, by our own conscience, or by a friend, confess it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – August 14, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.’” (Exodus 32:9-10)

God’s patience with Israel had run out. Despite all that He had done for them, they often grumbled and complained, didn’t trust Him, didn’t want to follow Him, or turned away from Him. God was ready to destroy the people of Israel and start over with a new people descended from Moses.

Moses’ response was to intercede for his people.

“Moses said, ‘why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them.’” (Exodus 32:11-13)

Moses did not appeal to God on the basis of the innocence of the people. That argument wouldn’t hold water! Moses appealed to God on the basis of the honor of God’s name. The Egyptians and others would ridicule God if He destroyed Israel. Moses appealed to God on the basis of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make a great nation of them.

“The Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” (Exodus 32:14)

God listened to Moses and did not destroy Israel.

God didn’t want to destroy Israel, but He did want to see how much Moses was committed to the people he was leading. Moses loved his people and came to their defense, even before the face of God. That’s a powerful mark of good leadership. A good leader cares for those he leads. He is committed to those he leads. He will intercede those he leads.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought -- August 13, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God had performed miracles for Israel in the months preceding the time that Moses spent on Mt. Sinai. He had guided them and protected them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He split the Red Sea and enabled them to walk across it on dry ground and destroyed the Egyptian army. He provided daily food for them, manna from heaven and water out of a rock. Miracle after miracle to demonstrate that He was with them, cared for them, and would provide for them.

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.’ Aaron answered them, ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 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.’” (Exodus 32:1-4)

They thought something had happened to Moses and he would not be returning to lead them. They thought God had deserted them along with Moses. They forgot all the miracles that God had done for them. They forgot how God had so clearly demonstrated that He loved them and would provide for them.

God had been silent among the people for several days, perhaps weeks. So they went shopping for a new god! They fashioned one for themselves out of the gold. They got Aaron to go along with them and turned their backs on God to worship at a golden calf.

How quickly they forgot and turned away. How easily they were turned to worship something worthless. Where was their faith, perseverance and commitment?

Do you ever wonder the same about the people around you?

Would anyone ever ask the same questions about you?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – August 12, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. ... I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you for the Tent of Meeting.’” (Exodus 31:1-7)

Have you ever heard anyone express frustration because they didn’t believe they had any talents God could use? Perhaps you’ve expressed the same frustration yourself! Sometimes people think God only needs people who can preach, sing, teach, or some other kind of talent that has obvious uses in His work. The truth is, God has uses for whatever kinds of talents He has given us.

God gave Moses clear instructions about how the tabernacle was to be constructed with all of the furnishings. This was to be a sacred place, a place that would represent God’s presence. It was to be a place where they could approach God.

God did not want the tabernacle made in a haphazard way. It was to be made with excellence that would reflect His glory. God gave specific talents to some of the Israelites in order for them to be able to build the tabernacle. There were carpenters, goldsmiths, weavers, seamstresses, stone masons, perfume makers and chemists to mix the incense.

There is nothing specifically religious about being a carpenter or a chemist, but God had a use then for people talented in those ways. He still does! Whatever gifts and talents God has given you, He can use them in His kingdom. God gave us the talents that we have. He did so for a purpose, so that together we would have all the talents He needs to do all the work He desires to do in the world.

Thank God for your talents and find the places where God wants to use those talents.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – August 11, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.’” (Exodus 30:11-13)

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. When they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the Lord by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.’” (Exodus 30:17-21)

The emphasis in the Old Testament is on how defiled the people were. They were never allowed to come before the Lord just like they were. When a Jew wanted to approach the Lord, he could not come empty handed, he was required to bring an offering. Even the priests could not come before the Lord without special preparation. Each time the priests approached the Lord they had to stop and wash to remove the defilement from them.

No one was acceptable to the Lord just as they were. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.” (Exodus 23:15)

How different is the emphasis of the Gospel of Jesus! The New Testament teaches that empty-handed is the only way we can come to the Lord. We have nothing that we can offer the Lord that He requires of us. The only offering that can make us acceptable to God is the offering of His own Son.

The old hymn says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” That’s the good news of Jesus. We don’t have to clean ourselves before we come to the Lord. God provides the cleansing. We come just as we are, with a heart that cries out for mercy and grace, and God freely grants it.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – August 10, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning – a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD.” (Exodus 29:38-42)

For the Jews, the sacrifices were never finished. Every morning started with the sacrifice of a lamb. Every evening, another lamb was sacrificed. They did that every day, month after month, year after year. These would be just two of the many sacrifices that would be made every day. They were God’s requirement for them to maintain their relationship with Him.

The sacrifices taught the Jews how costly a relationship with God was. It required that life be given. Each lamb paid the ultimate price so that the Jews could approach God. A relationship with God came only at great cost.

Our relationship with God is also made possible by sacrifice. We are not required to make sacrifices day after day like the Jews did. By one sacrifice we have been offered a relationship with God. One sacrifice, made by Jesus, is enough to pay the price required by God for us to enter into a relationship with Him. The Jews paid the price from their own flocks, they made the sacrifice to God. For us, God paid the price, He made the sacrifice Himself!

In an astounding act of love, God gave His own Son as the sacrifice to allow us to enter into relationship with Him. He loved us enough to pay the highest price imaginable to bring us to Him.

Thank God for the great sacrifice He made for us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – August 7, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God met with Moses atop Sinai for 40 days and nights. During that long stretch of time, He gave Moses the pattern to use in building a place of worship. The tabernacle was described in precise detail.

“A chest of acacia wood -- two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” (Exodus 25:10)

“An atonement cover of pure gold -- two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.” (Exodus 25:17)

“A table of acacia wood -- two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.” (Exodus 25:23)

“A lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it.” (Exodus 25:31)

The size of the tabernacle and its furniture were to be precisely measured. The materials used were to be exactly as God described. There was to be no deviation from God’s plan, there was no freedom in deciding how God was to be worshiped.

The relationship we have with God has changed from the relationship God outlined for the Israelites. The Samaritan woman wanted to debate with Jesus about the place and way to worship. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:20)

Jesus gave a description of worship that was a radical departure from what God had required of His people through Moses. “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23)

God is not concerned about the size or adornment of the place of worship. God no longer has given commandments about the pieces of furniture in the worship place. God’s focus is no longer on the place, but on the person. No longer upon what can be seen and touched, but on the heart.

Worship is not about all of its trappings and exterior things. It’s about what’s on the inside. It’s about our hearts.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – August 6, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Exodus 21, 22, and 23 contain detailed regulations that were to be followed by the Israelites. They deal with many aspects of life. They deal with family relationships, master-slave relationships, theft, murder, unintentional killing, injury caused to another, and on and on the list goes. Just reading through the laws is a difficult thing and to follow them precisely would have required careful attention to every aspect of life. It was the burden the Jews were required to carry in order to please God.

It was a burden none of them succeeded in carrying without fault. They all became guilty of failing to obey God. They were prisoner to the Law, bound by its provisions and unable to keep them. They were lost!

That’s exactly where God wanted them to be. God wanted them to recognize how lost they were. He wanted them to know how incapable they were of living up to the standards He set. When they understood that, they would be right where they needed to be in order to cry out to God for help.

Paul told the Galatians, “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:23-25)

The one group of people that Jesus responded to most harshly was the Pharisees. They believed they could and did keep the Law. They believed they were righteous and did not need forgiveness or help. There was no hope for them until they recognized their failure and reached out for a Savior!

Those who were ready for Jesus were those who recognized the depth of their need. They recognized the depth of their own sin and knew they needed a Savior or they were lost.

Thank God for the Law that shows us how lost we are. Thank God for the Savior God has already provided!

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – August 5, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet … anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:12-17)

Some people think it unfair that their relationship with God has implications on their relationships with other people. It would be easier if we just had to focus on being right with God and could ignore whatever problems existed between us and those around us. A relationship with God doesn’t work that way. The last six of the Ten Commandments teach that God is concerned about human relationships, too!

When Jesus was asked to choose the greatest commandment He couldn’t mention just one. He said the greatest commandment is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” (Matthew 22:38) Our relationship with God does come first, just like it came

first in the Ten Commandments. Immediately after mentioning that commandment, Jesus added another. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) All is not right if you are right with God and wrong with people!

God wants to see right relationships within families. He cares about how you treat your parents. He cares about how you treat your spouse.

God expects that the relationship you have with Him will impact how you treat others. “Do not murder, steal, lie, or covet.” Love your neighbor and do what is best for them. In our relationships with other people we are not to take advantage of them or use them for our benefit. We are to sacrifice for them and support them. The focus is on meeting their needs, not on making sure they meet ours.

All of the Ten Commandments are about relationships. Relationships are the most important aspect of life. God wants us in right relationship with Him. He wants that so badly that He gave His own Son to make that possible. And God wants us in right relationship with those around us. Our healed relationship with Him should also bring healing to our relationships with others.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – August 4, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

God knows the weaknesses of men. This commandment addresses a couple of those weaknesses.

One is our tendency to forget, even important things. We get so caught up in the busyness of life that we are capable of going through life without ever thinking about some really important things, including God! To guard against that tendency, God established the principle of the Sabbath. He asked man to set aside one day when we would take a break from the normal routine of life in order to focus on Him. The Law is no longer binding on us, but the principle remains true. We still have the same tendency that was present when God gave the commandments to Moses. We still have the same need to set aside time on a regular basis (at least weekly) to focus on God and re-orient our lives around the things that are truly important.

The second is our tendency to keep working until we drop. It’s not necessarily a tendency that is seen in every person, but it is common enough that God wanted to protect us from it. He established the Sabbath so that His people would be forced to take one day off from work each week. The Sabbath would guard against becoming workaholics.

God established the Sabbath for our benefit, not for His. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) The Sabbath was established to protect mankind from our own weaknesses.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – August 3, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“God spoke: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’” (Exodus 20:1-3)

The first three of the Ten Commandments deal with how we treat God. God is very clear and direct in indicating makes it clear that He will not take second place in anyone’s life. God demands to be in first place or He will accept no place at all!

“You shall have no other gods before me.” The threat was that the Jews would place God as one of many gods they worshiped. The Egyptians had many gods and so did many of the other peoples the Jews knew or would encounter. God didn’t want to be the top God on their list, He wanted to be the only God they worshiped!

The threat today is more subtle. It’s not a god that we are tempted to worship, but that someone else or something else might take the place that God wants reserved only for Himself.

Many people consider their own mind to be above being wrong and judge everything by what their mind can conceive. They give no thought to the fact that their mind might be limited or that they might not know everything.

Others put their own ability to take care of themselves in God’s place. They don’t need to trust God or anyone else because they can provide for themselves. Self-made men and women are among the hardest to bring into a place of submission to the Lord.

There are a thousand other things that we are tempted to exalt to a place of worship and service … money, sports, pleasure, family, career, and the list is almost endless.

God’s point is that none of these things can become first in our lives or be worshiped or served. We are to worship and serve the Lord and allow all of the other things to fall into the place and the perspective God gives to them.

His, by Grace, Steve