Blog Archives - ADVENTURES THAT INSPIRE ACTION

ADVENTURES THAT INSPIRE ACTION

Exodus 34

1/31/2020

I love the description in Exodus 34 of the people's astonished reaction as Moses came down from his time on the mountain with the Lord because his face shone. Imagine spending time with the Lord so much and so intimately that others could literally see the evidence of your time with Him all over your face.

We may not glow as Moses did, but our time with God still shows. It shows in how we react to difficult circumstances. It shows in how we parent our kids. It shows in the words we use and the entertainment we choose. It even shows in how we handle crazy drivers!

The evidence is not something we can easily fake. Sure, we can paste on a smile, greet everyone with God's blessings, and hang scripture up in our office, but when our patience is gone and our temper flares, all those attempts to look godly won't be enough to keep us from showing our own true colors. Only the presence of God will give us peace in the midst of turmoil and stress. Only the Holy Spirit can give us strength to withstand temptation.

Like Moses, we bear the evidence of spending time with the Lord, and like Moses, when we haven't spent time with the Lord, the evidence fades. The answer to this dilemma is clear in I Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." That is only one within a list of simple, direct commands for how we should live in light of the gospel, but it is the key to each of the others.

Remaining in communication with God, aware of His constant presence in our lives, listening for guidance from the Holy Spirit, "praying without ceasing" keeps us plugged in to the Source. I'm reminded of the children's song from VBS, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

How do you stay connected with the Lord? How do you see evidence of spending time with Him play out In your life or In the lives of others?

Exodus 33

1/30/2020

In Exodus 33, God told Moses He was willing to have His angel lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land, but said He would not go with them because of their sinfulness. Moses's response was a lesson in itself, "And he said to Him, 'If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.'"

What an important opportunity for God's people to know what the greatest desire of their heart was. Were they really just after the promised land, or did they value the Lord's Presence above all?

I love when God brings a message to me in a variety of vehicles. It's my evidence of His Love and confirmation that I'm not the quickest to catch on. This weekend we went to see the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie - not my usual source of spiritual wisdom, but in retrospect, there was a hidden gem. Throughout the series, Jack Sparrow has a compass which points toward the thing he wants most. So often we don't know what we want. We think we want to follow God, but our desire for His Promises, or our dreams get in the way.

Last night, at a ladies gathering at our church, the speaker ended with a question that relates the same concept: Have I been following the calling or the Savior?

God gifts us with a calling, with talents and gifts to achieve that calling. But the calling is never the end, it is simply the means to the end. The end all, be all is a relationship with Him.

Lord, if your presence will not go with me, I don't want to go.

Exodus 32

1/28/2020

When I read about the Israelites creating a golden calf and worshiping it in Exodus 32, it is easy to say, "What were they thinking? God had just freed them in a mighty way, defeated their enemy, and demonstrated His power?"

But how often do I behave the same way?

When I don't feel God's presence, I'm tempted to behave as if I never did. When His answer to prayer is "wait," I'm tempted to step in and try to make something happen, to build for myself a golden calf, instead of trusting that His timing is perfect.

Although the skills and talents God gives are for the purpose of His glory, it's tempting to use them for my own purposes.

Even when God provides for all my needs, I can be tempted to complain about what I don't have instead of being thankful for what I do.

One of our pastors, Raudel Hernandez, put it so well yesterday, "We say that we've fallen into temptation, as if we are the victim and it caught us unaware. But we don't fall into temptation, we walk right in with our eyes open wide."

We walk in when we turn the TV channel to shows that feed unhealthy interests. We walk in when we surf the internet on dangerous shores. We walk in when we pursue relationships that we know aren't honoring to God because instead of strengthening our relationship with Him, they are drawing us further from Him.

When we read about the Israelites, instead of wondering how they could be so foolish, let's praise God for being so patient with us.

What circumstances have tempted you to take matters in your own hands instead of waiting on God's timing? Surely I'm not the only one!

Exodus 31

1/27/2020

As an artist and a writer, the description in Exodus 31 of God gifting to each one the exact skills and artistry needed to accomplish His purpose is a precious reminder that God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts. Just as He gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and other Israelites with certain skills to create the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments, God gifts His people today to accomplish His will.

At a recent writers conference, I heard this as well: No one else can write the story God has given YOU to write. (Paraphrased)

Whether you are a writer, an engineer, a software programmer, a counselor, a doctor, or a dog-catcher - you have a unique set of skills and abilities. There may be millions who do what you do, but no one can do it exactly as you do. No one brings your combination of life experiences and personality to the task.

For me, that changes the way I view my job (all my jobs: my full-time, HR Manager job, my author job, and my roles as a mother, wife, and member of my church...to name a few). God has given me all that I need to accomplish His purpose for me in each particular role. What I lack, He gladly supplies when I ask in prayer.

It also changes the way I see the art I create, particularly through my writing. Writing is not something I do to entertain myself in my spare time. It isn't something I do for fame or for money (thankfully, because if it was, I'd be terribly disappointed). It is a calling from God to tell stories, modern-day parables, that point the reader to Him.

The purpose of God gifting us with knowledge, skills, and abilities is not our achievement, but the glory of God.

I love hearing from people about their calling. What has God gifted you to do and how are you using it for His glory?

Exodus 30

1/26/2020

Exodus 30 focuses on the gold-covered altar of incense and the anointing oil and incense which God prescribed to be burned on the altar every morning and evening. Revelation 5:8 tells us that the incense is the prayers of the saints.

The altar was placed just outside the area of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was located. It was the closest the priest could come to the Ark, and the very presence of God, on a daily basis. The incense was burnt on this altar each day to make intercession for the people. Just as the priest in the Old Testament made daily intercession before God so that He would forgive the sins of the people, Christ now intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Yet Christ is certainly not limited to offering prayers on our behalf, nor barred from entering the Holy of Holies.

Hebrews 6:19-20 confirms, "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

The components of the incense which God prescribed were costly. Like the woman who lavished perfumed oil on Jesus's feet and washed them with her tears (Luke 7), no doubt there were those who questioned the priests for creating an expensive mix of oils, only to pour them out on the tabernacle and its furnishings.

But when I think of them as the prayers of the saints, how often do we pour out prayers that might seem to be wasted? Do we pray sacrificially? Or do we just shoot a quick blessing before a meal or a shallow, "Lord, help them!" at the driver in front of us. There is nothing wrong with brief prayers in the moment, but are we giving of our time sacrificially in prayer for God's people - and for those who don't yet know Him?

How does viewing your prayers as offerings to the Lord, like incense wafting toward heaven, a pleasing aroma to God, change how you pray? Let's talk about how we can encourage one another in prayer!

Exodus 29

1/25/2020

Exodus 29 prescribes exactly how the Israelites were to consecrate and ordain Aaron and his sons as priests and the sacrifices associated with their ordination. Imagine the faith it must have taken to offer up these sacrifices.

Bear in mind that the Israelites were in the wilderness, they were depending on God for their daily bread, literally, and they were bound for a new land where they would need flocks and herds, God required them to sacrifice the very animals they would need to establish themselves well in the Promised Land.

Think about the faith required to put to death the very things you would need to build a life in the Promised Land. Recall that God carefully prescribed that only the best be used for sacrifice - no culling the weak and lame from the flock. Based on the numbers provided, they had an abundance of animals with them; but it is human nature to want more and to seek to hold on to all that we have. Especially the best of the best. Even if we have enough for today, we desire to set something aside for the future, not even knowing if we will be around to enjoy it. The notion of giving God our first and best is challenging, even for those of us facing mostly "first world problems." Maybe especially for us.

I love the way our pastor, JD Greear, put it in a recent message from Malachi (or as he says, "the Italian prophet, Ma-lah-chee"), "To what or whom do you give your first and best? The first and best of your time? Of your gifts? Of your finances? Whatever gets your first and best, THAT is the object of your worship."

For me, offering my first and best means spending time in God's Word first thing in the morning. It means giving financially what God has led us to give before we pay the first bill. How do you offer your first and best to God? What does that look like in the context of your life? How can we encourage one another to put God first?

Exodus 28

1/24/2020

Exodus 28 describes the priestly garments. I know, it's a pretty strange-looking outfit, right? And who wears purple, deep blue, and scarlet together? I've got a Pinterest board full of fashion ideas and none includes this combination.

But each color bears great significance. The deep sapphire blue represents the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Isaiah 54:11) and the throne of God (Ezekiel 1:26). Purple represents royalty and wealth, it is the color of the robe given to Christ to mock him as king of the Jews (Luke 16:19). And scarlet represents a sacrifice, the blood of Christ, but also our sins (Isaiah 1:18).

The linen portion of the garment was equally significant, symbolizing the righteousness of the saints. In Revelation 19:8, the Bride of Christ, the church, is given fine linen. It's significant to me that Christ provides this for his bride, it is not based on our works, but on His finished work on the cross.

I am so thankful that God prepared these works for us, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). My prayer is that I would recognize the works He has prepared for ME, and not try to step into other believers' shoes.

Exodus 27

1/23/2020

Exodus 27 focuses on the Bronze Altar and the Courtyard of the Tabernacle. Notice that the altar was designed with horns at each corner. The horns of the altar were used to secure the animal for sacrifice, just as the horns of the ram God provided for Abraham's sacrifice were secured in the thicket.

Psalm 18:2 refers to Christ as the "horn of our salvation" - the thing that secures our salvation, or as Beth Moore puts it, "the One who was secured on the cross so that we could be secured in the Lamb's book of Life."

Other uses of horns in the Bible are equally profound. A horn was blown to sound victory over their enemies and a horn was used in I Samuel 16:13 to anoint David as King. The horns of the altar were meant to bring to mind the sacrifice God provided for Abraham, while foreshadowing their victory, their future King, and ultimately, God's provision of the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, Christ.

In Matthew 23, Jesus challenges the Pharisees, who have a backward notion of which is holy and of great value - the temple or the gold in the temple? The altar or the gift on the altar? Jesus makes it clear in verse 19: "You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?"

Sometimes I get an inflated view of my sacrifices, too. But when I stack them up next to the sacrifice God gave on my behalf and the blessings He has provided, my sacrifices evaporate into little more than incense wafting heavenward. As Paul says, "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." Phil 3:8-9

Exodus 26

1/22/2020

Exodus 26 details the instructions for constructing the curtains and frames for the tabernacle. Imagine the amount of labor that went in to this incredible undertaking.

Where did they even get hides of sea cows? They must have brought them with them from Egypt. As well as the fabric or yarn, the gold, silver and bronze for the bases. What about the acacia wood? I've always pictured the Israelites wandering in a desert similar to the American Southwest, or endless sand dunes with only an occasional oasis with a trickle of water.

It turns out that there are two theories in Rabbinical teaching for where the trees came from. One theory is that Jacob prophesied the building of the tabernacle and instructed his sons to bring trees to Egypt and to carry them away with them when they left. The second theory is that there was an acacia grove near Mt. Sinai, that God planted a grove where it would be needed at a later point in history.

Isn't that just like God? How many times have I arrived at a point in life and realized that something God had done years before was absolutely essential for this moment?

When we read a few chapters back that God told the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians, it seemed a little materialistic or spiteful, right? Yet God didn't have them plunder the Egyptians just out of revenge or to make themselves wealthy, but in order to construct the tabernacle and its contents. God provided for them what they would need in order to worship Him as He instructed.

That really resonates with me today. God has provided all that we need to worship Him, too.

How about you? Have you encountered a need, only to discover God has already provided for It? Share your story In the comments below.

Exodus 25

1/21/2020

Exodus 25 describes in detail God's instructions to the craftsmen and women for how to create the magnificent furniture for the tabernacle that would house the ark of the covenant for 440 years! It details the ark, the table and the lampstand, as well as the offerings God called the Israelites to make for the materials.

There are some assignments God gives universally to believers, like sharing our faith, caring for those in need, and demonstrating the love of God in our relationships. But he also gives us individual, unique assignments that require close communication and fellowship with Him to understand and complete.

In fact, they require complete dependence on Him to accomplish. And that is really the point of them - God doesn't need me in order to accomplish the things He calls me to do. He could do them just fine on His own. But He offers me the opportunity to join in what He is doing, to have a front row seat and participate in His magnificent work. I just have to remember to follow His direction.

What special assignment has God given you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!