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We belong to God…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 28:36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord. 

Commentary on verse 36 led me to this gem: “The inscription HOLINESS TO THE LORD indicated that first and foremost the high priest was the servant of God, not man,” which put me in mind of Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other….”

Exodus 28:37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. 

Unfortunately in this life, it is far too easy to forget whom we serve. Life can be insistent. Bills must be paid. Acceptance is everything. One compromise, then another, quickly and easily leads to one more and one more and one more. It’s a slippery slope when we forget that we belong to God, not man.

Exodus 28:38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord.

Precious Savior, I think all of us at some point are guilty of serving man instead of You. Forgive us. Redirect us. Help us to remember that we are Your deeply loved children, set aside by You, that we belong to You alone. Help us act like Your children. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 28:39 “Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer.

Have a blessed day. 

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“The beautiful thing she has done….” (devo reflection)

Exodus 27:18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 

I am struck today with the contrast between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, God was unapproachable in His holiness. Worshippers could come into the courtyard and no further. The temple, with its gold, bronze, and fine linens, was off limits.  

Exodus 27:19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Conversely, Jesus defended the sinful woman who bathed his feet in expensive nard and wiped them dry with her hair. There was no courtyard to contain her. There was no holding back of the finery for the inner sanctum. Though the disciples’ indignation was evident, Jesus defends the woman for “the beautiful thing she has done…” (Matt 26:10).

Exodus 27:20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 

Precious Savior, Thank You both for Your holiness and Your approachability. Thank You that I don’t have to dress up my hurt, my wounds, my confusion, my anger, that You love me and welcome me into Your presence always. Help me never to forget “the beautiful thing” You have done for me. Help me to treat others with that extravagant grace. Amen.

Exodus 27:21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Have a blessed day. 

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Intention is important…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 20:1-2 And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

As I read verse 3 of this chapter, Matthew 6:21 comes to mind, which says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” While the temptation to worship other gods today isn’t what it was in the time of Exodus, we are still guilty of putting other things before God.

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

For me, remembering Matthew 6:21 helps. If I can ascertain where my heart is, what my focus is, I can better see what I’m valuing most at the moment and whether God is still on His throne in my life. But if I don’t continue to ask myself that question, I can easily take my eyes off God and start chasing something that isn’t Him. The frightening thing is that it happens so quickly, so subtly, that I may not even notice.

Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for this reminder that intention is important. We have to put You front and center in our lives and keep You there if we want to live a life that is pleasing to You. Help me to ask myself daily where my heart is and to recalibrate whatever is needed to refocus my heart on You when my attention slips. Amen.

Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Have a blessed day. 

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On scarcity mindsets and God’s provision…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 16:16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’ ”

I’m still thinking about the scarcity mindset and the fact that Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34 that “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” What if trouble in this verse doesn’t actually mean trouble? What if God is saying, yet again, that He will give us what we need when we need it if we only trust Him?

Exodus 16:17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 

That could mean that my scarcity mindset, which leads me to be over prepared so that I’m not in want, so that I am never in need, keeps me from experiencing God’s provision in a way I haven’t before. Perhaps it keeps me from seeing God make a way in my wilderness (Is 43:19). It’s definitely interesting to ponder.

Exodus 16:18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Precious Savior, Thank You for this new way to look at scripture I have read many times. I know that this fear of lack, this scarcity mentality is something You are calling me to put aside so that I can trust You more fully. Help me to draw closer to You. Always. Amen.

Exodus 16:19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

Have a blessed day. 

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Each day’s trouble…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 

I have always read this section as a test and one that I would inevitably fail: Can I just get enough for today without worrying about tomorrow? No, I cannot because the scarcity mindset–the belief that finite resources (be they food, money, supplies, etc) will run out and I don’t want to be left wanting–is real and pervasive.

Exodus 16:5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

When Jesus says in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” it’s the trouble that jumps out at me, but I truly think I should focus on the provision. God’s got me. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He is faithful and will give me what I need when I need it.

Exodus 16:6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 

Precious Savior, I am so like the Israelites in all the worst ways–I grumble, forgetting Your faithfulness. I horde, forgetting that You will provide all I need each day–strength, peace, compassion, love. Help me to break this cycle of fear and to trust that You are who You say You are and that I am Your deeply, fiercely, completely loved child. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 16:7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”

Have a blessed day. 

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Weary…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Jesus’s invitation in verse 28 is so appealing to me right now. At this time of the school year, I’m pretty exhausted, worn out, weary, burdened. My soul needs rest. And Jesus is telling me to come to Him and He will give me rest.

Matthew 11:29a Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…  

There are no qualifications. It’s not “Come to me if your burden is important enough,” “Come to me if I deem your burden relevant,” “Come to me if your burden is from doing my work and not from the general weariness of life.” Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:29b …and you will find rest for your souls.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your open invitation to come to You if we are weary and burdened, period. Thank You for the rest that You can and will provide. We are all weary, Lord. Help us to see our deep need for You. Help us to come to You so we can rest. Amen.

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Have a blessed day.

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Like little children…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 

I’ve mentioned before that Jesus disrupted the status quo and turned the hierarchy on its head, and today’s scripture is another example of that. The wise and learned are…well, wise and learned. Little children are considered naive, perhaps ignorant. And yet, the Father has chosen to reveal His truths to little children.

Matthew 11:26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Here’s another thing about little children–they usually soak in everything. They pay attention. They ask questions and seek deeper understanding. “But why?” is a constant refrain. They want to learn, and there are not many preconceived notions that stop them from it. The wise and learned less so.

Matthew 11:27a “All things have been committed to me by my Father. 

Precious Savior, When it comes to learning more about You, to drawing close to You, help us be like little children–eager to learn, full of questions, soaking everything about You in. And help us to shine Your light with the joy of a child. Amen.

Matthew 11:27b …No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Have a blessed day.

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To save sinners…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.   

In verse 20, Jesus is denouncing towns where he performed miracles and they did not repent. His goal is a change of heart for all so that they can be with Him eternally. It brings to mind 1 Timothy 1:15: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Jesus’s goal isn’t fame. It’s not money. It’s not power. His goal is to save sinners. He subjected Himself to all on this earth to give us an opportunity to see the error of our ways, repent, and spend eternity with Him. The selflessness truly boggles my mind.

Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Precious Savior, Thank You for loving us so much that You came to earth in the hopes that we would see, believe, and repent. Forgive me when my heart is hardened. Help me to see the areas of my life that I need to surrender to You. Help me to repent so that I can spend eternity with You. Amen.

Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 

Have a blessed day.

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Kids these days…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

What comes to mind as I read today’s verses is the saying “Kids these days…” You can apply that phrase to almost any situation. “In my day, we didn’t…., but kids these days….” However, I’m not sure that kids these days are really that much different. Neither are adults these days.

Matthew 11:17 “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

I guess what I mean is that there are certain tenants of human nature that just happen. Always. Folks are skeptical. Folks believe that certain things are immutable and certain things change every single day. I look at “kids these days” and I think how very similar I was in a lot of ways. Yet Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” THAT is a comforting thought. I can count on Him. Always.

Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your unwavering strength and goodness. No matter how much life changes, no matter how much people change (or don’t change), YOU are constant. Help us to make You our firm foundation. Always. Help us to sink our roots deep into Your eternal strength. Amen.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Have a blessed day.

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Seeking…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.   

Commentary has a lot to say about verse 12, but the interesting thing I found is that every commentary I read interpreted verse 12 differently. One commentary took the violence fairly literally, interpreting the verse to mean YOU had to be so violently passionate for Christ that you would do ANYTHING to convert others. That interpretation doesn’t sit well with me.

Matthew 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Another commentary said that the violence is figurative: Those coming to Jesus to repent were so numerous that they were like an army, pressing in on a city, their enthusiasm for Jesus so powerful and all-consuming it is equated to a violent siege. Personally, I don’t find either interpretation satisfactory, but I am at a loss as to how to interpret this passage.

Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Precious Savior, Thank You for allowing me to grapple with Your word, seeking explanations when I don’t understand, holding those explanations up to see how they fit with my understanding of You. I get frustrated when I can’t arrive at what seems a logical conclusion, but I know You have a purpose in all things, and I know You appreciate my seeking a closer understanding of You. Amen.

Matthew 11:15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 

Have a blessed day.