Daily Devotional Dives-Reaching Out to Commune

Read Exodus 30:1-10

God met with the Israelites.  Bless His holy name.  He is ever reaching out to commune with us too; to have that close relationship with us even now as He did with His chosen people of old.

Aaron, twice daily, lit lamps,  every morning and again at twilight and  burnt "fragrant incense" (vs 7) before God on the altar of incense inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting).  Aaron and subsequent high priests were to do this regularly "for the generations to come" (vs 8).
  

What was God's promise?  There He "would meet with you" (vs 6).  Isn't He gracious!?  When He promises us something, He keeps His promise.  When the Israelites obeyed all these commands they met God.  His presence was there waiting for them.  

God gave us 'day of grace people' a promise too:  "where two or three come together, in My Name, there am I, with them"  (Matthew 18:20).  This promise was in regards to prayer and agreeing with another believer and asking God for "anything" (Matthew 18:19).

In Exodus, the altar of incense symbolized the prayers, and worship that would be raised up to their Heavenly Father and were pleasing to God.  The Revelation 8:3-4 verses explain it well, too.

So it can be seen that God covets a relationship with Him on a daily basis.  He wants us to spend time with Him.  He doesn't force it.  Let it come from a willing heart full of love and gratitude for Him.  Don't disappoint Him.  Dive in.

                                                            ~ERC  2017~

Daily Devotional Dives-Consecrated for God's Service

Exodus 29 marks out the consecration procedure for the priests in the service of the Tabernacle of God in Old Testament times' worship.  They were consecrated for making atonement for sins on the behalf of the people, and for the receiving of the tithes and offerings to God.

Moses was commanded by God to consecrate his brother Aaron as the High Priest and his four nephews, Aaron's sons, to serve as priests.  Not only were they consecrated, but the garments they were to wear were sanctified; in fact, Aaron's were termed "sacred garments" (vs 29).

While reading this chapter it struck me that we in New Testament Christian living, have been made righteous by God when we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.  God "imputed His righteousness" to us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  We are nothing in and of ourselves, yet God in His grace covers us and makes us worthy in His sight.

We are then instructed in 1 Peter 1:13-15 to "Be holy as God is holy".  So our everyday living needs to become more Christ-like.  We still have  our sinful nature which loves to sin yet with the Holy Spirit's indwelling (this happens at the moment of salvation), we have His help in living and behaving according to God's will and pleasure.  In this way, we children of God can become consecrated for His service.  Incidentally we are called a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9).

Unlike the children of Israel however, we do not need a human high priest to mediate for us.  We have Jesus Christ who is now our High Priest and who mediates for us as we send our prayers and petitions and thanksgivings and worship up to God (Hebrews 8:9).

We can do so boldly, with confidence to "come before Him" (Hebrews 4:16), at His throne of grace.


                                                          ~ERC  2017~

Mother's Day 2017 - Me & My Mudder & Other Mudders on Mother's Day

                                               Mother's Day 2017

Mother’s Day is here again...what can be said that has 

not already been said for the past how many years?  

Well, me mudder is still me mudder and I’m still 

her daudder and repetition in this year’s rendition 

still has our permission.

So of course, “I love you and thank you for all 

the years of ‘muddering’;  all that ‘raisin...raisin 

me right and to be as sweet as you”!  Woo hoo!  

Didn’t always appreciate it but look back 

with the perspective of being a ‘mudder’ myself 

and am thankful for all your input over the years.

 

There’s a saying, “if you want to make 

your mother happy, talk to her.  If 

you want to make your father 

happy listen.” 

Well, with the advent of the Internet 

and Messenger and such like IT 

inventions, we can certainly do a great 

deal of talking on a regular basis.

  

      It’s such a blessing. 

Makes Mudder happy.  Makes daudder happy.

So everyone out there who is a mother and 

presently mothering and soon to be a mother, 

keep up the good work and keep the connections.  

Relationship is prime time stuff.  We certainly need 

the support of each other especially at the time our 

own children  may be thinking “my parents are wrong”.  

Once upon a time we likely thought that too of 

our own parents,  but ya know....they may just 

have been right more times out of ten than you 

expect.  Nobody is perfect...but most mothers can 

sure come close.

I still enjoy the reminisce of my Mom whistling 

while she was sewing.  It 

sounded so cheerful and happy.  

Made me feel good.

  So mothers out there.  Find a cheerful 

‘quirk’ or two and repeat often; 

your children will remember it 

and associate it 

with happiness in the home.

A bit more sentiment that I’m recently 

treasuring in view of being a mudder myself 

and sometimes fearing what my children 

will get up to when they leave home is:

“Teach your children the ways of the Lord 

and to be what God wants 

them to be from the foundation of the world.  

Pray for your children, 

instruct them in the ways of the Lord and 

then release them....” “They will hear from God 

in due time.”

 

“You did.”        

 ~Henry W. Wright in Be In Health~

So Mom (& my Dad who had part in it too), thanks 

for all the teaching and the nurturing in the ways 

of the Lord.  I did hear from God.  Now I 

await the same for my children.

And all you Mom’s out there, God bless your 

mothering.  You will get through it all. 

You will, you will.

Lots of love to my Mom and to all Mom’s out there.

    Happy Mudder’s Day!

                                              ~ERC 2017~

Honoring the In-Laws

Can you guess who Hobab was?  I'll tell you....he was Moses' brother-in-law.  While reading Numbers chapter 10 I came across a very interesting verse, verse 28...

"Now Moses said to Hobab  son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, "I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."

By this time the children of Israel had been camping out near Mt. Sinai for about two years whilst the Tabernacle was in the making.  They'd completed it and dedicated it and now it was time to move on.  Seems from this passage that Hobab had been along for much of that time.   There were good things to look forward too and Moses wanted to share them with his brother-in-law.  I believe that Moses valued Hobab.  

Another time, in Exodus 18, we are told that Jethro, also known as Reuel, Moses' father-in-law, gave Moses some advice.  Moses listened and put it into action.  He valued his father-in-law's input.

Now here was the son of Reuel.  At first he said he wouldn't join them on their journeyings around the wilderness.  I wouldn't exactly be thrilled either.  But the focus was on the promise of good things to come.  God had already done some mighty marvelous acts on the children of Israel's behalf and perhaps that was what stayed Hobab and made him decide to continue with them all.  That coupled with Moses' pleading, "Please do not leave us..." (verse 31).

I think this pretty special.

Jump to the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi in the book of Ruth.  A most famous story as well.  Naomi was entreating her daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth to stay in Moab while she returned to Bethlehem, in her own country.  Orpah stayed but Ruth pleaded, 

"Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16, 17).

Ruth valued her mother-in-law and her mother-in-law's God.  And when we read the whole story in the book of Ruth, we see how she respected and honored her mother-in-law.  Naomi loved her daughter-in-law and must have been exceedingly grateful for her devotion and commitment to stick by her side and that at the cost of personal sacrifice.

These are two notable accounts.  I'm sure we would all do well to honor our own parents, for sure, but to honor our in-laws as well...one big happy family.

The key that ties them together was God and His dealings with the children of Israel and even despite their failings, others were attracted to God, His majesty and might and His love.  May you all have similar experiences with your own family and that of your in-laws.

                                                    ~ERC 2017~

He Heard God's Voice

Moses is such a wonderful character.  Yes, he started out bumpy but God worked wonders on him.  And then Moses learned to value time spent with God, communing with Him.  Even before God asked Moses to have the tabernacle made, Moses dedicated a tent to meet God in and he spent regular time therein and eventually his protege Joshua who "never left the tent" (Exodus 33;7-11) also did.  

Moses would go to that tent and when the rest of the multitude of the Israelites  saw him go there, they stood in their tents watching.  God came and spoke with Moses and Moses spoke with God.  I like to use the word 'commune' to describe what Moses and God did.  

Here is Google's definition...

com·mune²

kəˈmyo͞on/

verb

verb: commune; 3rd person present: communes; past tense: communed; past participle: communed; gerund or present participle: communing

1. 1.

   share one's intimate thoughts or feelings with (someone or something), especially when the exchange is on a spiritual level.

   
   

   "the purpose of praying is to commune with God"

   
   

   synonyms:

   communicate, speak, talk, converse, interface More

   • feel in close spiritual contact with.

     
     

     "he spent an hour communing with nature on the bank of a stream"

     
     

     synonyms:

     empathize with, identify with, have a rapport with, feel at one with;

   
   

He communed and made a regular habit of it and then returned to the camp of the Israelites.  "Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent".  They both valued that communion with God.

If you look again at Numbers 7:89 after the Israelites had completed the building of the Tabernacle as designated by God; all the furnishings and articles of worship and sacrifice and they dedicated the Tabernacle then to God, Moses is the first one in there and talking with the LORD and he heard the LORD speaking with him from between the two cherubim.  This was in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle where God was dwelling among the people.

The Most Holy Place....do we have a 'most holy place' that we get away from the hubbub of life?  Moses' tent was outside the main camp.  The Tabernacle was in the midst of the people where God desired to be.  God still wants to be in the midst of His people and says that "where two or three are gathered together in His Name, He'll be there".  (Matthew 18:20).

We can commune as individuals and/or collectively with God in the Name of Jesus Christ.  This is His great desire.  Oh that we too will reciprocate that desire and make it a habit as Moses did or as Joshua who was free to stay in the tent.  What was the name of that recent movie, War Room?  Is was actually a bedroom closet turned into a prayer room.  We can do the same, oh maybe not a closet or a tent but some little spot that we keep for that.  I have a little mat made by my mother-in-law that is next to my bed.  I sit on it on the floor and commune with my Heavenly Father.

  

Colossians 4:2 asks us to "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful".  And we know that the early Christians did just that as we can see from Acts 2:42.  As a result they ended up praising God...and God added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).  

This is encouragement to myself and trust that whoever reads this will find that desire to commune with God.  If you have the desire, you will have the time and turn it into a habit.   More than a habit.  A yearning that I must, I must, I MUST, connect with God no matter what.

Devote yourselves to prayer acknowledging God and your dependence on Him.  I doubt Moses would have gotten far if he didn't lean on his Jehovah God; His covenant-keeping God.  

Thank-you Father, God, for Your love and desire to commune with your children.  I'm reminded how Moses depended on You so much and daily communed with You.   You say in your Word, "Devote yourselves to prayer..."  This is a habit, a desire, I need to inculcate;  to acknowledge and depend on You, oh Father, God.  You actually want to hear from us, Your children.  Thank-You for your humbleness.  The God of all the amazing and awesome creation wants to connect and commune with us, Your human being creation.  May one and all, including myself, look forward to a daily meeting with You in communion and in mutual enjoyment in Your presence.   We can have more or we can have less of You but You are ever standing by to meet with us.  Thank-You from the bottom of my heart.  Lots of love, 

                                                                      ERC  April 2017.

The Best Valentine's Day

You want to know what my True Love sent to me?  Really; really?

We always want proof of stuff people say.   We want a person to declare their love and we want that love to be all encompassing.  We want that love to be enduring.  We want that love to be kind and gentle and patient.

Well, I'll tell you about my True Love's proof of love and allegiance which He exhibited to perfection.  This True Love is not just for me either.  It is for each and every one of us.  Listen to this:

"God demonstrated (proved) His love to us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

God so loved us, He sent His One and Only Son to die for us so none of us would perish if we welcome and accept what Jesus, our True Love, has done for us in securing forgiveness of sins, and everlasting life for us.

His love endures forever (Psalms 136, 118, 100:5; 1 Chronicles 16:24; 2 Chronicles 20:21).

His everlasting arms surround us (Deuteronomy 32:27).  

 Everlasting.  His love and allegiance to us is tenacious.  You want forever love?  He has it.  He gives it.  He is Love!

You want to know the characteristics of His love?  Read 1 Corinthians 13.

My True Love has patience; is patience personified.  He has waited for you and me for more than 2000 years for us to accept His loving gift of salvation. 

 "He is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-10 esp vs 9).

How many individuals do you know who would wait much longer than 5-20 mins, and that's pushing it, for you?  Those are those who say they love you.  Think of God's love and how patient it is.

My True Love is kind.  He knows and remembers we are but human beings formed of dust (Psalm 103:14).  Thus His patience with us too.  Let's take a look though at the meaning of 'kind,' as an adjective, according to Cambridge's English Dictionary which I found on-line.  It says that a kind person is "generous, helpful, and thinks of other people's feelings..."  Couple that with the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary which goes on to say that "kind people do things to help others and show that they care about them."

God's kindness and compassion is shown when we look at what Jesus did that time with the feeding of the 4000.  He'd spent a good part of three days healing the crowds of their diverse ailments and/or handicaps.  The disciples had had enough already.  They were tired.  Perhaps they'd had enough of crowds for one day, let alone the three.  I, for one, have trouble being in a crowd for any length of time and so can understand that.  Here was a 4000 man-strong crowd, not to mention the addition of women and children also in attendance.

The disciples were ready to send them all on their way.  Another thing is, that this particular crowd were likely a Gentile crowd.  and you know that the disciples were of Jewish descent.  So there could have been an added element of impetus in their saying, "Come on Jesus, send them home."

But Jesus had compassion on that crowd; the kindness and true love of the Savior impels Him to go that second (or was it tenth or more) mile for these specimens of humanity.

Three days with little to no food.  They were in a remote place.  Jesus said the people would likely

 "collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance" (Mark 8:3).

Most of us know this story in which you can refresh your memories thereof with reading the account either from Matthew 15:29-39 or Mark 8:1-8.  There were seven loaves and "a few small fish" (Matthew 15:34).  Jesus multiplied all those, enough to feed that multitude and to have lots of leftovers.  What generous kindness He bestowed upon mankind that day.  This is my True Love.

Although Jesus was born into a poor family we do not see that He envied others.  "Love...does not envy."  (1 Corinthians 13:4).  The Son of Man had no where to lay His head (Luke 9:58).  He came from the splendors of Heaven to live a carpenter pauper's life.  He did this out of love and submission to His Father, God, and out of love for His creatures, the human beings.  That is True Love.

"Love...does not boast, it is not proud."  (1 Cor 13:4).  When you read the four gospels:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you discover just how humble and meek Jesus is.  He never shouted out, "Hey, you guys, better listen up!  I came from heaven.  Heaven paved with streets of gold; I have angels worshiping Me.  Me!  So, you all better..."

No.  He was humble.  He submitted to His Father's will.  Philippians 2:4-9, esp vs 7 & 8 says, "He made Himself nothing...and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself..."  This is my True Love in action.

"Love...is not rude, it is not self-seeking..." (1 Cor 13:5).  Jesus walked hundreds of dusty miles from Galilee to Judea and back, more than once.  He was not seeking a good life of leisure or luxury.  He was using His time, energy, and effort, in submission to God His Father, for the benefit of mankind.  His ultimate sacrifice, of course, was to die for all mankind.  Jesus death and resurrection was for the "whosoever" we read of in John 3: 16. 

This so that all humankind may have Jesus as their True Love; forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  This so that all may come to Him.  You can be His:  heart, soul and mind.  This is True Love in action. 

Jesus showed anger at hypocrisy and especially at the defiling of His Father's House.  They had made the "house of prayer into  a "robber's den" and "marketplace" (Matthew 21:13-17 & John 2:13-22).

1 Corinthians 13:5 tells us that "Love...is not easily angered".  I don't believe that Jesus one day suddenly got angry upon seeing those 'peddlers' in the temple house of prayer.  He'd grown up seeing that scenario on a daily basis.  He saw and knew how grievous it was; not only were they desecrating His Father's House of prayer which is totally terribly awful, but they were also cheating and dishonest hawkers.  Hawkers who were subjugating true worshipers and maligning them as they wished to make their sacrifices and offerings to God according to prescribed Old Testament commands and this out of their love and gratitude to God.  How perverted were those religious leaders to allow those hawkers to line their pockets in such a preposterous manner!

Jesus, Son of God, was "angry but sinned not" (Ephesians 4:26).  Also that He was not easily angered in His action of setting things right as you can read in the Matthew and John accounts of the incident of Jesus clearing the temple of these "robbers".  This too, is yet another characteristic of Jesus, my True Love.

"Love...keeps no record of wrongs..." (1 Cor 13:5).  You can see, yet again, from Jesus our perfect example, of how He addressed the religious leaders of His time.  When He observed the "wrongs", He addressed them.  This you can also ascertain from the above clearing the temple court chronicle.

He did not keep the wrong in His heart to fester with bitterness as many of us do with our loved ones' or even church members' misdemeanors.  No, He would confront out of love for what was good and honest and most importantly, pleasing to His Father, God.  Would that we too would follow His example with "love in action".   

This ties in well with what comes next in 1 Cor 13.  Verse 6 states, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth."  Jesus spoke out, mostly at the convoluted practices of the Pharisees, and other religious leaders.  Jesus spoke kind words to the crowds; explaining many things to them and the disciples in parables and stories.  In all those accounts we don't read recordings of such things as gossip.  My True Love did not engage in such; this out of His love for people, out of His goodness and kindness.

"Love...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  (1 Cor 13:7).  Jesus, persevered all the way to the cross.  He went through with the agony of the physical pain and endured the excruciating separation from his Father God when my sin, and the whole of mankind's sin was placed on Jesus.

God is holy.  Sin separates us from God.  Jesus did this to protect us from God's wrath.  He took the penalty for my sin and yours.  He did this to make atonement available to the "whosoever" (John 3:16).  This is my True Love in action.

"Love never fails" (1Cor 13:8).  One of my favorite Bible verses comes from Zephaniah 3:5 (KJV).  "He faileth not..."  God's love for me will never fail.  By contrast we hear of so much divorce in the world even among Christians who haven't persevered in their marriages or perhaps haven't truly understood the nature of true love.  Jesus's love will never fail.  He is the same yesterday, and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:80).  Praise God for this.  This is Jesus, my True Love.

This is, indeed that which characterizes the love.  Not wishy-washy sentiments of human love that may not stand up to the tests of life but love that issues from God, Himself.  "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16).

If we "dwell in God" we too will have this kind of substantial, sustaining love  as described in 1 Corinthians 13.  God's Holy Spirit indwells all who have accepted Jesus sacrifice of atonement for our sins and souls.  His Holy Spirit can help us to show out this type of true love.  This is what my True Love sent to me.

Here's hoping all readers of this article will personally come to know my True Love, Jesus, for yourselves.   You will truly have the best Valentine's Day ever then, and His gift of that day will last forever.

                  Happy Best Valentines Day!

                                                       ~ERC  2017~

Beware of Dogs

Remember Dr. Seuss and his blue dogs, red dogs, yellow dogs, etc book called Go, Dog, Go!?  Well, I just looked it up and, oops, it wasn't Dr. Seuss who wrote that one but a P. D. Eastman;  anyway, a similar writing style.  It was one of my favorite books as a child.  Fun books.

The apostle Paul of the Bible also wrote about dogs, but not in such a humorous style.  He was warning against 'dogs'.  

In Philippians 3:2, 3 he says,

"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh..."

 or as the KJV puts it...

 "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers..."

In Paul's context he was talking about those people who were thinking they were just a little bit better than others because they were following the Jewish laws.  Paul sarcastically goes on to say, he had great "reasons to put confidence in the flesh" because he had an excellent record of following very precisely all that old way of relating to God.  He was the "top of the class, valedictorian" type and he could rightfully flaunt his pedigree; a Ph. D., if you will, in all of that.

All this would be a stirring up of things and causing dissension among the people of God whose goal should rather have been that of pleasing God...  

"...To glory in Christ Jesus." (vs 3).

The Israelites were to consider dogs as 'unclean' animals.  In Bible times dogs were looked down upon and were definitely not of the pampered and petted caliber of today's North American, almost idolization, of their pet pups.   

Ellen White, Ph. D. (in Hebrew Bible) tells us that in those ancient times the dogs usually ran wild and in packs.  They were scavengers and "exhibited predatory behavior". 

Some did look like this poor fellow

With this in mind you can see Paul's point regarding those who would like to stir up strife among the brethren.

Once upon a time quite some years ago, I too experienced unpleasant encounters with the canine species.  Dogs that were, way back then, not very well kept.  This is what happened.

Walking down a certain street in K on my way to the market and back, I'd be deep in thought or singing merrily to myself, enjoying life and the surrounding creation of early morning excursions.  All of a sudden, one, two or even at times, three or more, beasts of that canine family would rush out, snarling and/or barking ferociously a couple of feet from my ankles.  Startled from reverie or abruptly halted in song, ones immediate reactions were to S-C-R-E-A-M; run, &/or attempt to bash those dogs with purse, grocery bags...anything...

The proximity of the canine's canines and the imagining of the teeth-in-human flesh concept was the greatest fear.  Oh, that and not to mention rabies....

Repeat occurrences conditioned me (me, not Pavlov's dogs; how ironic), to carry an umbrella, rain or shine each journey.  During times of attack I learned to stand still, swing said umbrella, pray, and order the dog(s) away.  I learned to be wary before taking the plunge down the street.  The checklist had to be checked:  Which gates are closed?  Are they the ones with problem dogs?  Are there any dogs already on the street?  Then proceed with caution.

If dogs appear en route, then cross to other side with all "weapons" primed for action.  Also do not forget to continue to expect a rear flank attack.  The slightest rustle of grass must be investigated.

Although the actual encounters were few I was taking no risks and through these episodes would try to fathom--"Lord, what do you want me to learn from this!?"

The attacks could either be predicated or come by surprise, so the defense was WARINESS, or as Paul put it, "BEWARE!"  The Lord brought to my attention "the dogs" that would inhibit spiritual growth.  Such dogs as:  unforgiveness that breeds bitterness, anger, hate; irritations (things others do that tick one off) and that breeds criticism, malice and slander instead of patience and forbearance and praise and love of others; pride (in anything, even Bible knowledge); a getting instead of a giving, grateful spirit; the list could go on. 

What Paul was getting at with the Philippians' 'dogs' was legalistic dogma (pun intended) that had to be put to sleep; for good.   Enough of putting "confidence in the flesh".  We would do well to take heed of that as well.

Be encouraged, my brothers and sisters in Christ to identify your "dogs", to be wary of them; use your "weapons" (the Word of God which you have memorized and meditated upon).  Ask the Lord to help you through the Holy Spirit who indwells you and remember to put no confidence in the flesh. 

 Remember 1 Corinthians 10:12 which says..

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall..."

Desire total riddance, no matter which 'breed' the "dog" represents.  The "beware of, or watch out for, dogs" lesson has been physically ingrained in me, thanks to those mangy mongrel mutts and even classy purebred canines that were allowed freedom to roam.  Let the Lord use this little 'picture' to help us in our spiritual life , to understand and deal with the "dogs" that prevent our growth and personal communion with the Lord.  Beware of dogs!

                        ~ERC  2017~

                      (Originally written July 1988)