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Exodus 40:1-38

Exodus 40:1-38

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.

“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy. You shall also anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle,  and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

Use the HEAR method to dig into today’s passage: 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

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“Freedom From and For”

Enjoy some sabbath today! Take some time to thank God for all He’s blessed you with. He has rescued us FROM our sin and FOR His glory! List one thing in the comments below that you’re thankful for.
 
Join us tomorrow as we celebrate believers baptism, the Lord’s Supper and the opportunity to worship together!
If you need prayer or someone to talk to reach me at jon@mybelmont.org

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“God and Suffering: 4 Questions to Ask, Even When There Aren’t Answers” (guest post)

Today’s devotional is from Logos, a powerful resource for Bible study. It is adapted from the course Counseling Suffering People, taught by Dave Wenzel. It will be not only a great personal resource as you go through difficult times but a tool to help others as they deal with the tension of suffering and faith. 

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“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our [conscience], but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C. S. Lewis

As you respond to people, have the [backdrop] of faith questions [as opposed to] faith answers.
The frameworks for understanding suffering are, in a sense, an attempt to answer the questions. Part of the process can be learning to live with these questions in a faith response.

Question 1: What is God’s purpose in this suffering?

We may not know the answer to that, but I will tell you there have been times where I have seen where people were given the answer. I think that’s also true in Scripture. Occasionally, we are allowed to see what God’s purpose was in the situation. When I have a situation where God’s purpose is, in fact, clear, one of the things that I’ll try to do is to use that, as stones by the river that show what God was doing so that when we face a situation where we don’t understand, we can look back and say, “Well, God was at work there, and I have faith that he’ll continue to be at work in the future.”

Question 2: What is God teaching me in this?

After my wife’s death, I was doing parent-teacher conferences at the high school. I was walking around. I [ran into] an individual that I knew. [She] very appropriately asked me how I was doing and what was going on and offered words of support. Then she said to me, “Well, I think essentially God did this to you because he wanted you to be a better counselor.”

I really have to pull away from that. When God teaches us something, He didn’t necessarily do it to us, but He can still use the circumstances to teach. As a teacher myself, I am not necessarily responsible for the events in my students’ lives, but I can use those events to teach them things. It requires their participation, and so this faith backdrop question allows us to enter the process with the people [who] we are working with an openness to the possibility that, in the suffering situation, I can actually learn something.

Question 3: How can we make God’s glory known?

We are invited in Scripture to be partners with God in his unfolding kingdom plan and to make his glory known, and suffering situations offer us that opportunity.

Question 4: When will we respond to God’s love?

The question so many times is: Where is God in the middle of suffering? I really like Philip Yancey’s response to that: Where is the Church? Where are we? We shouldn’t point at the world and say, “Why is suffering occurring?” We should be responding to the suffering. That’s where God’s love is; that’s where God’s grace is, and we can actually participate in that.

  • Commit to the sufferer – “I commit to you that I will pursue to find out what God is doing in the situation.” I will remind people that I am with them through this. 
  • Create an environment of protest – I will, at an appropriate moment with them, protest: this should not have occurred; this is wrong; something bad happened here. And I believe God protests it also.
  • Bring hope to the situation – The person may not be able to hope at that moment for themselves. We are hopeful that we can learn something; we are hopeful that we can make his glory known; we are hopeful that we can respond and help. 
  • Give the gift of silence – During the moment of pain, people rarely want answers. Granted, they ask questions. They will say, “Why?” Why can be an expression of pain, not necessarily a real question. Romans 12:15, “Mourn with those that mourn” is good guidance at this point. At some point, silence is actually the best gift. If you are not sure what to say, don’t say anything. Sit with the person. Never attempt to answer a question that God does not answer.
*This post has been edited for brevity. The full post can be seen by clicking the link in the top line. Jon

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“How Can This Possibly Be Good?” – Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

This week, we are looking at Joseph’s response to his brothers’ betrayal. They had thrown him into a pit, then, sold him into slavery. In Egypt, he was falsely accused and ended up in prison. How could good come out of all this suffering? But it did! He said to them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it as good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive….”

In considering today’s Bible verse and Joseph’s life, I began thinking about my own life.

On December 15, 2014, my husband was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. This is a disease that often quickly takes the life of its victim. We were offered a “cure” at Emory University Hospital. While there, God gave us the privilege of giving away Bibles to doctors, nurses, and other staff. He also gave us opportunities to share the gospel and the wonderful privilege of seeing two people trust Christ as Savior. God did bring good out of this horrible affliction! But then on, November 14, 2015, my wonderful husband died and went home to be with Jesus, which is good because he is with his Savior!

But what about me, how could this possibly be good for me? I was left alone, in pain, fearful of the future, and grieving.

But then, God’s presence became so real in my life, in a way, that I had never before experienced. Psalm 23 was often on my heart, mind, and lips. I can truly say that when I cried out to Him, He was there! He comforted me. It’s now been five years since my husband went to be with Jesus. I can tell you, that for the most part God has healed me from my grief and grown me spiritually. The verse following today’s passage says that God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. God uses even very difficult things in our lives to bring about the “good” of making us more like Jesus. I want that in my life, how about you?

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 
  • What are some really hard things that have happened in your life, where you can look back and see that God has used them for good?
  • What scripture, circumstance, or person has God used to bring good out of the hard things in your life?
  • How is God going to work the good in bad situations (Jacob was on the run from his uncle and brother) potential to lose his family and possessions because of his own actions?  

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 

Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Bev McBride, LifeGroup and Grief Share facilitator
Photo by Kat J on Unsplash

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“What to Do When God Messes Up Your Plans” – Psalm 33:10

Psalm 33:10

“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.”

Life can be overwhelming. Most of us truly struggle with not being able to be in complete control of our lives every second. The lack of control can cause anxiety and fear, which leads to doubt and a terrible attitude. No one likes to feel out of control with the lack of ability to decide what to do, or how to do it, or when to do it, or why to do it. People love control because control creates a feeling of safety and security. Even if that control ultimately leads to brokenness and heartache, people love the few seconds of control, even though it’s simply an illusion. 

The Psalmist writes how God brings the plans of the nations to nothing. This might seem harsh, but it’s truly glorious because Jesus is better. God’s plans lead us straight to Jesus every time, which means love, purpose, life, salvation, and so much more. God’s plans might frustrate us at the moment because we don’t understand the complete picture, but we must remember that Jesus is better. We must deny ourselves, submit to God, and enjoy Jesus. Our plans are absolutely nothing compared to the plans that God has for you and me. 

My fellow brothers and sisters, please remember that Jesus is better than any plan that you might have. Honestly, I truly struggle at times to deny self, submit to God, and enjoy Jesus. I try my hardest to hold onto my plans because I believe that I am better, however, the only constant element of my plans is failure. I am a control freak because I don’t want to fail at anything. The biggest thing right now that God is teaching me is that I only fail when I believe I have the ability to be in control of all. God has shown me, I can never fail when Jesus is in control.


While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 

  • What areas do you find it difficult to hand over control to God? 
  • Can you share a time when you surrendered control and saw God do something better? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Macon Jones, Student and Young Adult Pastor
Photo by Mat Reding on Unsplash

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“Bring Your Boss to Work” – Luke 23:34

Luke 23:34

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”

I’m not usually one for reality shows, but one that has caught my attention is “Undercover Boss.” The premise of the show is that the owner of a large company goes to work incognito as a new employee in one of his or her locations. They get to see firsthand the conditions of their employees and the opinions they hold of the company and ownership. With their guard down, workers speak and act as they normally would – complaining or praising, working hard, or sloughing off. As flies on the wall, we’re in on the secret, and the touching or cringe-worthy moments we witness await the shocking reveal at the end – that their boss has been in their presence the whole time.  
As Jesus walked among us, He did so as a man, but also as God. He experienced the human condition and saw first-hand the unfiltered and unguarded actions and attitudes of His creation. But the shocking reveal at the end of His earthly ministry was that in all that He endured – opposition and scheming from religious leaders, crucifixion from the Romans, and even desertion and denial from his own followers, His response was love and forgiveness. This wasn’t the sentimental ruminations of a discorporate spirit looking back at his stent on earth as a meat puppet. These were the words of God in the flesh, going through the agony of the cross while the recipients of His gift cluelessly gambled at his feet for His clothes. 
The cross is crucial but we often go about our daily lives without giving it a second thought. Jesus not only walked among us 2000 years ago but His Spirit is still longing to walk and work with us today. Do we recognize and reflect God’s presence when we are at home or at work? Do we see ourselves handling our day with the Boss at our side? Or are we complaining, ignoring our mission, and squandering opportunities as though God were off somewhere else bothering with other things? When we manage our relationships, decisions, and resources without input or influence from a very present God we are denying what He did for us, ignoring His presence and gambling at His feet.    

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions: 

  • How does this verse relate to what we’ve been reading this week with the Old Testament story of Joseph? 
  • Am I living my life as though I am working alongside my boss? Do I reflect to others who I represent? 
  • What would it take to forgive those who have hurt you, in the middle of your pain? 
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor
Photo by Science in HD on Unsplash

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