Scripture:
Exodus 36:1 "So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded".
Observation:
When God wanted his tabernacle built, he didn't use the cheapest labor, nor did he use the cheapest materials. Every piece was constructed by professionals who knew what they were doing and the materials they used were the absolute best. Most of the articles were overlaid with pure gold. They didn't go cheap and professional people did the work with excellence.
Application:
Usually in the church world today, we want to be good stewards, which is good, godly and important. Our definition of being a good steward generally means we do everything as cheap as we can because we are using God's money. When God wanted His house built, He did it right and with expensive taste. What we do for God should be done with excellence. His house shouldn't be the cheapest thing on the market, but a picture of excellence.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to confuse being a good steward and being just plain cheap. Help me to determine correctly and according to what You want, what needs to be done and with what materials. I am guilty of the cheapest price always dictating what we do at our church. Forgive me and help me to trust You completely and to do everything we do with the excellence that You deserve.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Monday, February 8, 2016
No Treaty With The Enemy
Scripture:
Exodus 34:12 "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you".
Observation:
God made a covenant with Moses concerning the people he was leading. In the covenant, God told him that when they entered the land of their enemies to possess it, that they should not make any covenants or agreements with them and that they shouldn't marry the daughters of the enemy. He wanted to make sure his people would never worship or serve other gods. God said that these enemies would become a snare to them.
Application:
We need to make sure that we are not compromising with the enemy in any area of our lives. We are in covenant with the King of Kings and cannot have any other gods or competition with Him in our lives. When we compromise with the enemy, he will always become a snare or trap to us. we want to live free from all entrapments of the enemy.
Prayer:
Father God, You are amazing and I love You. Help me to have no other gods in my life and to not compromise in any area. You are the only one I want to be snared by. I am Yours and Yours alone. Strengthen me to live a life of no compromise.
Yours,
Jeff
Exodus 34:12 "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you".
Observation:
God made a covenant with Moses concerning the people he was leading. In the covenant, God told him that when they entered the land of their enemies to possess it, that they should not make any covenants or agreements with them and that they shouldn't marry the daughters of the enemy. He wanted to make sure his people would never worship or serve other gods. God said that these enemies would become a snare to them.
Application:
We need to make sure that we are not compromising with the enemy in any area of our lives. We are in covenant with the King of Kings and cannot have any other gods or competition with Him in our lives. When we compromise with the enemy, he will always become a snare or trap to us. we want to live free from all entrapments of the enemy.
Prayer:
Father God, You are amazing and I love You. Help me to have no other gods in my life and to not compromise in any area. You are the only one I want to be snared by. I am Yours and Yours alone. Strengthen me to live a life of no compromise.
Yours,
Jeff
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Making Good Decisions
Scripture:
Exodus 28:30 "Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord".
Observation:
In this scripture, God designed a way for Aaron to always make right decisions. He put the breastpiece and Urim and Tummim over his heart to lead him into making good decisions. He wore these when he went into the presence of the Lord to give him the ability to lead well.
Application:
Decisions determine your destiny. Good decisions are crucial in life and leadership. God gave Aaron a Urim and Thummim to help him make good decisions. He gave us His very own Spirit to lead us into all truth and to show us things to come. He gave us everything we need in order to make great decisions. We must come into His presence, with clean hearts, and ask for His direction. He will guide us.
Prayer:
Father, let Your Spirit guide me as clearly as that Urim and Thummim guided Aaron. Help me to come into the holy place and meet with You so that I can have clear direction and make decisions that are right in Your eyes. Let me be led by Your Spirit and not my own mind.
Your Son,
Jeff
Exodus 28:30 "Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord".
Observation:
In this scripture, God designed a way for Aaron to always make right decisions. He put the breastpiece and Urim and Tummim over his heart to lead him into making good decisions. He wore these when he went into the presence of the Lord to give him the ability to lead well.
Application:
Decisions determine your destiny. Good decisions are crucial in life and leadership. God gave Aaron a Urim and Thummim to help him make good decisions. He gave us His very own Spirit to lead us into all truth and to show us things to come. He gave us everything we need in order to make great decisions. We must come into His presence, with clean hearts, and ask for His direction. He will guide us.
Prayer:
Father, let Your Spirit guide me as clearly as that Urim and Thummim guided Aaron. Help me to come into the holy place and meet with You so that I can have clear direction and make decisions that are right in Your eyes. Let me be led by Your Spirit and not my own mind.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, February 5, 2016
Keep It Burning
Scripture:
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 to morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."
Observation:
In the tent of meeting, God told Moses to have lamps that would be kept burning from evening to morning as a lasting ordinance. Lamps being lit tells me that someone is in the house and awake, therefore I can come in at any time.
Application:
I believe that through this ordinance, God was showing us that the lights never go out and we are welcome to approach him any time of any day or night. God wants us to know that He never sleeps nor slumbers. He wants us to know that no time is a bad time to meet with him. We can come to him any time of any day and we will be received. He's not too tired to hear our prayers.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being like Motel 6, where the lights are always on and there is always room for us. Thank you that we can approach you any time of any day and that we don't have to wait for a special service or anything else. We can boldly approach your throne anytime. Thank you for a simple sign that says we are welcome in your presence day and night.
Yours,
Jeff
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 to morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come."
Observation:
In the tent of meeting, God told Moses to have lamps that would be kept burning from evening to morning as a lasting ordinance. Lamps being lit tells me that someone is in the house and awake, therefore I can come in at any time.
Application:
I believe that through this ordinance, God was showing us that the lights never go out and we are welcome to approach him any time of any day or night. God wants us to know that He never sleeps nor slumbers. He wants us to know that no time is a bad time to meet with him. We can come to him any time of any day and we will be received. He's not too tired to hear our prayers.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being like Motel 6, where the lights are always on and there is always room for us. Thank you that we can approach you any time of any day and that we don't have to wait for a special service or anything else. We can boldly approach your throne anytime. Thank you for a simple sign that says we are welcome in your presence day and night.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Little by Little
Scripture:
Exodus 23:30 "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land".
Observation:
God was telling His people that they would come out of the wilderness and enter into the land of the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. He told them that He would be with them and His angel would lead them. He then told them that "Little by little" He would drive out the inhabitants of the land before them. He said they weren't ready for the whole thing.
Application:
Sometimes God works in our lives "little by little". He knows what we can handle and what we need. He promised the whole land to the children of Israel, but He was going to give it to them "little by little". In our lives, we need to be okay with "little by little". God has promised us some incredible things in the New Covenant, but sometimes we are not ready to walk in that quite yet and we may need to grow into it "little by little".
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for complaining when things don't move as fast as I would like them to. Help me to walk with You every day, knowing that You are bringing me where I need to go and that You will bring me fully into all that You have promised and shown me. Teach me contentment on that way to full possession of the land.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Exodus 23:30 "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land".
Observation:
God was telling His people that they would come out of the wilderness and enter into the land of the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. He told them that He would be with them and His angel would lead them. He then told them that "Little by little" He would drive out the inhabitants of the land before them. He said they weren't ready for the whole thing.
Application:
Sometimes God works in our lives "little by little". He knows what we can handle and what we need. He promised the whole land to the children of Israel, but He was going to give it to them "little by little". In our lives, we need to be okay with "little by little". God has promised us some incredible things in the New Covenant, but sometimes we are not ready to walk in that quite yet and we may need to grow into it "little by little".
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for complaining when things don't move as fast as I would like them to. Help me to walk with You every day, knowing that You are bringing me where I need to go and that You will bring me fully into all that You have promised and shown me. Teach me contentment on that way to full possession of the land.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
God's Treasured Possession
Scripture:
Exodus 19:5-6 "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites".
Observation:
God told Moses that if he and the people of Israel obeyed him, they would be God's treasured possession. He said that even though He owned the entire earth, that his greatest possession would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God strongly desires obedience because He wants us to walk the earth as a kingdom of His priests.
Application:
In the New Testament we are called a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. Our job is to walk in obedience to the Lord, He then delights in us and causes us to walk with Him as priests in His kingdom. When we obey the Lord, we become His treasured possession. We are treasured above all that He has when we walk in obedience to him. Our job is obedience to Him, He then delights in us and blesses us exceedingly.
Prayer:
Father, I know that I am Your treasured possession. I belong to You and You alone. Help me to live a priests life that is separated to You and for You. Help me to represent You well. You are amazing and I want to walk closer and closer each day.
Your Son,
Jeff
Exodus 19:5-6 "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites".
Observation:
God told Moses that if he and the people of Israel obeyed him, they would be God's treasured possession. He said that even though He owned the entire earth, that his greatest possession would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God strongly desires obedience because He wants us to walk the earth as a kingdom of His priests.
Application:
In the New Testament we are called a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. Our job is to walk in obedience to the Lord, He then delights in us and causes us to walk with Him as priests in His kingdom. When we obey the Lord, we become His treasured possession. We are treasured above all that He has when we walk in obedience to him. Our job is obedience to Him, He then delights in us and blesses us exceedingly.
Prayer:
Father, I know that I am Your treasured possession. I belong to You and You alone. Help me to live a priests life that is separated to You and for You. Help me to represent You well. You are amazing and I want to walk closer and closer each day.
Your Son,
Jeff
Monday, February 1, 2016
Healing and Listening
Scripture:
Exodus 15:26 "He said, 'If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you'".
Observation:
When God's people came across the Red Sea there was great victory in the camp. Three days later, when water was scarce, they were murmuring and complaining about God and wanting to go back to Egypt. God sweetened bitter water and made it okay to drink, then He told them that if they listened to Him and did what he said that they would not get the diseases the Egyptians got. He then reminded them that He is the Lord who heals.
Application:
I have heard this all of my life and quoted it many times myself when preaching. This morning it stood out to me that all of this promise was conditional. If we listen carefully to the Lord and do what is right in His eyes. If we pay attention to his commands and keep all His decrees, then He won't let these things come upon us. God is 100% definitely our healer, but we also must listen to and obey Him. When we walk in disobedience, we can't expect God's healing, protection, etc.
Prayer:
Father, thanks for sharing this with me today. Help me to rightly divide the word of truth. Help me to apply all I read in my life. I want to live a healthy and blessed life. Teach me to live in a way that is pleasing to You and let no diseases come into my life. You are the God who heals me. Help me to do my part.
Yours,
Jeff
Exodus 15:26 "He said, 'If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you'".
Observation:
When God's people came across the Red Sea there was great victory in the camp. Three days later, when water was scarce, they were murmuring and complaining about God and wanting to go back to Egypt. God sweetened bitter water and made it okay to drink, then He told them that if they listened to Him and did what he said that they would not get the diseases the Egyptians got. He then reminded them that He is the Lord who heals.
Application:
I have heard this all of my life and quoted it many times myself when preaching. This morning it stood out to me that all of this promise was conditional. If we listen carefully to the Lord and do what is right in His eyes. If we pay attention to his commands and keep all His decrees, then He won't let these things come upon us. God is 100% definitely our healer, but we also must listen to and obey Him. When we walk in disobedience, we can't expect God's healing, protection, etc.
Prayer:
Father, thanks for sharing this with me today. Help me to rightly divide the word of truth. Help me to apply all I read in my life. I want to live a healthy and blessed life. Teach me to live in a way that is pleasing to You and let no diseases come into my life. You are the God who heals me. Help me to do my part.
Yours,
Jeff
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