Modern Lessons From an Ancient Washing Ritual. Exodus 40: 30- 32.

I run to church without a thought about my spiritual attitude. I hurry through service to God without considering if I am soiled by the world or transgressions. The patriarchs did not approach God so casually.

“He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the alter and put water in it for washing, 31. and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. 32. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the alter, as the Lord commanded Moses.” Exodus 40:30-32.

We have the same God but our generation has forgotten how holy God is. The patriarchs would wash “Whenever” they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar. There was no exception, they washed every time. They feared God.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
They would wash when they entered “Tent of Meeting,” because it was a place of communion with God. They would wash before approaching “alter” because it was the place of service. Be it either worship or service they came cleansed. The washing was a reminder to lift up holy hands in service to God. It symbolized that they were cleansed spiritually by faith in the coming Messiah as we are saved by looking back in faith at the Messiah who died on the cross for us.

LAW OR GRACE/
Christians are not under Levitical law, but grace. The New Testament shows that the law was a teacher until it was fulfilled in Jesus. Aaron was anointed once as a priest, the washings did not add to the anointing but showed reverence to God. It is the same with the church- no act, ritual, or tradition will add more to God’s grace. These Old Testament verses remind us to approach and serve God with care and reverence, not with hands, or lives soiled by sin.

WHAT ABOUT US
Each day presents opportunities to do good to others, to serve God, and to commune with Him. Every little task may be done as an act of worship and service to God. We must serve and worship with clean hands and a clean standing before him. Since we step through a sinful world and our hands get dirty in the process, we should pause to reflect, confess, and put away the sins we pick up on the way before we come to the Lord's work or do any good deed in his name. Confession is not in an attempt to gain more grace but out of fear of the Lord.

They obeyed “As the Lord commanded.” They followed an external command but we should follow their heart example to show respect for God, and serve Him in holiness.

(c) Adron Dozat 3/16/10 

How Your Heart Can Be A Guide, What The Bible Says, Exodus 25:2

People like to say, “Follow your heart,” or “Trust in your heart,” but the heart is fickle and generally a poor guide. So, can the heart be trustworthy guide?

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.” Exodus 25:2. NIV.

PROMPT
The word, “prompt,” can mean to cause somebody to act, or bring about something; it could mean to remind somebody of what they ought to do.

Many people of faith practice a daily worship and prayer time with Bible reading, prayer, and then "wait” in silence for the Lord to prompt them. The prompt may be A thought to encourage someone or an idea to do a service, sometimes it is awareness to forsake sin, and sometimes it is a sense of peace.

FALSE PROMPTING
There is a danger of false prompting because our hearts waver between the old worldly nature and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. People become fools and cause pain by following a longing of the heart that seemed to them like a spirit-led prompting.

PROMPTING IN CHECK
Moses spoke to a pre-Christian people who did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit; or God’s written revelation, the Bible, for guidance. So Moses gave specific instructions as to what to bring, gold, cloth, etc. We have God’s Word and we must weigh the “Prompt” against the Bible. The Spirit of God will never direct us to disobey the Word of God. When you receive a “prompting” ask yourself if there is a verse that supports this action; or one that opposes it? Then pray with thankfulness to the Lord for His leading and ask for His help to fulfill the command.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL
There are no formulas that promise a spiritual reward, instead, we must have a relationship with the Lord. The “seeking- waiting- and listening in stillness” for the prompting of the Lord is part of that relationship experience. May we develop the attitude of always listening for the prompting of the Lord in our hearts, not only in my daily personal morning worship but throughout your day.

(c) Adron 2/17/10

Ancient Advice for Stress. Exodus 14: 14, NIV

How do we handle all the modern stress of these difficult times?

We face many pressures and troubles these days. We have trials, difficulties, illness, and loss that add to the struggles of modern living. Is there one way to cope with it all?

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.” Exodus 14: 14, NIV.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

The Israelites escaped slavery and were pursued by the Egyptian army. They were desperate and faced death. We often have situations where we feel just like those ancient Israelites and at the brink of disaster.

LET GO

We make plans, we call experts and Google the problem; we run to and fro to try to solve our dilemma, but God is saying “be still,” He will be our deliverer. Sometimes He is our helper and sometimes He is our deliverer. In both situations, you have to “let go and let God.”

RELATIONSHIP
The Christian life is a relationship with Christ. In our analytical age, we try to make everything into a formula with twelve steps and an outline, but what relationship flourishes that way? In the crisis, focus on Jesus and work on your relationship with him.

During these moments remember a few basic truths of our relationship with God.
     * Look to him.
     * Pray through it.
     * Search His Word for instruction.
     * Associate with others who love God.
     * Wait expectantly.
     * Accept his results.
     * Remember what you have learned of the Lord.
     * Worship.

WE NEED
These verses end with “You need only be still.” We need this attitude in our daily lives. We need to practice trust, and, faith and stillness. We need to sometimes sit down and allow God to work. Sometimes we need to just get alone and get quiet before the Lord and wait for Him to speak in our hearts. He gives comfort and he gives peace. He is the victory.

To learn more about how to have God in your life read my other blog.

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. I sincerely hope this post is helpful and encouraging.  For more like this see the most popular post in the left sidebar, or use the search box above.

(c) Adron 2/12/10