Exodus 26 - 07.09.26

SCRIPTURE

“Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain—will separate—the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭26‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Approaching God

Why did God give such explicit directions for the Tabernacle? And why is it important that all these building instructions for the Tabernacle and its contents are preserved for us in God’s word? All God’s word is useful for teaching what is true (2 Tim 3:16). So I wanted to dig a little deeper and seek God for understanding.

One truth God highlighted is His holiness.

At that time the Tabernacle was the one—and—only place in the entire world where people could enter God’s Presence. The design of the Tabernacle itself—the division of the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, and everything included inside—were all purposefully constructed and meant to point us to the Holiness of God and importance of His Worship.

No one doubted that God was indeed there—but access to HIM was an entirely different matter.

Only the priests could enter, and only when performing their priestly duties. And as soon as they stepped inside, they faced another curtain. THE Curtain that separated them from the Holy of Holies. According to the Jewish Talmud, this Curtain was four inches thick (15’ high) and required more than a hundred priests to move. All of this was designed to show the supreme holiness of God.

This curtain could only be travailed once a year by the High Priest as a representative who would carry in a blood sacrifice offering for his sin as well as for the people’s sin.

The Israelites had a keen understanding of God’s Holiness. They had stood at the foot of Mount Sinai—covered in a thick cloud like the smoke of a kiln. The very mountain itself trembled like an earthquake. Its peaks were charged with lightning and the rocks were blazing with fire while sounds of thunder reverberated in their bodies. A trumpet sound blowing—grew louder and louder. The whole mountain quaked—under the Israelite’s feet. The Israelites were so afraid they were literally shaking and trembling (Exodus 19:16). This was the awesome, fearsome holiness of God that the Israelites witnessed. God’s Presence—a theophany on that Mountain.

If I had lived in those days I would be thankful God presented Himself in a Tabernacle behind a Thick unpenetrable Curtain that common people could not travail. His Holiness was so Awesome (a word we use to describe many things not coming close to God’s Awesome Power and Holiness) that it caused people to be tremble and physically shake with Fear.

APPLICATION

Approaching God Today

Good News and Good News

The Tabernacle was always meant to point us to Jesus—the earthly copy of a heavenly reality (Hebrews 8:5)—teaching us both God’s overwhelming holiness and the deep separation our sin creates. Yet Christ, our true High Priest, did not enter a man‑made tent but stepped into heaven itself, offering His own perfect blood—so—we could draw near to God’s throne” (Hebrews 9:11–12, 24).

Jesus opened the way into (Heaven) the Most Holy Place, into God’s very Presence (Hebrews 10:19–22). Because His sacrifice is complete—I can receive full forgiveness and redemption (Ephesians 1:7). I can come so near that God has placed His Spirit within me as the guarantee of Heaven (Ephesians 1:13–14).

Jesus death on the Cross tore that thick heavy curtain—four inch thick and fifteen feet high—that separated us from God’s Presence! The one that took over one hundred priests to move it was so heavy. Yet Christ’s blood sacrifice on the Cross—Abolished the separation. It is Finished!

“And at once the dividing curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split.”

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭51‬)

The God who welcomes me is the same Holy God—awesome, worthy, deserving of holy fear whose throne John saw surrounded by flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.

“At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.

‭‭(Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬, ‭5‬a)

Yet—Approaching Him today is good news upon good news: the Holy God has made a way for sinners to come close.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.

It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believesin Christ as Savior—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.””

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Loving me and Calling me into Your Saving Grace.

Thank You for Tabernacling with me.

Help me Lord Jesus to be mindful of the Awesome Fear You are worthy of that reminds me to Obey and Serve You first and to give You my Whole heart.

May nothing in me be divided. You are a Holy God and You say—Be holy because I am Holy. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to guide me into Your Truth and supply the Strength to Follow You. Thank You for Your never ending love and Faithfulness. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Come Lord Come.

Tina L Kudelka

Matthew 8 - 7.8.26

Scripture

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)

Observation

This story of the leprous man who approached Jesus is recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Leprosy was a highly feared, contagious and incurable disease of that time. Those who had leprosy were ostracized, and not allowed to mix with society. They were outcast and thrown out of their families and homes. Under the Levitical law, they had to live outside of society, and had to cover themselves and cry out “unclean, unclean” so that no one would even accidentally touch them. People would pass to the other side of the road if they see a leper, just to avoid any accidental contact.

It was in those days, that a leper found the courage to approach Jesus. He knelt before him and asked, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean”. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man (Matt 8:3). Jesus could have just said, “yes I am willing, be clean”. He didn’t have to touch a man considered untouchable, with open wounds all over his body. Jesus loved Him. This was one of his children for whom He had come to die. Moved with love and compassion, He touched the leper. Then he said, “I am willing, be clean”. Immediately he was healed.

Jesus’s encounter with this leper was so remarkable and significant on so many levels that three of the four gospel writers decided to include an account of this!

Application

The leperous man seeked the will of God. He was not sure if it was God’s will for him to be healed. To know the will of God, we need to know the written word of God. Today we know that it is God’s will to heal us, because it is written in the Bible. When Jesus died on the cross, he suffered unimaginable wounds and stripes - and the Bible says by his wounds (stripes), we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). Just like how Jesus's death on the cross brought us salvation, it also brought us healing.

Do not be unwise but know the will of God, the Bible says (Eph 5:17). When we are at a crossroad of life, or at a fork in the road, it is always wise to seek God’s will before choosing a path based on our wisdom. God has promised to direct our steps. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Prov 3:5-6, NKJV). God has promised to show us the next steps, and direct our paths if we trust him and not lean on our own understanding, and seek him in all our ways.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22). The first attribute of the fruit of the Spirit is “love”. Let us love like Jesus loved. Let us love the unlovable, the forsaken, and the orphan and the widow, and those who are on the fringes of society. Let us love not in word, but in deed. We read in 1 John 3:17-18, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions”.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for your love for me. Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Thank you for loving me, just like you loved the leprous man. Thank you for reaching out and touching and healing me. I want to be like you, Lord. I want to love those who you bring into my life, the way you love them. Please help me to do that. I don’t want to be unwise but know the will of God (Eph 5:17). Help me to seek your will and follow your will for my life. I pray that I may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col 1:9). Please direct my steps. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Psalm 119 - 7.7.26

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 119:145-152

“I call with all my; answer me Lord, and I will obey Your decrees.  I call out to You; save me and I will keep Your statutes.  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your Word.  My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises.  Hear my voice in accordance with Your love; preserve my life, Lord, according to Your laws.  Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from Your laws.  Yet, You are near, Lord, and all Your commands are true.  Long ago I learned from Your statutes that You established them to last forever.”

OBSERVATION:  The author of Psalm 119 is unknown, but it is evident that whoever this was, he wrote it to celebrate God and His Word.  He expressed his ambition to live according to God’s laws, commands, precepts, and instructions.  He mentioned how he lost sleep by getting up early to meditate on God’s Word.  He prioritized God’s Word until it became his delight, which was not a burden, but a blessing. 

APPLICATION:  God’s Word should become a blessing to us; not a burden that is something we read just to check off a box! The author trusted that this valuable treasure would give him support, bring him correction, and give him confidence and security.  The more he applied it, the more he took delight in it.  He prioritized it even over his sleep.

PRAYER:  Thank You God for giving me Your Word, which is faithful and true!  I thank You that Your Word is my source of security, peace and joy. Thank You for helping me want to study and meditate on Your Word daily so that my faith will continue to grow, and that as I consistently apply it, it will renew my mind, transform my life, and lead to sweet satisfaction and fulfillment.

- Robin Orefice