Pekudei/Accountings
Exodus 38:21-40:38
IKings 7:51-8:21
I’m reminded of a scripture that says something about “not growing wearing in doing well” …don’t give up; but don’t just do things out of sheer duty and miss out on the “why” for doing them. As we are reading about the construction of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon’s temple, we can’t avoid noting every detail. It’s tempting to “grow weary” in following every requirement and description…it’s so easy to want to take a ‘short cut’ and not get bogged down with things that seem legalistic and burdensome. Though it is true that we can be encumbered by what we see as God’s immovable demands, but that can only happen when we look ‘past’ the heart of the One Who is instructing us. Our reading takes us to the ‘end’ of all the things that were painstakingly made by these talented and anointed craftsmen; we finally see the tabernacle taking shape. Let us not just ‘park’ there and take it in as a ‘finished project’. Let your heart take in this glorious ‘picture’ as you read of the Lord God Almighty sharing His presence upon the earth; expressed in every detail and movement of the priests within its guidelines: the beauty of holiness! Take some time to ‘drink’ it in; let your heart feel it…but know that this is only the beginning of what our Heavenly Father has in store for us! His ultimate plan is to “dwell with us” (and in us)! Though He can’t be contained in a normal dwelling; if we ‘build’ according to His pattern, He will come! That my dear friend is His ultimate aim, actually: to come and be with us; to come for His beautiful bride (Jew and Gentile)! He gave us a glimpse in the wilderness and again with Solomon, but He wants us to see a ‘greater house’ than theirs for His presence: it’s us! Through the magnificent work of the Lord Jesus and the glorious interaction of Holy Spirit in our lives, He is building His house as a dwelling place upon the earth. So today as you ponder the elements of this “house of lively stones’ that we are, don’t grow weary. Keep building according to His loving pattern: He is the architect, and Holy Spirit is like Bezalel, who was able to take the spoils (us) of Egypt (the world), and sanctify them into a place for God’s presence. Holy Spirit is doing that with our lives and the “spoils of Egypt” found in our lives…you are to be His dwelling place, and He wants to visit us even today, so we can grow accustomed to His ways and His heart. Don’t give up; don’t give in; don’t lose sight of the ‘house’ that you are part of; we are truly lively stones being built together into a habitation for the True and Living God! by john e
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