SCRIPTURE
Exodus 40:16-38 (NRSV)
Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up 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 covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark; and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain, and set the bread in order 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 curtain, and offered fragrant incense on it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also put in place the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. 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 had commanded Moses. He set up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and put up the screen at 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. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.
DEVOTION
I am entranced by the words, "Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him."
Now that's RADICAL obedience!
I wish I could say that I do everything just as the Lord commands, but I do not. Unfortunately, like all human beings, I am prone to sin and fall short of the glory of God.
I fail to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and I fail to love my neighbors as myself. Furthermore, sometimes I fail by what I do (shame on me) and sometimes I fail by what I don't do (equally shameful when I know better).
I thank God for Jesus who is the atonement for sin and the means by which we are reconciled with God and inherit eternal life.
I know I'm not good enough to get into heaven; thank God my salvation is not dependent upon my behavior. Rather, it is wholly dependent on the behavior, work, and LOVE of Jesus who chose to go the cross for me. Jesus, is the only one, who did everything just as the Lord commanded, every day of his earthly and heavenly life!
Now, ainta that good news?!
Let us pray:
Lord, I confess my sin today and ask for your forgiveness. Please help me to do everything as you command to the best of my ability so that I can experience your glory, filling the tabernacle of my heart. Please be for me a cloud by day and a fire by night, that I may follow you wherever you may lead. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
