February 4
Exodus 33-35/2Corinthians 7-9
Are you on a first-name basis with God?
OT – 33:4-6 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and refused to wear their jewelry and ornaments. For the LORD had told Moses to tell them, “You are an unruly, stubborn people. If I were there among you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and ornaments until I decide what to do with you.” So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry.
33:11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, stayed behind in the Tent of Meeting.
34:6-7 He passed in front of Moses and said, “I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. Even so I do not leave sin unpunished, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.”
OT Flash Points:
I will pass by you but my face will not be seen
“If You don’t go with us (visibly), how will anyone know?”
Obey all my commands.
Don’t make treaties.
Celebrate unleavened Bread.
Your 1stborn belongs to Me.
Rest one day out of seven.
Don’t offer Me bread with yeast.
Don’t cook a goat in its mother’s milk.
AND I will go with you and show Myself.
NT – 7:1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.
9:15 Thank God for his Son–a gift too wonderful for words!
NT Flash Points:
Since we have these promises, let’s cleanse ourselves and be generous.
Perspective:
Banking everything on the atonement, the work Jesus did on the Cross
Desiring to walk and live your life in Him
That is the formula for seeing His life lived through you.
Note: the Tent of Meeting was not, nor was the Temple an auditorium for the people to meet as a congregation. There is no good reason for people to meet together if they have not met or are not meeting with God. Our intimacy with God and determination to meet with Him in the secret place of the temple of the Holy Spirit, our body, is the basis of meaning and fruitfulness for every function of our lives.