Scripture:
Exodus 20:24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you.”
Observation:
The difference between the altar to God and the the temple for God are strikingly different. Initially I was just thinking/appreciating the simplicity, but the temple’s ornate construction popped into my head right as I started. I’m not really sure what value that gains me … However, the second part of vs 24 – “build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered.” We don’t build altars anymore (neither do we burn sacrifices). I’m not really sure I have a place to build one, a place where I remembered God’s name. Really my moments of meeting God have been right here in my living room, perhaps in “the tab” at Riverview. I suppose a lot changed when the curtain tore in the temple. God no longer meets people at singular locations, but wherever they cry out to him. Still, when I consider that I have a relationship with God, it occurs to me that there are certain places that remind me of different people, and it makes sense for the same to be true of God. That even though we’re together, something about place x reminds us of our first love.
Application:
I’m reminded of the spare coffee cup dad used to pour during his devotions to remind if of God’s presence. I’m sure the cup didn’t matter (which is clearly important), but it really did represent a sort of an altar – it identified that this place, right here, was a place where dad would remember the name of God, and established the desire to be blessed.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for reminding me of your name, and thank you for your blessing. Also – thank you for keeping the girls asleep!
Scripture:
Luke 11:36 “If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you.”
Observation:
My notes on this passage say
“The lamp is Christ; the eye represents spiritual understanding and insight. Evil desires make the eye less sensitive and blot out the light of Christ’s presence. If you have a hard time seeing God at work in the world and in your life, check your vision. Are any sinful desires blinding you to Christ?” (Life Application Bible)
I wouldn’t say I’m having a hard time seeing God in my life right now, but there have certainly been plenty of times when I’ve wondered where he is. I guess these notes complement the adage “If you are feeling far from God, guess who moved?”
Application:
My devotions are a consistent vision check. I’m blessed to have the practice. In addition, I hope I can tactfully make use of this information when I hear friends and family expressing distance from God.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for being a lamp, for lighting my world and guiding my life.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t know how to read the Bible. I often talk with people who express their amazement at how dad keeps up with the plan and how they get stuck on a particular verse or passage and just can’t manage to finish. I read these same passages (like today’s reading, Matthew 23-25), where he condemns hypocrites (which I can certainly be), he expresses his grief for Jerusalem in a manner that only The Creator could, tells us to be prepared for his return, and what we should be doing in the meantime. Meaningful passages and yet I’m left somewhat blank.
I’m not really sure what’s going on right now, but I’m having a really hard time connecting with what God is saying (though it’s certainly plausible that he’s not saying anything…). This morning I read the parable of the seeds – I feel like the hard ground – nothing is taking root. Maybe I’m asking the wrong questions – maybe … I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m doing this to get it done – I get up to do this. I don’t feel rushed, I don’t feel pressed by other tasks … Yet each morning I go back and have to search to find something I guess I could write about and try to apply, but it feels like I’m spending this time alone – not with God.
Lord, please meet me. If there’s something in my life closing my mind to you – show me. If I’m doing this wrong – tell me how to do it right.Whatever it is that is keeping me from you during this time, please remove it.
Scripture:
Ezekiel 3:10-11 “Let all my words sink deep into your own heart. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen or not.”
Observation:
Occasionally Nicole asks me to relay a message to someone. She carefully lays it out and attempts to explain every angle. But when the time comes, I often mess it up. She’s actually learned to identify when this will likely happen. She can tell whether we’ve really connected and are “simpatico” or if I’ve just heard her words but not captured her heart. God knows as well. If we’ve not captured God’s Word in our heart, we may be able to regurgitate exact words or even concepts, but chances are, we’ll mess up the message.
Application:
I really identify with this right now. I was asking Seth this summer about what God has been showing him – when he repeated the question to me, I struggled initially, but realized that my passion and love for scripture, and for this time alone with God have been blooming. God’s Word is sinking into my heart. Then, at the appointed time I will be able to communicate not just His words, but His message.
Prayer:
Lord, let my heart be saturated – let it be porous and thirsty for your Word.
