God Desires for Us to be Holy and Faithful - Exodus 27-28 and Matthew 21:1-22
God is completely holy and always faithful. He desires for us to be like Him, because He knows that we will only experience a truly abundant life, when we are holy and faithful. Therefore, like the Wonderful Father He is, God rewards us when we act in holiness and faithfulness. This encourages us to continue the right kind of behavior. Notice all of the references to holiness and faithfulness as you read these passages.
In Exodus 27 we continue to read God's instructions for building the Tabernacle. Each part of the Tabernacle was holy because it was set apart for God's use. It was not to be used for anything except the worship of Almighty God. This is the meaning of holiness. It means to be set apart for God. Are you holy? Have you given yourself to the Lord and told Him that you were devoted fully to His service? That is the only way a person can practice holiness. It begins at salvation when we confess Jesus is Lord. Then, we are separated from the world and adopted into God's family. However, we must continue in holiness by presenting ourselves to Him and living it out every day. That is what is described in Exodus 28. The priests were dressed in holy clothes. They were clothes only worn when the were serving in the Tabernacle. They wore a little sign on their forehead that said Holiness to the Lord. This was to remind them of God's desire for them to be holy. They were to bear the names of the 12 tribes on their garments, because God wanted all of His people to be separated from the world and to be different. The priests were praying for the people and offering the sacrifices that would bring the people into right relationship with the Lord. The goal was holiness. That should be our goal today.
Matthew 21 has several important truths, but it begins and ends with faithfulness. Jesus told His disciples to go get a donkey and a colt for Him. They acted in faith, because they did what He told them to do. That is faith. It is not wishing for something. It is trusting God's Word and acting on it. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, because He was being faithful to the Father's word in Zechariah 9:9. The people believed in Him as the Messiah, and they showed their faith by crying out Hosanna and spreading out the palm branches and clothes before Him. Jesus was faithful to protect His Father's house, because God's Word said it was to be a house of prayer. Finally, Jesus told the disciples if they prayed "believing" that their prayer would be answered. That means God would reward their trust in His Word, not that He would give them anything they desired. It has to be a matter of faith. I pray that all of us understand the importance of faith and prayer.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 29-30 and Matthew 21:23-46.
In Exodus 27 we continue to read God's instructions for building the Tabernacle. Each part of the Tabernacle was holy because it was set apart for God's use. It was not to be used for anything except the worship of Almighty God. This is the meaning of holiness. It means to be set apart for God. Are you holy? Have you given yourself to the Lord and told Him that you were devoted fully to His service? That is the only way a person can practice holiness. It begins at salvation when we confess Jesus is Lord. Then, we are separated from the world and adopted into God's family. However, we must continue in holiness by presenting ourselves to Him and living it out every day. That is what is described in Exodus 28. The priests were dressed in holy clothes. They were clothes only worn when the were serving in the Tabernacle. They wore a little sign on their forehead that said Holiness to the Lord. This was to remind them of God's desire for them to be holy. They were to bear the names of the 12 tribes on their garments, because God wanted all of His people to be separated from the world and to be different. The priests were praying for the people and offering the sacrifices that would bring the people into right relationship with the Lord. The goal was holiness. That should be our goal today.
Matthew 21 has several important truths, but it begins and ends with faithfulness. Jesus told His disciples to go get a donkey and a colt for Him. They acted in faith, because they did what He told them to do. That is faith. It is not wishing for something. It is trusting God's Word and acting on it. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, because He was being faithful to the Father's word in Zechariah 9:9. The people believed in Him as the Messiah, and they showed their faith by crying out Hosanna and spreading out the palm branches and clothes before Him. Jesus was faithful to protect His Father's house, because God's Word said it was to be a house of prayer. Finally, Jesus told the disciples if they prayed "believing" that their prayer would be answered. That means God would reward their trust in His Word, not that He would give them anything they desired. It has to be a matter of faith. I pray that all of us understand the importance of faith and prayer.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 29-30 and Matthew 21:23-46.