EXODUS 31-40

Today is Friday.  I am looking forward to getting a lot of things done around our house.  I also have several errands to run.  I hope your day is a pleasant one, and here are a few thoughts from Exodus:

1) REFRESHED?  In Exodus 31:17, it reads:  "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever:  for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."  Now I've always know that God rested the seventh day after creating everything in six days, but here it states that God was "refreshed".  Wow!  I never thought about God being refreshed.  Now, what does that mean?  It certainly doesn't mean that God was exhausted and had to rest.  It doesn't mean that God had to have His batteries recharged so to speak.  I think we have to understand that God rested to give us a pattern.  We need our batteries recharged, not God.  So He rested to show us that we need to rest.  Our rest will refresh us!  God asks us to be an example of the believer, but way before that, God was and is an example to all believers.  God rested to give us a proper example.  We had better learn about this day of rest and use it to refresh ourselves. 

2) JEALOUS- God has many titles.  Some say Jehovah, others Yahweh, still some LORD, God, etc.  When is that last time you addressed God as JEALOUS?  In Exodus 34:14, the Bible reads:  "For thous shalt worship no other god:  for the LORD whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"  God's name is Jealous.  That is one of His official titles!  This means that God wants us to worship Him, and only Him.  God does not want to be one of the gods on your list, but the only one.  God doesn't want you to pray to Him among all others, but only unto Him.  God desires our worship and loyalty.  God here is called Jealous.  The New Testament tells us that the Holy Spirit lusteth to envy.  He wants to control us and reign in us all by Himself.  God has such a passion for man.  How wonderful it would be if man had such a passion for God; our Creator, our Savior, our Sustainer! 

3) HOLINESS TO THE LORD- In describing the garment of the High Priest, we find in Exodus 39:30, that he wore a gold metal plate around his neck that had engraved on it:  "HOLINESS TO THE LORD".  All in capital letters!  Now, it doesn't read:  GOD IS HOLY.  Nor does it read:  GOD'S HOLINESS.  No, it is talking about what man should offer God, not who God is.  God is Holy!  Yes, we know that.  God's Word is very clear on that subject.  Man is not Holy.  Yes, we also know that far too well.  But, when we are serving God, our goal, our aim is:  "HOLINESS TO THE LORD".  Though there are many times we fall way short, let it not be when we are serving the Savior.  Let us then be as holy as we can, and let us do so... "to the Lord".   It's all for Him!  Not for show.  Not for the ones we minister to, but for God and for God alone!  The High Priest was truly decked out in a lovely garment to minister before the LORD, but it wasn't for man to say how beautiful it was, it was for God!  It was designed to bring Him glory, to reflect His glory, to minister before Him in a worthy manner.  Let us realize that all of our service, whether little or small.  Whether preaching, or cleaning the church bathrooms, or witnessing to a little child... it is all:  "HOLINESS TO THE LORD".  Let that be what drives us.... and that alone!!

Hope your day is blessed!  Pastor Mike Mutchler