EXODUS 21-30

Today is Thursday.  I hope you have a great day today.  I'm planning on a staff meeting and then getting some work done around the house.  I hope you have some things planned to get accomplished.  Here are some thoughts that I have for you:

1) DON'T DISCOURAGE HIM- In Exodus 23:3 it says:  "Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause."  Interesting, isn't it?  Now, what does it mean?  The word "countenance" means "facial expression".  The idea is that we should not give a facial expression that would discourage a poor man who wants to better himself.  It doesn't mean you say anything negative, but you cannot give a negative expression.  So many people want to put a wet blanket on someone's dreams.  We should fan the flame of people's dreams, not pour cold water all over it.  A poor man who wants to better himself should be encouraged, not discouraged.  Let us be the "you can do it!" kind of Christian.

2) HALLOW THEM- In Exodus 29:1, it reads:  "And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office:" This is talking about the priest that will do business in the tabernacle.  There is a procedure given by God to "hallow them".  To "hallow" means to set apart.  "To make holy".  The word holy does not mean sinless, but it means "complete".  Anything totally complete is also "sinless", but the priests were not sinless, they were set apart to be completely dedicated to the LORD.  Today, we don't "hallow" preachers, but they should be "hallowed".  They should be separated for the service of the LORD and we should honor them as such.  It is no easy thing to be ever mindful that you belong to God and to His ministry.  It is a passion, not a occupation. 

3) TO DWELL AMONG THEM- The tabernacle was the dwelling place of God.  It was not an assembly for men.  In Exodus 29:46, it says:  "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them:  I am the LORD their God."   God says "that I may dwell among them".  That was His goal... to live among His people!  That is still God's goal.  To live among us.  More exactly... to live within us!  God loves us so much, He cannot wait unto we get to Heaven.  He wants to fellowship with us from the moment He created us to the day we enter eternity in Heaven.  Now if God feels so strongly about that... shouldn't we?  Shouldn't we want to fellowship with Him on a daily basis?  Sure we should!  Let us enjoy the fact that God wants to dwell among us.

Hope you have a great day.  May it be a blessed day for you. 

Pastor Mike Mutchler