February 11, 2012 … The Fellowship of Community Service

Exodus 36: 1-7 … : … [God’s Kingdom Work] … 1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”
2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

My Journal for Today: Reading through the Chapters designated for my chronological reading plan this morning, I was re-stricken by the highlight passage above, especially Exodus 36, verses 4-7, where Moses had to order the people to quit giving to the project of building the tabernacle because they had more than enough, from communal effort, to complete the project which honored their God and provided for their communal worship.

God called His people, through Moses, to get this tremendous project done which would house and honor their God as they traveled together though the wilderness; and not only did the people come together to build the tabernacle, they did, by coming together, way more than was required. This reminded me of the work of God’s people, under the leadership of another of God’s called leaders, Nehemiah, when the people came together in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, which we read about in Nehemiah, Chapters 4-6, especially note chapter/verse 6: 15), where it took a communal effort of God’s people to vigilantly, and with tremendous communal spirit, to rebuild the gates and walls of the city of God in just 52 days.

What a delicious dilemma it would be for any Pastor of a church in today’s world to call God’s flock together under his shepherding to carry out some difficult task and to see God’s people come together with way more people, treasure, talent, and time than would be necessary to carry out the task. It’s just not happening in today’s church, is it?

It is said that if only 50% of the evangelical Christian peoples would come together and tithe (i.e., give 10%) of their gross income in the USA, we wouldn’t need a welfare system in America; because that amount would way more than is needed to take care of ALL the people in need in our country. Yes, right now – in CHRISTIAN AMERICA – less than 5% of the church people tithe on their income to God’s work for His church. Certainly we’re not coming together as God’s chosen to do His kingdom work as His people did in the times of Moses or Nehemiah, are we?

I’ll leave it to you and God if this is a convicting message to anyone who might read this. We certainly need more of the Tabernacle building – wall building communal effort by God’s church people to do so much more for His glory; and that’s just a matter of His chosen ones coming together and doing what HE is calling us to do – again, …TOGETHER – to build His kingdom for His glory.

Sadly enough, … enough said!!!

My Prayer Today: … Lord, may the heart of Your church come together – in Your Name – to work TOGETHER for Your glory!! Amen

2010 – October 11 – The Joy That Comes from Grief

Study from God’s Word… Nehemiah, Chapters 8 – 10 … Passage for Reflection: Nehemiah 8: 10 … NIV 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." … 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

My Journal for Today: These chapters, which I was led to read today from the Book of Nehemiah chronicle one of the most glorious times in the annals of God’s chosen people. In these chapters we read of God’s truth being brought forth by the reading and re-reading of God’s Word in His Law. We also read of the grief and repentance of the people for their acknowledged sin; and finally we read of the celebration of God’s hope which the people are reminded will rest with their coming Messiah. And it was the reading and study of God’s word which kindled this revival.

We, who have sinned against God and His Law; and as we know (from Romans 3: 23), is all of us, ,,, we need to know that we’ll never really experience the joy of God’s redemption and deliverance from sin unless we recognize, acknowledge, and grieve over that sin.

Dr. Smith, at the end of today’s devotional entry, asks one of his probing questions: ”If my worship experience (and that’s how I live life in/through my relationship with Christ) is less than ecstatic, could it be that I have robbed myself of joy by failing to grasp the seriousness of the sin from which I have been saved?” And I maintain that one really cannot or will not be able to grieve over their sin, repent by walking to/with Jesus, and experience the joy of their salvation unless they internalize God’s truth from His word. In other words, we, who believe in and have received God’s salvation, will only live out the joy of our salvation – if - we know God through His word. This truth is aptly summarized in Romans 12: 1-2 by the Apostle for God’s people; and in this truth we see that our joy of being a living sacrifice for God can only come when we separate ourselves from the world’s wisdom and internalize the truth of God to show us God’s good and perfect will.

That’s why God’s people found joy AFTER they had heard and internalized God’s word being read to them by Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites. And that’s why those of us who believe in Christ and have received His saving grace, must let God’s word and His truth permeate our being so that we can – like these Hebrews who rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple – celebrate who we are in God’s family. We Christians need the revival which God’s people experienced in Nehemiah, Chapters 8-10; and I hope we’re all celebrating the joy that can only come when God’s mirror of truth is held up for us and we grieve, seeing ourselves for whom we are in Christ and pursuing Him through our living worship.

My the hope of Christ give us joy!!!

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I celebrate You with the worship of my life, knowing what I have done and from whence You have saved me. Amen