February 9 – Exodus 30-32

Today’s reading comes from Exodus 28-29. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth in six days and then we learn on the seventh day he rested. In Exodus twenty we read the Ten Commandments. One of the commandments is to honor the Sabbath by keeping it holy. God in various times has instructed his people to partake of the Sabbath rest. When God provided the manna for his people he gave enough on the sixth day so they did not have to gather on the seventh. When we look in the New Testament period they had all kinds of manmade rules about what was considered work on the Sabbath. They knew how many steps they could take before it was considered work. The Sabbath was very important part of the Law God gave.

In today’s reading I was reminded how important it should be to us as well. Many Christians do not follow the principle of a Sabbaths day’s rest. Many push forward seven days a week. I know I am one of them. And I don’t think that because the old covenant has been fulfilled and we are now under the covenant of Christ that we can go on without a Sabbath. Read again what God told Moses … “It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:17 NIV84.

Now the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant to Israel just like circumcision was. God gave his people circumcision for many reasons but one major one was for a cleanliness purpose. We continue to circumcise today not because it marks a covenant but because it is much cleaner. I think God knew what he was doing when he commanded the Sabbath. Are we bound by the covenant God poured out through Moses? No, we in Christ are saved by grace for freedom from the bounds of the Law. But what God gave to be beneficial to His people then, I would believe is beneficial to us today. So how can we develop the habit of a Sabbath day’s rest in our life? Where do you need to start?

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An Odd Request

Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.

In today’s reading (Psalms 25 & 26) we see an odd request from David. David says to the Lord “Test me, O LORD and try me, examine my heart and my mind.” My thought when first reading this today, was how bold and foolish a request, but as I read on the gong of inspiration sounded.

David knew what he was doing. He knew the life he was living. As you read more of that passage you see that he was in tune with the father and he was living and walking with him daily.

Are you walking close enough to God, to ask him to test you, to examine your heart and mind? Does it scare you what he might find? Do you have things hidden deep in the recess of you mind that you don’t wont others to see, especially God himself? That is not the life he called us to live.

God has given us grace, and he wants to help you on your journey. He doesn’t want you to have to do this all alone. He wants to help carry your load. He wants to test you. He wants to mature you. He wants to walk beside you. Listen to the words of Christ:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Thank you LORD!