TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 4:7-10
Come near to God and he will come near to you. - James 4:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In France, an elderly woman was locked in her bathroom for nearly three weeks. The woman became trapped in the windowless bathroom when the doorknob fell off while she was still inside. Although she banged on the door and cried repeatedly for help, neighbors thought the noise was coming from workers in the building. The woman survived the ordeal by drinking tap water from the sink. Finally, neighbors grew concerned after they had not seen her for several weeks, and they alerted authorities. Imagine how happy the woman was when at last firefighters came to her rescue!

James speaks today about our own cries for help and God’s willingness to hear and to rescue us. Those of us whose lives are taken captive by God will find incredible safety by relinquishing ourselves to His hands. This passage ties closely to the one before. It begins by telling us “Submit yourselves, then, to God” (v. 7). The word “then” indicates that we should submit ourselves based on the previous discussion. James had just written about God’s opposition to the proud and His warnings about friendship with the world. Following these admonitions will be submitting to God. Our lives will be in God’s control, taken captive by His Holy Spirit. Words of advice and comfort make this a passage worth memorizing. For each specific action, God offers a promise.

“Resist the devil” (v. 7) and he will flee! Believers empowered by God do not need to fear evil. The merest resistance, when in submission to God, will cause Satan’s retreat.

“Come near to God” (v. 8) and God will come near to us. While some may feel that God is far away, He has promised here to be present and active in our lives.

“Wash your hands” (v. 8) and God will cleanse us! Here the importance of confession is urged. We are to claim God’s promise of forgiveness and confess our sins.

“Humble yourselves” (v. 10) and God will lift us up. When we cry to God—when we mourn and wail—He hears our cries and promises to be near to us.

APPLY THE WORD
Today’s passage should comfort our heart—and those of others—in times of trouble and desperation. It is a reminder that we have a God who is very near and present, even in desperate times. He will be with us. He hears our cries. He will lift us up. If you are currently facing a time of sorrow or anxiety, you can be honest with God. You can pour out your heart with wailing if you want. He offers safety and hope in a time of storm.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 4:11-17
You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. - James 4:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Television viewers have tuned in to watch The People’s Court since 1981. The original real-life judge on the show was Judge Wapner. He would settle small civil disputes, patiently listening to both the complainant and the defendant, before handing down his decision. The highlight of the show came when the two people involved in the trial would try to argue with him. Slamming down his gavel, Judge Wapner would order, “Silence in the court!” The decision was his to make, as the judge, not theirs.

Today’s passage is a stern reminder that we are not in control. If our lives are truly held captive by Christ, we must reorder our thinking and move ourselves out of the judge’s seat. Two areas of life are examined. The first area is the way we judge others. The second is our habit of planning our future. Both are transformed by an understanding that our lives are held captive by Christ.

First, says James, we are to avoid slander (v. 11). When we speak against another person, specifically a fellow believer, weare setting ourselves up as the Judge. There is only one Judge, declares James, and you are not it: “Who are you to judge your neighbor?” (v. 12). These are humbling words. James reminds us that we all fall short of the Law (see Rom. 3:10). We are all saved by God’s grace alone. To judge another means that we are shifting our focus away from God and setting ourselves up as the perfect standard.

Second, we are to be cautious about planning our future. This section seems counter-cultural. How can you move forward and be a responsible adult without forward thinking or action? James’s warning must be read carefully. It does not say that we are not to make travel plans or invest money (v. 13). But Scripture does insist that we change our earthly mindset. We must be conscious of the fact that God holds our future in His hands and that His will is more important that our plans. “You are a mist” (v. 14), says James. We should not be deceived by any illusions of our control.

APPLY THE WORD
Have you ever prayed over your calendar or your Blackberry? As you plan your days, say a prayer that God will take control. Allow Him to take charge of your life, even down to the smallest detail. Realizing that God is in control of our days will take the burden off busy families. It radically changes our perspective. Whether your days are filled to capacity with stress or empty and lonely, give each moment to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:1-6
Your gold and your silver are corroded. - James 5:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
An article titled “The 18-Million Dollar Headache” examines the life of lottery-winner Alex Snelius, a semi-retired truck mechanic. Snelius won a $64 million jackpot seven years ago but claims that his riches have brought nothing but misery. “When you do win it, you say, ‘Thank you God’—you know, you’re blessed,” said Snelius. “But you’re not blessed—you’re cursed. Money is not happiness.” Experts agree. One says, “As exciting as it is to win a lottery, it causes great discomfort and angst. Money brings envy, jealousy, sometimes disdain.”

The believers who received James’ letter were not burdened by wealth. The text tells us that they were oppressed by the rich. Here, James takes the wealthy to task. “Weep and wail,” he warns, “because of the misery that is coming upon you” (v. 1). While wealth often gives people temporal power, financial resources have no eternal value. James looks forward into the future of those whose wealth is merely material things. He speaks of the condition of earthly grandeur in light of eternity. It is “rotted” and “corroded” (vv. 2-3). It has no heavenly value.

In fact, James suggests that wealth can turn against the person to bring them down. The rich people addressed here kept their wealth for themselves and cheated those who worked for them. Their only reward is on this earth, where they satisfy themselves with “self indulgence” (v. 5). In Luke 6:24 Jesus warns, “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”

By condemning this attitude of rich oppressors, James extends comfort to believers who may worry about their economic status, struggle to make ends meet, and feel at times that their earthly security is threatened by lack of resources. God has promised that He can and will provide for our physical needs. God also sees the inequity of this earthly world and will indeed one day call oppressors to account. The rich who put their energy into money will have their reward on this earth, but the poor will inherit eternal riches. “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20).

APPLY THE WORD
Your net worth may not be much, but your heavenly worth is immeasurable. God knows your economic situation. He also values those who set their eyes on Him and resist the impulse to view earthly riches as their goal in life. If you have been blessed financially, thank God for the earthly gifts He has given to you today and seek to use them for His glory. If you struggle, give Him your financial worries because He holds you and your well-being in His hands.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:7-12
We count as blessed those who have persevered. - James 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Farming takes patience and perseverance. Farmers have to wait for many things beyond their control. They wait long days for the winter to thaw to begin planting. They wait for the weather to shift and bring rain to offset droughts, or the sun to push away clouds. They wait for calves to be born and chickens to lay eggs. They wait on plants to grow and for the harvest to come. Meanwhile they persevere at the task, tilling the soil, feeding the animals, putting seed in the ground.

It is no wonder that James compares our lives as believers to farmers. Certainly his readers knew what it took to cultivate the land with hard work, patience, and perseverance. Those same qualities are integral to our lives as believers waiting for the Lord’s return.

This passage begins with a brief command: “Be patient” (v. 7). Being patient involves trust, knowing that the Lord is indeed coming and learning to wait with an attitude of contentment. He turns to the farmer as a key example. He is patient because he knows that it takes time for the land to do its job. He knows how valuable his crop is. We, too, must be patient as we keep the end in sight. We are involved in the process, but we must keep our minds focused on the end result: the Lord’s coming.

This future focus will change our immediate behavior. It changes the way we live. We are urged not to be grumblers. We are not to turn against one another, but to be mindful of the Lord, our Judge (v. 9).

James uses the examples of both the prophets and of Job. The prophets were asked to deliver difficult messages as they gave God’s Word to people who might not accept it. They were asked to act in the present with their mind and words focused on the future.

Job suffered in the present. His loss of his possessions, his health, and those he loved, should have turned him against God or against his friends. Job did neither. His eyes were on his God, and his patience was rewarded.

APPLY THE WORD
What are you impatient for? Do you find yourself discontented in your present life and longing for some distant event in the future? God encourages us to be patient in this very moment, knowing that our lives and future are in His ultimate control. Thank God for the day you have been given —the good and the bad. Ask Him to make today one of thankfulness and to focus your heart upon His coming.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:13-20
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author C. S. Lewis often explored the issue of prayer. When he was a young Christian, he was concerned about his brother Warren, who was overseas during Japan’s attack on Shanghai. He wondered whether his prayer could or should make any difference in his brother’s life. Why should God listen to the request of any one person? But then he pondered, “Why wash your hands? If God intends them to be clean, they’ll come clean without your washing them. . . . God chose a different style of governing the world, a partnership which relies on human agency and choice.”

James agrees. This closing passage insists that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16). Prayer, an integral part of any life held captive by God, can accomplish amazing things.

His words at the beginning of this passage paint a portrait of that type of God-breathed life. Whether our earthly life is beset by trouble or abundant with joy, we must express our thoughts and emotions to God. Our lives become a communion, each moment communicated to our Savior (v. 13).

This even applies to the most devastating part of the human condition: the frailty of our bodies. God our Creator has the ultimate power over our health. It is to Him that we should first turn when our bodies fail us. Both our physical health and our spiritual health are subject to His concern and power.

James uses the example of the prophet Elijah, who—while a noted man of God—was also a human like us. Elijah’s prayer changed the course of natural events. His prayers made rains stop and then start them again. Together, Elijah and God the Creator exerted power over nature.

A life held captive by God sees the heavenly overshadowing all earthly matters. Whether it is illness or natural disaster, this man or woman of God sees Him as the controller of all. They turn to Him in times of need. They spend time sharing their faith and guiding others toward the truth (v. 20). A life held captive by God sets its eyes on eternity.

APPLY THE WORD
Though these letters were written to believers in the early church, they resonate with us today. As we close this month’s study, it is fitting to end with this emphasis on prayer. Spend time today asking God to make you a person of prayer. Ask Him to focus your heart and mind on things above. Ask Him to take your life and radically change it, to take it captive for His glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 2:4-23
The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins. - Isaiah 51:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In The Architecture of Happiness, author Alain de Botton examines the way the buildings we inhabit reflect our values. “While keeping us warm and helping us in mechanical ways, they simultaneously hold out an invitation for us to be specific sorts of people,” de Botton explains. “They speak of visions of happiness.” The way a building is designed serves practical and aesthetic purposes. But it can also have a symbolic purpose.

This was certainly true of the two buildings that served as the focal point for biblical worship: the tabernacle and the temple. Both provided God’s people with a visible symbol of His presence. Yet when Adam and Eve were first created, neither structure was needed. According to Genesis 2, God created the first man and woman in His image and placed them in a garden. Ever since then Eden has been a symbol of happiness and complete provision. Eden was a place of unmediated fellowship with God (cf. Gen. 3:8).

In view of this, the Lord’s observation in verse 18 of today’s passage is especially noteworthy. The beauty of Eden’s location and its ample provision were not sufficient for Adam. Even the direct fellowship he enjoyed with God was not enough. Despite all these benefits, the Lord declared that it was “not good for man to be alone.” This was not something Adam discovered as a result of his own experience, but rather was a diagnosis made by God. From the very beginning God’s intent for humanity was to worship and serve Him within the context of community. Adam’s individual relationship with his Creator, even when it was unaffected by sin, was not sufficient to accomplish all that God intended.

This is an important first principle as we begin a study this month of the temple and the church. As important as the place of worship may be to our spiritual experience, our relationships with God and one another are even more fundamental. The building in which the church meets contributes to our overall worship experience, but the church is not the building. The primary context for meeting with God is in the midst of His people.

APPLY THE WORD
What kind of messages does the structure of your place of worship communicate about what it means to know and serve God? The next time you meet with God’s people, look around you and reflect on the meaning of what you see. These messages can be both intentional and unintentional. How does your place of worship reinforce the Bible’s emphasis on the importance of community? Pray that God will develop your love for His community throughout our study this month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 3:1-24
My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me. - Jeremiah 16:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
On May 2 the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden came to an end, when American troops raided his compound in Pakistan. Members of the Navy’s Special Warfare Development Group shot and killed the terrorist leader during a 40-minute raid and later buried his body at sea. Bin Laden lived in relative isolation in an affluent suburb behind high walls but without the benefit of telephone or Internet service. Up until this time the terrorist leader was widely believed to have been living in a cave. Officials in Pakistan claimed that they had no knowledge of his presence, despite the close proximity of one of their military bases.

Adam and Eve were less successful in their efforts to hide from God. As soon as they ate from the fruit of God’s forbidden tree, they experienced self-consciousness and shame for the first time. Even worse, once they became aware of God’s presence in the garden, they fled from Him in a vain attempt to hide “among the trees of the garden” (vv. 7-8). Their embarrassment with one another and fear of God testify to sin’s shattering effect on all dimensions of their fellowship. This was further demonstrated by evasion and blame shifting as they responded to God’s questions (vv. 12-13).

These relationships are not entirely destroyed by sin, but they are horribly distorted. “We cannot get away from each other, from creation—or from God,” theologian Charles Sherlock explains in his book The Doctrine of Humanity. “And we find ourselves having lost the capacity to restore and renew these relationships.” In effect, we are trapped in a compound of our own making, hiding from God and from one another behind walls of alienation (see Col. 1:21; Titus 3:3).

The expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden marks a fundamental change in their relationship to God and the world around them. Yet even though they were banished from the garden, God did not abandon them. His loving promise to “crush” the serpent’s head offered the hope of restoration through Jesus Christ (Gen. 3:15). This is the first biblical allusion to the gospel.

APPLY THE WORD
Fortunately, our walls are not thick enough to keep out God. He continues to break down our defenses by His persistent grace. Just as His penetrating questions drew Adam and Eve out of hiding and provided them with an opportunity to confess their sin, we have an opportunity to confess our sins and be forgiven through the blood of Christ. Is there something that stands between you and your relationship with God? Confess it and claim forgiveness in Jesus’ name (1 John 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 4:1-16
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. - Hebrews 11:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
In May the Los Angeles Times reported that church leaders planned to sell the Crystal Cathedral as part of their plan to emerge from bankruptcy. A mammoth steel and glass structure located in Garden Grove, California, it became emblematic of televangelist Robert Schuller’s controversial philosophy, a variation on positive thinking that he described as “possibility thinking.” The main feature of the campus, the giant “tower of hope,” was a local landmark and tourist destination.

We often identify the church with the building. When we say we are “going to church,” we usually mean that we are going to a place of worship. Yet the first recorded instance of public worship in Scripture does not mention a building at all. Instead it refers to a practice. The first biblical examples of worship were the offerings of Cain and Abel described in Genesis 4:1-16. Cain’s offering differed from Abel’s both in kind and in quality. Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil” and Abel brought “some of the firstborn of his flock” (vv. 3-4). Some have suggested that Cain’s offering was unacceptable because it was not an animal sacrifice. Since the Mosaic Law prescribed grain offerings as well as animal sacrifices, it seems unlikely that God rejected Cain’s offering for that reason (cf. Lev. 2:1-2).

The most important difference between these two acts was the disposition of the one who made the offering. Both came to God with an offering, but Cain came without faith (Heb. 11:4). His arrogant attitude is clear from his indignant response to God’s refusal. He wouldn’t repent and instead murdered his brother (v. 8). Yet God dealt with Cain graciously even in his disobedience by setting His mark upon him to protect him from harm. Perhaps this was intended to give Cain time to learn from the consequences of his sin and turn to God for forgiveness.

Cain’s ultimate punishment was to be sent away from the Lord’s presence (v. 16). This verbal footnote to Cain’s story is proof that God continued to manifest His presence to those He created even after Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden.

APPLY THE WORD
Do we feel that God should be pleased with our worship just because we show up? Cain’s story is proof that not all worship is acceptable to God. The quality of our worship is important, but not nearly as important as the disposition of the one who offers worship to the Lord. God accepts our worship only when it is a reflection of our genuine faith in Jesus Christ. Examine your heart. Is your worship motivated by faith?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 3:1-12
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? - Jeremiah 25:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Charles Dickens’s novel Bleak House, the homeless boy Jo shows the disguised Lady Dedlock the cemetery where her former lover is buried. It is a rat-infested “little tunnel of a court” which serves as kind of mass grave for paupers. Horrified by what she sees, Lady Dedlock questions her guide: “Is this place of abomination consecrated ground?” “I don’t know nothink of consequential ground,” says Jo still staring. “Is it blessed?” “Which?” says Jo, in the last degree amazed. “Is it blessed?” “I’m blest if I know,” says Jo, staring more than ever; “But I shouldn’t think it warn’t. Blest?” repeats Jo, something troubled in his mind. “It an’t done it much good if it is.”

As we continue our study of the tabernacle and the temple, we must wrestle with the notion of sacred space. This theme occurs repeatedly in Scripture. Moses’ first encounter with sacred ground was in the “far side of the wilderness” (v. 1) at Mount Horeb (also called Sinai). This particular patch of ground was made sacred when the God of Israel spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. He commanded Moses to modify his behavior in a way that acknowledged the sacred nature of the spot (v. 5). Although Sinai would remain an important holy site, there is no indication that the particular patch of ground upon which Moses stood retained its sacred character after this event.

This is consistent with the biblical idea of holy places. Their sacred character is often specific and temporary (cf. Josh. 5:15). They are made holy by consecrated use or by some manifestation of the divine presence. Although this “holy” quality is not innate to the space itself, it did warrant acknowledgment.

Does our worship today acknowledge the significance of consecrated space? Our attitude toward the physical space in which we worship is often functional at best. The notion that we ought to have a different kind of demeanor or dress seems strange to our casual culture. This doesn’t mean imposing our preferences as the standard. But Old Testament worship practice did acknowledge the importance of the physical environment.

APPLY THE WORD
Consider visiting a church whose art and architecture mark it as a “sacred space” and note what kind of effect this has on your worship experience. How can you reflect the sacred nature of the worship in some way by your dress or behavior in your own church this Sunday? You might also consider the space in which you have your personal devotional time with God. Do you see this as a special, holy space where you encounter the living Lord?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 24:1-11
Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die. - Exodus 20:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
First Lady Michelle Obama stirred controversy when she met with Queen Elizabeth II in 2009 and placed her hand on the mo-narch’s back as the two talked during a reception. Nine years earlier the prime minister of Australia was similarly criticized when he appeared to put his arm around the queen to guide her through a crowd. Long-standing protocol has established strict rules for how one approaches the British monarchs. These rules were originally rooted in the ancient idea that a nation’s ruler represented God.

In Moses’ day strict rules governed how to approach God. Old Testament worship used distance to emphasize the holy nature of God. When the Lord invited Moses and the elders to meet with Him on Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to approach God directly. Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel were told to worship “at a distance” (v. 1; literally “from afar”). The rest of the congregation was not permitted to approach the mountain at all. The solemnity of this occasion was marked by blood sacrifice and sealed by a vision of the God of Israel (vv. 5-6, 10). The gap between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of His people is underscored by the observation in verse 11 that God “did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites” during this encounter.

This element of distance was also incorporated into the protocols of worship for the tabernacle and later for the temple. Both had inner rooms which only the high priest could enter (Heb. 9:7). In Christ’s day, Gentiles were permitted to enter the temple confines but were not allowed to go beyond the outermost court known as the “Court of the Gentiles.” A warning posted on the wall separating the court from the rest of the temple stated, “No Gentile may enter beyond the dividing wall into the court around the Holy Place; whoever is caught will be to blame for his subsequent death.” Women were only allowed to proceed as far as the next court known as the “Court of Women.”

APPLY THE WORD
One of the chief differences between worship in the age of grace and worship under the law is the privilege of direct access to God. Through the shed blood of Christ we have “access to the Father by one Spirit” (Eph. 2:18). All who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ have peace with God and access to His presence (Rom. 5:1-2). Today give thanks for Jesus Christ who has removed all the barriers that would otherwise keep you from approaching God directly.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 24:12-25:8
Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. - Acts 7:44
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you want to build a new home, you can purchase an architectural plan online for less than $100. You can also buy plans at most local “big box” hardware stores. Moses obtained the plans for the tabernacle and all its furnishings directly from God Himself (Ex. 25:9). The same Hebrew word that is translated “pattern” is used to speak of the plans David gave to his son Solomon for the construction of the temple (1 Chron. 28:11). The plan of the temple was an echo of the pattern of the tabernacle.

The structure of the tabernacle and its furnishings symbolized God’s presence with His people. This was conveyed first by its name and location. The tabernacle was called “the house of the Lord” and “the house of God” (Ex. 25:9; 1 Chron. 6:48). The Hebrew word translated as “tabernacle” means “dwelling place” or “habitat.”

After it was constructed the tabernacle was located at the center of the camp (Num. 2:1-31). The tabernacle was a place of sacrifice and communion. God identified the tabernacle as the place where He would manifest His presence in a special way by descending upon it in a cloud of glory (Ex. 40:34). The Lord promised to meet with Israel and speak to them there (Ex. 29:42).

The God who sought Adam’s fellowship in the garden took the initiative to make Himself known to the children of Israel. Although some features of the tabernacle were similar to other ancient temples, this structure was unique because what it did not include. Although the tabernacle was called God’s house, it did not house an image of God. When the high priest entered the heart of the tabernacle, he did not interact with a representation of Israel’s God but communed with God Himself.

The fact that the tabernacle was a tent and traveled with the people as they moved from place to place spoke of God’s abiding presence with His people. This was God’s promise to Abraham’s descendants and it is still Christ’s promise to us today: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

APPLY THE WORD
Use a study Bible, Bible dictionary, or Bible encyclopedia to learn more about the structure of the tabernacle and its furnishings. See if you can discover how the room known as the Most Holy Place differed from the Holy Place. What separated one room from the other? What furnishings in the Holy Place were not in the Most Holy Place? For a detailed study, see Bible study teacher Beth Moore’s series on the tabernacle titled “God’s Dwelling Place.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 25:9-22
Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law . . . where I will meet with you. - Exodus 30:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The wreck of the USS Arizona lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The ship sank when Japan launched its surprise attack on the Pacific fleet on December 7, 1941. Now seventy years later, drops of oil from the ship continue to rise to the surface daily. The Arizona is a national memorial and is treated as “hallowed” ground because of the lives that were lost when it was destroyed.

The inner room of the tabernacle was also “hallowed” by pouring out the shed blood, but it was not these sacrifices that made it such a holy place. This room was called “the Holy of Holies” because it was the place where God promised to meet with Israel’s high priest (v. 22). It was God’s presence that made the inner room of the tabernacle holy.

Most importantly, this room housed the ark of the covenant, a small chest made of acacia wood that was 3¾-feet long and 2¼-feet wide and high. The chest was overlaid with pure gold and had two long poles which were thrust through four gold rings attached to its feet. This enabled the Levites to carry the ark without touching it. The chest also had a lid of solid gold upon which were cast two cherubim (winged angels). This served as God’s throne (cf. 2 Kings 19:15). Notably, no image of God was represented on the ark. The ark of the covenant is also called the ark of the testimony because the broken tablets of the Law were placed inside the chest along with Aaron’s rod and a jar of Manna. The cover of the ark is sometimes called the “mercy seat” because it was the place where atonement was made.

On the Day of Atonement the high priest brought the blood from the sacrifice and sprinkled it seven times before the cover (Lev. 16:14). The high priest made an offering first for his own sins and then for the people. This is a model for anyone who wants to have a relationship with God. Forgiveness must be granted before fellowship can be experienced. These sacrifices pictured the atonement that Jesus Christ would eventually provide through the shedding of His blood. He is both our “sacrifice of atonement” and our “mercy seat” (Rom. 3:25).

APPLY THE WORD
If you have a special place where you spend time with the Lord, take a few moments to read and reflect on the words of the traditional hymn “The Mercy Seat” (also known as “From Every Stormy Wind That Blows”). You can find the lyrics at http://www.ccel.org/w/wesley/hymn/jwg08/jwg0825.html. As you read, offer it as worship of thanks and praise to God who has made a way to purify us from our sins and provide a way for us to be in a relationship with Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 25:23-40
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. - John 6:55
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thomas Aquinas wrote, “Irrational feeding darkens the soul and makes it unfit for spiritual experiences.” His warning reflects the church’s long-standing ambivalence toward food. On the one hand, food is necessary. Without food we will die. Yet we can also overindulge in food. Many church leaders felt that it was better to err on the side of caution when it came to eating and drinking. They ate only plain foods and practiced fasting. Ascetics would abstain from all food except bread and water, essential to sustain life.

In view of this, it is worth noting the important role food played in Old Testament worship. It was a fundamental element of fellowship with God. The enjoyment of food was central to Israel’s experience of the presence of God, especially during the prescribed feast days that accompanied some festivals. In the tabernacle this was symbolized by the “bread of the Presence.” These flat cakes, one loaf for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, were placed on a table in the Holy Place each morning then removed and eaten by the priests in the evening (cf. 1 Sam. 21:6).

The Holy Place also included a seven-branched lamp stand, which served the practical purpose of providing light for priests in the tabernacle, and may have symbolized Israel itself. There was an altar made of acacia wood and covered with gold. The priests burned incense on this altar every morning and evening (Ex. 30:7-8). This physical incense ascending to heaven reminds us of spiritual prayers (cf. Rev. 8:4).

These two items of furniture also represent two fundamental elements of relationship: food and conversation. These were also key components of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Some of His most important miracles involved food (Matt. 14:15-21; Mark 8:6-8; John 2:3-10). He was criticized by some because He came “eating and drinking” (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:34).

Jesus used food to symbolize the grace that only He can provide when He compared Himself to manna: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51). He is also the light of the world, a lamp that is never extinguished (John 8:12).

APPLY THE WORD
Food and conversation continue to play a role in the way the church relates to Christ and each other. We speak to Him through prayer and fellowship with Him at the Lord’s Supper. This month provides many opportunities to use food and conversation to introduce others to Jesus Christ. An evangelistic Christmas coffee is a great way to do this. To find helpful suggestions hosting a Christmas coffee go to: http://new.college-church.org/events/documents/2007Overview.pdf.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 8:5-9
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. - Hebrews 10:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Nearly every great structure on earth, from the Eiffel Tower to the Great Pyramid of Giza, has a copy. And most are located in Las Vegas! These copies do not really compare with their originals. Usually they are cheap (and sometimes not-so-cheap) imitations. They may serve as a reminder of the structures they represent, but they will never be able to substitute for the real thing.

In today’s passage the writer of Hebrews reveals that the tabernacle in the wilderness was also a copy. Despite the precious materials used to build it and the divinely revealed pattern that guided its construction, the tabernacle was still only a copy. Hebrews 8:5 characterizes it as a “shadow of what is in heaven.” The terms “copy” and “shadow” in this verse both point to something greater. In order for there to be a copy, there must be an original. Every shadow is the reflection of a form. The earthly tabernacle was a reflection of a heavenly reality.

In Colossians 2:17 the apostle Paul uses similar language to describe the entire system of dietary regulations, feasts, celebrations, and Sabbaths that were a part of the law of Moses. The apostle calls them “a shadow of the things that were to come” and says that the reality is found in Christ. Hebrews 10:1 uses nearly identical language, when he calls the law “a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” and warns that these shadows are unable to perfect those who rely upon them.

This forward-looking trajectory clarifies the relationship between Christ and the Law. The Old Testament Law was unable to justify anyone. Those who were saved under the Law were still saved by the blood of Christ. The regulations of the Law were intended to direct the faith of Old Testament believers to a hope that was yet to come. Worship under the law was “shadow” worship, offering its adherents a glimpse of a greater reality in its forms and practices. Once Christ came, the old forms were no longer adequate. Those who clung to them instead of placing their faith in the finished work of Christ turned revealed truth into a false religion.

APPLY THE WORD
Have you grasped the reality of what Jesus Christ has done for you? Or are you clinging to a shadow? Even Christian rituals like baptism and the Lord’s Supper are distorted when we rely on them to earn favor in God’s eyes. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ not by works—even when they are “Christian” works. If you have never trusted in Christ alone for your salvation from sin and for a relationship with God, call gotcha13-NEED HIM or talk to a trusted Christian friend.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-17
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. - Hebrews 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Stafford House, the London dwelling of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, was London’s social center and was renowned for its splendor. During one visit Queen Victoria told the duchess, “I have come from my house to visit your palace.”

Perhaps David feared that the Lord would have a similar reaction when it came to his own home. There is a note of guilt in his words to Nathan in verse 2: “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan’s enthusiastic reply anticipated David’s ambitious plan and reflected confidence in Israel’s king but did not take the Lord’s will into account.

That night the Lord adjusted the plan. God would do the building. After reminding David that He had no need for an earthly dwelling, the Lord promised to build David a dynasty. He also promised to “plant” Israel so that they would have home of their own and no longer be afflicted by their oppressors. It was not David but his descendant who would build a house for Israel’s God.

There is a play on words in God’s promises that He would build David a house and that David’s descendant would build God a house. In his commentary on 2 Samuel, Old Testament scholar Robert Alter explains, “God will grant David a house—that is, a continuing dynasty, and then will have David’s son build Him a house—that is a temple.”

The New Testament reveals that the double meaning implied in the image goes even deeper. Stephen’s citation of this passage in Acts 7:48-50 suggests that this promise was not completely fulfilled by Solomon but pointed to Jesus Christ, “the Righteous One.” The Lord enabled Solomon to build a house, but only Jesus Christ could build a family. All those who are in Christ are members of God’s household (Eph. 2:19).

God does not need temples or church buildings. They exist for our sake. They provide us with an opportunity to express our devotion to God and facilitate our worship. But God is always more interested in the household of faith than in the house or building in which we meet.

APPLY THE WORD
David was expecting great things from God and attempting great things for God. His only problem was that he was not in step with God’s timing. Have you been acting on plans without asking first whether they are God’s plans? You may accomplish your project but not your purpose, especially if your goal is to glorify God. Set your plans aside for a time and ask God to direct you. He may give you the green light. Or He may show you a better plan.