What it Matters - Promised Land

Readings for today: Deuteronomy 1-3

A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Israel. One of my favorite sites on the trip was Masada. If you don’t know the history of Masada, it is a two thousand year old fortress built by King Herod the Great. During the first Jewish-Roman War (66-73AD), Jewish zealots seized control of the fortress and courageously held off the full might of the Roman legions. Eventually, however, the legions were able to build a ramp up to the wall (which you can still see today) and break through the defenses of the fortress. Rather than be captured and sold into slavery, the remaining zealots committed mass suicide, thus becoming a powerful witness to future generations of Jewish courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. The symbol remains so powerful that for decades, new recruits into the Israeli Defense Force would take their vows at Masada. (This has changed in recent years. Most now take their vows at the Western Wall though some special brigades still go to Masada.) Interestingly enough, when they take their vows, Jewish recruits are handed a rifle and a Tanach (Hebrew Bible containing the 24 books of the Old Testament), and promise to defend the State of Israel.

But what is the State of Israel? This is a highly volatile question. One that is the source of a lot of violence in the region. Certainly, many Arab and Palestinian groups refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. Many Muslims deny the existence of the historical Temple of Solomon as they too seek to de-legitimize Israel’s right to exist. The United Nations and many other international organizations may accept Israel’s right to exist for the sake of political expediency but certainly would never support Israel’s right to the territories mentioned in Deuteronomy, chapter three. In recent years, many left-wing political groups have joined the chorus against Israel’s right to exist. On the flip side, many right-wing political groups both within Israel and among international pro-Zionist groups do support the concept of a “Greater Israel” which is based on the boundaries set for the Promised Land in the Bible. It’s why settlement construction is taking place in Palestinian Territories and why some advocate for a complete takeover of Gaza or the rebuilding of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount.

Deuteronomy is Moses’ final sermon to God’s people as they camp on the plains below Mount Nebo across the Jordan River facing Jericho. They are poised to begin their conquest of the Promised Land. They will spend the next several years doing what all tribes and civilizations have done throughout history, carving out a place for themselves and their descendants. Their national identity will be forged in the fires of conflict and suffering and pain. They will face and fight against all kinds of overwhelming odds as the powerful empires around them battle for control of what is an important land bridge between Asia and Africa. Egyptians. Assyrians. Babylonians. Persians. Greeks. Seleucids. Romans. Muslims. Crusaders. Ottomans. British. All will take their turn ruling this particular strip of land. And though they would be exiled and displaced and persecuted wherever they went, the Jewish people never stopped believing and hoping for a day when they could return to the Promised Land. It’s why the modern nation-state of Israel isn’t just a political entity but a theological and religious one as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 4-7

Why it Matters - Death Penalty

Readings for today: Numbers 33-36

I worked for two years at New Jersey State Prison as a volunteer chaplain. NJSP is where the state of New Jersey sends the worst of the worst. Murderers. Violent criminals. Sex offenders. Gang leaders. Mafia dons. It is also where they used to house death row. I never was allowed into death row itself but I remember standing outside the door, looking in. It was a sterile environment and the men housed there were cut off from the general population. New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007, five years after I left. But from 1690 to 1963, they executed 361 people. 

The death penalty is a thorny subject for Christians. In theory, it does have biblical support drawn mainly from passages like we read today in Numbers 35. But a careful reading of the passage reveals many fascinating details. Cities of refuge. Premeditated murder vs. accidental death. Avengers of blood. Congregational trials. Evidence. Witnesses. Motives. Methods. It’s a very specific passage that actually places limits on vengeance in a way that would have been striking to other ancient near east cultures. It employs the principle of lex talionis  or “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Proportional justice. It keeps vendettas from forming between families and clans that last generations. 

Those who support the contemporary use of the death penalty on biblical grounds need to wrestle with the boundaries this passage sets. Provision must be made for the safety of the murderer while he/she awaits trial. Motive must be carefully discerned and the accuser must be the one to carry out the sentence. If there was no premeditation, then the congregation is allowed to judge and show mercy by assigning the person to a city of refuge for a certain duration. (Lifetime of the current high priest.) There must be more than one witness to the crime. And you cannot tolerate murder in the land lest it become ritually polluted. 

Obviously, it’s quite the challenge to apply ancient near east law codes in a 21st century context. Layer in the obvious problems we have in our legal system with ethnic and economic injustice (statistically ethnic minorities and the poor are far more likely to be convicted in our culture), as well as the frequency with which our justice system convicts the wrong person (DNA evidence has been a game-changer here), and one can see why many would argue we should abolish the death penalty altogether. Furthermore, what are we do to with Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount? “You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matt. ‭5:21-22‬) Clearly, Jesus is accusing all of us of being guilty of murder in our hearts.

So what do we do? We must carefully and prayerfully consider our position on the death penalty. We must ask if it is just...not as an abstract concept but as a concrete practice. We must make sure our practices are just and if there is even a hint of incompetence or injustice in the way we prosecute then we must forbear. Furthermore, we have to come to grips with the gravity of our actions. Executing another human being is deeply significant. The shedding of blood is not something to take lightly. Unjust killing pollutes the land in which we dwell. Finally, and most importantly, to take the life of another human being before they accept Christ as Lord and Savior consigns them to an eternity in hell. All these factors must weigh heavily on us as we wrestle with this issue in our society. 

Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 1-3

Divine Judgment

Readings for today: Numbers 29-32

“Exact vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites – after that you will be gathered to your people.” (Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭2‬ ‭NET‬‬) Who was Midian and what had they done to Israel to cause God’s judgment to fall on them? Furthermore, why was God’s judgment so harsh and unyielding? Why did it involve women and children? It sounds a lot like an ancient form of jihad and is one of the main reasons many skeptics reject the Bible.

First, some historical context. Midian was a son of Abraham and his servant Keturah. While Abraham was still alive, he sent Midian away so that there would be no competition for Isaac’s inheritance. Midian presumably thrived over the years becoming a great tribal nation. Abraham’s great-grandson Joseph was sold to Midianite traders as they made their way to Egypt. Moses fled to Midian to escape Egyptian justice and actually married a Midianite woman. As Moses learned to lead the nation of Israel, he leaned on his father-in-law, a Midianite priest, for advice but Israel’s close association with Midian would come back to haunt them as they began to intermarry with them and co-mingle their worship practices. This results in judgment as God pours out His wrath on Israel through a plague which is only stopped when Phinehas kills Cozbi, daughter of a Midianite chief named Zur, and her husband Zimri, who was the son of a Simeonite chief. Additionally, the Midianites had allied themselves with the Moabites, setting themselves in opposition to Israel, and called on one of their prophets - Balaam - to come and curse the people of God. So clearly there was a history of enmity between these two tribal nations.

Second, we must remember God’s commandments regarding true worship. For example, the 2nd Commandment says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me…” (Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬) God is jealous for His divine name. Jealous for His divine glory. Jealous for His relationship with His people. He makes it clear over and over again throughout the Scriptures that He will tolerate no rivals. So when Israel begins to worship the Midianite gods, God takes action. He punishes Israel as I mentioned above. Then He calls for holy war. He commands His people to attack Midian and “execute the Lord’s vengeance.” Vengeance, not in the sense of God losing control and lashing out, but vengeance in the sense of the righteous execution of God’s justice. Israel is successful. They kill all the males that come against them. They take the women and children hostage. They plunder their possessions. Then they go one step further. As an act of ritual purity, they kill all the male children and any women who is not a virgin. It is brutal. It is horrifying. It is judgment. The women were just as guilty as the Israelite men in the sin of idolatry at Peor and their guilt conveys to their male children as well who - if left alive - might seek their own revenge against Israel in the future. (Blood feuds between tribes and clans were common in ancient times and could last generations.)

This is a terrifying concept, especially for the 21st century American reader. It doesn’t square with our understanding of a loving God who always shows mercy and grace to the sinner. When we read passages like this, we think of modern-day terrorists. Suicide bombers. Religious extremists like ISIS and we cannot understand how God could ever act in such a way. This is where we come face to face with God’s holiness. God’s righteousness. God’s justice. The stark reality is this...evil makes God righteously angry. Idolatry offends Him. He does not let it go. He does not overlook our sin. He does not turn a blind eye to our rebellion. This is why the cross is itself so brutal and horrifying. On the cross, God pours out the full measure of His righteous wrath and judgment on His Son. He satisfies the demands of divine justice through Jesus’ suffering and death. On the cross, the truly innocent One dies in our place.

So what is our response? Repentance. Repentance is the only appropriate response of the creature when confronted by the Creator and this is the lesson we must all take away. God will not be mocked. Not back then. Not now. Not in the future. God is a God of love and mercy and grace but He is also a God of holiness and righteousness and justice. He is quick to forgive the sin of those who repent but He is also faithful to judge those who persist in their rebellion. Humble yourself before the Lord before it is too late. Embrace the Son and what He has done for you. Give your life to Christ that you might be saved from the coming judgment.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 33-36

Leadership

Readings for today: Numbers 25-28

I am heading back home today after spending time with our denominational leadership. One of the many tasks set before us was to drill down on “ordination standards.” In other words, what qualifications must a person have to be eligible to serve as a pastor in one of our churches. We spent three years trying to answer this question. We interviewed and solicited feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders across the country. We sought expertise from our seminary leaders. We looked models being used effectively in other denominations. We discussed academics, professional experience, and character formation. And we landed on some recommendations that we will put before our denomination at our annual meeting this summer. It was a fascinating process. The people I served alongside are thoughtful and reflective and I believe our end product will be a blessing should it be passed.

But then I read about the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua today and I wonder if we haven’t overcomplicated the process? I wonder if we prioritize the wrong things? Moses asks God for a person who would “go out before Israel.” In other words, someone who would lead them into battle. Someone with courage. Someone who is unafraid to put themselves in harm’s way. Second, he asks God for a person who would “come in before Israel.” Someone who would govern them in their day to day life. Point them to God. Teach and train them in righteousness. Finally, he asks God for a shepherd. Someone who would care deeply for the sheep. Someone who would love the sheep enough to lay down their life for them. And how does God respond? He identifies a man in whom “there is such a spirit.” His name is Joshua. A man with a track record of courage and faithfulness. A man who has already demonstrated the gifts Moses is looking for in the person who would succeed him. A man who has already served God’s people in so many ways.

Obviously, there is a vast difference between leading a nation and leading a local church. There is also a great cultural difference between leaders in the ancient near east and leaders in the modern Western world. At the same time, I wonder what would happen if we privileged life experience more than education? I wonder what would happen if we put more of an emphasis on what a person has already demonstrated by the way they have led and served rather than focus on potential? I wonder what would happen if we focused more on the “spirit” of a person rather than an educational credential? Leadership is more caught than taught. It is a gift we receive from the Holy Spirit more than it is a set of principles we read in a book. Take some time to pray today that the Lord would make you the kind of leader you need to be in your home, your workplace, your church, and your community.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Water

Readings for today: Numbers 21-24

Many years ago, I was sitting with indigenous denominational leaders in southern Ethiopia, talking about church planting. It was our first trip to the region and they shared with us how difficult it had been for them over the years. They faced all kinds of persecution. They had access to very few resources. In many ways, they felt forgotten. The image they used was of the wadi’s that Israel journeyed through on their way to the Promised Land. Dry riverbeds with little to no water. Certainly not enough to sustain a growing population. In the same way, they felt like their lack of access to any kinds of resources was hamstringing their ability to grow the Kingdom in their part of the country. When we signed our partnership agreement, they rejoiced. They literally started singing the opening lines of the song from Numbers 21:17-18, “Spring up, O well, sing to it! The well which the princes dug, which the leaders of the people opened with their scepters and their staffs.” And they talked about God fulfilling His promise to fill the dry riverbeds all around them and that’s exactly what happened. Hundreds of churches were planted. Thousands of people came to saving faith. It was an amazing movement of God.

The people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years. And though God provided for them all along the way, it wasn’t an easy journey. If you trace their route, you can easily see it goes through some incredibly challenging terrain. They were essentially traveling through the desert. There was little to no food or water. Furthermore, this was new territory for them. They didn’t know all the different oases or watering holes along the way. They didn’t know when and where to stop to conserve their strength. They were literally walking by faith and not by sight. Trusting God to lead them every step of the way. Take a look at the pictures I’ve included to get a sense of what they experienced. Is it any wonder they grumbled and complained? Is it any wonder they questioned why they ever left Egypt? Is it any wonder they struggled to maintain their faith in the face of all their hardship and suffering?

We too are on a wandering journey through this life and through this world. We often face challenging times and difficult seasons. Periods in our lives where basic provisions may be scarce. It causes us to wonder where is God in the midst of it all? Is He still with us? Is He still leading and guiding us? This is where we have to walk by faith as well. Trust Jesus to provide the Living Water that never runs dry. Living Water that spring up like a well deep within our souls. If we drink from this water, we will never thirst again.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 25-28

Fruitfulness

Readings for today: Numbers 17-20

I am in Orlando this week serving my denomination alongside some wonderful colleagues. These men and women are deeply faithful. They love Jesus. They make so many sacrifices. They give so much of themselves. I am blessed by our conversations and discussions. One of the big topics that always comes up is how we believe the church is doing. Are we heading in a healthy direction? Are we growing in gospel faithfulness? Are we making disciples who make disciples? Are we making an impact for the Kingdom of God in this world? These aren’t easy questions to answer. It’s hard to even quantify the metrics we would use to make our assessments. At the same time, when we look across our denomination, we do see churches that seem to be thriving. They are engaged in all kinds of wonderful, growing ministry. They are bearing all kinds of wonderful gospel fruit. The Spirit is blessing and empowering them for all kinds of sacrificial acts of service. It’s awesome and I love it.

I’ve often wondered why some ministries flourish and others fade. I’ve often wrestled why some pastors seem to be so effective while others struggle. I’ve often questioned why some churches grow and others decline. I’ve read a ton of books on the subject. I’ve listened to all kinds of podcasts. I’ve even engaged different well-known thought leaders on the subject. None of them have given me much of an answer. Then I read a passage like the one we read today. The people of God have barely survived a rebellion. They have no idea how close they came to destruction. All because they questioned the leadership of Moses and Aaron. So God commands each tribe to bring a staff, representing the leader of that tribe, and place it before the ark of the covenant. When they come back the next day, Aaron’s staff has “sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds!” (Numbers 17:8 NET) What an incredible miracle! And one that had nothing to do with Aaron. Aaron’s staff didn’t bud because of Aaron’s hard work. Aaron’s staff didn’t produce blossoms because of Aaron’s great ideas. Aaron’s staff didn’t yield almonds because of Aaron’s spiritual maturity and faith. Heck, Aaron wasn’t even around when it all happened! No, this is all about the glory and providence and sovereignty of Almighty God.

Like Aaron and the rest of the leaders of the tribes of Israel, we bring what we have to offer to the Lord. We present our “staffs” and lay them before His altar. That’s all we are charged to do. That’s all we can do. It is God who gives the increase. God who grows His church. God who fills His people with His Spirit and empowers them to do mighty things in His name. The call of God is clear from Scripture. Seek Him first. Seek His Kingdom first. Seek His righteousness first. If we do these things, then all the rest will be added to us. Everything we care about will be taken care of. That’s God’s promise. Trust Him. Put your life in His hands and let Him make your life fruitful for His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 21-24

Glory

Readings for today: Numbers 14-16, Psalms 95

Today’s passage reveals two things in stark terms. First, the greatest obstacle to the fulfillment of God’s mission is us. Humanity. Human beings made in the image of God who continually rebel against God. Second, the reason God’s mission will always succeed is because of His great faithfulness. His steadfast, loyal love. His grace that extends from generation to generation. Without God’s love, we would be doomed. Destroyed. Our sin is simply too much. Our tendency to rebel to hard to resist. Our pride too much to overcome.

The people of God quake in fear at the report of the spies. They mutiny against Moses and the Lord. They make plans to head back to Egypt. Back to slavery. Back to what was familiar. But for the intervention of the Lord, they would even have stoned Moses to death! Incredible! Korah rebels. Dathan and Abiram rebel. The people blame Moses and Aaron for their deaths. God sends plagues. He opens the earth. He allows them to be defeated in battle. He makes them wander in the wilderness until an entire generation passes away. It’s depressing how often God’s people turn their back on Him. But still He remains faithful. Faithful to love. Faithful to judge. Faithful to discipline. Faithful to comfort. Through the intercession of Moses and Aaron, God makes His steadfast love and faithfulness known. He reveals His nature and character and the people are once again reminded of God’s greatest desire which is the fill the earth with His glory.

Friends, come hell or high water, God will make His glory known. No obstacle will stand in His way. No power will prevent Him from accomplishing this great task. Not sin. Not evil. Not even death. “But truly, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.” (Numbers‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬) It’s an incredible statement! One that drives God even to this day. God’s plan is for God’s people who are made in God’s image to multiply and fill the earth! This is the “Great Commission” given to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the people of Israel. And Jesus renews this Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel when He sends His disciples out into all the world to make other disciples.

So think about your own life? Where are you living in willful disobedience? Where are you living in stubborn rebellion? What sins are you clinging to, refusing to let go? Is it pride? Is it anger? Is it disappointment? Is it fear? Where are you personally getting in the way of God’s mission to fill the world with His glory? Repent and believe and let the Spirit of God fill you and use you to spread His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 17-20

Pure in Heart

Readings for today: Numbers 10-13, Psalms 90

Jesus once said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” He might have been talking about Moses. Moses was a humble man. In fact, he was more humble than anyone living on earth at the time. His humility was demonstrated over and over again throughout the course of his life. His leadership was a model of humility as he collaborated with others. One never gets the sense that Moses had any ambitions of his own. He simply lived to serve God and His people.

In our reading today, Moses’ humility is put to the test by his own family. Those closest to him. Those he loved and trusted the most. They became bitter and resentful towards Moses. They aspired to the same position and authority as Moses held among the people. More than anything, they were jealous of the unique relationship Moses had with God. “Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn’t He also speak through us?” The obvious answer is “no.” God clearly wasn’t speaking through Aaron and Miriam like He was through Moses and He even goes on to tell us why. Moses is no ordinary prophet. He is God’s special servant with whom God speaks face to face.

If we’re honest, this grates a bit. We probably sympathize more with Aaron and Miriam. Believing rightly that all are equal in the eyes of God, we often make the false assumption that all are called to the same roles in God’s Kingdom. I see and hear it all the time. Men and women who look to those in authority above them in an organization and believe they can do as good a job or better. Those who are just getting started in their professional careers who believe they can do just as good a job as those who have years of experience. Even among pastors this dynamic often comes into play as associate pastors become jealous of the influence or the position or the authority of a senior pastor. In fact, this is so common most churches have special rules in place to make it harder for associate pastors to ascend to the senior pastor role! So we are more like Aaron and Miriam than we want to admit.

To see God, we must be pure in heart. We must have the purest of intentions. We cannot allow selfish ambition or vain conceit to get in the way. We cannot let our aspirations or dreams to become more important than God’s dream for our lives. We must learn to humbly accept the role God has called us to play in His Kingdom. We should not look to others and play the comparison game. We should not allow envy or jealousy to get in the way. We should fix our eyes on Jesus who humbled Himself and became our servant. We should follow the example of Moses who humbled himself and became a servant. After all, the greatest in the Kingdom are the servants which is why they shall see God.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 14-16, Psalms 95

Succession Planning

Readings for today: Numbers 6-9

“How many years do you have left?” I got asked this question for the first time in my life on our recent elder retreat. It’s a good one. One all of us have to answer at some point in time in our lives. Some of us get to choose when we retire. Some have retirement forced upon them. Some work in industries where there is a mandatory retirement age. Others are forced into retirement when their bodies break down or age catches up to them or their memory begins to fade. Some make enough money or save enough to retire on their terms. But no matter who you are or how successful you’ve been, retirement is a reality we all have to face one day.

This was true for God’s people as well. Particularly, the Levites who served the Lord at the Tabernacle and later, the Temple. Their years of service were pre-determined. They started at twenty-five and ended at fifty. “This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting, and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work and may no longer work. They may assist their colleagues in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish the Levites regarding their duties.” (‭‭Numbers‬ ‭8‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NET‬‬) I don’t know why the Lord chose those particular ages as boundaries for service but I do know it established a rotational system among the Levites. The older generation routinely handing off their authority and duties to the younger generation. It made for a healthy succession plan that maintained consistency and competency when it came to the priestly duties they performed. And it guarded against a particular person holding on too long or refusing to relinquish control.

I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve seen over the years try to hold onto long. The politician who dies in office well into their nineties. The parent who never writes a will or does any estate planning. The pastor who refuses to entertain the idea of stepping down. On the flip side, I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve seen over the years use their “retirement” to check out on life. Though they have so much to offer, they spend their days largely entertaining themselves rather than continuing to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. I don’t think either approach is what God wants. God wants us to use our years to bless and serve others. And then even when we retire and hand off our responsibilities, He wants us to assist those who come after us, attend to their needs, mentor them, coach them, and share with them all we have learned. This is God’s plan for succession and it’s worth considering for every one of us.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 10-13, Psalms 90

Assignment

Readings for today: Numbers 3-5

As a young pastor just out of seminary, I struggled with my “call.” I am not sure what I expected. A voice from heaven? A burning bush? A pillar of fire? I had multiple opportunities to consider and didn’t quite know how to make a decision. So I asked an older, wiser pastor for his thoughts. He challenged me to stop overthinking things and instead simply focus on the “assignment” the Lord had given me. I was called to be a pastor. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. I was called to serve God’s people and that could happen in a variety of different contexts. Over the years, I’ve served in large churches and small churches. I’ve taught in seminaries and trained church planters overseas. I’ve been offered opportunities to serve my denomination in several different leadership roles. I’ve loved all of them but never in a million years could I have planned them out.

I thought about those words as I read about the assignments given to the different Levitical clans. The Levites were set apart by God to serve God. Unlike the other tribes, they were given no inheritance because their inheritance was the Lord. He had redeemed them as His own. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Look, I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me, because all the firstborn are mine. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They belong to me. I am the Lord.” (Numbers‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬) Furthermore, the sons of Levi and their descendants were also set apart for specific tasks. The Kohathites were charged to carry the most holy objects from the Tabernacle. The Gershonites were to carry the curtains and the tent. The Merarites were to basically carry the rest of the equipment. Each of these sons and their descendants would shoulder this burden into perpetuity. This was their divine call. This was God’s assignment for them.

Everyone is born with a divine assignment. I know this may be hard to grasp or understand. After all, we live in a culture where we get to choose our profession. Choose, to some extent, our place in society. Choose where we will live and who we will live among. Most of humanity throughout history has not had the freedom to make such choices. And with such freedom comes an even greater temptation. We are tempted to believe we are the captains of our fate, the masters of our destiny. We are tempted to believe we are in control of our lives. We are tempted to believe we somehow are free from any “assignment” others might place on us. However, this is a lie. God has a plan for each of our lives. His divine plan includes our assignment in His Kingdom. It’s a space only we can occupy because each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made and, as such, have a unique contribution to make. What is your assignment? Have you asked God to show you His plan for your life in this particular season?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Conditions

Readings for today: Leviticus 26-27, Numbers 1-2

One of the most common questions I get in my role as pastor is “have I done enough” to get into heaven. To put it another way, have I done enough to earn God’s favor? Have I been good enough? Have I been obedient enough? Such questions are quite natural and they reflect a conditional way of thinking about our relationship with God. Such thinking is also reinforced when we read chapters like Leviticus 26 which outlines the blessings and the curses of the covenant. It’s tempting to assume everything rests on our obedience, including our eternal destiny. But such thinking betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of God, His covenant, and what He’s done for us in Jesus Christ.

The Israelites didn’t initiate this covenant. God did. In fact, if you remember, when God first made this covenant with His people it was while Abraham was asleep. God committed Himself to Abraham and his descendants, walking through the pieces of the animals to seal His promise. After delivering His people from slavery in Egypt, He reinforces His covenant by giving them the Law. The Law is not just a list of what they can and cannot do. It’s frames a covenantal way of life. A way of walking before the Lord in faithfulness and gratitude for all He has done. When God lays out the “blessings and curses”, it’s not a threat but simply describing the reality of what will happen if Israel chooses to abandon or walk in rebellion to the covenant God has made. Think of them as natural consequences for the decisions they make. Obviously, God wants to walk with them and bless them and support them but they must want these same things as well. Thankfully, the covenant doesn’t rely on their perfect obedience or performance because even when the incur the curses, God makes a way for the covenant to be renewed through repentance and restoration.

Fast forward two thousand years. We who live on this side of the death and resurrection of Jesus enjoy an even greater freedom for all the curses of our disobedience - past, present, and future - have fallen on God’s one and only Son. On the cross, Jesus literally became cursed on our behalf so we might live in the blessing of God. At the same time, if we want to experience that blessing, we must walk in the blessing. We cannot live a life apart from God and expect to experience the blessing of His presence. It’s not that He’s gone anywhere, of course, it’s that our ability to perceive Him is clouded by our life of sin. Thankfully, God provides the same path back to Him that He provided Israel. Confession. Repentance. Reconciliation. Make your peace with God today.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 3-5

Sabbath

Readings for today: Leviticus 23-25

The first feast of the Lord listed in Leviticus 23 is the Sabbath. One day a week set aside for rest. Hardwired into creation itself, the Sabbath may be the most important and most neglected spiritual discipline of our time. The world runs 24/7. The ubiquity of social media creates an expectation that we must be “on” all the time. Most of us feel like we can’t get away from our work even for an hour, much less an entire day. As rates of anxiety and depression rise, accompanied by self-destructive coping mechanisms of self-harm, addiction, and suicide; one must ask the question, is it time to re-commit ourselves to a weekly Sabbath?

I keep a Sabbath. Every Monday I purposefully set aside all my work. I do not answer email. I do not answer phone calls. I do not prepare for sermons. Instead, I spend time in personal worship. I spend time talking to my accountability partner of almost twenty-five years. I spend time reading, resting, relaxing. I go to the gym. I spend time with my wife and adult kids when they get home from work. We do not schedule any events on Monday evenings if at all possible. This weekly rhythm acts as a “speed bump” in my life, slowing me down on a regular basis.  

Are there times when I violate my Sabbath? Yes. Sometimes I fail to be diligent and get all my work done in the previous six days. Sometimes I’m working on a big project or taking on new obligations. Sometimes I’m under a significant deadline. However, I try to build in extra rest after those seasons come to an end so I dial life back to a sustainable pace.  

My life is busy. I have a wife of 30 years who I cherish and adore. I have four adult children who deserve my time and attention and love. I have parents and siblings who I love spending time with. Professionally, I serve as the senior pastor for a growing, missional church in a community with many needs. I serve as an adjunct professor teaching graduate students about evangelism and mission two semesters every year. I serve as the chair of the board for a mission organization that’s doing amazing work in the Horn of Africa. I’ve been given opportunities to serve at different levels of my denomination. It’s a rich and full and beautiful life. But without a Sabbath, I would quickly burn out. 

I’m sure your life is busy as well. Work. Family. School. Church. Kid’s activities. I am sure you feel like you barely get through each day. Let me encourage you to master your schedule. Wrest control of your life from the enemy who wants to drive you to exhaustion and burnout. Set aside one day out of every week for Sabbath rest. Turn off your phone. Fast from social media. Create a “no-tech” zone in your life for just 24 hours. Rest. Relax. Take a walk with those you love. Worship. Spend uninterrupted time with God. Let Him renew and restore you for the week ahead. There is no “one” way to keep a Sabbath. The only guidance Scripture gives is worship and rest. Gather with God’s people to give Him the praise He is due and then do whatever you need to do to relax and let your mind and body recover.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 26-27, Numbers 1-2

Boundaries

Readings for today: Leviticus 19-22

The primary challenge in reading and understanding Leviticus is the cultural gap that exists between modern, Western culture and the ancient Near East world. There are fundamental differences between how both cultures understand human identity, social order, ritual purity, and moral codes. We have to keep in mind the progressive nature both of God’s revelation and of humanity’s own growth in self-understanding and awareness. Ancient Near East cultures did not believe in modern concepts like universal human rights, free market capitalism, democracy, freedom, etc. They lived in a world with strict hierarchies drawn from a shared understanding of the cosmic order where ritual purity must be maintained lest they incur the wrath of God and the destruction of their society. As He always does, God was working in and through their cultural and social worldview to bring about His will and teach them about Himself.

Israel was set apart as a nation from all of her neighbors in any number of ways. She was a God-centered rather than a king-centered society. She was called to holiness and purity in all of life not just when she worshipped at the Temple. Her ethics were universal because every person - no matter their social or political or economic status - lived under the same covenant with God. So when we read about prohibitions against mixing seeds or mixing fibers, we have to understand their worldview. While such things seem trivial to us, they were Israel’s way of maintaining purity. The same was true when it came to sexual boundaries. The harsh penalties listed were necessary in a world where families and clans often struggled and even fought violently to protect clean lineages and tribal inheritances and strict patriarchy was a way to maintain stability and social order. Finally, Israel understood the priesthood to serve a critical role in maintaining not just social and religious order but the cosmic order itself. As they performed their duties, they maintained a right relationship with God on which all of human society depended.

I know all this may seem strange and esoteric to us. The gap is definitely hard to bridge. And yet, there are some beautifully progressive, even radical, concepts embedded within the Levitical code as well. Leaving the gleanings of a field for the poor. Outlawing the oppression of hired workers. Banning the cursing of those who are deaf. Requiring fairness and impartiality in a court’s judgment. And, of course, the Golden Rule. Loving your neighbor as yourself. All of these were grounded not in kingly authority but in sacred obligation in service to God. As such, they reframe human understanding of civic law as imitation of the divine character of God.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 23-25

Sacred Time

Readings for today: Leviticus 15-18

I still remember the first time I celebrated the Day of Atonement. I was with my grandmother in Beijing, China. She belonged to a religious group that made it a point to celebrate all the Jewish high holy days and festivals. Each year, they would host “feast sites” around the world where church members could go to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement. It was a day of self-denial. It was a day of prayer and fasting. It was a day when we basically engaged in little to no activity. I was twelve years old and I have to admit I found it very strange. I wasn’t sure I understood all the reasons why non-Jews would engage in Jewish religious practices. As I got older, I learned that my grandmother was part of a Christian cult who believed they had “replaced” Israel on some level. Not only that but they preyed on the elderly and widowed - my grandmother was both - and stole millions from the people who belonged to their “church.” It was a textbook case of spiritual abuse and my grandmother would eventually die, in part, from the guilt and shame of being part of it.

Though the views of the religious cult were abusive, manipulative, and highly destructive; they gave me my first introduction to God’s time. God’s time is not like our time. It is not time as it ticks away on a clock or watch. It is sacred time. It is heavenly time. It is time oriented around the first commandment which is to worship God alone. In the passage we read today, we are introduced to God’s time. He sets up the Day of Atonement. A single day every year where the high priest would make a special sacrifice for the sins of Israel. Listen to how Leviticus describes it again, “This is to be a perpetual statute for you. In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you must humble yourselves and do no work of any kind, both the native citizen and the foreigner who resides in your midst, for on this day atonement is to be made for you to cleanse you from all your sins; you must be clean before the Lord. It is to be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must humble yourselves. It is a perpetual statute. The priest who is anointed and ordained to act as high priest in place of his father is to make atonement. He is to put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and he is to purify the Most Holy Place, he is to purify the Meeting Tent and the altar, and he is to make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This is to be a perpetual statute for you to make atonement for the Israelites for all their sins once a year. So he did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Leviticus‬ ‭16‬:‭29‬-‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬) Incredibly enough, this day is still observed by faithful Jews all over the world. It’s called Yom Kippur. A day set aside for prayer, fasting, and confession of sins. It’s a day to remember the grace and forgiveness of God and concludes with the blowing of the shofar which signifies hope for the future.

Day of Atonement. Weekly Sabbath. Annual feasts and festivals to govern the life of Israel once they arrive in the Promised Land. These festivals serve as a regular reminder to the people that it is God on whom they depend. He is the one who provides the rain and sunshine that allows their crops to grow and their herds to flourish. The weekly Sabbath reminds us that life does not depend on us or our hard work but on the work God is doing all around us. The Day of Atonement reminds us that no matter how deep we plunge into sin, God’s grace is deeper still. As Christians, we believe the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfills the true meaning of these ancient feasts, including the Day of Atonement and the Sabbath. This is why we no longer celebrate them or offer animal or grain sacrifices. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t hold to sacred time. Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent, Pentecost, and Epiphany. These are the Christian feasts and festivals we honor and celebrate because they help us center our hearts around the life of Jesus. We do continue to keep the Sabbath holy - though it is now held on the first day of the week because of the resurrection - for Jesus is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. We continue to orient our lives around God’s time in order to remember all He has done for us.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 19-22

Holy

Readings for today: Leviticus 11-14

Holy. It’s a word that defies definition. We don’t really understand it. We can’t fully grasp it. We’ve never experienced it or seen it or touched it with our hands. At best we use words like “sacred”, “perfection”, and “righteous” as we grope after it. But it’s like the blind leading the blind in the dark. Only God is holy. Perhaps this is why we struggle to grasp what holiness is all about. It is something unique to Him. And because holiness is unique to God and because God cannot be defined, we will never be able to truly understand what holiness is all about. At the same time, we run across passages where God calls us to be holy as He is holy. How is that possible if holiness is a quality reserved for God alone? How in the world can we be holy as He is holy?

The answer, as always, is found in relationship. This is why God says, “for I am the Lord your God and you are to sanctify yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any of the swarming things that creep on the ground, for I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, and you are to be holy because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44-45 NET) Holiness is not a quality we can muster on our own. It is not a characteristic we can develop over time. Even if we were able to channel all our effort and energy and attention into being holy every single day of our lives, we would fall short. Holiness is something that comes from God alone. It flows from a deep, intimate relationship with Him. It cannot be experienced apart from Him. It is a byproduct of dwelling in God’s presence. Remember how Moses’ face lit up with the glory of God after meeting with Him? It was like a bit of God’s glory “stuck” to Moses and he had to veil his face as a result. The same is true for holiness. As we spend time with God and develop our relationship with Him, we will find His holiness beginning to stick to us.

One cannot understand the heart of today’s readings without understanding this basic principle. All the rules and regulations regarding what is clean and unclean seem arbitrary and capricious if you do not ground them in relationship to God. God is seeking to set His people apart. He wants them to live a particular way. A purified way. A sacred way. And that requires they take certain steps to keep their food and kitchens clean, maintain personal hygiene, and eliminate disease. Even the person who is “unclean” bears a responsibility to make sure he or she doesn’t contaminate the entire community. It’s why they separate themselves and live alone. It’s why they yell, “unclean” when others are around. Everyone has a share in making sure the community remains pure and holy before the Lord. I know this sounds strange to our 21st century Western ears but in ancient near east culture, the community is always prioritized over the individual. (Important Note: The text doesn’t say the community should shun or not care for the individual in need. It simply says that person should live alone. Don’t let how human beings have cruelly chosen to treat those with disease over the centuries skew your reading of the Bible.)

“Be holy as I am holy.” Thankfully, as always, Jesus Christ shows us the way. He was unafraid to dine with the unclean. Unafraid to touch women with menstrual conditions. Unafraid to touch lepers and others with disease. He was unafraid because He knew He was the conduit for His Father’s holiness. He knew God’s holiness was far more “contagious” than any mold or blood or disease. He knew as soon as people came into relationship with Him that a bit of His holiness would stick to them. And the same is true for us today. As we enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we are made holy. We become holy because He is holy and this leads to a desire to remain holy in order to honor Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 15-18

Holy and Common

Readings for today: Leviticus 8-10

“This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations…to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.” (Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Today’s reading challenges us. Two young men make a mistake as they go about their fairly new, priestly duties and die as a result. They offer “unauthorized” or “strange” or “profane” fire before the Lord and, as a result, fire breaks out from the Shekinah glory of God and consumes them. It’s a sobering reminder of what happens when the unholy comes into contact with the holy. Reminds me of the experiments we used to conduct in science class in middle and high school where certain elements would immediately burn when coming into contact with water. This is what I imagine happening as I read this passage. The two men come into God’s presence with fire that has not been consecrated and the reaction is deadly. Moses’ explanation says as much, “Among the ones close to Me I will show Myself holy, and in the presence of all the people I will be honored.’” (Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬) The point here is that coming into the presence of God is serious business. It cannot be taken lightly or treated in any kind of trivial or flippant way.

The holiness and glory of God is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it inspires awe and wonder. Reverence and fear. It brings us to our knees in humility. On the other hand, it puts us in danger for we are, by nature, unclean. We are, by nature, unholy. We are, by nature, impure. Entering into God’s presence requires a ritual of consecration so that we can stay safe and not be consumed. It requires great intentionality and attention to detail lest we pay the price for being careless about our worship. As many of the prophets will later say, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” God is, by nature, pure. He is, by nature, clean. He is, by nature, holy and though we were originally made to stand without fear in His presence, our sin corrupts us and separates us…thus our need for a Savior.

Thankfully, we no longer need to be afraid. God has done what we could not. He has sent His Son to be the pure and spotless sacrifice that makes us clean once and for all. On the cross, Jesus takes all our uncleanliness, all our impurities, all our unholiness on Himself and, in return, gives us His cleanliness, His purity, and His holiness. Now when we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Now we can come into God’s presence without fear. Now we can bask in the glory of God for we have “put on” Christ and are “covered” by Him. Furthermore, we are made a holy priesthood called to intercede for the world just as Aaron and his sons did for the people of Israel. As we come to worship each and every week, may we fix our eyes on Christ and ask the Spirit to continue to do His sanctifying, purifying work in our hearts.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Foreshadowing

Readings for today: Leviticus 5-7

From Genesis to Revelation, we see humanity rebel over and over against God. We also see God’s grace on display as He relentlessly pursues those He loves. The sacrificial system instituted by Moses in Leviticus is one movement, if you will, within a much larger play. It’s not the final movement. Rather, it points beyond itself to the climax to come when Jesus will become the Perfect, Spotless Lamb. This entire system with it’s different sacrifices and different offerings and specific instructions is given as a means to prepare God’s people for Christ. To get them ready so they will recognize Him when He appears. It’s a system designed to prepare the heart and soul for the culmination of God’s redemptive purposes.   

By reading and reflecting on Leviticus, we are reminded over and over again of the extreme penalty our sin deserves. Death seems to reign throughout this book. You can’t turn around without stumbling over the carcasses of bulls, rams, sheep, goats, and turtledoves. The sacrificial fires would have burned day and night as the people of Israel - now numbering in the hundreds of thousands - came to make their offerings. The priests must have been exhausted from all the hard work of gutting and dressing and cleaning each animal. The smell would have permeated the camp. Again, all to remind God’s people of the monumental effort it took to keep them holy before their God.  

This should only deepen our appreciation for Christ. Fully God. Fully Man. As God, He is fully able to satisfy the justice of God for all sin for all time. As Man, He is able to truly represent us. Take our place. Become our substitute. In Christ, God’s plan of redemption comes to its glorious climax! The Father making Him who knew no sin (Christ) to become sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God! (2 Cor. 5:21) Because of what He has done, no more sacrifices are required. No more blood needs to be shed. We are made holy just as He is holy! This is the glory of the gospel which the Levitical sacrifices foreshadow. 

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 8-10

Flawless

Readings for today: Leviticus 1-4

Flawless animals. Choice grain. First fruits. Burnt offerings. Grain offerings. Peace offerings. Sin offerings. What is the point of all these sacrifices? Why did God set up the sacrificial system? What’s His purpose? First and foremost, God is communicating His holiness. The entire book of Leviticus emphasizes the holiness of God. The fact that God is set apart. He is not like us. Holiness is not just moral purity. It is a state of being. A state of wholeness. Completeness. Perfection. It communicates blamelessness and integrity. To approach a holy God, Israel must be holy. But Israel is not holy as we’ve seen so she must offer a sacrifice in her place. She must present before the Lord animals that are physically perfect. The best of her crops. The first of her fruits. She must offer to God her best as a symbol of her whole-hearted devotion and desire to walk before Him.

The sacrificial system serves several purposes in addition to reflecting God’s holiness. It symbolizes Israel’s desire for purity. Her desire to be holy even as God is holy. It inspires and motivates pure worship. Whole-hearted devotion. Worship that is sincere and from the heart. It teaches reverence and obedience. As the people of Israel present themselves before the Lord year after year, engaging in all the prescribed festivals and sacrifices, they learn what it means to be God’s people. They learn what it means to surrender to His will and walk in obedience to His commands. Finally, the sacrificial system prevents any kind of corruption or dishonor. Israelites who bring inferior gifts to the Lord will find themselves rejected. Israelites who bring less than their best to the Lord will not enter His presence. Israelites who offer up whatever is left over to God will find their relationship with God growing cold and distant.

Through Jesus Christ, all the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament were fulfilled. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, the spotless and flawless Lamb of God, once and for all and brought an end to the sacrificial system. However, the meaning and purpose behind the system still remains. When we come to worship, do we understand we are entering the presence of a Holy God? A God who deserves and demands nothing less than our best? The offerings we bring are a pure heart and a right spirit. Such offerings God will never despise. If we want a rich and vibrant relationship with God, we must search our hearts continually. Confess and repent of our sins. Grow in holiness and sanctification. If we do these things, just like Israel, God will meet us in a powerful way.

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 5-7

Place

Readings for today: Exodus 37-40

A few years ago, an atheist accidentally broke Twitter when he/she posted, “Christianity is a belief that one God created a universe 13.79 billion years old, 93 billion light years in diameter (1 light year = approx 6 trillion miles), consisting of over 200 billion galaxies, each containing an average of 200 billion stars, all to have a personal relationship with you.” What they intended for snark, Christians naturally picked up and retweeted like crazy as a great description of what our faith believes. It’s truly astounding to consider. The God who created all things. The universe and all that is in it. The earth and all that is in it. The God who knit each of us together in our mother’s wombs. Who calls each star by name. Who sets the planets in motion. Who governs the universe by His Word. This same God desires to have a relationship with us. Desires to dwell with us. Desires to have a people to call His very own.

Perhaps this puts everything we’re reading into proper perspective. I know it’s easy to get lost in all the details of the tabernacle. It’s easy to wonder why God cares so much about the furnishings of the place where He will dwell. It’s tempting to project on God our own issues of greed, jealousy, envy, etc. (Why does God need all the gold and opulence?) Sometimes we even take the step of placing ourselves in judgment over God as we question His motives, doubt His intentions, and challenge His authority. But then we have to take a step back and remember who it is we are talking about. We are talking about the same God who created everything listed in that atheist’s tweet above. So perhaps His ways are higher than our ways? Perhaps His thoughts are higher than our thoughts? Perhaps He is under no obligation to explain Himself to us? Perhaps He doesn’t answer to us? Perhaps He is far above and beyond us and we should remember our place?

Philosopher Sally McFague once defined sin as a “refusal to remain in our place.” We aspire to be gods. We aspire to be like God. We refuse to stay in the role of a servant. We refuse to remain in our place as God’s instruments of blessing in this world. We want more. We want it all. We want to reign and rule and exercise our own dominion over all God has made. In our pride, we believe we should be the masters of our own destinies and the captains of our own souls. In our ignorance, we believe we have the right and the standing to challenge God on His terms. And that’s why I believe God sets up the Tabernacle. It’s why His glory descends upon it like a cloud. He wants to remind us to stay in our place. Not to put us down but to lift us up. Not to break us down but to build us up. It’s healthy for us to be reminded He is God and we are not.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. But when the cloud was lifted up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys; but if the cloud was not lifted up, then they would not journey further until the day it was lifted up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭34‬-‭38‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 1-4

Presence

Readings for today: Exodus 33-36

Aliquid Immensum Infinitumque. It’s Latin for “something immense and infinite.” It’s a way to describe how we feel when we stand at the shore of the ocean or stand on top of a mountain or look up into the night time sky and see the Milky Way. In those moments, we find ourselves getting in touch with our “smallness” and God’s “bigness.” The feelings are often overwhelming and awe-inspiring. There’s no way for us to manufacture anything quite like it. Even AI would be at a loss to depict or describe the immensity and eternity and infinity of God. There simply is no substitute for His presence.

This is the truth that gripped Moses and the people of Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It’s not enough for God to send His angels ahead of them to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. It’s not enough for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bring their descendants into a land flowing with milk and honey. If God will not go with them, then the journey isn’t worth undertaking. If God will not be with them, then all the blessings will turn to dust. So Moses sets up a tent. He prevails on God daily. He refuses to leave until God agrees to grow with them. God is testing Israel. He’s testing them to see if they truly want a relationship with Him or if they are in it just for the blessings. Do they truly love Him or are they seeking to use Him as a means to their own ends? After all, that’s what idolatry is all about. It’s an attempt to control God. Manipulate God. Coerce God into doing our will. This is why God had Moses grind the golden calf into powder. This is why God gives such stern warnings about false worship. He is a jealous God. Not jealous in a sinful way but jealous in a protective way for the relationship He has with us.

Is God’s presence enough? It’s an important question. If we never received a single blessing from God, would the promise of His presence be enough for us? What if God offered you all of your hopes and dreams, even promising His angels would go before you to make it all happen, but without His presence? Would you take it? Take some time today and reflect on your life. How much of it do you live with little to no awareness of God’s presence? What spiritual activities are you engaging in to intentionally create an awareness of God’s abiding presence in your life?

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 37-40