Grains of Sand

Google Images My father wore a suit for three reasons: for funerals and weddings, to donate blood (don’t ask me why), and to go to church. These events in his life were significant and special, and he treated them as such. As I was reading Exodus 28 this morning I was reminded that for God, the appearance of His priests before Him was a special event that required suitable clothing. Exodus 28:2, 3 says: “ Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, so they may serve me as priests. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so that he may serve me as priest .” In the next section of the chapter, we discover that when Aaron went in to serve the Lord he went in as a representative of the people. Consequently he literally carried them with him via a special piece of his garments: “ Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stone...

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, describes in part at least, future things. Much of that prophecy shows us a redeemed people worshiping Almighty God. They do and will continue to recognize His holiness and do as is announced in Revelation 4:8, 9 (NIV): “ Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne… ” Then, as I look back at Exodus 19, I see a similar scene. A holy God has made His throne the top of Mount Sinai. The people are instructed to approach Him in a way that recognizes His holiness. “ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, becau...

“ I will search for the lost and bring back the strays, I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, I will shepherd the flock with justice ” —Ezekiel 34:16, NIV. One of the complaints that God had against His people was directed toward those who were the spiritual leaders of the community. They had failed to care for those for whom they were responsible. Their concern had been only for themselves and their own agenda. As a result the flock had gone astray. God pronounced judgment on them and announced that He would personally be their Shepherd and look after them as He had expected that His appointed shepherds would. The sheep themselves would not escape notice for among them were those who needed to be corrected as well. They had also had a hand in leading the others astray. To be the spiritual leaders of God’s people is a fearsome responsibility. Jesus rebuked the spiritual leaders of His day in the strongest terms for lea...

“ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me! ’” —Isaiah 6:8, NIV. I finally got around to reading some books that have been calling to me from my book basket for months. I’m almost finished this one, but today’s verse is an appropriate kick-off for a recommendation to all my friends out there in cyberspace. The verse is very “missionary” and the book is very missional. After having his up-close-and-personal meeting with God, Isaiah couldn’t do anything else but align himself with God’s mission. Edited by Leonard Sweet, The Church of the Perfect Storm is a compilation of articles that calls the church to come out of hiding and face the winds of cultural change that are tearing through our world. It is a call to mission, to mount the wings of the Spirit of God and venture out to do what most delights the heart of God—be engaged in His redemptive mission. My copy of the book is underlined in all kinds...