29 April 2020 ESOCS Daily Devotional
TEXT: EXODUS 40:17-38
MEMORY VERSE
“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34
Israel’s deliverance and redemption from the bondage in Egypt and the need for the presence of God among them all through their journeys to Canaan was symbolic. They needed God’s presence to guide them through the routes they needed to take. They needed God’s protection against all the enemy nations that rose up to make war against them on their journey. God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle with specifications and the glory of God descended on the tabernacle, and dwelled among them day and night. The Bible records that “Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up”(Exodus 40:36-37).
Like the Israelites, God delivered us from bondage of sin and the dominion of the kingdom of darkness. The Bible says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy”(1Peter 2:9-10). However, we need His presence in our life while we are on our pilgrim’s journey to heaven. On the route to heaven, we have an enemy who is our adversary and an array of his army and distractions that are always ready to ambush us, make us derail, and destroy us(1Peter 5:8).
But before God will dwell with us as individuals, we must build Him a tabernacle in our heart, and our life. As a church, we also need to build a tabernacle for Him, if we want Him to dwell amongst us. The tabernacle we need to build is not physical but spiritual. Like the physical tabernacle in the time of Moses, it has specifications; and we should fulfill them because they are His standards.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS daily devotional here
Among the many, we should have a clean heart and hands that are not stained with evil. We should possess godly discipline, integrity, uprightness, humility, gentleness, kind-heartedness, hospitality, and have perfect hatred for sin and satan. Our life should be a testimony of godliness and righteous living. We should be like Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. We should have true passion for the things of God. We should live the life of the saints, and have in us the identity of Christ. We should conduct ourselves in such a manner that God would not be ashamed to be called our God.
When we build all these qualities in us, whether as individuals or a Church, God would come to us and dwell in us, and among us. His Shekinah glory would be our heritage. He would guide our steps by His Holy Spirit. At the end of our sojourn on earth, we would enter His Paradise in heaven. There with With Lord Jesus Christ and His Angels, we shall rejoice forever more.
Let us think on these things and do what is appropriate and meaningful. God is looking for people that are willing to build Him a tabernacle in their life, and as a Church. Let us be in that number.
CHALLENGES
√ In what ways are you going to build a tabernacle for God in your life?
PRAYER POINT
√ Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you continually.
FURTHER READING
√ Exodus 40:1-16; 2Corinthians 11:1-33
