SCRIPTURE: Exodus 25
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
The actual word for “his dwelling among us” is ‘tabernacled’.
The tabernacle was a symbol of God living among us.
Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of God living with us.
“The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood” [John 1:14, The Message]. Continue reading tenting with God

I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard,
I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke no word.
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn’t mind.
I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He’d be near you at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings and friends to share along the way.

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 24
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. [Luke 9:29-31]
Jesus has a similar mountaintop experience as Moses, but there is something greater about Jesus.
Moses spent time with God, and his face glowed as a result [Exodus 34:33-35].
Elijah was caught up to heaven by glorious chariots of fire [2 Kings 2:11].
Now they appear with Jesus, also in the “consuming fire” of God.
But God endorses Jesus, not Moses or Elijah: this is My Son, listen to Him! Continue reading glowing with God

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 23
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ [Matthew 17:5]
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to send His angel along the way and to bring His people to the place He has prepared.
He is cloud that goes ahead of them, the cloud that protects them from the Egyptians [Exodus 13:21-22, 14:19-20]. Continue reading listen to Jesus!

The Jesus life is another way of saying the ethic by which Jesus lived.
The character and morality that shaped and directed His daily decisions and actions.
Jesus words in Matthew 5-7 not only describe how we are to live, but how He lived – the Jesus life.
This ethic is described elsewhere in the bible, including 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12-14, and especially Romans 12:9-21.
The way Jesus lived is an expression of the good news, it is God’s grace in action.
It is through Jesus humility, patience, kindness, generosity, etc. that we are saved (see Philippians 2:1-11).
In addition, the Jesus life is not only HOW we are saved, it is WHAT we are saved for.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
Obviously this life is too hard for us to follow by ourselves, but with God’s grace (assuring us of forgiveness for our flawed efforts) and with God’s help (assisting us by His Spirit to improve and magnify our flawed efforts), we do our best.
The Lord is not concerned with those who try and fail, but with those who fail to try at all.
From beginning to end, the Jesus life is a gift of grace – He lived it for us, He lives it with us!
Knowing that I am sinful, knowing that I am forgiven and accepted by grace, I strive with all my might and His to live the Jesus life, confident in Him and not in myself.
I do my best to be patient, I make every effort to be more forgiving, I resolve to be more generous or kind… but I do all this fully aware of how flawed my attempts are.
I place my flawed and imperfect attempts into His hands, and trust that He will use them for greater results than I could have done on my own.
This is what Paul is getting at when he says: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
The Jesus life is good news for me, but it can also be good news for others through me.
Will I allow the grace of God which saved me to work through me to others?
Will I strive with His grace and help to live the Jesus life – to be more loving, forgiving, merciful, patient, kind, etc.?

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 22
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [Matthew 5:18]
Jesus fulfills the law. He brings it to its proper conclusion. He satisfies it’s demands.
He represents all that it is pointing to. He brings us into the new era.
In His words on the cross, He declares, it is accomplished! Continue reading the law fulfilled

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 21
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
‘Why then’” they asked, ‘did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’ Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. [Matthew 19:7-8]
Confession time, there are some laws here that really bother me. Continue reading Jesus greater than the law

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22:37-40] 
What do we learn about God and life from the 10 commandments?
That loving God and people is the heartbeat of God’s creation. Continue reading the tender commitments

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison
Not only is this true for all human beings, this is especially true for Jesus followers.
If we all did the things we are capable of doing in Christ, we would literally astound the world.
By myself I am able to do some things, but I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
What does this mean practically?
For me it means that I am underachieving, that I’ve set my goals and expectations to low.
As William Carey said, “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God!”
May my dreams be God-sized this year, and may He do great things through me!
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2009)
The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. (Exodus 19:9).
What a dramatic moment, God allows a select group of people to see His glory from a distance.
Afiery cloud, thunder, earth shaking, the people knew they were in the presence of God.
And Moses is in the middle of it, backed by this divine glory and power… “we better listen to him!” Continue reading glory and grace!