Live to Honor God

Clothes of Honor

The Bible speaks of several ways that God chooses to honor us.  Let me share one of those ways with you.  In Exodus, God describes to Moses a way to honor Aaron’s sons.  I believe there is a message for us in this passage.

Exodus 28:40-41  “Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them dignity and honor.  After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.”

In the verses prior to these, God tells more details about these garments and the garments for Aaron.  He says they are to be of fine linen and the work of an embroider.  God wants these garments to convey the honor and dignity of their position as priests.   People would see Aaron and his sons and recognize them by the garments they wore and give them honor and respect because of who they were—they were God’s priests.

God has given us garments of honor as well.

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10

God honors us with the garments of salvation.  Did you notice what Isaiah says about a bridegroom adorning his head like a priest.  Isaiah is talking about the same garments of honor that were mentioned in the verses from Exodus earlier.  God chooses to honor us with the clothes of salvation.

In Romans 13:14, Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the salvation of God and the only way to wear the salvation God offers is through Jesus.  When you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior you put on the garments of salvation and the clothes of honor God offers.  God wants to honor you and when you receive his gift of salvation he is honored in your life.

May you be blessed today as you wear the robe of righteousness and the garments of salvation.

Tim

Witnesses

In chapter 3 of the book of Acts, Peter is speaking to the crowd that is gathered about Jesus.  In verse 15 he says, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.  We are witnesses of this.” 

I want to share with you about being witnesses.  In my life as a Christian I have witnessed many things that God has done.  I have seen people healed when the doctors had said nothing could be done.  I have seen many lives changed through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I have felt the Spirit of God move in my life in many different ways.  There is no doubt I have witnessed God’s work over and over again.  I rejoice in this fact and I look forward to what God will do in the future. 

There is more to being a witness than just seeing, feeling, or experiencing something.  A witness has to be wiling to share what they saw with others.  In the verse above Peter is sharing what he saw and knows to be true with others who did not see or do not know.  When I first remember hearing about someone witnessing to someone else about Jesus I was very young and wasn’t quite sure what they were doing.  Witnessing seemed like trying to convince someone they should be saved.  And in fact, there is some truth to that, but I believe it is more basic than that.  Witnessing is simply sharing what I have experienced or what I know. 

I believe God calls us to be faithful witnesses to what He has done in our lives.  This doesn’t mean I am responsible for convincing someone to believe in Jesus.  My role is to share what God has done in me and for me.  God will take care of the rest.  It is like planting seeds.  There is no guarantee that every seed planted will grow and reach it’s full potential.  That is God’s business—He is the Lord of the Harvest.  I am to plant a seed or, maybe, water it or, possibly do some weeding around it as needed but only God can make it grow. 

When I share what God has done in my life I might be planting a seed or I might be watering a seed that was planted previously by reinforcing what God is doing in their lives.  Or, I might be used by the Holy Spirit to do some weeding in the person’s life by answering some questions they have about the Christian life.  I might not talk with them at all but merely live a life that reflects Jesus in the word and my silent witness may be used by the Holy Spirit in a way I could never even imagine.

Being a witness involves doing something.  Not just anything but doing the things God leads you to do.  God wants you to be yourself—the person He is forging you to be.  He will lead you to do and say the things He wants.  Your job is to listen and be obedient when He tells you what to do. God may lead you to do something simple or He may lead you to study diligently to prepare for a specific encounter.  God may lead you to be a witness to people around you numerous times in a day by simply giving Him credit for your good mood—“God is good.”

Like Peter, we are witnesses to what God has done in our lives.  Peter saw the risen Lord and walked with him and spent time with him before he ascended into heaven.  I have witnessed Jesus in other ways but my call to be a witness is the same as Peter’s.

May you be blessed as you live your life, a testimony to what God has done in you.

Tim

Today

Today by Brian Doerksen

This is a great song.  I have found a lot of encouragement in the lyrics in the last few years.Of course the words are based on the verse in Joshua:

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

This song is a good reminder that we need to choose whom we will serve.  There are so many things in this world that will try to distract us from God.  I have found it helpful to renew my commitment frequently.  The phrase, “today, I choose, to follow you,” is a great reminder for me to renew my dedication to Jesus, every day.  I have learned that I am easily distracted and need the reminder. 

Blessings to you in Jesus name.

Tim

Sanctification – Daily Washing

I was reading in a book about the Tabernacle this morning in my devotion time.  The book was talking about the Laver in the court of the Tabernacle and it’s significance and symbolism for us as Christians.  It was fascinating.  Let me share my summary.

Previously I read about the Brazen Altar where the sacrifice for sin was offered to God.  The Brazen Altar is about justification.  Regardless of my sin I am declared righteous because of the sacrifice made on the altar.  We do not have to continuously offer sacrifices on the the altar since Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice that pays the price for all of our sins, forever.  I am justified through accepting what Jesus did for me. 

Today, I read about the Laver which is a large pool of water fashioned out of brass.  The pool was used for washing by the priests before they entered the Tent of Meeting.  The daily washing before entering the Tent of Meeting symbolizes the daily cleansing we need for the ongoing sins in our life before entering the presence of God.  The book I read from this morning speaks of this daily washing as symbolic of sanctification for Christians.  By daily acknowledging and seeking forgiveness for sin we move one step closer to the intimate relationship we desire with God and that God desires with us.  Along with this closer intimacy is a stronger sense of God’s purpose in our lives. I believe this is a natural part of intimacy with God—understanding more and more of God’s will and purpose for us His children.  As we enter God’s presence day after day we begin to be more and more like God (more like Jesus) and this is the essence of sanctification.

The Bible tells us brass mirrors were used in the making of the Laver and I have read this caused the priests to look at themselves as they washed.  As we seek closer intimacy with God we need to look honestly at ourselves and acknowledge the sins we commit and wash them away through the forgiveness found in Jesus’ blood. 

Today, draw nearer to God—wash clean any sin in your life in God’s pool of forgiveness and enjoy His presence as you become more and more like Jesus.

Tim