Day 3

Today's readings were from Psalm 84, Exodus 29, Nehemiah 10 and 1 Corinthians 2. Here are my notes.

Psalm 84

Psalm 84 - We sing the song Better Is One Day, on a pretty regular basis in our church. It's a song that is based upon Psalm 84. Until today, (even though I'm sure I've sung Better Is One Day) at least 100 times in my life, I didn't realize that the song was based upon a Psalm that celebrates a pilgrimage to visit the temple in Jerusalem.

What an awesome sight it must have been to a pilgrim to finally see Jerusalem's temple. I'm not sure that there has ever been a more magnificent building on the planet, for Jerusalem's temple was designed by God, and was the place where His glory dwelt.

Exodus 29

Ex. 29:18, 25, 41 - "a pleasing aroma . . . to the Lord." There is something beautiful about the sacrifices that the Children of Israel made to the Lord. God speaks of these sacrifices being a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Their worship, their obedience, was a pleasing aroma in the nostrils of God. From the throne room of Heaven, God declared such offerings to be pleasing to Him.

Our worship should be a pleasing aroma to God too. What does God see when we worship? There was great care taken in the preparation of the priests' garments, the offerings of the priests and the offerings of the people. They wanted to go before God on His terms, not theirs. They recognized the holiness of God. May we do the same.

Ex. 29: 45-46 - "I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God." Recognize that this is God speaking to the Children of Israel. He was choosing to dwell with them. He was voluntarily making His dwelling, amongst the Children of Israel. He had chosen them. And, He would do great things in and through them.

Those of us who are followers of Christ have God dwelling within us too. Does your life reflect someone who has the Spirit of God dwelling within you? Or, does your life say something completely different? May God have the reigns of your life, and may the world see Him working in and through you!


Nehemiah 10

Neh. 10 - This entire chapter is a bit like a congregational meeting. There are many people who seal the covenant between the people and God and then agree to abide by the covenant. I'm struck with just how serious the people took their covenant and with the sacrifice that they were willing to pay personally to make sure that the activities of the temple could take place. The chapter ends with these words in verse 39, "We will not neglect the house of our God.” May we follow their example in our own houses of worship!

1 Corinthians 2

1 Cor. 2:2 My grandfather was a pastor for many years. He was thrilled when I told him that I felt like God was calling me to become a pastor. He was also full of advice. One thing Grandpa told me that I'll never forget is, "Brian, make much of Jesus! Make much of Jesus in your preaching! Make much of Jesus in your life. Make much of Jesus!" It's essentially what the Apostle Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 2:2 when he wrote, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

1 Cor. 2:16 "'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." This entire chapter talks about the mind of Christ and God's wisdom. Those of us who are followers of Jesus have the wisdom that comes from the Spirit of God. What a gift! May you seek His wisdom today!