Robert S.’s Journal

Salt. Common to those of us who live in developed cuntries. In fact, it is too common is all our processed foods. But salt, that enhancer of favours and preserver of foods, was once a precious item. In fact it was often used as currency. Again, the Children of Israel are reminded that things offered back to God are to be first rate, the best because He is the best. They are not to skimp on their offerings and in return God does not skimp on anything that He provides. So how does that affect me, today. We are to be the salt of the earth but That can only happen when we have the protector / preserver within us, the Holy Spirit. He enhances all the things we do, when we allow (add) Him to the mix. When we cannot seem to find the words to talk to God, the Spirit reads and knows are hearts and He present our petitions to God through Christ.

Atonement.. I have heard it said that this means you will again be at one with God. But if you look deeper, you can see that you must in a sense be one with the offering. Yow need to see that the death and burning of the cow or goat or turtle dove, etc is not because God's desire to see blodd but it is because YOU messed up and this animal is paying the price. The you mess up again and you need another sacrifice. If we lived under that system now, Would you be conscious of the gallons, the barrels of blodd that would be shed because of your little sins? We need to really thank the gracious and merciful God that made another provision, teh Lord Jesus Christ.

Moses covered the ark of the covenant as one of the first things. Then he erectd the tabernacle and anointed it and everything in it. Lastly he did the items that were outside the tabernacle proper. An order that showed the people that sanctity came from within, from God. But Moses obvioulsy did not anoint the ark because it was covered. The place where God was to "come" and be with the people, did not be to be anointed because His presence made it holy. And that is true today. We are holy if the Holy Spirit "dwells" in us because He is holy.

What a wonderful testament to those women who served God. Despite the fact that all the work in the tabernacle was male oriented, there was servicw ro bw done by God's women. And they wre commited enough to give up what every women desired a mirrior. Nor easy to come by and precious, but they gave them up to God, who His tabernacle.

Although there is a time to delegate, if you are in charge then you shoud undertake the really important work. This is true in doing the things the are directly affecting the Lord's people but are also true in the things that may not be seen as "important". It is interesting that He did the best work, and after teh dedication, only one person ever saw it each year. That was the High Priest. Bezalel di his work as unto the Lord.

When the Lord's people are behind a work, they can overwhelm it with the blessings that they received from the Lord. After all, before they left Egypt, they were slaves. But God made the Egyptians show favour on them in their departure and the Egyptians showered them with precious items. Now they have an abundance for the Lord's work. Give generously of what the Lord provides for you.

The way of God is to not only give us His word but to give the ability to teach others about Him and His Word

The second part of this verse is perhaps one of the mainstays of my worship of God. Do not come to God empty handed. Even when you are seeking Him with a request or petition, do not go empty handed. We are to come into His presence with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We are to come with praise on our lips and thankgiving in our hearts. We are to come with something to give back to Him, who gave us life and breath and all good things, including eternal life.

What distinguishes God's people from all the people of the earth. It is the presence of God within each. It is not just the presence deep within us but the overflowing abundance of the Holy Spirit. We can have a little area where we confine the Spirit, while we play in the world. It is like a small candle in a smoked in lamp chimney with a barely flickering light. But we let the Spirit fill us, He helps to polish the lenses and the glass. Suddenly, we are the lighthouse that none can ignore. His Presence provides His fruit and this fruit is like no other on earth.

This is a dire warning to all who sin because they sin against God. All sin! And all sin is against God. We are to be blotted out of the book. How extremely wonderful it is to know that there is the Lamb's Book of Life. Those blessed enough to be written in that book will never be blotted out and their punishment has been paid for by Christ. Choose you this day ... life or death!