| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “The awesome reality of the presence of God” Our verse for today: “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Did you notice?” I’m really loving my new study Bible for 2023. It’s “The Experiencing God Study Bible: Knowing and Doing the Will of God”. I intended to begin on January 1st, but I was so eager to get at it that I’ve been into it for a month already. Probably the most helpful feature of this study Bible is that every chapter begins with a sidebar entitled, “Prepare to meet God”. That sidebar then lists several key points you should be looking for as you read the chapter. Then at the end of every chapter there’s another sidebar entitled “Did you notice?”, which directs your attention back to some things you should have seen in the chapter. It’s deeply insightful and I find myself mulling over the points, taking notes, and journaling my thoughts about it. In Exodus chapter twenty-five we’re reading God’s instructions to the Israelites about how they were to construct and furnish the temple. What’s notable is the extraordinary detail God gave outlining the conditions under which He would abide with and interact with His people. For them, it was complicated, limited, and restricted. It was still more revelation of the presence of God than had ever been given to any group of people at any other time in history up until then, but still, it was labor-intensive and limited. It’s much easier for us today. For us God manifest His presence in nature (Romans 1:19-20); and through the Bible (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17); and through the physical incarnation of Jesus (John 1:14, John 10:30, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 4:14); and through the presence of His Holy Spirit living in the hearts of the followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The truth is that God has gone to extraordinary lengths to be with us and to make Himself known to us. As we’ve been learning all month, God wants to be known and understood by His people. But do we notice? Are we paying attention? Do we see God when He shows Himself to us? Do we hear Him when He speaks? And if not, why not? We’ll think more about this tomorrow but for this morning, as we’re considering the great truth that God is with us, and He shows Himself to us, and He speaks to us, I’ll challenge you with the same words Henry Blackaby repeats all throughout his study Bible, “Did you notice”? God bless, Pastor Jim |
| Copyright © 2022 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. |
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 