10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
Recently in the office, we were discussing ways of praying. If posture of prayer - whether sitting, standing, or kneeling - is inconsequential, does that mean it is ok to pray to God with my feet prop up on the table? And in some ways, that question reflects the casual attitude towards God that has pervaded the church today.
God in Exodus 19:10-13 remind us that communing with Him is serious business, not to be taken flippantly. And it’s no less serious in the glorious days of the new covenant in which we dwell in now, than it was in Sinai. Confidence in approaching the throne of God through Jesus' merits (Hebrews 10:19 ), is no excuse for a sloppy, disrespectful encounter with the Master of the Universe.
A.W. Tozer writes, "No one can know the true grace of God who has not first known the fear of God." So put down your feet!
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 April 2012 15:54
Matthew 4:1-11 Satan tempts Jesus
Written by JTPP
Thursday, 26 April 2012 13:47
The fact that Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil is a very revealing fact that we too often will find ourselves in the wilderness lure and ensnare by the various schemes and temptation of the tempter to shake our faith and to derail us from our onward journey toward perfection in Christ.
From this passage, the three basic strategy of the tempter is to aim at our needs. Our basis need to fulfill our physical satisfaction, it could be our need to fulfill our hunger for the basis essential of our well being or it could be our hunger to fulfill the lust of our desires or it could be our hunger to quest for power and recognition.
Once again, we can look to our Lord Jesus and learn from Him. In His weakest moment; after a forty day fast, I could imagine how food is so essential at that moment for His physical well being. When Jesus was challenge, He did not succumb to the bait of the tempter. How often when we want to meet our end need, we would be lured to believe in the temptation of the tempter that we could turn what is stone into bread that will meet our need. Is it going to be easy to put our faith in the Word of God when our stomach is empty and our need is desperate? Definitely not! But it is precisely what faith in Him is called for. And the word that proceeds from the mouth of God shall be the strong foundation that will help us stand and hold on to. And the word of God proceeds from Him carried in His breath, as we put our faith and trust in Him, we shall see and not doubt the leading of His Spirit in our situation. Indeed how our faith and trust in Him is made strong if we continue to hunger for His Word; the bread that feeds and satisfies our whole beings.
Prayer: Abba Father, help us to draw near to You in Your words that has been given to us. Grant us that desire that could only be satisfied in You. Have mercy on us Lord for many a time we had neglected to come to You, to seek You and draw strength in the treasure of Your words. Thank You, Lord.
