Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Exodus 38 - God's Worship Center

Come as you are - casual worship - music and fun are messages extended to draw the unchurched into worship in our contemporary culture. We have redefined our standards of conduct based on the times rather than on God's standards. As we move into this chapter we see that the construction of the tabernacle was based on God's design and using the best of what the people had to offer. 

I was particularly struck by the sheer vast volume of materials used. The gold alone being more than one ton would be valued at more than $29 million in today's dollars. There was more than 3 times the weight in silver and twice the weight in bronze. The people brought the best for the construction of the temple. 

Our offerings to God reflect His importance in our lives and the way we enter worship says something about our hearts. I am not making a case for formal wear to worship, but I am suggesting that entering into the presence of God to worship is a momentous occasion and we should treat it with respect and not casually. Our tithes and our offerings should reflect the best we have to offer God and not our remainder. 

There is one thing more we can bring to God is our attention. When we worship are we distracted by the activity of the service, the actions of others or by the lists of things that need to be done as soon as we get out of church?  Are we stirred in our soul by the sheer frustration of getting the family organized and ready or are we allowing God to minister to our minds and our souls in worship and applying scripture to our hearts?  Are we prepared to be still before God so He can speak or are our minds so cluttered that we cannot hear?

God set a high standard for the construction of his tabernacle. While we know God is omnipresent, we also know that He has sent His Spirit to dwell in us. Are our lives a reflection of the holiness that God desires or do we have so much clutter and outright sin that God is minimized in our lives?  

Let's challenge ourselves to give God our best today whether at work or worship so that we can make Him our focus. As others see the change in our focus they will be drawn to it as seekers of the same fellowship we enjoy. 

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