41st Week Exodus Chapters 20-24 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

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Click on Title for Video Intro
Monday, Exodus Chapter 20
Exodus 20
Verse 20
Matt Strayer
June 4, 2008

Verse 20:  Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to testbasic law, God then told Moses how to apply it to specific situations so that everybody would receive equal justice.  God is concerned about every part of His creation, and He has the right to tell us how to manage it.  The Law did not change people’s hearts, but it did help to control their conduct and give order to the nation. 

 you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

THOUGHT
I chose this verse to clarify my devotion from yesterday. I may have stated a few things the wrong way based on the way that I interpreted the scripture. Moses said to the people “Do not be afraid . . . the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” I just wanted to restate that God doesn’t try to scare us into following Him. We need to follow Him out of the love in our hearts. I feel that this “fear” is more like respect or having reverence. The thunder and lightning were probably a way just to show the people He was God and to get their attention.  God never intended on scaring His people into following Him or listening to Him. And it should be that way for us in the midst of our storms in life. God is not trying to make us fearful, but our attitude will bring us closer to Him if we so desire. It’s our choice to turn to Him and to tap into His power in these times.

In closing I heard a great message yesterday from my good buddy Charles Swindoll regarding the commands that come from the Bible. He stated something to the effect that God gave us 10 commands; Micah gave us three (act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly), and Jesus gave us the final two (love your God and love your neighbor). It’s obvious we are to love God, but Jesus said it is just as important to love our neighbor. This is true because we are all created in God’s image. Christianity is the only religion in which this is true. It places an incredible value on human life and makes our faith real. This just really spoke to me, and I wanted to share.

PRAYER
Dear God, we ask that You help each one of us follow Your commands out of respect for You, not because of being afraid to do so. Thank You for giving us the Bible to show us the words that God, the prophets and Jesus said to allow us to live in accordance with Your will. We love You and respectfully fear You.  We pray this in Jesus Name.  AMEN



Tuesday, Exodus Chapter 21
Exodus 21
Bart Strayer
June 10, 2008

THOUGHT
What is that Moses up to now?

I love all of the laws in Chapter 21. Can you image a world without absolute law? What a screwed up mess that would be. God loves His people so much, He gave them boundaries. The best way to show your children that you love them is through boundary and discipline. If you want to show your kids you don’t give a hoot about them, just don’t set rules or follow any structure. (I would just advise putting some money away now so you can afford to bail them out of jail later.) 

I don’t understand why at times people don’t like to accept that God disciplines His children. What kind of loving parent is that? It makes our God seem like a pushover, wienie parent. “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.” How are you supposed to stand on that? It is my prayer that God would love me enough to set boundaries in my life and hold me accountable.

PRAYER
Lord, we know that Your love is unconditional.  Help us accept ALL Your love, even when what we need is some guidance. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Wednesday, Exodus Chapter 22
Exodus 22
Bart Strayer
June 11, 2008

THOUGHT
Chapter 22 is more commands from God.  God had certain demands for his people, and He expected them to follow. I got to thinking about how well I follow God’s commands at times. Am I obedient? If not, why?  I would say that I don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God.  I just simply don’t always listen to Him. God has given His commands to me, but at times I pay no attention to them, not because of willful disobedience, but because I do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  John 14:15.  At times I find myself more willing to listen to one of my brothers or sisters than to God. 

Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we either have to listen and do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. With commands from family and friends, obedience is optional.  However, once I do hear Him and follow, the humiliation I experience returns me to God with fierce apologies. Even though I had the option of failure, God never has and never will.

PRAYER
Lord, we fail You at times, and we apologize. We thank You for Your unending love for Your people. Forgive us as we fall short. Use hardships in our life to bring people to You. AMEN

Thursday, Exodus Chapter 23
Exodus 23
Verse 2
Bart Strayer
June 12, 2008

Verse 2:  Don’t follow the crowd in doing wrong in false testimony to pervert justice. 

THOUGHT
It’s so easy to do stuff because everyone else is doing it without first casting judgment as to its correctness. It is easy to fall victim to the world and its ways without regard to God and His law. We have to beware of the devil and his ability to catch us off guard with things that the world is doing that  is not pleasing to God. That is why staying in God’s Word is so important. We must stay disciplined in our reading and relationship with God so our ears may be in tune with God’s call to moral exactitude.

PRAYER
Lord, help us understand more of You. As we read and study Your Word, help us understand what You expect of us. Guide and protect us over the next week as we travel. Guide our hearts as we come together as a family. Help us to build each other up for Your glory. AMEN



Friday, Exodus Chapter 24
Exodus 24
Verses 9-11
Delores Little
June 23, 2008

Verse 9-11:  Moses and Aaron, Nadab, & Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was something like pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise His hand against these leaders of Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

THOUGHT 
The Covenant is confirmed, and 70 elders went with Moses, as well as Aaron, Nadab and Abihu.  They built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up 12 stones for the 12 tribes of Israel.  They offered burnt offerings and a fellowship offering to the Lord. We do that every day when we confess our sins and bring our prayers to God and lay them on the altar of God. This was done for our Lord before Jesus came for us here on earth.  

In Rev. 8:3-4:  Another angel, who had a golden censer came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and Christ’s blood has done it for us. Every day I pray His blood over me as His blood paid the price for us to come before Him daily.  They did not see God in the fullness of His glory; because we can read in the Word even Moses though he talked with God, never saw His face.  At the end of this chapter we see Moses spending 40 days and 40 nights on the mountain with the glory of the Lord, like a consuming fire.

As I read this chapter, I realize how important it is to obey and stay close to Him daily.  I got to go to North Platte this week end and see my 15 year old great granddaughter play in the softball play off. They won 3 games out of 5.   Out of all the teams there, theirs won the good sportsmanship award. What I noticed was these teams play really great ball, and it was nice to see. I have seen parents say and put kids down at games, but this was not done at this game. 

Well, this chapter is one in Exodus that the team seems to be doing great for once.  We will find out that it doesn’t last.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we don’t center in on You as we should, and help us daily to do Your will and not ours. We need You for this, Father. Bless all the Salt Shakers. Bless our nation. In Jesus Name. AMEN

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