One Year Bible passages – Exodus 26:1-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11
Secret Places
And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. – Exodus 26:33
This passage reminds me that because of the price Jesus paid on the cross, there are secret places with the Lord, available to those who seek Him.
Pure Oil
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. – Exodus 27:20
There was a pure oil that burned and brought Light that was to never go out. Oil the symbol of the Holy Ghost. God charges us to remain faithful and diligent to “keep the lamp burning.” As those who are to be reflections of His light (light-bearers), we are only able to do God’s work through the power and strength granted by the Holy Ghost, who lives within and fills them.
Stewardship
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” – Matthew 25:29
Stewardship is important to Jesus. How I handle what He’s given to me matters. The servants who stewarded well received back more and was entrusted with more. We all have a calling in our lives. You have one and I have one. What I do with my calling, my purpose, my life. What I do with my gifts matter. We have been given freedom to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; we have been given the opportunity to reflect Jesus along our way. How are we doing with that? How am I? it matters to the Master.
Hesed
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; – Psalms 31:7
David rejoiced in God’s lovingkindness. His Hesed. He has joy because he knows that God has seen his affliction and has known his troubles. God knows our troubles too. Not only because He knows all things, but because He came to earth as a man and lived and endured all the things we endure. He suffered loneliness, rejection, pain, sickness, hunger, abuse, torture, and even death. He experienced the utter sorrow of being cut off from God’s love. But these things happened so that we would have a perfect High Priest who understood our sufferings. Those sufferings brought us to God, that we may live with Him eternally.
Wisdom
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. – Proverbs 8:11
I can desire many things – houses, land, relationships, riches, gifts, easy life, peace. But the best thing I can ever desire is WISDOM. The Word tells me here that nothing compares to it.
Father, I come before You today, so thankful for all that You have given to me. Thank You for Your Hesed that sent Your perfect Son, Jesus, into this world to pay a price I could not pay for my sins. Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for Your Instruction through Your Word. You said if we lacked wisdom to ask for it. Lord, I ask for more wisdom that I may live in holiness and that I may be able to go into the secret places You have set aside for those that seek You with their whole hearts. Thank You, Lord, that if I steward the things You have given – prayer, study of Your Word, obedience to Your voice, yield to Your Holy Ghost, love for Your Son…that more will be given. Father, if You never gave me another thing, You have given me LIFE, and I am so grateful, and I love You so much. Thank You for always meeting me here as I seek You more and more. Increase my desire for Your Word and all Your ways. Help me to avoid temptations that may throw me off of Your perfect path for me. Help me to bear Your Light faithfully today and that Your reflection through my life will touch someone. I ask this all in Jesus’ holy and precious Name. Amen! Amen!
a lamp and a light 