ODJ: cleansing
They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord—or they will die! (v.20).
READ: Exodus 30:17-21
Every 12 years, millions of Hindus flock to Allahabad, India, to take a dip in the Ganges River. Scores get hurt as bathers rush to the water. The solution: purification by proxy. A popular Web site, webdunia.com, offers virtual cleansing. “Pilgrims” who want to avoid crowds, chaos, and travel costs can send a passport-size photo to the site, which then provides virtual absolution.
The Old Testament priests who ministered at the Tabernacle couldn’t cleanse themselves by proxy or through a dot.com company. They had to physically wash at the bronze laver or basin, which was positioned between the altar and the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:8-19).
The priests were required to cleanse themselves by washing their hands and feet. Only then would they be holy and prepared to minister before the Lord and the people. The laver was made of polished bronze (38:8), so the priest could see his reflection in it. This helped him make sure that he had washed away all the blood and dirt. More than likely, the priests washed off the blood that was on their hands and feet from sacrificing at the altar, along with dirt they had picked up from walking from the Tent of Meeting to minister at the altar.
The priests washing at the basin symbolized the removal of ceremonial uncleanness and provided the means to holiness that was required. Like the priests, every Christian should be characterized by holiness. Self-reflection before God helps us to grow in it. For we are cleansed by God through being washed at the laver of the Word (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26), confessing our sins to Him (1 John 1:9), confessing our sins to one another (James 5:16), and turning from anything that is contrary to God and His commands (Proverbs 28:13). —Marvin Williams
In the last week, as you ministered before God and people, were you clean or dirty? Why? From what sin(s) do you need to be cleansed today?
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Loading ...Why Lord?
By Benedict, 19, Singapore
“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You;
A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Remove Your gaze from me, that I may
Regain strength,
Before I go away and am no more.”
—Psalms 39:12-13
We, like David, often seem to be in a spiritual turmoil. On one hand, we feel estranged from God and yet on the other hand, we feel that God is too close for comfort.
Why do we feel estranged from a loving God? Is it because our God distances Himself from us? More often than not, as we search ourselves, we would discover that it is not due to proximity but because we don’t understand God’s ways, or at least not sufficiently enough to make us comfortable. God is always Emmanuel (“God with us”), but He is not a God who thinks like us. We just can’t grasp the higher ways of God. Whenever we can, that is God’s grace.
And when God disciplines us, we would rather that He “remove (His) gaze from (us).” He is too close for comfort. We like status quo because change is uncomfortable. We like to remain in our comfort zone because sanctification is painful.
I personally had days when “why” was the main conversation-word between me and God. I feel that God should have spoken by now and changed the landscape of my circumstance and yet He is deafeningly silent about the trials and tribulations He has allowed in my life. I feel His “gaze” (which burns me, sometimes, because He is ultimately the refining fire) upon me. How do I deal with these feelings?
The answer? David gave it in verse 7. He asks, “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?” And he replies, “My hope is in You.”
We ask “why” because we feel anxious or even hopeless about the outcomes of our situations, so much so that we might wonder if God’s good purpose for us is being fulfilled through them. And yet, when you and I can’t comprehend the good will of God, we could still make Him our hope—our sure expectation of good. Because, God equals good.
He will never disappoint.
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July 21, 2010
READ: John 1:10-18
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:14
When my kids were young, I thought they would be impressed with what few accomplishments I may have had—that they would read my books and be impressed by my speaking engagements. But then I discovered that they hadn’t read any of my books and had no idea where I had been on a speaking gig. When my oldest son finally read one of my books, he told me that the only reason he read it was so that I would stop telling people that my children have never read my books!
Let’s face it—for the most part, kids are not impressed with our accomplishments. So the only way to bridge the gap is to meet them where they are, to get into their world—like getting into a game of Chutes and Ladders or playing catch in the backyard.
Jesus did this with us. John said of Jesus, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). In other words, He stooped down to our level when He came to this earth, which led to His greatest accomplishment of all: bridging the gap between His world and ours once and for all. Only then could we begin to understand how worthy He is of our utmost adoration and praise! —Joe Stowell
Jesus bridged the gap between the infinite God and finite man.
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