Focus

Take a few minutes to push the “pause” button on whatever is going on around you and be still with God.

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Read

Exodus 40:16-38 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.  In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up.  Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark; and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain, and set the bread in order on it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses.  He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the curtain, and offered fragrant incense on it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also put in place the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. He set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering as the Lord had commanded Moses. He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed; as the Lord had commanded Moses.  He set up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and put up the screen at the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.

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Reflect

Have you ever been to an event that wowed you? I have been to birthday parties that were a cake and a few balloons and I have been to birthday parties that were formal events with big fancy decorations and multiple course meals. Both were completely different, yet both set the feel for the event. After all, a birthday without a cake is just another day.

In this scripture we see so much work going into setting up this place of worship. I can only imagine how tired Moses must have been. I wonder if, at some point, he didn’t see a finish line and wanted to give up all of the heavy moving?

Sometimes I don’t see the finish line it what God is telling me to do. I get halfway through (or don’t even start) and say what Is the point and give up. Then, I read this scripture to the end and see that the Glory or the Lord filled the tabernacle. Could that still have happened if Moses had not put in so much work? Probably. But would it have set the environment and made Moses appreciate God showing up as much? I’m positive that answer is no. Let’s go out and put in the extra work where God calls us and then enjoy the excitement when God shows up.

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Pray

Lord, I know that I spend a lot of time doing things that are not as important as looking for you in my life. Help me to see where I need to put my time into so that you will have a place to show up. Amen.

Go with God!