Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 23, 2022

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy …”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 32:11-24.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2032&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“It came about, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing;  and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain.  He took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?”  Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn;  you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.  For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us;  for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’  I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’  So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”   Exodus 32:19-24. 

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Let us compare what Aaron, Moses, and the LORD said about the sons of Israel and meditate on how it also applies to the natural condition of all peoples.

Aaron said:  “…  you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.”  Verse 22.

Moses said:  “Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness;  from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.  Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.”  Deuteronomy 9:7-8. 

“The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.  Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them;  and I will make of you a great nation.”  Exodus 32:9-10.

The sons of Israel had every advantage.  They were recipients of God’s many spectacular miracles in God bringing them out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand.  God thoroughly and patiently taught them His Law even writing the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone.  God was visibly present among them and led them with signs and wonders.  “The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.  He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”  Exodus 13:21-22.

And yet, Israel was obstinate, rebellious, and prone to evil.  Without those blessings, do we think that other peoples are better?

What does Scripture state?

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.

In our natural condition, we all are “dead” in sin.  Ephesians 2:1-5.  We are hostile to God.  Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21.  We are in bondage to sin.  Romans 7:14-15.

Reformed Doctrine labels this natural condition of all people as “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism.

But, there is hope!

God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:3-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 22, 2022

“He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 32:5-10.

“Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it;  and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”  So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings;  and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.  They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’”  The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.  Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them;  and I will make of you a great nation.”  Exodus 32:5-10.

——————–

“Do not be idolaters, as some of them were;  as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”  1 Corinthians 10:7.

“God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.” Psalm 7:11.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.” Psalm 5:4-5.

But, there is hope!

“Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’?  Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people.  Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”  So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.”  Exodus 32:11-14.

Like Moses, we can intercede by our prayers for others.  

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  James 5:16. 

Moses’ intercession also points us to the Holy Spirit and Christ Who intercede for us.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27.

“…  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:34.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 21, 2022

“He has made His wonders to be remembered; … He has made known to His people the power of His works”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 32:1-4.

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us;  as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”  Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”  Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.  He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 32:1-4.

—————

“19 They made a calf in Horeb
And worshiped a molten image.
20 Thus they exchanged their glory
For the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior,
Who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonders in the land of Ham
And awesome things by the Red Sea.
23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them,
Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him,
To turn away His wrath from destroying them.” Psalm 106:19-23.

But, there is hope!

“5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.” Psalm 145:5-7.

Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.

“Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.” Psalm 111:1-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 20, 2022

“you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 31:18.

“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”  Exodus 31:18.

—————-

“The tablets were God’s work, and the writing was God’s writing engraved on the tablets.”  Exodus 32:16.

“So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments;  and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.”  Deuteronomy 4:13.

What a gift!

And, God gave us more than His Ten Commandments!

What could be better than the Almighty God preserving His Word for man to keep, treasure, and study?!

“and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:15-17.

“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 18, 2022

“I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you.” – “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 31:12-17.

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths;  for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.  Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you.  Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.  For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD;  whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.  So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’  It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever;  for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”  Exodus 31:12-17.

—————-

We tend to want to skip over what Scripture states to emphasizes our own points.  But, what does the Scripture state?

We want to only think of the Sabbath as one of the Ten Commandments.  But, what does this Scripture state?

“…  this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.  Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you.”  Verse 13.

“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever;  for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”  Verse 17.

Thus, do we view the Sabbath as only a command?

Today is Friday.  Are we going to focus only on the recreation that we are going to get today and Saturday?

Or, are we going to focus on these signs in Scripture that Sunday will be a time of sanctification and refreshing for us?

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”  Acts 3:19.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 17, 2022

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 31:1-11.

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.  I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.  And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan;  and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:  the tent of meeting, and the ark of testimony, and the mercy seat upon it, and all the furniture of the tent, the table also and its utensils, and the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering also with all its utensils, and the laver and its stand, the woven garments as well, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, with which to carry on their priesthood;  the anointing oil also, and the fragrant incense for the holy place, they are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”  Exodus 31:1-11.

——————————-

Today’s Scripture reminds us that we are God’s workmanship created for good works.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  …

…  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:7 and 11-13.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 16, 2022

“By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.” – “Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 30:34-38.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense;  there shall be an equal part of each.  With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.  You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you;  it shall be most holy to you.  The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves;  it shall be holy to you for the LORD.  Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”  Exodus 30:34-38.

——————-

There are things that are set apart as holy, reserved for use in worship to God, not for our personal use as we please, as we see by the incense in today’s Scripture (particularly in verse 37 highlighted above).

In the immediate preceding Scripture, we also saw that the anointing oil was likewise set apart as holy, reserved for use in worship to God, not for our personal use as we please.  “It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions;  it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.”  Exodus 30:32.

So, what are some examples of holy things, reserved for use in worship to God, that we improperly take for our personal use as we please? 

We take praise language that we use in our worship of God and improperly use the same language for our personal use as we please.  For example, we call God “awesome” in our worship of God.  But how often do we so casually use the same word “awesome” to describe persons and even things?!

We can properly pray to God for even minor things.  But how often do we casually say to others “I will pray for you” to appear sympathetic and kind to others without a sincere intent to do so?! Or, how often do we casually say “I pray” to indicate just a personal wish without even thinking of God!    

Rather than using Psalms and well-known hymns to encourage singing and praise of God by the whole congregation, we choose songs that only we know and that best show our talent to sing, using mics and loud music to drown out the singing and praise of the congregation.

We attend church to look good to others. We think more of ourselves than God.

We saw in Scripture a specific example of the improper use of the Lord’s Supper.  “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.  What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?”  1 Corinthians 11:20-22.

Here is one example in Scripture of God’s punishment on those who took holy things and used them for their own personal use.

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.  Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the LORD spoke, saying,

‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.’”

So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.” Leviticus 10:1-3.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Psalm 2:10-12.

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31.

But, there is hope!

“… To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:1-3.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 15, 2022

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” – “He will guide you into all the truth”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 30:22-33.

“Moreover, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take also for yourself the finest of spices:  of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin.  You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer;  it shall be a holy anointing oil.  With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand.  You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy.  You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me.  You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations.  It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions;  it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.  Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.’”  Exodus 30:22-33.

——————-

God’s provision of the anointing oil leads us to meditate on the Holy Spirit.  

“In Him (Christ), you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.

“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man (Christ), it will be forgiven him;  but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.”  Luke 12:10.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 53.  What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?

A.  First, that He is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Son;  secondly, that He is also given me, to make me, by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits, that He may comfort me and abide with me for ever.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16-17.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-14.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:16-21.

“Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:3-5.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 14, 2022

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 30:17-21.

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing;  and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.  Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it;  when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die;  or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the LORD.  So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die;  and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”  Exodus 30:17-21.

—————–

God’s provision of a laver of bronze for washing leads us to meditate on our need for washing and what Christ has done for us.

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:6-9.

“2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:2-10.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 13, 2022

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 30:11-16.

“The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, “When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them.  This is what everyone who is numbered shall give:  half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a contribution to the LORD.  Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the LORD.  The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.  You shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.” Exodus 30:11-16. 

——————–

There is hope in One.

Although each one of the sons of Israel were commanded to give half a shekel, which was one coin, it would be counted as “ransom” (verse 12) and “atonement money” (verse 16). 

In the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, although there were some who grumbled at only receiving one denarius for working the whole day while others worked only one hour and received the same wage of one denarius, we rejoice as we realize the one denarius represents one reward of eternal life.  

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16.

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”.  1 Timothy 2:5.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:4-6.

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village;  and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations;  and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14.

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