Tag: Christian living

Morning Musing: Exodus 24:9-11

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“Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of israel’s elders, and they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. God did not harm the Israelite nobles; they saw him, and they ate and drank.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Starting out something new with God feels good. It’s exciting. We pour ourselves into it and into Him. Everything is going just as it’s supposed to go. Now, this doesn’t mean everything is going to stay that way. But getting off on the right foot is better than getting off on the wrong one. This next passage is unexpected and, honestly, kind of weird. But it’s pretty important. Let’s talk about why and what’s going on here.

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Morning Musing: Hebrews 11:14-16

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“Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (CSB – Read the chapter)‬‬

I’ve spent the last week away from home. Today we’re traveling back. I’m looking forward to that. It’ll be good getting back to my own bed and my own stuff and the people with whom I spend the most time other than my immediate family. Yet in being away from home, I’ve gotten to spend a week in the place and with the people who were my home for what was still most of my life (although I’m close to crossing the line where that won’t be the case any longer). It’s all got me thinking about what home means and where exactly home is. Let’s talk about it for a bit.

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Morning Musing: Hebrews 12:1-2

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“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

So far this week we have talked about freedom, bees, and the good old days. This has given us the chance to reflect on honoring those who have sacrificed to give us what we enjoy, evidence for God’s existence, and gratitude. Today, let’s see if we can put all of those together into a single idea. This all comes compliments of a visit to what I think is the only World War I Memorial and Museum in the world. It’s at the very least the largest and the best. Let’s reflect for just a few minutes today on the gift of those who came before us.

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Morning Musing: John 15:13

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“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul remarks on how unusual it is for someone to die for someone else. Life is precious. We know that inherently. Because of that, we tend to guard our own life pretty jealously. The idea that we might give up our life for anyone or anything is an awfully tall order. Echoing this same idea, Jesus said that such an act represents the greatest gift of love a person could possibly give. Well, today is the day our nation pauses each year to reflect on love lived out. Let’s reflect on that for just a few moments together.

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Digging in Deeper: Exodus 23:32-33

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“You must not make a covenant with them or their gods. They must not remain in your land, or else they will make you sin against me. If you serve their gods, it will be a snare for you.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

One of the best and most memorable ideas about friendship I’ve ever heard is that our friends determine the direction and quality of our lives. If we spend all our time with people who discourage us and point us in the wrong direction, our lives will soon show the evidence of this and it won’t be good. Thankfully, the opposite is true as well. As God was preparing the people for the journey that lay ahead of them, He wanted them to know that this same basic idea applied to them too. Let’s talk about what’s going on here and what we should make of it.

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