Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Numbers 7

Daily Reading
Daily Thought

Moses gave the Gershonites two carts to carry curtains, and the Merarites got four carts for tent poles. The Kohathites were responsible for the holy things like the ark of the Covenant. Indiana Jones and all that. Their focus was God's glory and nothing else.

The Hebrew word for glory means "weight."  Several tons, in this case. That's how much the ark and the holy things weighed.  A cart and a couple oxen would have been nice, "but to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder" (Numbers 7:9).  

God said, "No.  I want you to carry the holy things on your shoulders."

The wonders of God surround us. The elegance of creation, the beauty of sunsets, the majesty of mountains. "The whole earth is full of his glory," said more than one Hebrew poet.  But that is not where the world will see the full glory of God.    

God's intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ~Ephesians 3:10-11

The church.  That's you and me, followers of Jesus Christ.  Displaying God's glory to the world, his goodness, his grace, his gospel - it's on our shoulders.  God says, "I want you to carry my glory."

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that are in them, the land and all it's creatures, the skies and the birds that soar, stars and planets, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, which you made, as well.

In all of creation, You place Your image in people. People like me.  Through the work of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am being transformed and Your image is becoming clear again. May I display Your glory, Your wonder, Your wisdom, You grace, Your love, to the world around me. May the glory of Your work in me brighten the world and bring You praise.

Amen

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