April 20, 2010

Leviticus 24

Light is that wave of energy which enables my eyes and brain to better understand the reality around me. Spiritual light is the wave of spiritual energy which enables me to better understand the reality of the spiritual world around me, and even myself. Jesus said at least two different things about light. He said, “I am the light of the world.” He also said to us, “You are the light of the world.” The passage today begins with the lampstand in the temple. Aaron was placed in charge of it. It was to burn continually. Just across the room from the lampstand was the table of the bread of presence. The Lord calls us into the light of His presence to dine with Him. There His light reveals our true spiritual nature. If we respond properly, His presence changes our own nature to be more like His.

As we sit in His presence, we gain a great appreciation for His name. Having an appreciation for His Name ought to change us. Here is a case study where the Lord is pointing out how things ought to change. A man who was half Hebrew, half Egyptian, blasphemed the name of the Lord. They brought Him to the Lord to see what ought to be done. Here in His presence, in His light, the Lord instructs them. He launches into a discourse on justice. But I thought the issue was blaspheming His name. Could it be that in His light that the Lord is pointing out something about them that is just as important as honoring His name? If the man had been all Hebrew and not half-Egyptian, would they still have brought him to Moses for discipline? Would they have just overlooked it if he were all Hebrew? Or, would there have been some who would have been more strict because he were all Hebrew? Perhaps in the light of the Lord their inconsistent justice was revealed. The justice of the Lord is severe, but it is equal for all. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Luke 15:11-32

How do you illustrate an illustration--with another illustration? This is probably Jesus' best known parable. Its point is to reveal the awesome love of God for us. Can you imagine the impudence of the prodigal that he would demand his father's inheritance before his father had died and then move to a far country? He was communicating with out words that the relationship he had with his father was of little value to him. He wasted all that His father had to give him physically on momentary pleasures. He treated the relationship that his father wanted with him as though it were meaningless and valueless.

Eventually he came to his senses. He recognized that not only had he squandered the wealth given to him but he had rejected the only relationship that was of value. He falsely presumed that his father would not be interested in renewing the relationship. Broken financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually he returned home. He no longer desired the wealth his father could give him. He didn't even think his father would forgive him. He just wanted to be home.

God is indeed a holy God. He will not tolerate us exalting ourselves above Him. So he lets us run away from home with all the wealth of His name. He permits us to squander it on wasteful living. He even allows us to reject a relationship with Him. He does this until we are broken, until we realize that the only thing that is of value is to be in His house, until His name is more important than ours, until we desire a relationship with Him. Then we can return home. To our surprise, He runs to meet us and rejoices over us with singing. The fact that we squandered His wealth is forgiven. That fact that we rejected His name is forgiven. What an awesome love!

Is His name more important to you than your desires, your name? The Eternal God deserves and demands that it should be. And it is only right that He should. After all, He is the Creator and we are the creatures. That is why focusing upon His glory is so important, otherwise we are exalting our names. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

P.S. Thanks Bill for the thoughts on the importance of His name.