THE LORD SPOKE (February 06)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Exodus 35-36

What a fantastic story. Even without the surprise ending, it is a great inspiration. The way the people joined in and were so willing to give to the cause is a thrilling motivation. Five times it says, “everyone who was willing...gave”. Men and women alike (Ex. 35:22), particularly those with special skills (Ex. 35:26 and 36:2), came to make their contributions. The leaders were involved (Ex. 35:27 but it was ultimately “the whole Israelite community” that got into the act. The key descriptor was “everyone who was willing” (Ex. 35:21,22,26,29; 36:2).

As the pile grew higher and higher, “the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work” (Ex. 36:4) sent a commission to talk to Moses. “All the shelves in the warehouses are full - we don’t have any more space,” Their complaint? “The people are giving too much.” Maybe they began to think, “We’re going to have to carry all this stuff on our journey to the Promised Land.”

So then comes the punch line: “the people were restrained from bringing more” (Ex. 36:6). It’s the opposite of the preacher who said, “We didn’t get enough the first time around so the ushers are going to pass the offering plates again.” In this case it was, “No, we’re not going to pass the plates again. We have too much already. Stop giving!”

Granted, this was a one time project. People tend to rally to such a need. After all, they were already tithing to the General Fund. But the impression you get here is not that any special plea went out. The need was made known (Ex. 35:4-10) and the people started to give.

“God’s work will never lack God’s supply.” But the way that works is through you. God’s work should never lack supply, so long as God’s people have the means to supply it. Paul’s word to the church at Corinth is instructive to us on this point:

Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (I Cor. 16:1-2)

It all boils down to a willing heart.


New Testament: Mark 9

Q&A time! Wouldn’t you love to have some with the Lord? Do you have your list ready to ask Him when you’re in His presence? What a day that will be.

Q&A time. Jesus never avoided it but Mark 9:30-31 tells us that He wanted to get away from the crowds for awhile because of His desire to have some teaching time with His disciples. They almost blew it. Just look at the questions they ask and the things they’re arguing over in Mark 9. Good ol’ Peter...even when he didn’t know what to say (9:6), still had something to say (9:5) and God had to say to him “shut up and listen for a change” (9:7). Aren’t you glad all your faux pas aren’t recorded in a bestseller and translated into hundreds of different languages for everyone to read for the next 2000 years?

Jesus asked some questions of His own in this chapter:

• Why must the Son of Man suffer and be rejected? (9:12) - He’d already answered that for them more than once.
• What were you arguing about with the teachers of the law? (9:16)
• How much longer can I put up with you? (9:19)
• How long has this situation gone on? (9:21)
• What do you mean, if I can help you? (9:23)
• Now what were you arguing about? (9:33)
• If salt isn’t salty, how can you make it salty again? (9:50) i.e. aren’t you supposed to be different?

Do you hear some frustration in His voice? That frustration only grew as He approached the Cross. It went right on through Gethsemane, through the courtyard of Caiaphas’ house, and through the three days before the tomb was emptied. It must have seemed hopeless at times. He had such poor material to work with.

But He didn’t give up and it paid off. That same motley crew hit the streets of Jerusalem after the Resurrection and, from there, turned the world upside down. They made a permanent difference in the world.

Spending time with Jesus will do that.