11.15.07 -- RE:ading: Exodus 32:1-35

RE:flect

I reflect again, today, from a quote at CIY: “Never underestimate your potential for evil.” It is very true. Oh, how wayward and rebellious we can be. It only takes not hearing from God for 40 days to make you wander… to make me wander. So what should we do to combat our habit to not run towards God all the time?

Moses even tries to sacrifice his life for all. Possibly the Holy Spirit is putting this event in the Bible because of Jesus (the perfect sacrifice) that will come generations later. However, again, I must let God’s word be true and exposed: God tells Moses that he will blot out those who have sinned and punish them in his time.

But how could a loving God do this? How can he just turn around and be angry. Well, let me just ask you (and ourselves—who experience awesome worship, conferences, videos and testimonies of God’s work) to look at one thing. Can you imagine what it would be like to have witnessed the plagues, become full on the quail and manna, heard the voice of the Lord on the mountain—and still worshiped a false god? It is a warning to us as much as a tragedy of the Bible. We will be held to a greater standard than those who have never known the Lord personally. Similar to those who lived in light when all of Egypt was covered in darkness…we so easily forget!

RE:act

Take some time to day to let the Holy Spirit strengthen you to resist the rebellious urges that war in your body. Our spirit has been reborn, and now our body waits for that resurrected state. In the midst of this waiting—our body is at war with us. So be real with yourself today. Not that Satan made me do it. No. Understand that you are not any better than what you see happening here if left on your own (why we have the Holy Spirit, hint hint)… the trap is already there for you to walk into. Don’t. Pray to God to give you strength.

RE:ply

Lord, I am living by your grace.
Lord, I need to see myself in these scriptures also. I need to see the “false idols” that I find I trust in almost immediately on Sunday afternoon… or soon after camp.
Lord, I am sick of this. I want it done. And I am understanding what "fear of the LORD" means, that you are holy and you will not put up with this. Help me to rid my life of these snares, traps and my wayward heart.
Lord, you have made my heart new. You have told me this. Strengthen my newness so that I can have victory over the old, dark and evil that was my past. I need your victory in my life.
Lord, help me. Hear my prayer to you.

“As has just been said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden you hearts as you did in the rebellion… Who were they who heard and rebelled? Where they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?.... So we see, that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:15-17, 19)