Author: Jacquelin Stoner

Jacqui is a writer, teacher, life coach, and an encourager. She walks alongside of individuals who need help navigating to the better place God has envisioned for their lives. She has discovered that God is central to genuine lasting life change.

TIME TO CLEANSE THE TEMPLE

Where is the quiet, gentle Jesus they know? Where did He get that whip?

Series 5, episode 2 of “The Chosen” can be quite thought provoking. Jesus appears in the Outer Court of the Temple. The occasion is Passover Week and Jerusalem is mobbed by visitors. The Temple Court overflows with animals sold for sacrifice. The money changers charge exorbitant fees to trade regular currency (which features the portraits of idols) to Temple currency. There is money to be made and no lack of greed.

WHERE IS QUIET GENTLE JESUS?

Jesus walks in, horrified at the mayhem in an area meant for prayer and worship of the Father. Out of His bag He takes a whip and begins to turn over the stands, chase out the animals and yell at the merchants. Shock registers on people’s faces. Where is the quiet, gentle Jesus they know? Who is this man demanding holiness and repentance? Where did He get that whip?

DEN OF THIEVES

The frightened disciples see the Roman guards. The guards’ purpose is to keep order. This is not orderly! Temple officials are furious that someone questions their money-making operation. Jesus is in tears and enraged that His Father’s house is a den of thieves.

CLEANING HOUSE

He sees the temple, meant to be a place of prayer for all nations, turned into a marketplace. Genuine worship is non-existent. Taking advantage of people is pre-eminent.  God’s design is for a house of prayer, a place to meet with God and worship Him. Stepping into the Temple courts, Jesus does not see any of this. Jesus sees avarice, extortion, and oppression. He responds by cleansing the Temple (Matthew 21:12-16). The Son of God cleans house.

HOW CLEAN IS YOUR TEMPLE?

What does Jesus discover in the temple of your life? Each believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Is your relationship with Him a cornerstone of communion with God with a centerpiece of prayer? Have your turned down the noise in your life? Is it time to bring out the whip, turn over the stands, chase out the animals, and yell at the merchants? Better yet, time to shut down the computer, the phone, and clear the calendar? Are you living your temple purpose: prayer and worship of the Father?

INCONVENIENT LOVE THAT HONORS

Pastor Powell lived a life honoring others above himself even during the most difficult circumstances.

Pastor Powell was authentic. Consistently gracious, he consistently cared deeply for us even though my husband, Bill, was only part-time on the church staff. The year Bill came on board was in the midst of rough professional waters for Pastor P. A contingent of unhappy congregants wanted major changes which included booting out Pastor P. Rather than causing a church split, Pastor P made the decision to resign and pastor a much smaller struggling congregation.

Remaining friends, Bill went to visit Pastor P. The gentleman was just as gracious as ever to Bill. In their conversation, He prayed the best for Bill. Pastor P did not vent about the congregants who threw him under a bus. He honored others above himself. I felt severe loss a year later when Pastor P died suddenly of Epstein-Barr virus.

LOVE THAT HONORS

“To honor” means to hold someone or something in high regard, treating them with respect, esteem, and reverence, and recognizing their value and worth. Pastor P was a man of principle; one who consistently treated others both with compassion and honor. He treated with respect those believers who vilified him.

LOVING THE UNLOVABLE

Pastor P took Romans 12:1-2, the passage about a renewed mind, to heart. He responded in his behavior to the mercies of God with a renewed heart. Romans 12:10 uses the Greek word phileo for love. This is the family love of those living in community. It’s the kind of love where you not only invite the guests inside, but you make sure they have the best seats and food at the table. It’s love which actively pursues what is noble and best for others. It honors even the unlovable.

SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR

True love is fervent, relentless and may seem impractical. In Romans 12:9-21 there are 13 exhortations concerning love in this passage. Seems a little bit much. How can these admonitions make a difference in our lives? By slowing down. Don’t just fly at 560 miles an hour above a grove of fruit trees, look down and say, “My, what an impressive grove of fruit trees.” Instead, land the plane and walk through the grove. Stop and pick the fruit and eat it. Slow down and relish the beauty and the sweetness of these 13 exhortations. Meditate on the words and let them sink in. Romans 12 must be savored for true love to take root in our lives.

FAKE LOVE

What does “sincere love that honors” mean? Ray Stedman observes: “the English word sincere comes from the Latin sincerus, which means ‘without wax.’ It stems from a practice of the early Roman merchants who set their earthen and porcelain jars out for sale. If a crack appeared in one, they would fill it with wax the same color as the jar, so a buyer would not be aware of the crack. But astute buyers learned to hold these jars out in the sun, and if the jar was cracked, the wax would melt, and the crack would be revealed. So, the honest merchants would test their wares this way and mark them sincerus — without wax.”

This is sincere honorable love. Authentic. It is the honorable conduct I witnessed all those years ago in Pastor P. Love that honors makes a huge impact. When I get to heaven, after seeing Jesus, Pastor P is one of the first people I want to see. He took the passage about a renewed mind and properly responded in his behavior to the 13 exhortations. Pastor Powell lived a life honoring others above himself even during the most difficult circumstances.

Take time. Savor the 13 and let true love take root in your life.

MY UNUSUAL SUMMER

My vision went wonky, and I discovered I have severe edema (swelling) against the macula in my left eye. How does this all fit with the goodness of God?

This summer is quite different than I imagined. At the beginning of the year, I planned a restorative time, sitting on my back porch. The high point would be a two-week missions trip to Thailand. How this has panned out is quite the opposite (except I do have my back porch). My plans came to nothing. In March, my application was denied for the Thailand trip. The same month, I managed to fall backwards against a concrete block wall. I was gifted with a compound fracture of the T-2 vertebrae in my back. My attitude plummeted with both the application denial and the fractured back. What was God thinking?

WHERE IS THE GOODNESS OF GOD?

Then my vision went wonky, and I discovered I have severe edema (swelling) against the macula in my left eye. That same week I was diagnosed with a sinus infection. Down for the count. How does this all fit with the goodness of God? I planned a summer of service and renewal. What is God thinking?

GOD’S CHARACTER

What brings me comfort during this summer? God’s character. “I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God.  “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick (Ezekiel 34:15-16).

THE BIG ASK

I’ve spent a great deal of time sitting on my back porch, reading (days when my vision is not wonky), and praying. God chooses to make me lie down. Why? In His wisdom, it could all be related to the “Big Ask” I made in the Spring. I asked God for 10 women to build relationships with this summer which would glorify Him and bring mutual spiritual growth.

Did God give me the excitement of a trip to Thailand? How about a body that has felt terrific? No. What He has given me is a body which is not 100% and must totally rely on Him to function. But best of all (as of the count today), God’s given me 14 women to enrich my life. Whether our conversations are by text, phone, or in person – God drives the conversations every time. It is beautiful to see how this plays out. He feeds me, makes me lie down, bandages me, and gives me the strength to continue. Every conversation after conversation, God is present.

What a delightful God we have. My January plans have not worked out, but His plans are so much better!

MIRACLE AT MYSTIC

What strikes me as I listen to interviews is a simultaneous chorus of both heartbreak and faith.

You probably witnessed a miracle this past week. Possibly you did not even notice what you observed. It is horrifying to view the devastation from the flooding in Texas, especially at Mystic Camp for Girls. Did you notice that the commentators kept calling it “a Christian Camp”. Why did they keep repeating the moniker “Christian”? Christian is not in the name of the camp.

Loss of life is loss of life. The resulting heartbreak pulverizes the soul, regardless of one’s religious connections. The death of young girls is especially appalling. So why did the reporters feel the need to keep repeating “a Christian Girl’s Camp”?

SATAN’S FIELD DAY

I think they did so because Satan planned on a field day. He wants individuals to ask, “What if God cannot protect His own; little girls at a Christian camp? What if He is powerless and flawed?” Satan desires that the world make all kinds of false assumptions regarding God’s character.

SIMULTANEOUS CHORUS OF HEARTBREAK AND FAITH

What strikes me as I listen to interviews is a simultaneous chorus of both heartbreak and faith. Parents broken yet utterly relying on God and His character. People who still choose to trust God, regarding of whether their daughters are rescued or their bodies are recovered.

PRAY..ABOVE ALL, PLEASE PRAY

A recurrent question in the interviews is, “What can we do to help?” Overwhelmingly, the answer is “Pray; above all, please pray.” Prayers that will press shattered hearts toward God.

PRESSING INTO GOD

Pressing into God? Joni Erickson Tada has been quadriplegic for more than 2/3’s of her life due to a diving accident. During her first two years, post-accident, she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts. A friend visited her and made a difficult statement: “God put you in that chair Joni. I don’t know why, but if you’ll trust Him instead of fighting Him, you’ll find out why – if not in this life, then in the next. He let you break your neck because He loves you.” At the time, Joni thought those words sounded awfully harsh from her teenaged friend.

Years later, Joni wrote in the book When God Weeps: “Hardships press us against God. God always seems bigger to those who need Him most.”  

TRUSTING GOD FULLY

After an especially dark period of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth: “We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! (II Corinthians 1:8-11).

Apostle Paul thoughtfully wrote: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39). May I suggest a daily prayer: “Lord, I don’t know what you have in store for me today, but may it press me into You.”

HALFWAY LIVING

Half obedience is no obedience at all! Half love is no love at all!

Hal Halfway loves the Viking Cruise motto, “Time is the only truly scarce commodity.” This invigorates him to severely economize his time, whether in relationships or affiliations. While having coffee with a friend, Hal abruptly leaves whenever he had finishes ½ of his drink. Hal does not care if the conversation is completed. If Hal meets a newcomer at church, he never travels beyond the initial pleasantries. Afterall, he only has so much time to spare. Mr. Halfway loves volunteering at his church but in honoring his new economy of time, he makes sure that in helping at VBS, he leaves every evening at the ½ way point. Hal cannot believe all the time he saves. He takes pride in his great reserves of time.

A HALF DONE OPERATION

Recent events have caused Mr. Halfway to reconsider his attitude toward time. He had a serious car accident. Serious injuries required immediate surgery. While getting prepped for surgery, Hal enthusiastically told the surgeon about his attitude regarding time. The surgeon was intrigued. Unbeknownst to Mr. Halfway, the surgeon stopped the Hal’s operation at the halfway point. Out the door exited the surgeon with Mr. Halfway still on the operating table. Think of all that time the surgeon saved!

JESUS NEVER SKIMPED

So glad that Jesus never subscribed to Mr. Halfway’s economy of time. Even happier that Jesus never skimped by economizing His relationship to both God and to people. Jesus lived for completeness, not economy. He always fully engaged. No miracles ever left ½ completed; no ½ resurrection; no ½ payment for our sins. All interactions fully settled.

ETERNAL LIVING

Jesus didn’t carry on distracted conversations, anxiously looking over the person’s shoulder, hoping to move on to someone of more important rank. He completely loved and loves individuals, giving them His full attention. Jesus never views time as the “only truly scarce commodity” because Jesus lives in eternity.

Who else lives in eternity? Believers! Right now, we are living in eternity. In such a landscape, there are two main pillars: obedience to God and love for God and people. Half obedience is no obedience at all! Half love is no love at all! Eternal living is as vast as God Himself.

Jesus said, I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing (John 15:9-17).

God wants us to live new lives in Him with complete and overflowing joy, not stuck in economizing. Jesus never does anything ½ way and neither should we. Mr. Halfway does not fit into God’s lavish plan of living fully. God’s design is obedience and love as expansive as God Himself.

BUILT FOR COMMUNITY

In his plea to end his life, Elijah made a fatal assumption by concluding that he alone was faithful. Elijah needed both purpose and community.

In I Kings 19 the prophet is exhausted, lonely, and cut off after what should have been a huge victory. The Israelites recently witnessed a massive showdown between their idol Baal and Jehovah God. God performs a throwdown with a massive lightening punch from heaven. It screams the truth of Who God is.

GOD LIGHTS UP THE SKY

Baal’s followers ran around yelling and cutting themselves. They thought all that self-mutilation would get Baal’s attention. After hours of no response from Baal, Elijah pours gallons and gallons on his sacrifice and utters a prayer. God lights up the sky. Elijah’s sacrifice burns perfectly to a crisp. It should have been game over. Elijah’s prayers bring an end to a 7-year drought. The Israelites should have fallen on their knees, promising to never return to idol worship.

HEARTBROKEN ELIJAH

But the Queen is not too pleased with Elijah’s honoring God (and the execution of her star prophets). She puts out a contract on Elijah’s life. Elijah runs for the hills. The cowardly Israelites don’t run alongside him. Elijah is heartbroken. He feels his age. All the signs and wonders do not break the stranglehold of sin on his people.

PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT DIE

I Kings 19:4, Elijah “prayed that he might die.” He declares, “I have had enough Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” What he had viewed as a huge win for God now looks like smoke and mirrors. He can’t see God’s hand.

ELIJAH’S BONE TO PICK

God sends an angel who to feeds Elijah. Elijah wakes up, is fed again and Elijah makes the trip to Mt. Horeb. Elijah has a bone to pick with God. He may have rested, but his mouth vents an extensive list of complaints.

GOD’S WHISPER

The Lord tells Elijah to stand by the mountain. A mighty windstorm breaks out, an earthquake shakes the ground, a firestorm scorches the earth. Yet, God is not there. A whisper comes. This is the voice of God. He gives Elijah purpose: three people to anoint. Furthermore, he lets Elijah know he is not alone. There are 7,000 other Israelites who have not retreated to idolatry. God gives Elijah community both in the 7,000 and also in the person of Elisha.

ELIJAH NEEDED COMMUNITY

All the time Elijah thought he was the lone wolf, the sole person sticking up for God, he was not alone. In his plea to end his life, Elijah made a fatal assumption by concluding that he alone was faithful. Elijah needed both purpose and community.

BUILT FOR COMMUNITY

God has built us for community. Arthur W. Lindsley observes, “If we do not make a commitment to a particular body of believers, we will never have in-depth community. This problem of idealism or perfectionism manifests itself often in people’s lives. I have seen a pattern in what happens. First, an individual or a couple joins a church thinking that the pastor, worship, fellowship, etc. is great. They give glowing recommendations to others. However, after a few years (or months) they begin to be dissatisfied with the sermons, the pastor and the church leadership, members of the congregation, the worship style, or some other fault. They leave and move to another church where the cycle starts again. They have found again the perfect church. But, no, after a time it is not perfect. So, they church hop for the rest of their lives or just give up.”

DON’T GIVE UP

Don’t give up and cut yourself off like Elijah. That never ends well. Ask God for a community of believers who follow the simple principles of the early church. Acts 2:42- 44: All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. Don’t assume you have to live like Elijah. You are built for community.

THE MESSY CHURCH

“Holy people”? Doesn’t sound like the elders, Mrs. K, Chris, Peter, Randy or Sally received that memo.

The cauldron boiled at the First Church of Chaos. Resentments filled the air the evening the elders engaged in a nasty exchange over who was the best pastor: Peter, Chris, or Arty. Then there was the string of lawsuits regarding Mrs. K’s son vandalizing the 2 Lexuses belonging to church elders and Peter’s backing into Chris’ Tesla. Who forgot the tale of 30-year-old Randy’s romantic entanglement with his 40-year-old stepmother? The icing on the cake was the communion service where Sally spiked the grape juice with vodka.

WHAT A MESS!

Shameful! Out of control behavior! If you read I Corinthians chapters 1, 5, 6, & 11, these behaviors are just a glimpse of the conduct of the Corinthian Church. With all that going on, how could the Apostle Paul address the Corinthians with their call to holiness? Paul writes, “I am writing to God’s church in Corinth to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus,just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (I Cor. 1:2). “Holy people”? Doesn’t sound like the elders, Mrs. K, Chris, Peter, Randy or Sally received that memo.

WHAT DOES GOD DO WITH A HAYWIRE CONGREGATION?

The Apostle Paul continues, “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Cor. 1:8-9). Can God be faithful to a congregation gone haywire?

THE TRUE CHURCH

What actually is the true church? Pastor Steve Hubbard observes: “It is not just a group of religious people gathered together to enjoy certain mutually desired functions. It is a group of people who share the same life, who belong to the same Lord, who are filled with the same Spirit, who are given gifts by that same Spirit, and who are intended to function together to change the world by the life of God.” Notice the word “same”; it’s a word representing unity.

IMPORTANCE OF UNITY

Over time, the Corinthians lost sight God’s instructions for unity. “Make it your aim to be at one in the Spirit, and you will inevitably be at peace with one another. You all belong to one body, of which there is one Spirit, just as you all experienced one calling to one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, one Father of us all, who is the one over all, the one working through all and the one living in all. (Ephesians 4:5-6).

SOMETHING ROTTEN

First Church of Chaos and the Corinthians suffered greatly. A local church can be much like Noah’s Ark. If not for the storm outside, you couldn’t stand the smell inside. Yet, the Apostle Paul remarks, “If one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering.”

GOD’S PROMISE

Yes, we live in a messy world. Most churches have members like Chris, Arty, Peter, Mrs. K., Randy and Sally. However, take heart. In church community, true believers have a promise. “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).

THE LOOP OF FUTILITY

Going nowhere fast

Years ago, our family travelled to Annapolis, MD.  I have no clue as to the purpose of the trip, but we definitely got lost (days before GPS).  We repeatedly ended up at the guard shack at the Naval Base.  Of course, my father refused to ask directions.  He believed we would eventually get lucky and end up on the correct road. 

The miles clicked away. I’m not so sure he felt so lucky anymore. We cranky and hungry kids sweltered in the heat of the back seat. The interior emotional temperature of the car’s occupants ramped up.  We kids kept asking, “Are we there yet?”.

KEEP REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES

Do you feel that way?  Maybe if you just keep at it, eventually you will get lucky and find your life’s great destination.  Yet you keep repeating the same mistakes, caught in a loop of futility.  You do not feel very lucky or favored by God (or by anyone else for that matter).

40 YEARS OF WANDERING

I wonder if that is how the Israelites felt during the 40 years they wandered around in the wilderness. As they progress, the Egyptian culture, mindset, and religion painfully shreds off their souls.  The process is lengthy because the Israelites keep repeating the same mistakes.

The majority of Israelites resist this journey.  When they finally view the Promised Land, they fall back in horror and fear of its inhabitants.  They hear the fearful reports of the scouting party. Numbers 14:1-4 records: That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

THEY PREFER A LOOP OF FUTILITY

They would rather go back into slavery than to go forward with God; rather go back into darkness than to travel to the light.  God’s people prefer a loop of futility, rather than trust this Holy God. 

During your life’s season, has your road map become confusing; a little twisted?  Have you, like the Israelites, decided to trust your own resources rather than the wisdom and resources of a Holy God Who loves you? 

THE INVITATION

This is the ideal season to stop trusting yourself and begin trusting God. He is truthful, honest, holy, loving and reliable.  Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Want to break that loop of futility? Jesus invites you: “Come!”

THE UNFORGETTABLE LIKENESS

What does it mean to live life sealed by the Holy Spirit

Read: Matthew 22:15-22

It is a steamy summer night on the streets of Los Angeles as two groups approach each other with the sole intent of payback. One group is the Crips; bandanas and chains wrapped around their necks. The other group is the Latins. Their faces tattooed and scars running up and down their forearms. It does not take a genius from the LA Task Force to figure out who these hombres are and know their plans.

2 EVIL GANGS

Sometimes you can just look at someone and know their evil intentions. In this passage two gangs of religious leaders ask Jesus, “Should we pay to Caesar or just keep the money for ourselves?”  Their purpose is from the pit of hell. They think they have Jesus in an awkward position, but things reverse quickly.

THE TRAP

Honey drips off their lips as they pose their question: “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about [what] anyone [thinks or says of Your teachings]; for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor [and You treat all people alike, regardless of status]. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” 

CATCH-22

This is Catch-22. Jesus brilliantly counters by asking for the coin used to pay the poll tax. He asks, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  This specific coin is sacrilege to the Jews. Remember the first of the Ten Commandments? Glaring from the poll-tax coin is Caesar’s likeness; Caesar considers himself God.

GAME OVER

Jesus continues, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ enemies become speechless, game over.

SIGNATURE MARK

Great question, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ receive their own signature mark when birthed into the Kingdom of God. It cannot be erased. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

HOLY SPIRIT’S INSCRIPTION SEAL

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  The likeness and inscription seal on the life of a believer is the Person of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul writes: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. . .. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:15-20).  

When individuals interact with you, do they wonder: “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  Do they see the likeness of a tyrant; a person consumed by the pleasures of this world? In contrast, via the miraculous sealing of the Holy Spirit, they can view the likeness of a life transformed. Let them see the image and likeness of God.

WHERE HEAVEN MEETS EARTH

Allow Him to enter your tent; this is where heaven meets earth.

One summer my father-in-law enlisted the help of young men to help him put together new patio furniture. Lots and lots of pieces and hardware was laid out in the work area. Off to the one side was the unopened instruction booklet. It was a hot day, and frustration tempered the air as the three tried to rush through the project.

FOLLOW THE PLANS

After about 1 ½ hours of futility did they pause long enough to listen as one of us women asked, “Have you read the instructions?” Amazing how beautifully and efficiently the project went after they followed the directions. The basic rule in construction is always to follow the plans.

MORE THAN JUST A TENT

In Exodus 40, God knows that we humans don’t necessarily like to observe His directions. That’s why He leaves nothing out when He twice gives Moses very detailed procedures on how to construct the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings. Rev. Kory Plockmeyer notes, “Moses follows the careful divine instructions because the tabernacle is more than just a tent, it is the very place where heaven meets earth.”

THE MISSING GLORY

“The place where heaven meets earth.” There is something especially unique and wonderful about the inner part of the Tabernacle which housed the Holy of Holies. The Glory of the Lord dwelt there. This room existed in both the original Tabernacle and then the magnificent temple built by Solomon. Years after Solomon’s temple was destroyed, Jewish people are allowed to return to build a new temple. Ezra records his people weeping. Why such a response? Not only because this temple will not approach the grandeur of Solomon’s temple, but also because they recognize that the glory of the Lord, the Shekinah Glory, will not be present in this temple the same way it was before. (Ezra 3:12-13).

PLACE OF LONGING

The grief of longing. “As the place where the Glory of God dwelled, the tabernacle/temple was the place where heaven met earth, the place where the people of Israel went to meet God, the place where they encountered the glory of God. Yet it was also a place of longing – of longing for the return of the cloud, for the return of the spirit to the temple.” (Rev. Kory Plockmeyer)

TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

As believers, God has designated that we now are God’s temple. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19). David Platt observes: “By the grace of God, through Jesus’ death on the cross, resurrection from the grave, ascension on high, ascending of the Holy Spirit, His presence now dwells inside you and me, inside each person who’s put our trust in Jesus. You don’t have to look to a tent, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, which means the Holy Spirit is in you, leading, guiding and directing your thoughts, your desires and your decisions.”

HIS DWELLING WITHIN YOU

So, the question that begs an answer is, “Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within you? Or are you out in the hot sun, toiling away, getting nowhere because you have discarded God’s instruction book, the Bible?” God has built into true believers a longing to have a life which reflects His indwelling. Seriously begin to thoughtfully read the Scriptures, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand His promptings, and obey Him earnestly, quickly, and thoroughly. God is a wonderful designer. Allow Him to enter your tent; this is where heaven meets earth.