Exodus 30:11-16 Census and Ransom!

11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. 13Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

14Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. 15In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less. 16Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

Census and ransom!

Israel belonged to God and God ordered them to be numbered and a ransom to be paid. Later the “ransom” became the annual temple tax.

“The Lord commanded that every male over twenty years of age should pay half a shekel as redemption money, confessing that he deserved to die, owning that he was in debt to God, and bringing the sum demanded as a type of a great redemption which would by-and-by be paid for the souls of the sons of men.” (Spurgeon)

“The rich were not to give more, the poor not to give less; to signify that all souls were equally precious in the sight of God, and that no difference of outward circumstances could affect the state of the soul; all had sinned, and all must be redeemed by the same price.” (Clarke)

“The half-shekel was not a gift in the sense of a free-will offering. It was a recognition of redemption, a sign of atonement, made and received. Here the rich and the poor stood upon a perfect equality.” (Morgan)

The ransom money was given into the service of the temple.

“It must have weighed something over four tons, and this was dedicated to the use of the tabernacle: the special application of the precious metal was to make sockets into which the boards which made the walls of the tabernacle should be placed.” (Spurgeon)

That’s a lot of silver! Everyone in the census contributed to the temple!

How would your church be if everyone paid a ransom and it was used for the construction of the church?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 30:1-10 Prayers of the Saints

1“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. 2It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece. 3Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. 4And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. 5Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you. 7And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. 8When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come. 9On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

10Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

“The altar of incense stood outside the veil, in the holy place (not in the most holy place). Therefore, it was fairly close to the Ark of the Covenant, yet separated by the veil.” (Guzik)

“The table of showbread represented communion with God, the lampstand spoke of testimony to the world, and now the golden altar speaks of the offering of adoration.” (Morgan)

Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 8: 3Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.

Prayer doesn’t save us, prayer is a reminder of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Prayer is having communion with the Lord, giving thanks for His blessings, talking with God.

Let Him know what’s on your mind including your troubles. Not that He doesn’t know them already, He just wants to hear it from you. Most importantly, He wants you to turn them over to Him.

What are prayers of the saints?

https://www.gotquestions.org/prayers-of-the-saints.html

Blessings, David

Exodus 29:45-46 Price to Pay!

45Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46And they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I might dwell among them.

I am the LORD their God.”

There is a price to pay for being fully surrendered to God. The ceremony of consecration was long, bloody, and it took persistence to complete. Yet the reward was far greater than the cost - the glory of the LORD was revealed not only to the consecrated priests, but to the people in general. (Guzik)

Likewise, there is a price to pay for being fully surrendered to Jesus.

John 15: 18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. 19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

Are you hated by the world? 

If so, don’t forget verse 19!

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:38-44 For the generations to come!

38This is what you are to offer regularly on the altar, each day: two lambs that are a year old. 39In the morning offer one lamb, and at twilight offer the other. 40With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a drink offering of a quarter hin of wine. 41And you shall offer the second lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning, as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

42For the generations to come, this burnt offering shall be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43I will also meet with the Israelites there, and that place will be consecrated by My glory. 44So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests.

How long did these sacrifices continue?

Luke 1:8 Now it came to pass, in his fulfilling the priestly service before God in the order of his division, {Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist) was ministering the morning sacrifice}

How long before the Lord got sick of meaningless sacrifices?

Isaiah 1:13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.

When we go before the Lord without a contrite heart it’s no different than a meaningless sacrifice. 

Don’t be guilty of pious meetings!

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:29-37 Peace Offering and Communion!

29The holy garments that belong to Aaron will belong to his sons after him, so they can be anointed and ordained in them. 30The son who succeeds him as priest and enters the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place must wear them for seven days. 31You are to take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. 32At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket. 33They must eat those things by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no outsider may eat them, because these things are sacred. 34And if any of the meat of ordination or any bread is left until the morning, burn up the remainder. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred.

35This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all that I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.

For seven days they remained in the temple and ate the bread of consecration and the ram of consecration, having communion with the Lord.

“The Lord’s part was consumed with fire upon the altar, and another portion was eaten by man in the holy place. The peace offering was thus an open declaration of the communion which had been established between God and man, so that they ate together, rejoicing in the same offering.” (Spurgeon)

Some Christian faiths serve communion weekly and others monthly.

Do you have communion with the Lord remembering His sacrifice for you?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:22-28 The Wave Offering!

22Take the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh (since this is a ram for ordination), 23along with one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD. 24Put all these into the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. 25Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar atop the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

26Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your portion. 27Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is lifted up from the ram of ordination. 28This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is the heave offering the Israelites will make to the LORD from their peace offerings.

The Wave offering!

After the blood anointing and the burnt offering to the Lord we have the wave offering. It is the priests portion, their food supplied by the Israelites because the priests sole function was to serve the Lord and make atonement for the Israelites.

“Let not this distinction be forgotten; the eating of the sacrifice is not intended to give life, for no dead man can eat, but to sustain the life which is there already. A believing look at Christ makes you live, but spiritual life must be fed and sustained.” (Spurgeon)

We feed and sustain our physical life by eating and we sustain our spiritual life by feeding on His word.

Are you feeding and sustaining your spiritual life?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:19-21 Consecrated With The Blood 🩸

19Take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. 20Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Sprinkle the remaining blood on all sides of the altar. 21And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. Then he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments.

Priests are consecrated as His and the blood 🩸 put on the right earlobe, the right thumb and the right big toe. 

But why the right side of the priests? 

Could it be because most people are right handed and the right side is the strongest? 

God demands the firstborn, the first fruits. Then why not the strongest part of man?

“Yes, brethren, we need to know that double anointing, the blood of Jesus which cleanses, and the oil of the Holy Spirit which perfumes us. It is well to see how these two blend in one… It is a terrible blunder to set the blood and the oil in opposition, they must always go together.” (Spurgeon)

Have you been cleansed (consecrated) with the blood 🩸 of Jesus?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:15-18 Transferring Sin!

15Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 16You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar. 17Cut the ram into pieces, wash the entrails and legs, and place them with its head and other pieces. 18Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

“Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head”

Transferring their sin, the ram was receiving the confessed sins of the priests. (Aaron and his sons)

Transferring our sin, God the Father transferred them upon Jesus on the cross and turned away. 

Jesus was the perfect lamb (sacrifice) that was slain for you and me. It was the only way our loving Father could save us from Satan’s grip.

Today when we sin, let’s remember what Jesus did on the cross for us.

Blessings, David

Exodus 29:10-14 Confession and Sacrifice!

10Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. 11And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 12Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 13Take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

“The Hebrew word means more than lightly placing the hand, it gives the idea of pressing hard upon the bullock’s head. They came each one and leaned upon the victim, loading him with their burden, signifying their acceptance of its substitution, their joy that the Lord would accept that victim in their stead. When they put their hands on the bullock, they made a confession of sin.” (Spurgeon)

Every believer can only be consecrated (made right to God) through sacrifice and the confession of sin.

Our consecration should be greater because it can only be accomplished through a far greater sacrifice, Gods only Son!

Confession of sin at the foot of the cross accepting HIS SACRIFICE is a lifetime consecration! 

Blessings, David 

Exodus 29:1-9 Consecration: what is It?

1“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish, 2along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour, 3put them in a basket, and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.

4Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 5Take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastplate. Fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband. 6Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem to the turban. 7Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

8Bring his sons as well, and clothe them with tunics. 9Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.

Consecrate: which is translated "consecrate/sanctify/make holy, " means separation with relationship to God.

“Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love.” (Spurgeon)

Consecrated by the blood of Jesus.

Consecration: what is It?

https://biblehub.com/library/macneil/the_spirit-filled_life/chapter_xii_consecration_what_is.htm

Are you consecrated?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 28:37-43 Turbans, Garments and Armor!

37Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. 38And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.

39You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash. 40Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.

41After you put these garments on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them so that they may serve Me as priests.

42Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh. 43Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.”

“The turban (literally something wound around: the Talmud tells us that eight yards of material were used).” (Cole)

The high priest’s garments were more splendor than the regular priests due to his high office. Some say the undergarment requirements were possibly because of pagan rituals at the time that were performed while being naked. The Lord wanted His priests set apart from the world.

There are times I feel inadequate to do these devotionals. I believe it’s Satans way of scheming with my mind and my faith. I make no claim to be a Chuck Swindoll, a David Guzik or a David Jeremiah.

But the claim I do make is that the (devotions) help me stay focused on Jesus and help me put on the full armor of God.

Aron and his sons put on their priestly garments and turbans, I can only put on the full armor of God.

Do you put on the full armor of God?

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Blessings, David

Exodus 28:31-36 HOLY TO THE LORD!

31You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32with an opening at its top in the center. Around the opening shall be a woven collar with an opening like that of a garment,d so that it will not tear.

33Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them, 34alternating the gold bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe.

35Aaron must wear the robe whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters or exits the sanctuary before the LORD, so that he will not die.

36You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal:

HOLY TO THE LORD.

“The tinkling bells were presumably so that the people outside could trace the movements of the priest within, who was of course invisible to them. By this they would know that his offering had been accepted, and that he had not been struck dead.” (Cole)

HOLY TO THE LORD. This meant the high priest was the servant of God, not man.

“The turban was plain white, with a gold plate placed at the forehead. On the plate were inscribed the words “Holy to the Lord.” This gold plate “will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that [the children of Israel] will be acceptable to the Lord” (Exodus 28:38). This reminder of consecration, placed so conspicuously on the outfit, symbolized the importance of approaching the Lord God in holiness.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/priestly-garments.html

“the importance of approaching the Lord God in holiness.”

How can we approach God In holiness?

No one can approach God unless they are justified, without sin.

How do we become justified?

There is only one way, through Jesus who is our High Priest!

Hebrews 4: 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Is Jesus your high priest?

Blessings, David

Exodus 28:22-30 The Lord Sees the ❤️

22For the breastpiece make braided chains like cords of pure gold. 23You are also to make two gold rings and fasten them to the two corners of the breastpiece. 24Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

26Make two more gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.

27Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband. 28The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.

29Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.

30And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.

What were the Urim and Thummim?

https://www.gotquestions.org/urim-thummim.html

Urim ("lights") and Thummim ("perfections") were gemstones that were carried by the high priest of Israel on the ephod / priestly garments.

“he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart”

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Samuel was to select a new king from the sons of Jesse. He selected a ruddy boy named David. 

1 Samuel 17:42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.

In the Bible we repetitively see references to the heart. We should be reminded “but the LORD sees the heart.”!

The ways of the world teaches us to judge by outward appearance but the Lord sees the heart!

We can’t see what’s in the heart of man but the Lord can.

Don’t judge someone by their outward appearance. 

Blessings, David 

Exodus 28:15-21 Over his heart ❤️

15You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. 16It must be square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.

17And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones:

In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;

18in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

19in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

20and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

Mount these stones in gold filigree settings. 21The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

“This explains why the garment may be called the ‘breastplate of judgment’, since it contains the two oracular stones, by means of which God’s ‘judgment’ might be made known.” (Cole)

Over his heart, the high priest must love the people that he works for. (On his shoulders)

Jesus carried the cross on His shoulders (weight of the world, sin and you) because of His love for you. And one day He will judge all mankind.

Do you recognize a resemblance of the high priest carrying the congregation on his shoulders, wearing the breastplate of judgment and his love for the people with Jesus?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 28:9-14 On His Shoulders!

9Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. 11Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. 12Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

13Fashion gold filigree settings 14and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings.

“Aaron bears Israel’s names before God whenever he enters the Tent, identifying himself with them.” (Cole)

“Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders”, likewise a priest, minister or preacher bears his congregation on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. It’s important that he is in his position for his congregation and not for himself. 

Does your priest, minister or preacher preach the word of God without adding to or taking away from it? 

Blessings, David 

Exodus 28:6-8 Finely Spun Linen

6They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

“Linen was the dress of the noble and the priest in Egypt, chosen both for coolness and cleanliness.” (Cole)

Making finely spun linen and clothing was an art form, a skill not many people possessed. 

Clothing nowadays is made all around the world and is readily available in most stores.

When I was a child my grandmother worked in a clothing store. Many times we would visit her and she wouldn’t let us leave without a set of needed clothing. At Christmas she would give us something needed like a nice sweater a shirt and a pair of slacks.

I remember a story she told me of her childhood growing up on a mountain in Alabama in a large poor family. They had broken into a cabin and found a dresser full of clothing with undergarments they had only dreamed about. She and her sisters stole the clothing. 

Isn’t it interesting she worked in a clothing store?

I have one nice suit that is starting to show its age.

Do you have any fine clothing?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 28 1-5 Holy Priesthood Clothing!

1“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests. 2Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.

3You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. 4These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests. 5They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

“Is then the dismal black, now worn by almost all kinds of priests and ministers, for glory and for beauty? Is it emblematic of any thing that is good, glorious, or excellent? How unbecoming the glad tidings announced by Christian ministers is a colour emblematical of nothing but mourning and woe, sin, desolation, and death!” (Clarke)

1 Peter 2: 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Those of us that are believers in Christ, how are we to clothe ourselves for the holy priesthood?

Colossians 3: 12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Can the world see your holy priesthood clothing?

Blessings, David 

Exodus 27:20-21 Oil and the Holy Spirit!

20And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a perpetual statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.”

“Beaten olive oil, so the Mishnah tells us, refers to the method of production of the very best oil.” (Cole)

“The saintly McCheyne used to say, when urging his brother ministers to diligent preparation for the pulpit: ‘Beaten oil for the sanctuary.’ And he strove to never present to his people truth which had not been beaten out by careful devout meditation.” (Meyer)

“Oil is uniformly the symbol of the Holy Spirit of God. Here, then, is the true value and meaning of this sacred oil. The elect light-bearers of the world are only able to fulfill their function by the Holy Spirit.” (Morgan)

God never wanted to lamps to go out, to go dark. This required constant filling with oil and trimming of the wicks.

The same applies to us, we need to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and be trimmed by the Lord to shine more of His light in this dark world.

How many Christians watched the Super Bowl halftime performances filled with sexual explicit images and thought it was ok, good or great?

If you had invited Jesus to your Super Bowl party would you have left the television on during the halftime?

You have two choices, be filled by the Holy Spirit or be filled by the ways of the world.

Which choice are you choosing?

Blessings, David