Carry the Flame - Renew Your Heart & Revive the Worldنموونە

READING

It was a defining moment when God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments. These ten laws would help to shape their national identity. They were foundational for their ethics and values. The Ten Commandments set them apart from all other nations. No other people spoke with Yahweh on Mt. Sinai. And even today, long after the new covenant that Jesus brought to every nation, we study the Ten Commandments. They reveal the heart and character of God.

Today’s scripture reading is what happened right before the Ten Commandments were given. Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites had to prepare for this defining moment with God. They did so by “consecrating” themselves (vs. 10, 14, 22). They purified themselves through ritual washing of their bodies and clothes, and by setting strict boundaries around Mt. Sinai, where God’s presence would be. They got ready for an encounter with God, not just in their hearts or spirits, but with their physical bodies and possessions.

In today’s video, Pastor Jim Cymbala says that we should “consecrate ourselves” for sharing the love of Jesus with those around us. He compares Christians today with the seventy-two people Jesus sent ahead of him in Luke 10:1-2. Like those ordinary people, every follower of Jesus is tasked to simply, and in their own way, share the Good News with others.

What would it look like to consecrate yourself for the day? Whatever you face today—work, schooling, parenting, whatever—includes an opportunity to share the love of God, and the good news of salvation. How might you purify yourself for your day? What can you do, both spiritually and physically, to set apart for God the interactions you will have with others?

We serve the same God of Exodus 19—all-powerful and not to be trifled with. We also serve the same God of Exodus 20—loving and eager to keep his people from sin. Consecrate yourself for his sake and for the sake of others today.

REFLECTION

Who will you connect with today? How can you share the love of God with them?

Take a minute to think about how the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Now think about the physical distance between God and his people in Exodus 19. How does this affect your understanding of God?

Read Matthew 12:1-4. Jesus used a discussion about consecrated bread to demonstrate that God was up to something new.

PRAYER

Dear God, I confess these sins to you today… [name your sin]. I am grateful for your presence in my life. Through Jesus, the boundary to you has been broken. Use me to share your love and good news today and every day. Amen.