Moses and the Tent of Meeting..Craig Denison Ministries

 Moses and the Tent of Meeting

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview: 

God’s presence is real, full of love, and completely transformational. It takes what was broken and brings healing. It takes what was lost and guides us to our rightful place in the Father. It satisfies the weary, brings light to the darkness, and pours out the refreshing rain of God’s love on the dryest, deepest parts of the soul. Scripture contains story after story of God coming down to meet God’s children where they are, and your heavenly Father has the same heart for you as he did them. He longs to make the reality of his presence known to you. He longs to refresh you with his nearness. You were created for encountering God, and you will never be satisfied until you continually live in the experience for which you were created. Allow your desires to be stirred up to encounter the living God this week as we read powerful stories of God’s people encountering his manifest presence. May you respond to God’s word by seeking out that for which you were made: continual encounter with your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.” Exodus 33:7

Devotional:    

Stories of Moses and the presence of God stir up my desire to meet with my heavenly Father face-to-face. We read in Exodus of God’s faithfulness to lead, speak to, and encounter Moses. We read of Moses coming before his God boldly and asking for his hand in delivering and forgiving his people. Today, let’s look at the story of Moses and the tent of meeting found in Exodus 33, and allow it to guide us into more consistent and impactful encounters with the living, all-powerful, and all-loving God.

Exodus 33:7-11 says,

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Moses, a sinful, murdering, and fearful man, was able to see the living God “face to face” and speak with him “as a man speaks to his friend.” Picture that tent in your mind’s eye. Picture the cloud of God’s presence descending from heaven in a way that everyone could see. Place yourself in that tent, hearing Moses talk with God, seeing the glory of God face-to-face with a broken, sinful man. What a picture of God’s heart for us! If Moses could enter into the presence of God, surely all of us can. If Moses could speak with God face-to-face, surely we who have been bought with the blood of Christ can. If God would encounter Moses, speak to him, and guide him, he will surely do the same for each of us. In humility today, let’s learn from this man who so faithfully encountered and followed God. Let’s allow this story in Exodus to teach us how we might more fully and consistently meet with our heavenly Father.

The first thing we learn from this text is that Moses set up a place to meet consistently with God. It is crucially important that we find a place we can consistently seek the face of our heavenly Father. We need an uninterrupted time and place to rest in his presence in order to live our lives with his Spirit, word, and love as our foundation and fuel. Where can you meet with God consistently? What time in your day can be uninterrupted? The best time for me to meet with God is early in the morning before the rest of the world awakens to rush and busyness. When I don’t make time at the beginning of my morning to seek God’s face, I scramble to find pockets of time throughout the day. And without this dedicated meeting with God, I have a much more difficult time living my life in light of the glorious goodness I can only discover in his tangible presence. Without consistently encountering my heavenly Father, I struggle to remain free from the burdens, lies, and sin that so easily entangle me though I have been set free by the blood of Jesus. May we be children of God who learn from Moses and make space and time in our lives to meet with our One, True Source of abundant life.

Next, we must believe that God longs to encounter us just as deeply as he longed to encounter Moses. God loves each of us to the absolute fullest extent possible. You are created for intimacy with your heavenly Father. There is no other path to the abundant life and destiny he has called you to than life lived in his presence. And there is no other way to live in step with his Spirit than spending time consistently encountering his presence. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” God’s greatest satisfaction is spending time with his children. His greatest joy is meeting with you face-to-face as he did with Moses. So great was his desire to encounter you that he offered up his only Son as payment for restored relationship. Believe in his desire to encounter you, believe that he will reward you when you seek him, and believe that you will discover a deeper reality of God’s presence than you have ever encountered.

Lastly, know that as you encounter God consistently and abundantly, you will draw others to worship and seek a greater relationship with your heavenly Father. Exodus 33:10 says, “And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.” We are designed to encounter the presence of God. We are made to see him face-to-face. So, living as God designed you—by consistently encountering his presence—will lead others to do the same. Others will see in you what they were created for and begin to pursue deeper relationships with God. The best way to lead others to God is out of consistent encounters with him. In encountering him, we naturally begin to become like him and therefore reveal his heart in all that we do.

May you be drawn into deeper encounters with your heavenly Father, whose love for you knows no bounds. Follow the example of Moses and find a consistent place to spend time seeking God’s face. Have faith that God longs to encounter you and to make himself known to you. And as you spend time in his presence, may you naturally lead others to do the same.

Spend time in worship and guided prayer allowing God to reveal himself fully to you.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on how Moses met with God face-to-face and spoke with him. Allow God’s word to stir your desires to meet directly with him as Moses did.

“When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.” Exodus 33:9

“Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11

2. Now seek the face of God in faith. Come before his throne boldly by the blood of Jesus. Believe that he loves you and longs to encounter you. And open your heart to receive all the love he would pour out on you in this moment.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

3. Rest in the presence of God. Spend time talking with him, receiving more of him, and being transformed by his nearness. Receive his love. Cast your burdens on him. Talk with him about anything that is weighing you down today.

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5

“[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

While we only see a glimpse of God here on earth, a glimpse of him is unequivocally better than any other sight. A glimpse of God is more powerful than a rushing wind, more real than your own skin, more vast than the oceans put together, and more satisfying than time spent with your closest friend. Whatever longing that feels unsatisfied can be quenched with a glimpse of your God. Run to his presence when you have need, or when you feel attacked or unfulfilled. Run to your tent of meeting when you need refreshment or guidance, or to talk with God. May you grow in your desire and ability to meet with your heavenly Father face-to-face, to talk with him and to be satisfied in his love.

Extended Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

The One Voice I’m Learning To Listen to as a Mom..RUTH SCHWENK

The One Voice I’m Learning To Listen to as a Mom
RUTH SCHWENK

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16 (NIV)

Long gone are the diapers and sippy cups. No more onesies. Or high chairs. And as my children have outgrown one season and grown into another, becoming teens and young adults, I’ve been experiencing some “proud mom” moments — coupled with sighs of relief — as I see the fruit of my labor as a mom becoming a reality.

No, this relief isn’t because my children are perfect or because I feel like I have “made it.” The relief is that through 20 years of being a mom, I am learning who to listen to.

We all have those voices in our lives, often speaking with sincerity, that try to help us by telling us what we should or shouldn’t do or be. Those voices can seem especially loud for us moms. Maybe it is even our own voice speaking words of insecurity, shame or inadequacy. Whatever voices seem the loudest, this new season of mine is marked not by becoming deaf to those voices but instead by becoming far more discerning. I still want to listen and learn. But when it comes to who I listen to and am shaped by, I'm more selective.

It’s no surprise that as we turn to the pages of the Bible, we are often told to listen to voices of wisdom and truth. A good example is Romans 8:16: “The [Holy] Spirit himself,” Paul writes, “testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” One of the primary jobs of the Holy Spirit is to speak to us. He reminds us who we are. His job is to testify to what is true. So the voice I am learning to listen to the most is God’s voice.

Yes, we listen to the voices of others to learn and grow, but ultimately God’s voice guides us and grounds us in this journey. Here are three reasons we listen to God’s voice above all the rest:

 1. God’s voice reminds us that we are loved. 

What really grounds us is not seeing the fruit of our labor, getting thanked for it, or feeling respected and fulfilled because of it. What steadies our souls is that our Father deeply loves us, and we are in Christ through faith. We are God’s children, fully accepted and cherished, not because of our works as moms but because of the work of Christ.

2. God’s voice leads us without driving us. 

People’s voices try to drive us as moms, telling us what we should be and do. Too often, we get caught up in the chorus and become driven by fear, pride or insecurity. In contrast, the voice of God is one that “will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13a, NIV, emphasis added). He reminds us that motherhood is not a race or a competition. Just as He is leading us, He is leading our children. We don’t have to be anxious, fearful or envious.

3. God’s voice makes us more like Jesus.

Many times, the voices around us tell us what we’re not. God's good and gracious voice reminds us of the hope of who we are becoming. Motherhood is not about perfection; motherhood is about God making us more like our perfect Savior, Jesus, every day. This process of being perfected is a lifelong journey of the Holy Spirit’s work inside us that will one day be complete when Christ returns. We are to tune our ears to Him — the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). He alone can truly help us when we are weak, and He humbles us when we rely too much on our own strength.

So today when you hear all those outside voices, or maybe even the ones inside, stop and listen. But listen first to the voice of love and truth — the voice that matters the most. The voice of a good and perfect Father who saves all who trust in His Son, Jesus. The voice of the One who calls you His own.

Dear Jesus, help me to hear You first — and to listen to who You say I am — before I ever look or listen to others in this motherhood journey. Thank You for loving me just as I am and for loving me so much that You don’t want me to miss opportunities to become more like You. Help me to learn and grow as I follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Seeking a Way Out of Temptation..Emily Rose Massey

 Seeking a Way Out of Temptation

By Emily Rose Massey

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

There I was at 2 AM, scrolling Instagram mindlessly once again and getting sucked into the black hole of “influencers” advertising product after product, sale after sale, deal after deal. It was getting so out of hand that I was clicking “add to cart” and hiding the packages from my husband when the boxes showed up on our doorstep a few days later. I knew it was wrong, but it felt the familiar temptation of impulsive buying. Though they can feel extremely hard to resist, no temptation is too strong for us to overcome. It is important to remember not to act solely on our feelings. God’s Word to renews our minds with the truth and wisdom we need to make healthy and righteous choices. The Apostle Paul referenced the self-control we need to overcome temptations we face in 1 Corinthians: 

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

Intersecting Faith and Life:
God is faithful to help us walk in righteousness. He gives us the grace to walk freely from alluring and enticing sinful habits. If we allow our flesh to rule us, we will follow it into a pit of unrighteousness. There is forgiveness for us in Christ, but we must repent when we find ourselves continuing on a path of unrighteous choices. We may feel like the temptation is too much to bear, but God always provides us with a way of escape; we must ask the Lord to give us wisdom and spiritual eyes to see the way out. Personally, I wisely unfollowed influencers’ pages so the temptation of what they were sharing was no longer continually before my eyes. 

The Holy Spirit is faithful to give us wisdom and guidance and strengthen us when we submit our ways to Him. He will convict our hearts, remind us of what the Bible says, and cultivate the fruit we have received, especially the fruit of self-control. As believers, we have received the fruit of the Spirit, and just like fruit in the natural, it must be cultivated. The longer we walk with the Lord and study His Word, the more our fruit is developed and strengthened within us. Therefore, may we continually ask for God’s help when we are tempted and trust He will help us overcome sin when we struggle. 

Are there things you are trying to control in your life, but it is just leading you to lose all self-control?  Do you allow your emotions or other people to influence your decisions and behaviors? My advice to you, beloved one, is not to follow God and keep your eyes out for the way of escape He provides when you are tempted to sin. He knows what you need more than you do. Instead, trust Him with your entire heart, and He will mold it to look more like His. 

Further Reading:

• Mark 14:38
• Ephesians 6:11-12
• James 1:2-4

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled..Becca Stevens

 Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

By Becca Stevens

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It was time to say good-bye.

Jesus looked into the eyes of his disciples and saw fear and heartbreak. The moment had come for him to return to the Father, and the disciples were “filled with grief” at the prospect of facing the future without Jesus physically beside them (16:6).

Perhaps, at first glance, it seems somewhat callous that Jesus would admonish his friends to "not let their hearts be troubled and to not be afraid," but his challenge rested on the beautiful promise he offered next. Jesus had already told them that even though he was leaving this world, he would always abide, live, in them (16:7). Now, he assured them that he would not leave them without comfort. He would send his Holy Spirit to sustain and guide them.

And he does the same for us.

Like the disciples we discover that in grieving, hearts can grow stronger, and in pain, there is comfort. Because God has given us his Spirit, his love abides. On long nights when worries sit by our beds, on gray days when we wonder how the clock ticks seamlessly as hours drag on, and on lonely roads when longing overshadows community, our desire for love does not cease.

Love moves mountains, it is filled with mercy and compassion, and it reaches across the world and through time. Love expands our hearts, it sits still with us, it grieves with us, and it heals us. Love gives us a glimpse of the glorious heavens and the fearful valley. Love gives us ears to hear the angel say once again to us, “Fear not, for God is with you.”

Prayer:

Our Father,

We make our prayer in silence, troubled by the fears in our hearts and anxieties in this world. Sometimes, we can be paralyzed by the thought of tomorrow and what awaits in the days ahead. We are but children stumbling in the darkness and groping for Your hand. Do not hide Your presence from us or reject us in our weaknesses and fear. Guide us in the darkness toward your loving light, and help us walk in peace. There are so many things to fear and so many fears that keep us lonely. Let us put our whole trust in you and come to wisdom and understanding - and all for love’s sake. Amen.

A Mom’s Prayer for Loyal Friends..Meg Bucher

 A Mom’s Prayer for Loyal Friends

By Meg Bucher

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Proverbs 17:17 NLT

Loneliness washed over me, sucking my energy back out with its undertow. Over and over, as the tide crept onto the beach, the scenario played around in my mind. I love friends …and it stings to lose one. Motherhood has washed all kinds of friends into my life—new people, seasoned old friends …family bonds, and mother-daughter inside jokes. 

Motherhood friendships often begin in the throes of pregnancy as we bond over the preparation to welcome a new life into the world. The toddler years produce library story times and playdates, visits with grandparents and family, and the excitement of discovering a new personality as they wobble and find their way to their first steps. Yet, nothing steels our hearts as those first friends who share in the original seasons of motherhood with us. Pre-school days further connect us to our communities. We watch them connect and grow alongside classmates as we connect with families at the kids’ pickup line on Sundays after service and daily waiting in the hallway for them to bound out of their classrooms. 

The days go by, and we continue to accumulate a plethora of people we are now connected to. Our time begins filling up, and we start prioritizing who our favorite people are. These relationships ebb and flow, bringing laughter and comfort as life progresses. But occasionally, loyal friends who stick by us, closer than a brother, as the verse in Proverbs proclaims. When they leave our lives, it’s tempting to give up prioritizing another relationship to replace them. I hate it when a friendship fails or falls away. But I trust the Lord more, knowing He will always have another loyal friend in wait around the corner. Keep loving each other, mommas. Life’s not perfect, nor is any friendship. Jesus will always be our most loyal and loving friend, and when we follow His lead, we will be able to see the people who have been placed in our lives to love …and to love us. 

Let’s pray: 
Father, 

Praise You for the way You purposefully place people in our lives. As mothers, we long for loyal friends we can count on to empathize, support, and laugh with us, Lord. Help us to see the people in our lives as You see them, Father. Please help us to hold them close but loose. Let us always look to You first for all our needs, and never place that burden on a human being no matter how loyal and loving of a friend they are. Teach us, Father, to be the kind of friend Jesus is to us. Let us be outward facing, God, and self-aware, so we can be the kind of friend we pray for. Loyalty is often used as a tool to control others in our lives. Father, we want to be people who free our friends, not make them feel less than or suffocated. Help us pour our hearts to You before we lean on our friends. Remind us to prayerfully lift our friends each day, Father. Motherhood is busy and bold, full of decisions and reactions …questions and celebrations. It truly flies by, Father. 

Today, we pray for loyal friends who will become as close as a brother to us. Whether different friends in different seasons or lifelong stand-bys, we pray for friends. Surround us with Your love in the form of loyal friends and teach us to be loyal and loving friends to the people in our lives, Father. Foster in our hearts to be quick to forgive, honest, kind, Christ-centered, humble, and encouraging. Convict us when we have wronged a friend, and miraculously reconcile what we don’t have the power or wisdom too. Father, when we are lonely, missing a friend who has left our lives, we ask for Your comfort and care as we hesitantly open our hearts up to friendship again. Heal our hearts from the hurt of betrayal, dishonesty, and lack of loyalty. Let us follow Your wisdom above our feelings, God. Bless our lives with loyal friends. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

A Faith Worth Passing Down..Dr. Charles Stanley

 A Faith Worth Passing Down

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 1:3-5

The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith--the confident conviction that God is who He says and will do all He has promised. Timothy's strong relationship with Christ didn't materialize out of thin air; it grew as a result of his mother and grandmother's example.

Here are ways we, too, can hand down a rich legacy to the next generation:

1. Teach practical biblical principles. Kids need to know God's views on material wealth (Ps. 24:1), meeting needs (Phil. 4:19), and direction in life (Prov. 3:5-6).
2. Model character through lifestyle. How we live--whether with transparency, peace, and perseverance, or with fear, anxiety, and self-reliance--loudly communicates what we believe about God.
3. Serve God by serving others. Actions show that our faith is real (James 2:26). If we want kids not to develop a self-centered perspective, servanthood is key.
4. Intercede for them. Children won't forget hearing us pray regularly for them.
5. Communicate love. Young people need to know we love them the way God loves us--unconditionally rather than based on what they do or don't do. Spoken words of love breathe life into their hearts. And as we affirm them for trusting God, they see that we value their spiritual growth.

As parents, we must be intentional about leading and inspiring our sons and daughters to follow Christ. But even those without children of their own can leave a legacy. The example to follow is Paul: though neither married nor a natural parent, he was a spiritual father to many (1 Cor. 4:14-16).