"And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest." ... Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering.
(Exodus 28:2-3; 35:21 NKJV)
Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place ...
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.
(Psalms 132:7-9 NKJV)
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24 NKJV)
Someone once said something like, "The sciences teach us to sustain life; the arts teach us to make life worth sustaining." Yet the work of gifted artisans is sometimes seen as frivolous and unessential.
God's gifts are never intended to be used for the frivolous and unessential. The arts bring to worship—both corporate and private—a purposeful and vital ministry. Whoever else our ministry reaches, it ministers first to the Lord Himself. The Father seeks out true worshipers, who minister to Him and to those He loves.
Worshipers may be in the congregation, faithful preachers, or gifted artisans. All are ministers—priests—clothed with righteousness to proclaim the Word of God in spirit and truth. And ministry is a sacred offering of worship, whether presented in church on Sunday morning, or to someone else, somewhere else, some other time of the week.
Lord YHWH, thank You for Your calling to us who are Christ's. Thank You for making us a royal priesthood, privileged to minister to You. Good Father, we ask: please reveal to us Your truth and give to us Your Holy Spirit in greater fullness, that we may bring before You a worthy offering of worship.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
God's Favorite Place
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. ... And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:1-2,8 NKJV)
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV)
Thus says the LORD:
"Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest? ...
On this one will I look [with favor]:
On him who is [desperately] poor and of a contrite [broken] spirit,
And who trembles at My word."
(Isaiah 66:1-2 NKJV, amplified)
Our God desires to dwell close to His people. Ever since God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He has worked toward again having the sweet fellowship of "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" with us.
The Old Testament tabernacle was designed according to the heavenly sanctuary, and is a picture of the New Testament reality: God's presence dwelling inside the temple of our bodies. "Inside" is definitely close.
How does one draw the favor of the Lord's attention, and experience the filling of the Holy Spirit? By having a humble attitude desperate for God, by being broken for sin, and by hearing His Word with a heart so attentive that it trembles at His voice.
O Lord our God, King of the Universe, how is it that You, whose throne is in heaven, should long to dwell within us? It would be enough to be near You. Please humble us, break us, shake us—and look upon us as Your favorite place to rest.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love." — God
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV)
Thus says the LORD:
"Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest? ...
On this one will I look [with favor]:
On him who is [desperately] poor and of a contrite [broken] spirit,
And who trembles at My word."
(Isaiah 66:1-2 NKJV, amplified)
Our God desires to dwell close to His people. Ever since God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, He has worked toward again having the sweet fellowship of "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" with us.
The Old Testament tabernacle was designed according to the heavenly sanctuary, and is a picture of the New Testament reality: God's presence dwelling inside the temple of our bodies. "Inside" is definitely close.
How does one draw the favor of the Lord's attention, and experience the filling of the Holy Spirit? By having a humble attitude desperate for God, by being broken for sin, and by hearing His Word with a heart so attentive that it trembles at His voice.
O Lord our God, King of the Universe, how is it that You, whose throne is in heaven, should long to dwell within us? It would be enough to be near You. Please humble us, break us, shake us—and look upon us as Your favorite place to rest.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love." — God
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday’s Freelance: FAMILY
Note to readers:
A new blog feature for weekends will be a brief freelance piece. As with all posts, the emphasis will continue to be edifying Christ’s people—Building His Body.
I love to travel.
The best part of travel is meeting other Christians. I attended a Christian writer’s conference two weeks ago and met the influential (Allen Arnold, Sue Brower) and the unknown (Karen Ingle, Kay Mabry), authors both famous (Angela Hunt, John Olson) and not yet famous (Golden Keyes Parsons, Paul Robertson). Each of them touched my life in a way I will not forget.
There were some whose lives I touched. Sharon Ewell Foster and I worshiped together in a powerful way. Christa Allan and I prayed together before an editor appointment. There are at least a couple dozen more people I would include who are likely to bore most of you but who hold great significance to me.
They are significant not because they are well known (some are, some aren’t), but because each of them is a beloved family member I can’t wait to see again. They are my sisters and my brothers in Christ, connected by a very real blood tie.
All eight of my natural siblings are far from me. One is already in heaven. One doesn’t want to go there. I love and miss all eight of them enough to bring tears to my eyes as they now come to mind.
God has graciously surrounded me with other siblings, everywhere I go. When we connect briefly and then part company, I sometimes tell people I’m unlikely to see again this side of heaven, "I’ll see you soon." As we then go our separate ways, I take comfort in knowing that we really won’t be separated for all that long.
DO'S AND DONT'S (today's devotion piece)
"And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year: lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou art fruitful, and possess the land." (Exodus 23:28-30 Darby)
"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there."
(Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV)
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ... And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luke 6:27-28,31 NKJV)
If we stop doing anything, it was more likely crowded out than pushed out. Consciously attempting to push something out leaves a void most easily filled by whatever conforms to its shape. But putting new things into our lives naturally crowds out whatever fails to hold our attention. The principle works with both good and bad fillers.
The Law of Moses already provides plenty of thou-shall-not's to address actions. When Jesus says "do not," He speaks against fear, false beliefs, sinful attitudes and words—and emulating the proud behavior of the religious elite. His teachings rarely (if ever) say "do not" to forbid sinful actions. Jesus' words are filled with all the things to DO.
As right attitude—fruit of the Spirit—fills our lives with right actions, all the wrong DO NOT's that we've failed to push out are crowded out. It's too bad that "What would Jesus do?" has become cliché. Its principle is far more effective than prohibition.
Lord Jesus, You are the greatest Teacher the world has known, because You Yourself are Love, Truth, Goodness. Please turn our eyes away from all we should not be, and help us keep our attention on You, Your Word, and what You would do unto others.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
A new blog feature for weekends will be a brief freelance piece. As with all posts, the emphasis will continue to be edifying Christ’s people—Building His Body.
I love to travel.
The best part of travel is meeting other Christians. I attended a Christian writer’s conference two weeks ago and met the influential (Allen Arnold, Sue Brower) and the unknown (Karen Ingle, Kay Mabry), authors both famous (Angela Hunt, John Olson) and not yet famous (Golden Keyes Parsons, Paul Robertson). Each of them touched my life in a way I will not forget.
There were some whose lives I touched. Sharon Ewell Foster and I worshiped together in a powerful way. Christa Allan and I prayed together before an editor appointment. There are at least a couple dozen more people I would include who are likely to bore most of you but who hold great significance to me.
They are significant not because they are well known (some are, some aren’t), but because each of them is a beloved family member I can’t wait to see again. They are my sisters and my brothers in Christ, connected by a very real blood tie.
All eight of my natural siblings are far from me. One is already in heaven. One doesn’t want to go there. I love and miss all eight of them enough to bring tears to my eyes as they now come to mind.
God has graciously surrounded me with other siblings, everywhere I go. When we connect briefly and then part company, I sometimes tell people I’m unlikely to see again this side of heaven, "I’ll see you soon." As we then go our separate ways, I take comfort in knowing that we really won’t be separated for all that long.
===============================
DO'S AND DONT'S (today's devotion piece)
"And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year: lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou art fruitful, and possess the land." (Exodus 23:28-30 Darby)
"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there."
(Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV)
"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ... And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." (Luke 6:27-28,31 NKJV)
If we stop doing anything, it was more likely crowded out than pushed out. Consciously attempting to push something out leaves a void most easily filled by whatever conforms to its shape. But putting new things into our lives naturally crowds out whatever fails to hold our attention. The principle works with both good and bad fillers.
The Law of Moses already provides plenty of thou-shall-not's to address actions. When Jesus says "do not," He speaks against fear, false beliefs, sinful attitudes and words—and emulating the proud behavior of the religious elite. His teachings rarely (if ever) say "do not" to forbid sinful actions. Jesus' words are filled with all the things to DO.
As right attitude—fruit of the Spirit—fills our lives with right actions, all the wrong DO NOT's that we've failed to push out are crowded out. It's too bad that "What would Jesus do?" has become cliché. Its principle is far more effective than prohibition.
Lord Jesus, You are the greatest Teacher the world has known, because You Yourself are Love, Truth, Goodness. Please turn our eyes away from all we should not be, and help us keep our attention on You, Your Word, and what You would do unto others.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Bondservant
A Hebrew [bond]servant ... shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free.... But if the servant plainly says, "I love my master ... I will not go out free," then his master shall bring him to the judges ... and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. (Exodus 21:2,5-6 NKJV)
Let the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus. Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped. Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. (Philippians 2:5-7 WNT)
"Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28 NKJV)
A Hebrew slave had the option after six years to go free or remain bondservant—a slave for life—to a beloved master. At least five prominent men (Paul, James, Simon Peter, Jude, and Epaphras) each willingly called himself a bondservant of Christ. Jesus Himself revealed the person of God in the position of bondservant.
A bondservant—a slave—does not retain title to his life, does not live for himself, does not choose what to do. He (or she) fully belongs to another.
The Bible not only portrays the position of bondservant as advantageous when one has a good Master, but Jesus defines it as the path to greatness. Those who hesitate to make Jesus Lord and Master over themselves do so to their detriment.
Lord Jesus, my beloved Master, I will not go out free. Your blood marks me as Yours. I gladly belong to You. I fully trust You. I willingly allow You to direct my life however You see fit. Please let me know Your will for me in all things, and give me the strength and desire to perform it.
"Having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." — Paul
Feedback is invited!
Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments"
or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Let the same disposition be in you which was in Christ Jesus. Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped. Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. (Philippians 2:5-7 WNT)
"Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28 NKJV)
A Hebrew slave had the option after six years to go free or remain bondservant—a slave for life—to a beloved master. At least five prominent men (Paul, James, Simon Peter, Jude, and Epaphras) each willingly called himself a bondservant of Christ. Jesus Himself revealed the person of God in the position of bondservant.
A bondservant—a slave—does not retain title to his life, does not live for himself, does not choose what to do. He (or she) fully belongs to another.
The Bible not only portrays the position of bondservant as advantageous when one has a good Master, but Jesus defines it as the path to greatness. Those who hesitate to make Jesus Lord and Master over themselves do so to their detriment.
Lord Jesus, my beloved Master, I will not go out free. Your blood marks me as Yours. I gladly belong to You. I fully trust You. I willingly allow You to direct my life however You see fit. Please let me know Your will for me in all things, and give me the strength and desire to perform it.
"Having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." — Paul
Feedback is invited!
Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments"
or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Inheritance
"For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy [chesed] to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Exodus 20:5-6 NKJV)
The LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name... That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance. (Deuteronomy 10:8-9 NIV)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
Children inherit from parents material wealth, DNA which determines looks and health, inclinations that define personality—and they inherit sin. Does anything make a parent's sin as clear as seeing it acted out by an uninhibited child? And what can turn us from sin as compellingly as seeing our children suffer for inheriting it?
A spiritual inheritance can also be holy [goodness to the extreme]. The Levites were set apart as God's ministers, qualified by their bloodline. The priesthood belonged to the future generations of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel.
The blood of our High Priest, Jesus Christ, qualifies us as His priests—vessels to carry the marvelous light of the Lord's covenant, ministers of His Word to speak His blessings. We are His own special people, whose inheritance of privilege is to stand before the Lord and proclaim His praises.
Abba, Father, You have given Your children an inheritance above all others. Thank You for the blood of Your Son by which we become Yours. Please deliver us from the sin that yet ensnares us and our children.
"I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall always be in my mouth." — David
Feedback is invited!
Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments"
or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
The LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name... That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance. (Deuteronomy 10:8-9 NIV)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
Children inherit from parents material wealth, DNA which determines looks and health, inclinations that define personality—and they inherit sin. Does anything make a parent's sin as clear as seeing it acted out by an uninhibited child? And what can turn us from sin as compellingly as seeing our children suffer for inheriting it?
A spiritual inheritance can also be holy [goodness to the extreme]. The Levites were set apart as God's ministers, qualified by their bloodline. The priesthood belonged to the future generations of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel.
The blood of our High Priest, Jesus Christ, qualifies us as His priests—vessels to carry the marvelous light of the Lord's covenant, ministers of His Word to speak His blessings. We are His own special people, whose inheritance of privilege is to stand before the Lord and proclaim His praises.
Abba, Father, You have given Your children an inheritance above all others. Thank You for the blood of Your Son by which we become Yours. Please deliver us from the sin that yet ensnares us and our children.
"I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall always be in my mouth." — David
Feedback is invited!
Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments"
or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
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