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Respite For the Weary
Dear Children,Did you know that after Moses went up to the mountain to talk with God concerning the Ten Commandments, his face shone bright like the sun? The holiness of God created the radiance on Moses’ face. And did you know that a long, long time ago, in the Old Testament, God lived in a Holy Temple which His people, the Israelites, built for Him? You could not see Him, but His presence was there in the form of a thick cloud. There was one room called the Holy of Holies where His Spirit resided. No one, except the High Priest at that time, could enter this throne room because it was so full of the glory of God. If they did, they were sure to die.Let me give you another picture of God’s holiness, as you listen to this true story found in the Bible...Once upon a time, king David, along with the Israelite people, desired to worship their God and celebrate His goodness by singing and dancing before His holy presence. In order to do this, they felt the ark of the a covenant needed to be carried back to their city.Now, the ark was a holy representation of God’s presence among His people. God Himself had given specific instructions on how this “holy treasure box” should be transported from city to city. The men of Israel, however, disregarded God’s instruction, and decided to carry the ark on a cart pulled by an ox. At one point in their travel, the ox almost turned the cart over, which caused the ark to wobble. A man named Uzzah saw this shifting, so he quickly reached out his hand to steady the holy ark. But when his hand touched the ark, God struck him down instantly, and he died (I Chron. 13:9-10). You see, children, God had specifically warned His people not to touch the ark! Uzzah’s tragic death was a serious reminder to the Israelites, and to us, that God is too holy for our human touch!However, an amazing thing has happened! Do you know where this holy God now lives? He can live in you! If you believe, sweet children, that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, then His Holy Spirit will come and live in your heart. He is the bridge between the human heart and God’s heart. You now are His holy temple, and your heart is the Holy of Holies. Jesus, the perfect High Priest, lives in you. We do not have to be terrified of His presence any longer, just awed that a God so full of power and greatness has graciously chosen to live inside His people! He longs to live in your heart and reign over it. He can “make your face shine” too! Please let Him, sweet ones, for He is all good, all loving, and altogether holy.
I love you
1. Take a flashlight into a dark room. Turn it on, and explain how God’s holiness penetrates darkness.2. Stay in the dark room, put a white pillow case over the flashlight.3. From this illustration, discuss how God’s holiness (flashlight) can shine through you.
O Lord God,I pray my children will be given a great understanding of exactly Whom they serve. You are holy— omniscient, all powerful, altogether righteous, pure and awesome God:You are the God who parted the Red Sea, making water stand like a wallYou are the God who caused fire to come down from heaven—consuming the sacrifice, the water, the wood, and even the stones around it.You are the God, who can make a mountain tremble and shake because of your presence; and a temple curtain tear from top to bottom because of your plan.Thank you, dear God, for the gift of being able to enter into the Holy of Holies because of the blood Jesus shed on the cross. You are our High Priest, Lord Jesus! Previous to Your holy sacrifice, no one could come before You without the fear of possible death. But now, because of You, we can come boldly with the reverence, the awe, and the gratitude of LIFE everlasting! You are the God of compassion, the God of purity, the God of absolute power, and the God of amazing love! “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty” (Rev. 4:8)Please give my children the reverential fear of Your character, dear God, which is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 11:10). May they never see You as a small god who is here only to fulfill their big wish list. Instead, may they consider the magnitude of Your holiness as they humbly, yet confidently, approach Your throne of grace on bended knee. With a thankful heart, may they present to You their praises for who You are, their confession for who they are not; and then, their petitions for what you would have them to be, through Your power and for Your glory. May You reign, dear Father, as holy King of kings in their lives.
Amen
Ex. 34:1-8, 28-35; Ex. 40:34,38; Chron. 13:1-14; Rom. 5:5-6; Rev. 3:20; I Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 2:12-15; Ps. 34:5
Is. 46:8-10; Heb. 4:14-16; Is. 6:1-2,8; Rom. 12:1; Ps. 27:4-5
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
Dear Lord,
Why do we insist on holding heavy burdens when you tell us to give them to you? Help us to first name these things, and then may we "see" ourselves placing each one into your arms. You are able to carry our load, we are not. In Jesus' Name, Amen.