How To List
Exodus 23
You can find a list of how-to’s for just about anything. How to get rid of fruit flies in your house. How to get your husband to open up about his feelings (good luck on that one.) And the lists go on and on. Sometimes the list works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Today, God gives us a how-to list, so to speak, on how to live a successful, spiritual life. Here is the list: #1 Live with integrity (vs. 1-9). #2 Take time to rest (vs. 10-13). #3 Take time to celebrate (vs. 14-19). #4 Remember who goes before you (vs. 20-33).
#1 Live with integrity
In the first nine verses, the Mosaic Law addresses a number of issues, as it relates to others. We are to be honest, specifically, in what we say about others. We are to help others in need, even if we don’t like them. These verses also address murder, bribery, and the treatment of foreigners. The point is, someone who professes to be a child of God is to behave with integrity towards others. Otherwise, the name of God will be defamed.
#2 Take time to rest
What is interesting in this passage, is that it’s not just people that need rest, so does the land, apparently. The Law says the Israelites are to rest on the Sabbath day, and in the seventeenth year, the land gets a Sabbath rest all year. Notice, the Law emphasized the benefit to others because of the Sabbath.
Of course, there is great benefit personally of taking a day of rest each week. But have we stopped to think about how it can also benefit others. As a parent, a day to spend with our children, just enjoying one another. How about being less grumpy to those around us when we are well rested? Taking a day each week to rest and worship is absolutely incredible for the soul! It is a gift from God. Are you receiving it?
#3 Take time to celebrate
The Lord instituted seven religious festivals for the Jews to observe. In today’s passage, the Law mentions three of them: Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, and Feast of Ingathering. Our goal today is not to specifically look at each of these, but to make the observation that taking time to celebrate God and His people is a big deal to God.
For us today, we are not required to observe these seven festivals. But we are to still celebrate God. We are to meet regularly for worship together (Hebrews 10:25). We are to observe the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11) and baptism (Matthew 28:19). And Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Every day is the perfect day to take time to celebrate God!
#4 Remember who goes before you
As was mentioned in the Exodus 14 devotional, the angel of God leading the Israelites was none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus would protect and provide for the people and lead them to the promised land. He would also give them victory over their enemies. And guess what? Jesus is still the God who goes before us!
Do you want to live a life that honors and glorifies God? Live with integrity, take time to rest and celebrate, and always remember that Jesus goes before you. And that’s a how-to list I promise will deliver.
Exodus 23
You can find a list of how-to’s for just about anything. How to get rid of fruit flies in your house. How to get your husband to open up about his feelings (good luck on that one.) And the lists go on and on. Sometimes the list works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Today, God gives us a how-to list, so to speak, on how to live a successful, spiritual life. Here is the list: #1 Live with integrity (vs. 1-9). #2 Take time to rest (vs. 10-13). #3 Take time to celebrate (vs. 14-19). #4 Remember who goes before you (vs. 20-33).
#1 Live with integrity
In the first nine verses, the Mosaic Law addresses a number of issues, as it relates to others. We are to be honest, specifically, in what we say about others. We are to help others in need, even if we don’t like them. These verses also address murder, bribery, and the treatment of foreigners. The point is, someone who professes to be a child of God is to behave with integrity towards others. Otherwise, the name of God will be defamed.
#2 Take time to rest
What is interesting in this passage, is that it’s not just people that need rest, so does the land, apparently. The Law says the Israelites are to rest on the Sabbath day, and in the seventeenth year, the land gets a Sabbath rest all year. Notice, the Law emphasized the benefit to others because of the Sabbath.
Of course, there is great benefit personally of taking a day of rest each week. But have we stopped to think about how it can also benefit others. As a parent, a day to spend with our children, just enjoying one another. How about being less grumpy to those around us when we are well rested? Taking a day each week to rest and worship is absolutely incredible for the soul! It is a gift from God. Are you receiving it?
#3 Take time to celebrate
The Lord instituted seven religious festivals for the Jews to observe. In today’s passage, the Law mentions three of them: Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, and Feast of Ingathering. Our goal today is not to specifically look at each of these, but to make the observation that taking time to celebrate God and His people is a big deal to God.
For us today, we are not required to observe these seven festivals. But we are to still celebrate God. We are to meet regularly for worship together (Hebrews 10:25). We are to observe the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11) and baptism (Matthew 28:19). And Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Every day is the perfect day to take time to celebrate God!
#4 Remember who goes before you
As was mentioned in the Exodus 14 devotional, the angel of God leading the Israelites was none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus would protect and provide for the people and lead them to the promised land. He would also give them victory over their enemies. And guess what? Jesus is still the God who goes before us!
Do you want to live a life that honors and glorifies God? Live with integrity, take time to rest and celebrate, and always remember that Jesus goes before you. And that’s a how-to list I promise will deliver.
Posted in Journey of Hope