T A K E F I V E DEVOTIONALS
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, the Bible suggests that they were in the presence of God. No sin, no hangups, just a direct link between man and God. Then when sin came, we decided we wanted to cover ourselves up and hide. The ugliness of not being obedient to God and wanting to do our own thing, in and through our own strength, meant that we could no longer stay around God's light.
When Moses went up into the mountain and fellowshipped with God he didn't see God direcly, yet when he returned from the mountain after forty days the Israelites could not look at him directly because he was glowing with the presence of God.
In the earthly sanctuary the presence of God was replicated in the form of the Shekinah glory hovering between the angels and over the ark of the covenant. The priests could only go in there once a year, on the Day of Atonement and even then they had to go in with bells on their tassells, and had to have handed all their deeds over to God, because sin cannot survive in the presence of God.
But guess what? God decided to reconcile man back to him. He decided to be live with us. Jesus became man and took on the sin that separated us so that we could share in his presence once more. When he died the veil that separated that part of the temple which could only be entered once a year was ripped apart for good. We could once again dwell in Christ. We could now as Paul said "approach the throne of grace, boldy". We will have the opportunity one day as the hymn says to "see him as he his, and share in his brightness". I don't know about you...........?
Father, We thank you that we can speak to you so clearly, and we can't wait until we can see you all face to face. In Jesus name. Amen
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, the Bible suggests that they were in the presence of God. No sin, no hangups, just a direct link between man and God. Then when sin came, we decided we wanted to cover ourselves up and hide. The ugliness of not being obedient to God and wanting to do our own thing, in and through our own strength, meant that we could no longer stay around God's light.
When Moses went up into the mountain and fellowshipped with God he didn't see God direcly, yet when he returned from the mountain after forty days the Israelites could not look at him directly because he was glowing with the presence of God.
In the earthly sanctuary the presence of God was replicated in the form of the Shekinah glory hovering between the angels and over the ark of the covenant. The priests could only go in there once a year, on the Day of Atonement and even then they had to go in with bells on their tassells, and had to have handed all their deeds over to God, because sin cannot survive in the presence of God.
But guess what? God decided to reconcile man back to him. He decided to be live with us. Jesus became man and took on the sin that separated us so that we could share in his presence once more. When he died the veil that separated that part of the temple which could only be entered once a year was ripped apart for good. We could once again dwell in Christ. We could now as Paul said "approach the throne of grace, boldy". We will have the opportunity one day as the hymn says to "see him as he his, and share in his brightness". I don't know about you...........?
Father, We thank you that we can speak to you so clearly, and we can't wait until we can see you all face to face. In Jesus name. Amen
