Today's readings are 1 Samuel 6.1-19 and 1 Corinthians 9.1-23.
The presence of the living God is a frightening thing. Recall how when the ark was taken into the hands of the Philistines God showed that he was perfectly capable of watching out for himself. Now, en route to Jerusalem, Uzzah's rash action in trying to protect God from harm is used as an example to all of us. God needs no protection. He asks no protection. He is not the one who is protected. He is, on the contrary, the protector himself. He has appointed means to approach him. Those who approach outside of those means are taking God's law into their own hands, which is never a good thing to do.
How do we approach God? In these last days, this Christian era, we come to God in Christ by faith, believing that in fact Jesus has already taken care of all our sin, all that makes us unacceptable to God. We can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer by faith in Jesus. We can receive forgiveness in the name of Jesus as it is promised. We are baptized into the name of God, claimed as his possessions, again, realizing by faith that we are God's possessions. We approach God as we believe that the Scripture is profitable and has spoken to us, revealing the nature and character of our Lord.
Notice, finally, that the ark is being brought into Jerusalem. Here we see a sign of the God who is present with and for his people. Likewise, Jesus was called "Emmanuel" meaning "God with us." He has visited us with blessing and salvation. Let us give thanks to our Lord.
The presence of the living God is a frightening thing. Recall how when the ark was taken into the hands of the Philistines God showed that he was perfectly capable of watching out for himself. Now, en route to Jerusalem, Uzzah's rash action in trying to protect God from harm is used as an example to all of us. God needs no protection. He asks no protection. He is not the one who is protected. He is, on the contrary, the protector himself. He has appointed means to approach him. Those who approach outside of those means are taking God's law into their own hands, which is never a good thing to do.
How do we approach God? In these last days, this Christian era, we come to God in Christ by faith, believing that in fact Jesus has already taken care of all our sin, all that makes us unacceptable to God. We can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer by faith in Jesus. We can receive forgiveness in the name of Jesus as it is promised. We are baptized into the name of God, claimed as his possessions, again, realizing by faith that we are God's possessions. We approach God as we believe that the Scripture is profitable and has spoken to us, revealing the nature and character of our Lord.
Notice, finally, that the ark is being brought into Jerusalem. Here we see a sign of the God who is present with and for his people. Likewise, Jesus was called "Emmanuel" meaning "God with us." He has visited us with blessing and salvation. Let us give thanks to our Lord.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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