WEEK 12, Day 1, Monday, 21 March 2022

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 21 March 2022:

Exodus 28:2 — “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.”

Aaron’s glory and honor came from his service to God. The garments were not intended to point to Aaron but rather to his position under God. God does not share glory and honor with people. All glory and honor goes to Him. Never let anyone point to you rather than Jesus.

Exodus 28:3 — “You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill.”

Through the Spirit, God gives skills to serve Him. Our skills were not intended to serve self.

Exodus 28:35 — “And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.”

Aaron could not be seen by the people while he performed his priestly role inside the Holy Place, but he could be heard. This likely served as a constant reminder to both Aaron and the people of the importance of his every move before God and on the behalf of the people. It likely also served as a reassurance to the people that Aaron was actively faithful before the Lord as their intermediary. Perhaps we should also place things in our lives to continually remind us we are always “before the face of God” (Coram Deo), that we should be “always faithful before the face of God” (Semper Fidelis Coram Deo) in our every deed, that our every action should be intentionally directed towards reconciliation — bring others closer to Jesus, and that others should have constant evidence of our ministry to them before the Lord, confidence that we are always praying for them.

Acts 28:2 — “The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.”

Christians don’t have a monopoly on hospitality. Don’t let the unbeliever outdo your kindness.

Acts 28:4 — “Justice has not allowed him to live.”

Even unbelievers have a sense of eternal justice. However, they don’t understand that justice can only come from God, the only Just One, the source of all justice and wisdom.

Acts 28:11 — “After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.”

God can use ungodly resources and systems to spread the Gospel. Paul was not overly offended by these figureheads because he knew they meant nothing at all. Pay no regard and give no credit to idols and superstitions. Remember, all power and authority on earth has been given to Jesus by the Father. That means that Satan has none.

Acts 28:14 — “There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days.”

God wants you to seek out fellow believers wherever you go. God wants you to care for and support fellow believers.

Acts 28:23 — “From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.”

How hard are you willing to try to convince others about Jesus.

Acts 28:24 — “And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.”

Some will believe and some won’t. You are not called to do the sifting, just the preaching.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 21 March 22: Go out of your way to find and fellowship with other Christian believers today. (Acts 28:14, 15)