Tag: tent-dwellers
Looking for a city!
Scripture reading for November 16th: Hebrews 13:1-25
“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) Jews in the land of Israel viewed the city of Jerusalem as the city of God’s house. They felt that God would protect this city forever and that it would be safe. But God did allow the city to be captured and destroyed by the Babylonians. The writer of Hebrews was telling these Jewish believers that this city of Jerusalem was not the permanent city that God had prepared. This city and temple was now obsolete and passing away. Jesus had warned of it’s destruction because of the Jews rejection of Him. (Matthew 23:37-39) Faith looked ahead to God’s ultimate city that He was preparing for them!
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he didn’t know where he was going. . . .he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8, 9b, 10) Abraham knew of this heavenly city and even as he lived in a tent in the promised land was looking with faith to this heavenly city to be constructed by God Himself. His offspring also had this hope!
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. . .Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-14, 16) All those early pioneers of the Jewish faith understood about the heavenly city and promise of a permanent dwelling place with God. This faith pleased God and in Jesus Christ has prepared this heavenly city! Some of Jesus last instructions to His disciples included the promise that in Father’s house were many rooms and He was preparing a place for them! He is coming back to take all His followers to be with Him in that beautiful place!
Tent-dwellers!
Scripture reading for October 29th: John 1-2
John, the beloved, was the youngest disciples and one of the “sons of thunder”. James and John were in the inner circle of three and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple that Jesus asked from the Cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) John wrote his Gospel to declare that Jesus was the “Son of God”!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John began with a revelation of the Son of God as the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! He always was, is, and will be. The ‘beginning’ spoken of by John was the beginning of created things. By His powerful Word, He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast the extent of the heavens, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people, Israel. This tent was called a “tabernacle” or “Tent of Meeting”. God’s presence marked Israel as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) Most rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. But to those who would and did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” into God’s family! He would send them the Holy Spirit to live in them and they would become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! Why not invite Him to be your Savior today!