4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Exodus 24:17-18 (CSB): “The appearance of the LORD’s glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
In four days, we will arrive at Exodus 33. That’s a fascinating chapter. In it, the Lord and Moses have a conversation, and we get to sit and listen. If you read that chapter and feel the flow of the back-and-forth, verse 18 seems to come from left field. Seemingly from nowhere, Moses requests:
Exodus 33:18 (CSB): “Then Moses said, ‘Please, let me see your glory.'”
In other words, Moses essentially asked, “Lord, please let me experience your incredible presence. Let my senses come alive as I bask in the beauty and power of who you are. Let me have an experience of you that nothing else in this world could ever come close to.”
So, we would ask ourselves: “Is Moses asking for something that he has never experienced, and so his request is driven by a blind curiosity? Or is Moses asking for something that he has already experienced, and he wants to experience it again?”
Given today’s readings in Exodus, we realize that Moses knew exactly what he was asking. He had already experienced the beauty and power of the Lord’s presence. He had already been immersed in it and so captivated by it that he didn’t want to leave for 40 days, even to get a bite to eat.
Exodus 24:17-18 (CSB): “The appearance of the LORD’s glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”
When I read and reflect on biblical truths like this, where God is fully enjoyed, I can’t help but think that far too many Christians are settling for far too little. God is calling us into a relationship with Him that we can enjoy to a great extent while here on earth. And yet so many Christians settle for a dry, dead religiosity that doesn’t feed the soul—it depletes it.
Christian scholar, Oxford professor, and author C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) acknowledged this truth in his writings. Listen to what he said:
“It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses”
Friend, you and I will not be invited, this side of Heaven, to climb a mountain and bathe in God’s glory for 40 days and 40 nights. But there is certainly more of God to be enjoyed than you and I are currently experiencing. There is always more! So, chase after Him!
A book you might find helpful is “Desiring God” by John Piper.
A book and workbook you might find helpful is “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to forgive you for any sin that would keep you from enjoying Him.
- Ask God to help you develop a disdain for religion as usual.
- Ask God to give you a glimpse of His glory as you seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
- Ask God to enable your Bible reading/study to come alive as you intentionally listen to what He would say to you in your readings.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into what the glory of God is, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 