“…you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

We Are Your Tabernacle

Walk His Way Revisited

The more I read and study the Bible, the more it amazes me. As Pastor Bryan has said many times, the Old Testament is a shadow of the New Testament. In my reading this morning, I saw a perfect example of this when God is preparing Moses to build the sanctuary: “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive the offering for Me from each man whose heart prompts him to give” (Exodus 25:2 NIV).

Then, just as now, we must come freely with our hearts to God. Not because we should or because our parents did, but because we want to, because we heard God’s voice call us and our hearts are ready to answer. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).

“Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will give you” (Exodus 25:8-9 NIV). That sanctuary was made of wood, gold, bronze, silver, fine linen and animal skins. Today we are the sanctuary. His Spirit dwells within each heart that has accepted Him. “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 15:8a).

He gives us the exact pattern of how to build ourselves as His tabernacle: Jesus. He is the pattern we are to follow, outlined in the Bible. He does not leave us to wonder how, as He told Moses over and over “…according to the plan shown you on the mountain…. It is to be just as you were shown on the mountain” (Exodus 26:30b, 27:8b.NIV). Now, as then, we must seek God and listen to what He tells and shows us.

Jesus often went up to the mountain to pray, to seek God’s will for His life, what He was supposed to do next, where He was supposed to go (Luke 6:12), and we must do the same. Funny, the mountain can be any number of places: sometimes He calls you truly away, alone just you and Him, but He also will meet you daily in the time and place that you give Him. Unbelievable.

They were instructed to give among other things: “olive oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense” (Exodus 25:6 NIV). Now Jesus is the light (John 8:12), and we get to be that light as well (Matthew 5:16). We are the fragrance of Christ to others who do not yet know Him. “Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Messiah, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14 HNV).

Heavenly Father, thank You for the honor and privilege of being Your tabernacle. As we spend time with You, help us to shine the light and fragrance of Your Son wherever we go. Amen.