A Daily Devotion for July 20, Monday

Exodus 25:22, 29:42-46

Numbers: 7:89

Numbers 7:89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.

In these passages God gives the Israelites places they can go to meet with Him. At first, it bothered me a little to read this, as we have been taught God is with us wherever we gather. But the more I think about it, it seems God was giving the Israelites a “sure thing” they didn’t need to question. As Christians, we know because Jesus taught us: God is living in us as the Holy Spirit, and we do not need to look beyond this to find Him. But at that time the Israelites were being gathered in and taught. And knowing there was a spot they could always go to find God was an important lesson. The lesson is the same for us as Christians: God will be among us when we gather in the church. I believe He is among us in a powerful way when we gather in the church. When we pray together, God hears the voice of His people raised up to Him.

Father God, in this time of sickness in our nation we are not able to meet together as physical beings. But we are still part of your family and belong to you and to each other. Help us to hold and nurture that connection with each other. We know you are with us no matter where we are when we call out to you. Amen

Becky, transforming

pic by Tom