The House You're Building

  Straining Toward the Goal [12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:12–16 ESV) As I reflect on the year, as many of us are prone to do at the changing of the calendar, I was thinking of what 2024 was about for me—the new things that entered in and the things it was time to let go of.  One of my favorite new things was hiking.  Though I’ve always hiked, a group of adventurous ladies who I’ve been doing life with for many years, focused on do...

  Introduction   I am an avid hiker.  I am lucky enough to live in Washington state and am only a short drive away from oceans, mountains, and forests.  I love to be outside as it pushes me physically as well as gives me time to visit with my friends.  Most of all, I love being constantly surrounded by the beauty and majesty of God. When I think of heaven, the thing I am the most excited about is seeing the splendor and magnificent light of God first hand.    This week’s section brings a glorious conclusion to the journey Israel has been on as they have followed God.  Coming off of the idol worship and judgement of the golden calf, Israel now turns to obey God’s guidelines in worship.       Scripture Exodus 35-40  This is the final section of the book of Exodus.  As you read, note the similarities between this and the previous building instructions.  Also note the people’s willi...

  Introduction   One of my favorite movies as a kid was Indiana Jones.  I loved the cinematic action of the hero  racing the bad guys with a few faithful friends to find priceless treasures.  It seemed the an idol was always involved in every story line, be it a stone, statue, or challis, something unique and valuable was always at stake.  The history of these objects usually meant that someone was worshiping them at some point.     Reading our story today seems like a scene from a treasure movie.  And it seems ridiculous, just like those over the top Hollywood films, that people would bow down to an object that they had just made.  An extended passage from Isaiah 44 describes the foolishness of Idolatry:    [12] The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water ...

  I don’t know if you’ve been involved in a building project.  Like me, if you work in a field far removed from construction, many of the steps involved can be foreign to you.  Several years ago we built a house.  It was a “spec house,” meaning we met with a company who offered several floor plans and we got to pick out some of the details within-which color carpet, what stain the cabinetry would have, which door handles matched our coordinated design scheme.  I was truly overwhelmed with all the decisions and details, even though compared to those building custom homes our choices were minimal.  At a certain point, I just wanted someone to make those design decisions for me!    I’m so grateful when it comes to worship, God has laid out a plan for us.  For how would we begin got decide how to worship a God so holy and majestic as our God, so different and other? From the beginning God makes it clear that He puts ...