February 15

Dwelling Place

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 25:16-22 | Exodus 39:1 – 40:38 | Mark 1:1-28| Proverbs 9:11-12

Today’s Scripture Focus: Exodus 39-40

“Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar; and it will be most holy” (Exodus 40:9-10 NIV).

With meticulous detail, every last instruction was followed in preparing a tabernacle for the Lord. Now it was time to consecrate the tabernacle–time to anoint it with oil and set it apart for holy use. And time to set apart the priests by anointing them for God’s service.

Then the glory of the Lord descended on the Tabernacle and Tent of Meeting. So much so that Moses couldn’t enter the Tent of Meeting.

All of this is a picture of what God longs to do in us today. God no longer “tabernacles” in a structure built by human hands. He “tabernacles” (lives) in us by His Spirit. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

He calls us to consecrate our bodies and become the vessels he can fill with His glory. He longs for you to give yourself wholly to Him; to become a holy vessel he will use for his glory.

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

He has set you apart for his purposes, allow him to fill you by His Spirit and use you for his glory!

Father God, I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice. May it be set apart as a dwelling place for your Spirit. May Jesus live and rule and reign in me. May my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless as I await the coming of our Lord Jesus. I know you are faithful, and I trust you to do it. Amen.