Moses applied anointing oil to the priests to commission them for service.  Without it, they were not fit for His service.

Paul restates this theme when he declares, “Don’t be filled with wine wherein is excess [it leads to reckless living], but be filled with the Spirit, [then] speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”  (Eph. 5:18,19)  The anointing oil speaks to us of God’s Holy Spirit.

Seek to be filled with His Spirit daily.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, Your Spirit is a precious and vital element to my spiritual life.  Fill me and use me today.

DAILY READING:  Lev. 7-9;  Acts 17

The expression “Without blemish” is often a criteria for the Old Testament animal offerings required by the Law of Moses.

Since most of us are not FFA (Future Farmers of America) judges, can we apply this standard of acceptability to our attitude as we bring our prayer and praise offerings to the Lord?

The Psalmist said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight.”  (Ps. 19:14)

DAILY PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, one of my goals in life is to offer a sincere heart to You in all that I do.  Cleanse me, renew me, fill me with Your Spirit today, in the name of Jesus.

DAILY READING:  Lev. 4-6;  Acts 16

Upon considering the detail God clarified to Moses in constructing the Tabernacle for the wilderness, we gain a fresh appreciation for the way he puts saints together to form the Church.

Jesus said, “I will build my church.” (Matt. 16:18)  He is the head of the body, the church. (Col. 1:18)  Paul further declared that we, the body of Christ, are members of this church, into which He placed leaders and elements of its construction and strength. (1 Cor. 12:28)

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. (Rev. 21:3)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, to be a part of Your body, the Church, is significance that awes me.  Thank You for purchasing me by Your blood and placing me where I can serve You most effectively.

DAIILY READING:  Lev. 1-3;  Acts 15

When God passed by Moses after being asked, “Lord, show me Your glory,” He declared that He was “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”  (Ex. 34:6,7)s

This forgiveness was fully expressed to us through Christ Jesus.  As the Father has forgiven us, let us also be forgivers.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You have forgiven me so much. Let Your forgiveness and love flow through me today to all around me.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 38-40;  Acts 14

Peter’s life was a glowing example of being Spirit-led.

Imagine seeing a doctrine-changing vision, and being given a read on men by God’s Holy Spirit to follow them. Imagine having an angel wake you up and lead you through several layers of guards, as though you were invisible. Peter, at times, would stand boldly and lend his voice to the inspiration of God to be a spokesperson for God’s visitation to His people.  Possible?  Yes!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be led by Your Holy Spirit like Peter was.  I want to be used to see the lives of those around me be touched for eternity.  Spirit of God, lead me today!

DAILY READING:  Ex. 35-7; Acts 12,13

The seemingly gruesome old system of sacrifices God told Moses to institute when He gave the commandments merely foreshadowed what He really had in mind … that Christ Jesus would not only be the ultimate sacrifice for sin, but that He would become our High Priest.

We would then become the new priests who would minister to the Lord daily instead of Aaron and his sons. David clearly saw this transition when he said, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.  (Ps. 69:30,31)

Let’s give the Lord the sacrifices He really wants, the fruit of our lips as we sing His praise with thankful hearts.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we declare Your greatness today with a song of thanksgiving.  Thank You, Jesus, for being the One Who took our sins away by giving Your life on Calvary’s cross.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 31-34;  Acts 11

Both Cornelius and Peter had spent significant time praying.

Peter’s vision and revelation of God’s desire to reach the Gentiles seemed to actually be a result of Cornelius’s spiritual hunger which also warranted an angel visit.

Amazing things happen when we are hungry for more of God, when we are willing to spend quality time seeking His face.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, of all the activities I do during the day, I realize that prayer should have a greater place in my life.  Today, I seek Your face.  Today, I want and need a visit from Your Spirit.  Thank You Jesus.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 28-30; Acts 10

When considering the detail God gave Moses when He told him how to construct the tabernacle, it is apparent that God knows what He wants from and for us.  Specific metals, woods, dimensions, and amounts were all clarified to Moses.  God had even gifted certain individuals to perform the skilled tasks required in the preparation of the ornate tent where God would meet with His people.

He is no less clear today than He was back then.  One big difference is that the “Tabernacle of God is with men.”  (Rev. 21:3)  How we live our lives, our heart condition, and our daily walk are what He wants to build to His satisfaction, because we have this treasure in these earthen vessels.  (2 Cor. 4:7)

DAILY PRAYER: Father in heaven, I am amazed that You would chose to live in me.  Cleanse me, work in me, and use me for Your purposes today.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 25-27; Acts 9

“God is good, God is great, let us thank Him for our food.”  This was one of the first formal prayers I learned as a child.

The commercial sales community has introduced a good-better-best mentality to the consumer that degrades the true appreciation of what good is.  Essentially, it’s the absence of “bad.”  God is good, God is light, God is love.  How can you improve on these qualities.

The Psalmist declared, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  (Ps. 84:11)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You have been so good to us.  We praise You and thank You as we become aware of the many ways You have been good to us.  We are mainly grateful for a loving Savior.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 22-24; Acts 8

Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses.  He observed that Moses had assumed too great a load of responsibility by attempting to judge the problems of the entire Israelite nation on a daily basis.  He declared, “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”  He wisely advised Moses to select leaders who had the same core values and give them authority to judge also.  Christian leaders commonly refer to this advice as “The Jethro Principle.”

God doesn’t want to crush us with the responsibilities of His Kingdom.  We wants us to empower capable leaders and discretely delegate authority to them to accomplish His purposes.  His Spirit is capable of directing them.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be a capable leader, but I want to see others experience Your power in their lives as they assume leadership responsibility in Your Kingdom.  Your Kingdom come, Your will be done!

DAILY READING:  Ex. 19-21; Acts 7