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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I praise you today, for you are a God of mercy and forgiveness. David said, “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ps 86:5, 15). Indeed, I will “give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever” (Ps 86:12). Praise the Lord! Today in Your Word Today you told me about one of the greatest tragedies in human history. You rescued Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand, and you personally descended on Mount Sinai to enter into a marriage covenant with her (Ezek 16:8; Jer 2:1–3). Never before had the world seen such an act of divine love. But Israel quickly turned aside from your commands and committed spiritual adultery by worshiping a golden calf. Your anger burned against them, and you wanted to destroy them, but Moses entreated you to have mercy, and you relented. Such is the spirit of a man who has spent forty days in your glorious presence. Moses went down into the camp to confront the people, and he shattered the tablets of testimony you had inscribed with your own hand. What a picture of how sin destroys what is most precious: our relationship with you. Moses asked his fellow Levites to help bring the people back under control, and they killed some 3,000 of the ringleaders. This teaches me the importance of being ruthless with sin (cf. Matt 5:29; 18:17; 2 Thess 3:6; 1 Cor 5:11). After you punished the people, you took the initiative in restoring your covenant with Israel. This reveals something beautiful about your character: you are a God of second chances. When Moses returned from another forty days with you, his face shone so brightly that he had to put a veil over his face. If the first covenant came with such glory, how much more glorious is the ministry of the Spirit! Through Christ, I too reflect the glory of the Lord, and I am “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor 3:8, 18). Reflection If I was there when Moses called, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!”, would I be willing to strap on my sword and “kill every man his brother and every man his friend”? Request Father, how serious and terrible sin is! Help me to “hate what is evil” and “cling to what is good” (Rom 12:9). Open my eyes to the death and destruction that comes from disobedience. Thanksgiving Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ! When I turned to Him, He removed the veil from my heart and gave me freedom through His Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:16–17). Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Grace Greater than Our Sin” by Julia H. Johnston. Meditation Verse: Exodus 34:6–7. |