Bible Reading: Exodus 29-30; Matthew 22:1-22
“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.” Exodus 29:42 (KJV)
The purpose of all the preparations of the children of Israel preceding this verse was to meet with God. His original design for His creation was to have a relationship with the people He created, to dwell in their midst, manifesting His glory in an ever widening area until all of creation would be filled with the knowledge of His glory. The basic need of mankind is to meet with God. This is the principal reason God created man to meet with Him, and walk in fellowship with Him, as in the beginning with Adam & Eve in the cool of the day. But sin created enmity between God and man which caused them to be cast away from the presence of God.
That is what sin does: it separates us from God, just as Isaiah 59:2 (KJV) says, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Because of sin, mankind has struggled being separated from the God we were created to meet, know and love.
In our text today, we see God calling His chosen people “the children of Israel” to Himself. He called them out of Egypt to meet with Him in the wilderness and worship Him. He gave them instructions on how they can meet and fellowship with Him: by setting up a tent of meeting where they could come and make burnt sacrifices to atone for their sins so as to be worthy to appear before His presence.
God is still interested in us today and still wants to fellowship with us. He wants a personal and close relationship with each and every one of us. As such, He designed us to praise and glorify Him. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” Ephesians1:6 (KJV). Moseso, Revelation 4:1 (KJV) says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
God has made this possible by sending Jesus Christ into the world to give His life for us and His Holy Spirit so we can fellowship with Him in spirit and in truth. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:24 (KJV)
To fellowship with God, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, believe that in all things God deserves to be glorified, spend time in studying the word of God (Bible) and prayers in pursuit of spiritual wisdom and insight so that we can grow in the knowledge of God.
May we find grace to enjoy the harmony, contentment, and joy of the fellowship God has provided us in His word and prayers in Jesus Name.
Prayer: Father, help me to cultivate the habit of continuous fellowship with You in my life.
Pastor Alfred Samuel