"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:"
Exodus 13:21
Reading this today I was thinking both of reminders and reassurance. We tend to forget God as we go through our daily lives, and a pillar of fire would likely be a very clear reminder to keep him in mind. :) It would also be very comforting I think to always have that physical manifestation to remind you that God is traveling with you, and is leading you in his way. :)
Today we don't travel with a pillar of cloud or fire going before us, and we have to fall back on less dramatic reminders of God's presence and his guidance in our lives. That can seem frustrating at times, but I think it is actually really, really good for us. Remember, Laman and Lemuel saw an angel, Judas was a personal witness of Christ, and even the Israelites referred to in this verse went very astray at times. Bold, dramatic spiritual manifestations are cool, and they *can* make a difference in people's lives, but it definitely isn't a sure thing. It's more like the spiritual equivalent of being hit with a 2x4... although that can get our attention, it isn't how the core problems are solved or how testimonies are forged.
Instead of external pillars, today the Lord asks us to establish some internal pillars of faith and righteousness, and when we anchor ourselves that way, our testimonies grow deeper and our commitment to the gospel remains strong, even when external reminders fade. Let's work on having that pillar of fire within our own hearts, and following God's lead because we have a relationship with him, and we are always listening to his spirit.
Exodus 13:21
Today we don't travel with a pillar of cloud or fire going before us, and we have to fall back on less dramatic reminders of God's presence and his guidance in our lives. That can seem frustrating at times, but I think it is actually really, really good for us. Remember, Laman and Lemuel saw an angel, Judas was a personal witness of Christ, and even the Israelites referred to in this verse went very astray at times. Bold, dramatic spiritual manifestations are cool, and they *can* make a difference in people's lives, but it definitely isn't a sure thing. It's more like the spiritual equivalent of being hit with a 2x4... although that can get our attention, it isn't how the core problems are solved or how testimonies are forged.
Instead of external pillars, today the Lord asks us to establish some internal pillars of faith and righteousness, and when we anchor ourselves that way, our testimonies grow deeper and our commitment to the gospel remains strong, even when external reminders fade. Let's work on having that pillar of fire within our own hearts, and following God's lead because we have a relationship with him, and we are always listening to his spirit.
Thank you for writing this! Lately I’ve sometimes struggled with trusting God and being happy with what I have, and reading this gave me another spark of hope. May the Lord bless you and keep you. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. :)
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