The Struggle to Become Close to the Lord
Coming home from an event one night, I was fortunate to hear Dr. Tony Evans talk about commitment on the part of individuals in the church, specifically meeting God face-to-face. I only caught a portion of his message but his text centered on Ex 33:7-11 and Heb 13:12-14. The interesting thing about the passage in Exodus is that it came close on the heels of the golden calf incident. The Lord was angry and didn't want to deal with Israel. So Moses took the tent and set it up outside the camp. Notice in this passage that anyone who wanted to get close to the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
[Exodus 33:7-11] "7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."
From the passage most of the Israelites didn't go to the tent of meeting, they were content to hear what Moses had to say after he went and met with the Lord. This is kind of what we do today, most of us just sit and absorb what the preacher has to say rather than take the time and get close to the Lord and develop a one on one relationship. It takes effort and most people don't want to be involved in the process. Joshua wanted to develop a one on one relationship with the Lord. Notice in the above passage that he stayed behind to meet with the Lord rather than leave with Moses. I want more in the way of a relationship with the Lord, so I am actively involved in getting together with the Lord in a quiet time way. Part of what this means is that we start to identify ourselves with the Risen Lord such as described in the following passage from Hebrews.
[Hebrews 13:12-14] "12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking {the city} which is to come."
I guess that maybe I feel that it is worth it in the long run to get to know the Lord better. My trust in Him grows day by day and that is a good thing. I want to be able to tell everyone that I know and understand the Lord, that I am able to see things from His perspective. It is a daily prayer of mine.
[Exodus 33:7-11] "7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."
From the passage most of the Israelites didn't go to the tent of meeting, they were content to hear what Moses had to say after he went and met with the Lord. This is kind of what we do today, most of us just sit and absorb what the preacher has to say rather than take the time and get close to the Lord and develop a one on one relationship. It takes effort and most people don't want to be involved in the process. Joshua wanted to develop a one on one relationship with the Lord. Notice in the above passage that he stayed behind to meet with the Lord rather than leave with Moses. I want more in the way of a relationship with the Lord, so I am actively involved in getting together with the Lord in a quiet time way. Part of what this means is that we start to identify ourselves with the Risen Lord such as described in the following passage from Hebrews.
[Hebrews 13:12-14] "12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking {the city} which is to come."
I guess that maybe I feel that it is worth it in the long run to get to know the Lord better. My trust in Him grows day by day and that is a good thing. I want to be able to tell everyone that I know and understand the Lord, that I am able to see things from His perspective. It is a daily prayer of mine.