Am I just worshipping in the outer tent of praise and worship, or am I entering into the presence of God?
Hebrews 9:1-5 MSG
That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship. A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and “the bread of presence” were placed in it. This was called “the Holy Place.” Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called “the Holy of Holies.” In it were …placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the covenant tablets, and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. But we don’t have time to comment on these now.
——–
Most church services provide people with light for their lives. Yes, this is where people can find a lampstand (a disciple of Christ) to offer light to those in darkness, the table that is set before them to offer safety and healing, and the bread of the Word of God that provides nourishment for our souls.
But even Israel had access to those things before God’s nature was fully revealed by His coming to us in the flesh as Jesus Christ. So are we to be satisfied with living our lives in religious practice as if His life opened no doors to us? No, it shouldn’t be this way.
In Christ, we are each called to be His disciples. We are each called to seek Him personally as our teacher, and to spend time with Him in prayer, in study, and in service unto others.
And what is a disciple, but a student? But if I say that I’m in school, but I don’t enroll or attend classes, I don’t have books and materials, and I don’t study – can I say that I am a student? Or do I deceive even myself?
Or if I consider myself wiser than the teacher, having never opened and inspected the study materials thoroughly myself, but only listened to what others have said about the course – how do I truly know what I might learn? Do I blindly accept what others say about an educational course because they tell me they are a student as well, not knowing if they are an expert in the subject or misled?
Do I think that I am so well instructed that there is nothing left to be learned? I pray this is not the case. Let me remember that I am not a teacher, I am a fellow student – because if I ever stop learning and growing, I am useless to myself and a danger to others.
This race is not over until it is over.
Help keep me humble,
keep me learning,
Keep me growing,
Keep me sharing,
Keep me serving,
Or take me Lord,
Take me home.
If I’m not useful to you, Lord,
I have no use at all.
Harold J. Ballinger 