Feeling Ordinary?

Have you ever woken up and felt completely tired and worn-out on "life"? Do you ever feel like the Israelites, wandering aimlessly through life and continually complaining about how terrible things are? It's so easy to get pulled into that frame of thinking. Yet, are you taking time to see how God is working around you, in you, and through you?

Throughout the entire book of Exodus, we can be reminded that God is in control! If God can deliver the Israelites from Egypt, provide food for them in the wilderness, forgive them for making and worshiping idols - then won't He also care for you in the same way. The last half of Exodus is instructions on how to build the Tabernacle. It's amazing how very detailed the instructions are! The Tabernacle was where God resided on earth. "Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34-35) God no longer needs a Tabernacle to reside in, because He lives in his church - the body of believers! That means God lives in those of us who have a personal relationship with Him - who have surrendered our lives completely to Him. So, that brings us back to the instructions that God gave the Israelites to build the Tabernacle... God knew exactly how to design and create His Tabernacle - His home. Go back and read through those instructions (starting at Exodus 25), keep this in mind: If we are now where God resides, don't you think that God knew and does know EXACTLY how to design and create you?! God knew and cared about every little detail of the Tabernacle. He was invested in it! God cares and knows every detail of your life, no matter how small, He is invested and interested in YOU! You are SO important to Him!

Matthew 10:29-31

"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

"Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."

The Israelites where given instructions on how to build the Tabernacle - much like God gives us instructions on how we are to live our lives. The question is: how obedient are you? Moses was careful that every detail and instruction was followed explicitly. Moses made sure that the Tabernacle wasn't just similar to the instructions, but that it was an EXACT replica of what the instructions stated. Shouldn't we too be that fastidious about our obedience to God?! God doesn't call "half-disciples" or "half-Christians" - He wants our all! We are to live surrendered to Him. When God calls you do to something, don't complain about it or say you can't do it. Trust that God knows you - EVERY DETAIL of you and He will enable you to do what you can't do on your own! So be obedient, do what you calls you to do, do it joyfully, do it completely, and do it exactly how He tells you to.

Romans 14:8-12

"If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God."

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead,they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."

Know this: You are a special creation, you are uniquely designed and created, and you have a purpose! You must live completely surrendered to God – obedient to every detail that He calls you to! What will you tell God, when you asks you to give a personal account of your life? Will you be ashamed or thankful that you lived obediently?

I Surrender All

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!