Exodus 26

"You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain."

Exodus 26:30

This entire chapter is an engineer's dream come true... or maybe an architect's... probably both.

If you enjoy learning how to build things, this chapter is for you.  If I had time, I'd sit down and draw up the blueprints according to this chapter.  If I had money for the supplies, I'd build a replica!

In Exodus 26, God gives Moses the plans for building the tabernacle.  Every detail is described, and God makes it clear that every detail is important.  I think this is an important lesson to learn.  Whenever we take shortcuts (which we do on just about everything), we lose quality.  We figure that doing more trumps doing better.  However, God specifies many times throughout Scripture that he's more impressed by quality than by quantity.

Remember the poor woman who gave her last two coins in offering.  Jesus singled her out (not the rich who gave plentifully) because she gave her all.  Why, when we are called to give, do we not give all?  Easy - we are worried about our futures.  Whether it's worry about next year, next month, or even the next minute of our lives, we ought to remember how God rescued His people from Egypt, how He fed the Israelites manna when they complained of hunger, how the Lord cleansed the bitter water when His people were thirsty.

God doesn't want a tabernacle that's second-best.  He wants our all.  After Jesus sent His Spirit to us, our bodies became the temple.  We should build our bodies with the same attention to detail that God required for His tabernacle.

Question of the day:
What are you doing to perfect the temple which is your body?  What are you doing that defiles the temple, and requires repentance?

Prayer of the day:
Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned.  I have stained Your temple with earthly lusts, which do not belong in Your Heavenly Kingdom.  Purify me in the fire of Your wrath, so that I may become a more perfect specimen of Your creation.  Do not turn Your back to me, but hear my anguished prayer.  I am not worthy of Your presence, yet You have loved me and sacrificed Your son for me.  Do not let that sacrifice be in vain.  Don't allow ME to let that sacrifice be in vain.  Let Your strength be shown in how you heal my sin.  Help me to be repentant now and always.  Convict me and discipline me so that I may grow to know You more.  Amen.