Daily Reading
Daily Thought
The Tabernacle was portable and was packed up, pieced out, and carted along whenever Israel moved camp. The Gershonites were responsible for the curtains, and Moses gave them two carts to carry them. The Merarites, tent poles, got four carts. The Kohathites carried the most holy things, like the ark of the Covenant. They received no carts. God said, “I want you to carry the holy things on your shoulders.”
The Hebrew word for “glory” literally means “weight.” Like the “weight of glory.” Several tons, in this case. That’s how much the ark and the holy things weighed. A cart and a couple oxen would have been nice, “but to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder” (Numbers 7:9). Wonder why?
The wonders of God surround us. The elegance of creation, the beauty of sunsets, the majesty of mountains. “The whole earth is full of his glory,” more than one Hebrew poet exclaimed. But that is not where the world will see the full glory of God. God’s intent was that now, “through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11). The church–that’s you and me, followers of Jesus Christ, carrying God’s glory to the world, his goodness, his grace, his gospel–it’s on us, on our shoulders. God says, “I want you to carry my glory.”
Daily Prayer
Wonderful God, Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that are in them, the land and all it’s creatures, the skies and the birds that soar, stars and planets, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, which you made, as well.
In all of creation, You place Your image in people. People like me. Through the work of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am being transformed and Your image is becoming clear again. May I display Your glory, Your wonder, Your wisdom, You grace, Your love, to the world around me. May the glory of Your work in me brighten the world and bring You praise.
Amen
Daily Question
What can someone learn about God by watching you?