đđ«đ€ Christâs peace be with you.  If youâre like me, from time to time youâve been so mad, frustrated, aggravated about a situation that you realize you need to walk away before you hurt somebody, whether that be by your actions or words.  As Iâve gotten old, I am fining it easier to walk away, but there have certainly been casualties along the way. God did make us in His own image and believe it or not this is something that our Lord has faced and dealt with. In Exodus 32-33 Moses is up on the mountain spending some incredible time with the Lord. (If I were Mosses, I would have stayed up there as long as the Lord would let me. Heck itâs not too often you get that kind of one on one time with Him.) God had just inscribed the law on tablets of stone with His own hand. Moses returns to his people to present them with this gift from God and finds that because of the amount of time he spent away from them, they totally gave up on God. First of all, that kind of tells me that they were more so putting their faith in Moses and not the Lord. Second, their actions and lack of faith and their impatience with Godâs timing made God so mad. Every time they turned around God was proving Himself to them…brought them out of slavery, parting the sea, His presence in the pillar of cloud and fire, manna, water from a rock…He was everywhere, but yet, they werenât quite âseeingâ Him. Making the golden calf, singing praises, dancing, and worshiping it was Godâs breaking point. God tells Moses…You know, I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give their descendants this land flowing with milk and honey, so I will honor my promise. Exodus 33:3 “…But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.â  Like God, we need to know our breaking point and when to walk away, out of love, before someone gets hurt.  Just thinking upon my own life and how important it is to see, feel and acknowledge the Lord in my life, it would truly break my heart if He withheld His presence from me. As deeply as I think I love Him, it is but a fraction of the love He feels for me and you. I canât help but think of how much it hurts Him when I keep my presence and friendship from Him. Donât act surprised, you know we all do it.  Moses continues on to do some serious negotiating on our behalf.  Exodus 33:11 âThe Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.â  Speaking of Godâs holy presence, Moses asks, 33:16 â…What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?â  Donât hold back from God. Pull Him close and wrap Him in your arms. Seek Him in EVERYTHING, allowing His penetrating light to shine in and through you, so that He may distinguish you from other people on the face of the earth. Bless others and be blessed.
#Mandisa – Shine
Third Day Devotions 