Ornaments

Daily Reading: Exodus 33

Scripture Focus: Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. (Exodus 33.6)

Devotional Thought: Roger, my friend, was recently in a head-on collision. He escaped serious injury - thanks be to God! - but he did have quite a scare. After impact, the cab of his pickup was filled with the 'smoke' of the airbags, and he smelled gas. Remembering that he had a can of gasoline in the back, he immediately thought, "My truck is on fire!" He struggled to get out, but the door was jammed. His seatbelt was holding him back. He freed himself as quickly as possible. Thankfully, it wasn't a fire, but he didn't want to hang around inside the truck to figure it out!

After the people of Israel crashed - and almost burned - making an idol at Mount Horeb, they were grieved that God would no longer travel with them. So they "stripped themselves of their ornaments." It was with ornaments that they had made the idol in the first place. So they wanted to rid themselves of the reminder of their sin and the temptation to repeat it. Like my friend Roger, they wanted out of that mess!

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely" (12.1). When God delivers us from sin, we are not to continue to dabble in it, but we must separate ourselves as far as possible - as far as the east is from the west! - in order that we can run the race with perseverance, in order that we won't be lured back into danger.

What are the 'ornaments' of sin in your life? Strip yourself of them from this point onward!

Prayer: Father, thank you for forgiving my sins. Lord, I don't want to be drawn back into sin, so help me to lay aside all those 'ornaments' that might drag me down. Help me to walk with you in holiness of heart and with honor in my conduct. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (Psalms 90:1-6)