The Curtains and the Clasp

Daily Reading: Exodus 26

Scripture Focus: Couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole. (Exodus 26.6b)

Devotional Thought: Though it may not be the inspired meaning of the ancient text, still I love to see symbolism in the Old Testament. When I read that the tabernacle - an aid for worship and a reminder of God's presence in the wilderness - was made of "ten curtains of fine twined linen," my mind went to the church, the New Testament tabernacle.

We are curtains coupled together...

• Denominations. God could have instructed that the tabernacle be made of one huge curtain. Instead, for the sake of portability, he had the Israelites make it of 10 smaller curtains. Ten individual curtains could navigate the wilderness much easier than one huge curtain. But, when it ultimately mattered - they were joined. Denominations serve as a way to make The Church portable in the wilderness of humanity. Denominations make it possible for The Church to go to all cultures and world areas.

• Differences. The 10 different curtains were designed to be united into a single place of worship. The ones on the left were as valuable as the ones on the right. The ones in the rear as valuable as the ones in the front. God puts liberals and conservatives, leaders and followers, rich and poor, Americans and Asians together in one Church.

• Disciples. I love the many different people in my church. Just like there would have been a gap in the tabernacle without all the curtains, so there would be a gap in our churches without all the individuals. One disciple couples to another to make the whole!

And, of course, thank God for the Clasp of Jesus Christ that ties us all together!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the Church of Jesus Christ! Though we are many and varied, we are one in Jesus! Help us to value and appreciate each 'curtain' of the whole! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. 10 They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. 11 They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. 12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. 14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 16 He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. (Psalms 78:9-16)