This Is Where It Happens

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 41

This is the Most Holy Place. (Ezekiel 41.4)

Devotional Thought: Evan, my son-in-law, has had an eBay business - E-Money Apparel - for a dozen or so years.  When he married my daughter, they set up his business in the basement of their home where he stored his inventory and processed and packaged the orders.  I remember the first time I went down there and saw his inventory.  Thousands of items filled the basement!  All that inventory, however, surrounded a simple desk with scales, a laptop and a printer.  I was impressed: "The Most Holy Place of E-Money Apparel...  This is where it happens."

 When God gave Ezekiel a visionary tour of the new temple, he made his way through all the surrounding areas of the temple until he reached The Most Holy Place.  I wonder if he thought, "This is where it happens!"   "It," of course, was where the divine and human came together.  But where does "It" happen now - with the Most Holy Place gone, destroyed by the Romans?

Where does "It" happen?  We find clues in the biblical record.  "It" happens where...

·       God appears.  When God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, he instructed Moses to take off his shoes for he was standing on holy ground.

·       Humble service is offered.  When Jesus washed his disciples' feet, he removed their sandals.  Jesus showed them God's love in that moment.

·       The Mercy Seat is found. Behind the veil of the temple was the Ark of the Covenant.  Upon that Ark was the Mercy Seat.  There, God had told Moses, I will meet with you.  When Aaron went before the mercy seat, he went with bare feet.

But, in Jesus, the veil has been torn!  When we go behind the veil, we find Jesus.  And where we find Jesus, "It" happens.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that we have looked in the Most Holy Place, and we see Jesus "at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up."  Amen. (Hebrews 8.1-2)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 57.6-11

6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!

8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!

9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!