Dwelling Place
Hello Bride of Christ,
Do ever find yourself searching for the perfect place for quality time with the Lord? For some of us this may be a quiet place where we just hear nature, yet for others this may be sitting in the middle of a crowded busy mall. I used to work with a designer who, for his best inspiration, had to sit in the midst of a bustling mall! Regardless of the “perfect” place, the desire to want to spend time with the Lord is God inspired.
In the Bible’s book Deuteronomy, the Lord through Moses reminds the people to observe and obey His prescribed place of worship. Moses writes after telling the children of Israel of all the pagan rituals, “You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things. But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, for dwelling place; and there you shall go.” (Deuteronomy 12:4-5) Our Lord desires for us to seek a place to meet Him. It is not a one-way desire. Not only do we desire to meet with the Lord, but He desires to meet with us. God purposely wants to meet with His children.
Why? Why does the Lord desire to meet with us?
Well, Moses shares some key reasons here in this chapter of Deuteronomy 12 in verse 6:
To fellowship over our burnt offerings, a sacrificial offering of a burnt animal typically a lamb or bull, which was done with the desire to renew our relationship with God;
To fellowship over our tithes and heave offerings, a giving of the first fruits back to God, which was to acknowledge all we have comes from Him;
To fellowship over our vow offering, a promise and commitment we are making to God, which was to consecrate ourselves to the Lord;
To fellowship over our freewill offering; a gift given to the Lord of our own accord, an act of gratitude.
Where? Where does the Lord desire to meet with us?
Moses writes, “But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around about, so that you dwell in safety, then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 12:10-11)
Bride of Christ, the good news is God desires to meet with you today. God still desires for all these modes of fellowship. However, the best news is they are all fulfilled in Jesus! Our burnt offerings, tithes, heaving offerings, vow offerings, freewill offerings are all found in Jesus. He has reconciled us to the Father and has done it all! Yet, more astoundingly is today the dwelling place the Lord has chosen to make His name abide is within you and me! So whether you are out in nature, a closet in your home, or in the midst of a busy mall because of Jesus, God has chosen to abide within you. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
