THOUGHTS FOR THE ROAD....... LESS TRAVELED

   I do not know how theologically sound or denominationally friendly this will be today. I just wanted to share with you some thoughts that  I had today while reading Numbers.

   First of all I found it so interesting that when Moses heard God speak in the tabernacle, he heard the voice coming from the Ark's cover, the place of atonement. Now, I don't know about you but, I have never heard God speaking to me in an audible voice (not that I don't want to- although it might freak me out just a little bit), however I do hear God's voice coming from the modern day place of atonement within His modern day tabernacle, oh this is so good. Do you see where I am going with this?

   1 Corinthians 6:19 describes our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Websters Dictionary lists 'temple' as a synonym for 'tabernacle'. The Holy Spirit IS God (If that hasn't occurred to you, read Forgotten God by Francis Chan). Our hearts are where we are reconciled (atone for our sins) with God.  Long story short, God speaks to me in my heart (place of atonement) within His tabernacle (my body).

   Another thing I found interesting was that only the Levites (the priests of Israel) were allowed to minister before God. Hold on to your hats. The Levites were set apart, meaning that they belonged to God, he claimed them for Himself. The Levites were required to be clean (holy) before God. Jesus died on the cross, making it possible for gentiles (non-jews, like me) to come to God by repentance, confession and belief, thus becoming His chosen people. 1 Peter 2:9 states that "you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation'. Now, there is some debate on whether Peter was writing to gentile Christians or Jewish Christians (just being up front)  but if it was intended for gentiles, that makes us a royal priesthood, as the Levites were. None-the-less, we are instructed to be holy (Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:9, Romans 12:1) We are children (heirs) of God (Romans 8:16, Romans 8:17) And, chosen by God since the creation of the world through Jesus' sacrifice  (Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians1:6, Ephesians1:7, Ephesians1:8)

   What I learned, God still speaks from the place of atonement, within His tabernacle. We are holy, if not a royal priesthood like the Levites. 

   And thus concludes this session of the Old Testament still applies today :)