The Shekinah Glory
Good Morning Friends,
Through the pitch-black night, the captain of ship spots a light dead ahead on a collision course with his vessel so he sends a warning: “Change your course ten degrees east.” The light signals back: “Change yours, ten degrees west.” The captain responds angrily: “I’m a CAPTAIN in the United States Navy! Change your course, Sir!” “I’m a seaman, second class,” comes the reply, “Change your course, Sir.” Now the captain is furious. “I’m a battleship! I’m not changing course!” There’s one last reply: “I’m a lighthouse. It’s your call.”
Friends, today’s devotional is about choosing to believe in Jesus, the Light of the World. When God dwells in us we are in the presence of a light that gives birth to something Holy…good choices. Moses saw it in the burning bush, the great I Am that I Am, and in the pillar of cloud and fire. Solomon saw it in the Temple. Now after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem the rabbinical writers describe God’s presence using a Hebrew word not found in the Bible. But it describes someone who is. Friends, when God takes up residence in us it changes everything. Christians prepare yourselves to be guided by The Shekinah Glory.
Scripture: They set out from Succoth, and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Exodus 13:20-22 (NRSV)
The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.
2 Chronicles 7:2 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NRSV
Message: There are seven “I am” statements in the Gospel of John. Today we look at one of these magnificent metaphors… “I Am the Light of the World.” It hearkens back to the first words spoken in Genesis and to when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and in a pillar of fire and cloud to the wandering tribe of Israelites in the desert. But it is meant to be more than ancient history. Picture Jesus in the Temple surrounded by examples of bread, water and light. Picture Jesus setting up His tent among us in remembrance of the 40 years the Jews wandered in the desert as part of the Feast of the Tabernacles (Celebration begins October 8, 2014). Then you may get a glimpse of the Shekinah Glory that made Moses’ face to glow. Friends, every time Jesus says, “I Am” …”the Resurrection and the Life…The Vine, The Way, The Good Shepherd, The Gate, The Bread of Life and the Light of the World,” He is proclaiming His sovereign supremacy. But in scripture Jesus may have had visual aids to make clear the message. You see The “I Am” of Jesus and was the covenantal name of God so sacred that it was only uttered by the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Celebration begins October 3, 2014). It is no wonder the religious leaders of Jerusalem wanted to stone Jesus when they heard the “I AM” claims for his deity. It is a problem when people claim to be God. Jesus backs it up with Works and the Word, but there is still a major logical problem with a man claiming to be God. That is one reason that Jesus the Messiah was rejected. That is why belief in the Trinity has always been a revelation. We cannot get there by logic. Friends, it is a gift to believe that God’s act of creating Light, that light that cast out darkness, is Jesus the Christ. That is why I believe that somehow, somewhere, someone will be touched by today’s scripture….by a kind word shared…by His presence and your presence as a light in the life of another person. That is the nature of God’s feminine side and the plan witnessed at Pentecost with tongues of fire. Friends, God plans to light and guide the earth through a united Body composed of frail humans…like you and like me ignited with a passion of purpose. When Job heard God in the still small voice…when Moses saw only His back and when the Israelites followed the Shekinah glory cloud, we seek something intimate. We seek something as personal as our very breath. And here in the presence of our life God responds so wonderfully to our need to have someone who knows us, encourages us, comforts us and builds us up…guides us. That is the nature of the Body of Christ….that is the nature of a community of humanity in which Christ has really taken form. It is basic for us to want others to know something about us…to know us …to understand us…But even though we feel the force of the Spirit and its divine power within us, we strain in human helplessness. Finally we realize that what really matters is our presence….God’s presence. If we just show up it makes a difference. We know that we are not always there for others, but God is there….and Jesus is here….the Spirit that dwelt among us is still with us. If we are hurting…if we are experiencing joy….God is there with us. We are each a wonderful and unique person designed by God from the beginning. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made to form God’s presence in the world. Though the indwelling of His Spirit we can be united in the Body.
Pray we prepare ourselves so that God will choose to reveal a magnificent favor and abide in us. Pray
we enjoy an intimate connection to God as our light and truth. Pray we believe in Jesus like we believe in the light of a new day, not just because we see it, but because it reveals and exposes both sin and the way out of darkness. Pray we believe in Jesus because He gives the light of life, scatters darkness, gives warmth, and provides guidance. Pray we are guided by the lamb as our lamp. Pray that Jesus be our Lighthouse and Feast Days we before we crash on the rocks.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 