Passage of the Day:
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. 7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt, Exodus 32:1-7.
Reflection:
After introducing Israel to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, Moses spends the next 10 chapters of the Bible listing specific commands, decrees and instructions from God. However, as Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving this information, the nation of Israel begins to panic. Rather than display self-restraint by remembering God’s first commandment, the people wanted a God that they can see and touch. Subsequently, the concept of a golden calf is conceived.
Prayerful Action:
Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you, Deuteronomy 4:1-2.
Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:
Depending upon how close you are to keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, will often dictate the self-restraint that you display daily. When I’m on fire for God, my sinful nature is on the back burner. One night I gave a female friend a ride home from a camp reunion in college. When she told me that her seat belt was stuck, I simply unhooked it and hugged her good night. The thought that she wanted to kiss me never entered my mind. However, when I ran into this same girl a few years later on campus, I was spiritually bored. Subsequently, when she made a pass at me, I wasn’t able to keep my flesh in check. After a week of living in sin like Israel, I had a Christian brother walk me to her front door and end this relationship. When you don’t set clear boundaries in your relationships, self-restraint can be like day and night.
Song of the Day:
One of my spiritual mentors in college urged me to let your actions speak for your faith. If you are able to display self-restraint daily, you’ll won’t need to tell people that you’re a Christian, they will see this for themselves. Therefore, rather than set yourself up to be a hypocrite, live your life like you’re preaching a silent sermon.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 