Tag: Three-in-One

Invitation: Come to me on the mountain

But God’s glory is still like a consuming fire

Exodus 33:20 [God speaking to Moses] You may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.

Exodus 24:1-18 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me and bring along … Israel’s elders. All of you must worship at a distance. Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. … Then Moses and the elders climbed up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. … Then Moses climbed up the mountain and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai … To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.

Hebrews 4:16; 12:28-29 Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. … Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

“I (Derry) walked from the garden back to the inn deep in thought, trailing Desta and [twelve-year-old] Jesus whose conversation I couldn’t hear … ‘Son has all the power in the universe’ [Derry thought] … ‘Even as a human. He can just lift his little finger and—’ At that moment, Jesus turned around and stood waiting for me to catch up to him. I caught his glance and threw myself to the ground before him in worship. Could people not see that this—this twelve-year-old boy—was the King of kings and Lord of lords, eternally one with Father and Spirit, his human body disguising magnificence beyond imagination?

“I trembled so much that the boy Jesus, two feet shorter than me, had to steady me as he pulled me up. ‘I don’t want to attract attention,’ he whispered, nudging me to walk between him and Desta. My body tingled as his touch strengthened me.” Three-in-One, page 73

Writing Three-in-One confronted me with how casually and informally I treat God.How I take for granted the access to him Jesus provided for us, eternally codified in the top-to-bottom tearing of the four-inch-thick* curtain shielding God’s glory in the Most Holy Place of the Temple the moment Jesus died. Derry lives in Heaven. One accidental glimpse of God’s glory was enough to blind him in chapter 1. Through his puzzled eyes, the mystery of Incarnation became viscerally overwhelming to me.

The wonder of Exodus 24 is the exception God made this one time, that people could see him and live. Isaiah also experienced this wonder and was overcome by it (Isaiah 6:5).

And God has not changed: His glory still blindingly bright; his greatness unfathomable to us. It’s only because Son made himself small enough to fit within a human body that we can see God and live.

So when I hear his invitation to come to him on the mountain, I now climb with awe and reverence and a powerful desire simply to worship. My small concerns fade in the glory of his Presence.

Fire in My Heart, Timeless Hebrew Tunes

Simeon’s song: a long wait rewarded

But God kept his promise

Luke 2:25-35 Simeon was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah … The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. So, when Mary and Joseph came to present [eight day old] baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.

I have seen your salvation

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations …

Shutterstock: Lopolo

Jesus’ parents were amazed … Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. … The deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

What are you “eagerly waiting” for?

On a walk last week, Dave and I discussed what we each feel we must accomplish before we die. Mine is publishing the book Three-in-One. It’s taking much longer than I expected. Several times I’ve thought I had the final version nailed down. And then one of my early readers comes through with valuable suggestions; each revision has made the book better. I’ve learned that the timeline of my readers doesn’t match mine. I’ve had to practice Simeon’s “eager waiting.”

Can you imagine Simeon’s emotions as he held baby Jesus in his arms, while the Spirit whispered to him, “I’ve kept my promise to you. This tiny baby is the one you’ve been waiting for so long! He will reveal God to the nations!”

That’s exactly my hope for Three-in-One, that it will reveal God in ways that delight us as we wait for Jesus’ return. If readers experience even a part of what has thrilled my heart as I have written this book, all my investment—all my waiting—will be more than worthwhile.

What are you waiting for?

Pure light for the glory of God. Hope. Mercy. Healing balm. A song of joy. Your name. Your Kingdom, Lord; not an earthly kingdom. Your power for salvation; not earthly power. Your will be done. “Song for the Nations” by Jim Gilbert, two versions:

(with lyrics; choir) Note: there’s a mistake on the second-to-last lyric slide. It should say in the peoples of the earth, not to the peoples of the earth.

(with inspirational pics; women’s voices)

Lord, may your Kingdom come in us. In me. Here. Today.