Feb 1st
Today’s reading: Exodus 30–32; Acts 9
Scripture Focus:
“Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there.”
*Exodus 30:6 NLT
⸻
Reflection
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.”
John 5:39–40 (NLT)
That’s exactly it.
Jesus is saying: You can study every verse, know every law, memorize everything — and still miss Me.
The whole Bible isn’t just information.
It’s revelation pointing to a Person.
All of it leads to Jesus.
When Jesus came, we shouldn’t have been surprised. A lightbulb should have gone on. Everything in the Old Testament was preparing us for Him. All the patterns, symbols, sacrifices, and laws were pointing forward to Jesus. So when we read about Jesus in the New Testament and then look back at the Old Testament, we begin to see it clearly—God had been telling His story all along. The Scriptures were meant to familiarize our hearts with Jesus before He ever appeared, so that when He did, something would click: This is the One we’ve been waiting for.
When we say the Old Testament points to Jesus, it’s not just about prophecy — it’s about God revealing His heart and His ways, and then Jesus becoming the fullest expression of that revelation. These details weren’t only symbols of Christ to come; they were also daily reminders to God’s people of who He is and how He desires to relate to them.
The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1–8)
The altar of incense was placed right in front of the veil, closest to God’s presence, and God said, “I will meet with you there.” This shows that prayer is the place of nearness and communion with God. The daily burning of incense, morning and evening, reveals God’s desire for continual relationship, not occasional encounters. It teaches that God is not distant — He invites His people to meet with Him every day. It points to Jesus as our High Priest, who brings us into God’s presence and continually intercedes for us.
Ransom Money (Exodus 30:11–16)
The ransom money was a small payment every man gave as a reminder that his life belonged to God and had been redeemed. It wasn’t about buying salvation — it symbolized that their lives were not their own, and that access to God always comes through redemption, not entitlement. It taught God’s people that they were bought, valued, and accountable to Him. It pointed forward to Jesus, who later paid the true ransom with His own blood to redeem us completely (Mark 10:45).
Wash Basin (Exodus 30:17–21)
The wash basin symbolized cleansing before coming into God’s presence. The priests had to wash before serving, showing that we must approach God with clean hearts. It reminded them that God is holy and that relationship with Him requires purification. It points to being washed by the Word and the Spirit, and ultimately to Jesus who cleanses us completely (John 13:10; Ephesians 5:26).
Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22–33)
The anointing oil symbolized being set apart and empowered by God. Everything anointed belonged to Him. It taught that God doesn’t just call people — He consecrates and equips them for His purposes. It points to the Holy Spirit in our lives, given through Christ, who sets us apart and empowers us to live and serve God (1 John 2:20, 27).
The Special Incense (Exodus 30:34–38)
The incense was special and holy. God gave a specific recipe and said it was to be used only for Him, not for personal use. This shows that prayer is sacred, not common or casual. It teaches that time with God is set apart, not rushed, copied, or treated like anything else. In other words, God wanted His people to know that meeting with Him is holy, personal, and unique. It points forward to the truth that our prayers are now made acceptable through Jesus, our mediator.
The Sabbath (Exodus 31:13–17)
The Hebrew shows us this wasn’t about a day off. It was about:
• Shabbat → stopping to be with God
• Qadosh → time set apart for Him
• ’Ot → a sign of relationship
• Qadash → God doing the sanctifying
• Chalal → not treating sacred things as common
So in God’s language, Sabbath means:
“Stop striving. This time belongs to Me. Let Me make you holy.”
And that makes the passage not about rules — but deeply relational.
All of these things revealed God’s heart long before Jesus came. They taught God’s people about redemption, cleansing, prayer, holiness, and rest. And when Jesus arrived, He didn’t replace these truths — He fulfilled them, making everything personal, complete, and eternal.
When we forget how wonderful Jesus is, we forget that all of history pointed to Him. But when we remember who He is — His love, His sacrifice, His power, His grace — it changes everything. No matter what I’m going through, it helps me because I’m reminded that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and works all things together for my good. That through all of eternity He has loved me, poured Himself out for me, and desires to fill me with the Holy Spirit over and over again and rain down grace upon my life. That absolutely helps me with every trial, every decision, and every step I take if I just lean on Him, look to Him morning and evening, spend time with Him, and do things His way.
But when we take our eyes off Jesus — off the prize — we go back to what we know: our flesh, our sinful nature, our old habits and behaviors. And they rise up and cause great destruction, even death.
“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.”
John 6:63 (NLT)
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 (NLT)
And that’s exactly what happened to them. They started to worship the calf — the calf in Egypt that never did anything for them. How easily they forgot all the wonders and miracles they had seen and experienced.
“How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”
*Exodus 32:8 NLT
And one last thing I want to point out:
“Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.”
*Exodus 32:25 NLT
The enemy laughs and mocks God when we stumble and fall. But when we remember, we have a mighty Savior — one who wants to lift us up out of the ashes, help us start again, and teach us how to walk again.
⸻
Lesson for Me
When I keep my eyes on Jesus, everything in my life stays aligned — my decisions, my heart, my worship, and my direction. But when I take my eyes off Him, I drift back into my flesh, old habits, and self-reliance, and it always leads to loss. The whole Bible reminds me that Jesus is the center, the answer, the Savior, and the goal. I don’t just need information about Him — I need daily intimacy with Him. Morning and evening. Over and over again.
⸻
Examine My Heart
• Where have I been relying on myself instead of Jesus?
• What has distracted me from spending time with Him?
• In what ways have I allowed old habits or the flesh to take over?
• What would it look like to return to Jesus as my daily focus and rest?
⸻
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve known the Scriptures but drifted from You. Help me not just to study Your Word, but to truly see You in it. Remind me daily that all of history points to You, and all of my life depends on You. When I am tired, overwhelmed, confused, or tempted to return to my old ways, draw my heart back to You. I want to meet with You morning and evening. Be my rest, my strength, my Savior, and my joy. Amen.
Today’s reading: Exodus 30–32; Acts 9
Scripture Focus:
“Place the incense altar just outside the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant, in front of the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that covers the tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. I will meet with you there.”
*Exodus 30:6 NLT
⸻
Reflection
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.”
John 5:39–40 (NLT)
That’s exactly it.
Jesus is saying: You can study every verse, know every law, memorize everything — and still miss Me.
The whole Bible isn’t just information.
It’s revelation pointing to a Person.
All of it leads to Jesus.
When Jesus came, we shouldn’t have been surprised. A lightbulb should have gone on. Everything in the Old Testament was preparing us for Him. All the patterns, symbols, sacrifices, and laws were pointing forward to Jesus. So when we read about Jesus in the New Testament and then look back at the Old Testament, we begin to see it clearly—God had been telling His story all along. The Scriptures were meant to familiarize our hearts with Jesus before He ever appeared, so that when He did, something would click: This is the One we’ve been waiting for.
When we say the Old Testament points to Jesus, it’s not just about prophecy — it’s about God revealing His heart and His ways, and then Jesus becoming the fullest expression of that revelation. These details weren’t only symbols of Christ to come; they were also daily reminders to God’s people of who He is and how He desires to relate to them.
The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1–8)
The altar of incense was placed right in front of the veil, closest to God’s presence, and God said, “I will meet with you there.” This shows that prayer is the place of nearness and communion with God. The daily burning of incense, morning and evening, reveals God’s desire for continual relationship, not occasional encounters. It teaches that God is not distant — He invites His people to meet with Him every day. It points to Jesus as our High Priest, who brings us into God’s presence and continually intercedes for us.
Ransom Money (Exodus 30:11–16)
The ransom money was a small payment every man gave as a reminder that his life belonged to God and had been redeemed. It wasn’t about buying salvation — it symbolized that their lives were not their own, and that access to God always comes through redemption, not entitlement. It taught God’s people that they were bought, valued, and accountable to Him. It pointed forward to Jesus, who later paid the true ransom with His own blood to redeem us completely (Mark 10:45).
Wash Basin (Exodus 30:17–21)
The wash basin symbolized cleansing before coming into God’s presence. The priests had to wash before serving, showing that we must approach God with clean hearts. It reminded them that God is holy and that relationship with Him requires purification. It points to being washed by the Word and the Spirit, and ultimately to Jesus who cleanses us completely (John 13:10; Ephesians 5:26).
Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22–33)
The anointing oil symbolized being set apart and empowered by God. Everything anointed belonged to Him. It taught that God doesn’t just call people — He consecrates and equips them for His purposes. It points to the Holy Spirit in our lives, given through Christ, who sets us apart and empowers us to live and serve God (1 John 2:20, 27).
The Special Incense (Exodus 30:34–38)
The incense was special and holy. God gave a specific recipe and said it was to be used only for Him, not for personal use. This shows that prayer is sacred, not common or casual. It teaches that time with God is set apart, not rushed, copied, or treated like anything else. In other words, God wanted His people to know that meeting with Him is holy, personal, and unique. It points forward to the truth that our prayers are now made acceptable through Jesus, our mediator.
The Sabbath (Exodus 31:13–17)
The Hebrew shows us this wasn’t about a day off. It was about:
• Shabbat → stopping to be with God
• Qadosh → time set apart for Him
• ’Ot → a sign of relationship
• Qadash → God doing the sanctifying
• Chalal → not treating sacred things as common
So in God’s language, Sabbath means:
“Stop striving. This time belongs to Me. Let Me make you holy.”
And that makes the passage not about rules — but deeply relational.
All of these things revealed God’s heart long before Jesus came. They taught God’s people about redemption, cleansing, prayer, holiness, and rest. And when Jesus arrived, He didn’t replace these truths — He fulfilled them, making everything personal, complete, and eternal.
When we forget how wonderful Jesus is, we forget that all of history pointed to Him. But when we remember who He is — His love, His sacrifice, His power, His grace — it changes everything. No matter what I’m going through, it helps me because I’m reminded that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and works all things together for my good. That through all of eternity He has loved me, poured Himself out for me, and desires to fill me with the Holy Spirit over and over again and rain down grace upon my life. That absolutely helps me with every trial, every decision, and every step I take if I just lean on Him, look to Him morning and evening, spend time with Him, and do things His way.
But when we take our eyes off Jesus — off the prize — we go back to what we know: our flesh, our sinful nature, our old habits and behaviors. And they rise up and cause great destruction, even death.
“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.”
John 6:63 (NLT)
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 (NLT)
And that’s exactly what happened to them. They started to worship the calf — the calf in Egypt that never did anything for them. How easily they forgot all the wonders and miracles they had seen and experienced.
“How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”
*Exodus 32:8 NLT
And one last thing I want to point out:
“Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.”
*Exodus 32:25 NLT
The enemy laughs and mocks God when we stumble and fall. But when we remember, we have a mighty Savior — one who wants to lift us up out of the ashes, help us start again, and teach us how to walk again.
⸻
Lesson for Me
When I keep my eyes on Jesus, everything in my life stays aligned — my decisions, my heart, my worship, and my direction. But when I take my eyes off Him, I drift back into my flesh, old habits, and self-reliance, and it always leads to loss. The whole Bible reminds me that Jesus is the center, the answer, the Savior, and the goal. I don’t just need information about Him — I need daily intimacy with Him. Morning and evening. Over and over again.
⸻
Examine My Heart
• Where have I been relying on myself instead of Jesus?
• What has distracted me from spending time with Him?
• In what ways have I allowed old habits or the flesh to take over?
• What would it look like to return to Jesus as my daily focus and rest?
⸻
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I’ve known the Scriptures but drifted from You. Help me not just to study Your Word, but to truly see You in it. Remind me daily that all of history points to You, and all of my life depends on You. When I am tired, overwhelmed, confused, or tempted to return to my old ways, draw my heart back to You. I want to meet with You morning and evening. Be my rest, my strength, my Savior, and my joy. Amen.
Type your new text here.
Type your new text here.