After Moses had brought the sacrificial offerings, and consecrated the temple and the priests, it was Aaron’s turn to carry out his duties. First, he brings a sin offering for himself, and then he presents four offerings for the Israelites.

It is only after all of this is done that we see the true purpose of it all – the revelation of the glory of God.

What a moment this must have been for the people of God, when the promise of God’s presence with them was fulfilled in such a clear and obvious way. Scripture records that when they saw it, the people shouted for joy and fell face down before the Lord.

This is the first time that any word for ‘joy’ is used in the Bible. Think back about all the lives we have read about, all the encounters that individuals and the people have had with God, the release of the slaves from Egypt, the defeat of the Egyptian armies. Yet it is only now, in the presence of the glory of the Lord that the people experience such absolute joy.

How seriously do we pursue the glory of the Lord? In Colossians 3 we read, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God . . . When Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.” With Christ at the centre of our focus, we can pursue God’s glory and in his presence the worries and cares of the world fade away and our true joy is found in him.

Let us commit, then to pursuing the glory of God, to turning our faces towards him knowing that in him we find contentment, fulfilment and abundant joy.

next devotional >>

 

 

NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH