God's Plan for Restoration and Our Mission

Devotional

Day 1: God's Plan for Restoration

God's plan for humanity, as revealed in the book of Exodus, is a grand narrative of restoration and reconciliation. This plan is not only for the benefit of humanity but also for the glory of God. Through the story of Exodus, we see God actively working to restore creation, which has been tainted by sin, and to reconcile it back to Himself. This restoration process involves transforming His people into a distinct community that reflects His presence, power, and purpose. Just as God called the Israelites out of Egypt to be a distinct people, He calls Christians out of the darkness of sin into His marvelous light. This calling is not merely about personal salvation but about living a life that is set apart, marked by generosity, justice, and love. We are called to be a people on a mission, living out God's Word and obeying His commands, not just for our benefit but to bring glory to Him. [23:51]

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:19-21 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to reflect His presence and power more clearly? How can you take a step towards that today?

Day 2: Obedience in the Details

The detailed instructions for the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus highlight the importance of obedience, even in the small things. This obedience is crucial because it reflects our willingness to submit to God's authority and trust in His plan. The small, consistent acts of obedience lead to significant transformations in our lives and ultimately to the victories God has planned for us. By paying attention to the details and following God's instructions, we demonstrate our faithfulness and commitment to His will. This obedience is not just about following rules but about cultivating a heart that is aligned with God's desires and purposes. [33:35]

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22 ESV)

Reflection: What is one small act of obedience you can commit to today that reflects your trust in God's plan for your life?

Day 3: Our Identity in Christ

As God's chosen people, our identity transcends racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic divisions. We are united as one in Christ, called to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation. This identity is not just a label but a calling to live lives that reflect God's holiness and love. Our roles as God's people involve proclaiming His praises and abstaining from sinful desires. By embracing our identity in Christ, we are empowered to live out our faith in a way that impacts the world around us. This identity calls us to be a community that embodies the values of the Kingdom of God, marked by unity, love, and service. [50:24]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Reflection: How does your understanding of your identity in Christ influence the way you interact with others, especially those who are different from you?

Day 4: Living on Mission

Our roles as God's people involve proclaiming His praises and abstaining from sinful desires. We are called to live lives that reflect His holiness and love, impacting the world around us. This mission is not just about personal piety but about being a light in the darkness, demonstrating the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. By living on mission, we become agents of change, bringing hope and healing to a broken world. This calling challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and engage with the world in a way that reflects the heart of God. [58:18]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can live out your mission as a follower of Christ in your community this week?

Day 5: The Church's Mission

The church is not a social club or entertainment venue but a community of faith on a mission. We are called to proclaim the excellencies of God and live out His teachings, impacting both our internal community and the wider world. This mission involves being a witness to the transformative power of God's grace and love, both within the church and in the broader society. As a community of believers, we are called to support and encourage one another in our faith journey, while also reaching out to those who do not yet know Christ. The church's mission is to be a beacon of hope and a source of light in a world that desperately needs the message of the Gospel. [01:07:18]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the mission of your church community in a way that reflects God's love and grace to those around you?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we continued our journey through the book of Exodus, focusing on the theme of God's overarching plan for humanity. This plan, as revealed through the narrative of Exodus, is not only for our good but also for His glory. We explored how God is in the process of restoring creation, which has been marred by sin, and reconciling it back to Himself. This restoration involves transforming His people into a distinct community that reflects His presence, power, and purpose.

The story of Exodus is a foreshadowing of what God is doing in the world today through the church. Just as God called the Israelites out of Egypt to be a distinct people, He calls Christians out of the darkness of sin into His marvelous light. This calling is not just about personal salvation but about living a life that is set apart, marked by generosity, justice, and love. We are called to be a people on a mission, living out God's Word and obeying His commands, not just for our benefit but to bring glory to Him.

We also discussed the importance of obedience to God's detailed instructions, as seen in the construction of the tabernacle. This obedience, even in the small things, is crucial because it reflects our willingness to submit to God's authority and trust in His plan. The small, consistent acts of obedience lead to significant transformations in our lives and ultimately to the victories God has planned for us.

Furthermore, we examined our identity as God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. This identity transcends racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic divisions, uniting us as one in Christ. Our roles as God's people involve proclaiming His praises and abstaining from sinful desires, living lives that reflect His holiness and love.

Finally, we were reminded of the mission of the church as a community of faith. We are not just a social club or an entertainment venue but a body of believers called to proclaim the excellencies of God and live out His teachings. Our reputation, both within the church and in the wider community, should reflect the transformative power of God's grace in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Plan for Restoration: God's plan, as revealed in Exodus, is to restore creation and reconcile it back to Himself. This plan is for our good and His glory, calling us to live distinct lives that reflect His presence and power. [23:51]
2. Obedience in the Details: The detailed instructions for the tabernacle in Exodus teach us the importance of obedience, even in small things. These small acts of obedience lead to significant transformations and victories in our lives. [33:35]
3. Our Identity in Christ: As God's chosen people, our identity transcends racial and socioeconomic divisions. We are united as one in Christ, called to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation. [50:24]
4. Living on Mission: Our roles as God's people involve proclaiming His praises and abstaining from sinful desires. We are called to live lives that reflect His holiness and love, impacting the world around us. [58:18]
5. The Church's Mission: The church is not a social club or entertainment venue but a community of faith on a mission. We are called to proclaim the excellencies of God and live out His teachings, impacting both our internal community and the wider world. [01:07:18]
** [67:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:51] - God's Plan for Restoration
[25:21] - Understanding Life's Purpose
[26:05] - Being a Distinct People
[28:09] - Generosity and God's Glory
[29:18] - People of the Word
[30:38] - Obedience in the Details
[32:02] - The Tabernacle's Significance
[33:35] - Small Acts of Obedience
[35:03] - Transforming Hearts
[36:36] - The Mission of God's People
[37:54] - Foreshadowing the Church
[39:28] - The Church's Mission
[40:50] - Our Identity in Christ
[42:35] - Living on Mission

Sermon Clips

1) "When it comes to understanding the nature of things, human beings have really tried to figure this out on our own and in our own existence, in our own understanding, and getting to know ourselves. When in fact, the real approach we need to be taking to figuring things out and knowing how life works is we need to be not trying to see it within ourselves but see it in our relationship with our creator. That's what really defines life like it's supposed to be lived, like God designed it to be lived." [25:21] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "God wants obedience even to the small things. You see, the small things put together make up the what? The large things, the bigger things. People are always saying, I want my life to be better, and they just want some big spectacular transformation to happen. And here's how lives are usually transformed. Little changes consistently practiced over time. That's how you end up with big changes. You pay attention to the details, to the things that may seem unimportant, and you're like, well, I don't know what's going on in the moment, but if God says it needs to be this way, we decide we'll do it that way." [33:35] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "If we're going to be set apart for Him, it means that we understand the importance of everything God teaches us to do. We don't just pick and choose the parts that we like or the parts that we agree with. Last week, I mentioned a quote by Francis Chan. If I run across something in the Bible that I disagree with, I immediately have to assume that I'm wrong, because God's going to make a people set apart for Him. And if we're going to be set apart for Him, even if I disagree with it, that's how God can see if our hearts are really being transformed." [35:03] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "If we lose sight of the mission of God, we're going to be losing sight of that. If we lose track of that, bad things are going to happen. We're going to fall short of accomplishing the mission, which means we're going to miss out on the part of God's plan where it was for our good as well as for His glory. We're going to mess that up if we get off mission, if we don't do everything in light of the mission that God has for us as His people." [39:28] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "If we would just start doing this one thing, it would change dramatically the direction our world is going. It would turn things around dramatically, our schools and our communities and our places of business, if we would just be willing to be proclaimers of the goodness of God wherever we go, whatever we're doing, that we're not embarrassed by it, that we're not scared to share it, that we're not afraid of the consequences." [01:12:19] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "God's plan is an amazing plan. It's for our good, and part of that plan for our good is for us to tell the stories. It's for us to share the good news. It's for us to tell of the goodness of our God to the people in the world around us. That's part of the plan that God has for our good, and if His people do this, it's not only that part of the plan that gets done, it's also for His glory." [01:15:12] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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