Chapter 1
Exodus 1 Daily DEVO But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. Exodus 1:12 – Oppression doesn’t have to mean the stopping of our growth. Far to often when the pressure gets placed on us we feel as if our forward motion and steady growth have to stop until the pressure is relieved. Yet we see the people of God here not only still moving forward but growing and spreading their reach even under the pressure. Church, the enemy doesn’t have any plans of relieving the pressure. We then need to make a choice, do we crumble or do we grow? Do we trust God enough to take a step, even in the midst of the pressure, and know He’ll provide what we need? God never let them down when they trusted in Him nor will He let you down as you trust in Him. You just have to ask yourself will the pressure of our enemy be strong enough to remove your trust from God? I love you, by Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 795
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. Exodus 1:8 – Change is inevitable. Sometimes that change is one that will benefit you and help you move forward. Sometimes that change becomes the catalyst to your efforts growing to move you forward. Either way, change doesn’t have to stop you. Here things were good for the people of Israel under the reign of the old king who knew Joesph and all he had done for Egypt. Yet this new king, unfamiliar with Joseph’s story and the good he brought his country, only saw the Israelites as a threat and choose to deal with them as such. What we might expect to see happen then is the people of Israel to diminish and cease to move. That wasn’t the case though, they grew and flourished even under the pressure that came from the change in leadership. Change doesn’t have to stop you, but it sure can if you choose to let it. Change, however it comes and in whatever shape it takes in your story, offers you a choice. Do you let it become your reason for staying where you are or do you let it be your new reason for taking a step forward? Change is inevitable but moving forward isn’t. You can’t control change but you can control your reaction to it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1884
Chapter 2
Exodus 2 Daily DEVO And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. Exodus 2:9 – Moses’ mom entrusted her baby with God and how did God handle it? Not only returning to her Moses but also having the very enemy, the Egyptians, paying Moses’ mom to help raise the child. As followers of God we must remember that when we give to God He will never be out-given. We can trust God with the most valuable of things in our life and know He will never leave us without. What then have you be afraid to let go and trust God with? Wouldn’t it be amazing if God blessed your situation like He did for Moses’ mom? Just remember the blessing comes after our willingness to trust Him first. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 796
One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. Exodus 2:11 – Just because you are surrounded by a people, that doesn’t means they have to be your people. Here Moses had spent years living with the Egyptians, yet when it talks about his people it isn’t speaking of the Egyptians but the Hebrews. How does all this connect with us? Just because you are surrounded by people who gossip doesn’t mean you have to be a part of that group. Just because you exist in a group that is lazy doesn’t mean you have to be. Just because the people around you choose sin over following Jesus doesn’t mean that has to be your story. You can be around a people and not be a part of them doing what they do. Be in the world, but not of it. We are called to be around people and with people who aren’t following Jesus, we just need to be careful we don’t become as they are. Be the most loving person they have ever seen and speak well of Jesus any chance you get. Be in their story and choose to remain in a different lifestyle than they choose to be in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1885
Chapter 3
Exodus 3 Daily DEVO When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4 – God was waiting and watching for Moses to turn aside from his ways and begin pursing after God. As Moses turned to seek after God, clarity of God’s voice and direction came. I’m not here trying to say that God’s a vending machine where once you begin doing something like going to church again God will immediately give your heart’s desires. What I do want you to hear is that God is ready and willing to guide if we are willing to follow. Are we though willing to turn aside from our ways and seek after God’s ways? Let today be just that. Pray, listen, and watch for the promptings of God. They may not be a burning bush but a person who needs help instead. Are you willing to following God’s lead if it comes differently than you expect? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 797
Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:16-17 – I have observed and I promise. Those actions from God changed everything for the people of Israel. Those actions change everything for us today as well. Know God observes the hardships we go through. He sees the way we are treated and He sees the way we are hurt. Those things aren’t going unnoticed by Him. As a result of what He sees, there we get His promises to us. Promises like He will never leave us, that He will always be an escape for us to run to in the struggle, that He will fight for us, and that He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. God sees and God promises. What then does that result in for us? As with Moses, we can take a step into the dangerous, terrifying, and overwhelming things God directs us in. Steps that on our own would end us, but with God can be the most beautiful experiences of our life and can set people free. Know God sees what you are going through, know His promises, and lean into those truths so you can keep moving forward for Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1886
Chapter 4
Exodus 4 Daily DEVO But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:10-12 – What you have or don’t have can’t be your excuse to not follow what God tells you to do. What we see happening with Moses is when our weaknesses and to us the very thing we think would hold us back from following God is trusted with God, it can become an enormous strength. It may even be the tool God uses to set someone free. So what would be your thing that you see as your weakness? I challenge you to begin daily handing that up to God saying you trust Him with it. God just might surprise you and not only change the way you see that thing but change people’s life through you because of it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 798
At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Exodus 4:24 – While it doesn’t specify exactly who the Lord sought to kill here, later verses point it out to be Moses. But why? Why after commissioning Moses to be the one to rescue His people would God do this? What we see in later verses is apparently Moses, for whatever reason, had not circumcised his son like God commanded of His people. God could not allow the one who was to represent Him to live in disobedience to Him. While drastic measures were taken, keep in mind if God wanted to kill Moses without giving him a chance to repent God could have, but God gave Moses a chance to change his ways. What we must learn from this passage is God is serious about the way His followers live. Christians, the followers of Jesus, the people on earth representing the person of Jesus to the world, must live in the way that God directs. How we choose to live tells the world that doesn’t know God what God is good with and what’s acceptable in a relationship with Him. If then through our life we teach people that God is okay with sin in our story, know we are living in a very dishonorable way towards God. Examine then your life. If someone who doesn’t know Jesus looked closely at your life and based their understanding of a Christian life by your life, would they have an accurate example of how God desires for us to live? God’s giving us a chance to change our ways today…take it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1887
Chapter 5
Exodus 5 Daily DEVO But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2 – We can’t expect people who don’t know God to follow God. When we see on the news people who think and live very contradictory to what God says, it’s easy to get defensive and begin being angry at them. We must first remember, if they don’t know the real God we follow and His ways, it shouldn’t surprise us they think and live this way. Before we knew God we didn’t follow God like we do now. So first, before heaping hatred and judging people that don’t follow God’s ways, let’s love them by showing them who God really is and what His ways are. Because maybe the reason they aren’t following God’s way is because they have no clue yet who the real God is. You can help change that. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 799
Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” Exodus 5:1 – They actually went to Pharaoh. While that piece of the story seems so obvious to us who have heard this story so many times, keep in mind what we read yesterday in chapter four. Moses was terrified to go talk with Pharaoh. Moses was convinced no one would believe him. Moses pleaded with God to send someone else. It’s seems like anything and everything Moses could do to get out of going to Pharaoh he was trying. Yet, he went. Despite fears, worries, and feel not enough for the call, he went to Pharaoh to do exactly as God told him to do. You too might have a calling that seems way to big for you to take the first step towards. As with Moses, look within your story to see all the ways God already has provided for you to be able to take that first step. See the people He’s surrounded you with that will walk with you. Lean into the promises He’s made to you. You can take that step into whatever it is God is leading you towards. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1888
Chapter 6
Exodus 6 Daily DEVO But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” Exodus 6:1 – Men have their ideas. Our enemy has his devious plans. We even have our own excuses. What we see here though in this passage is that none of those things will stop God from carrying out His will of freeing His people. When in Romans it says nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God, this is what’s its meaning. Nothing will ever be able to stop God from pouring His love and grace on those who follow Him. Maybe today we just need a reminder of how big and powerful our God is. If God could handle the Egyptians and all their power as nothing, the things enslaving us are no match for God. God truly is bigger than the bogeyman. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 800
On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 6:28-30 – On the day when the Lord gives you your mission, will their be a “but Moses” moment? In our passage God gave the clear command to Moses on what to do, yet scripture shows us Moses had a “but Moses” moment. God gave Moses clear directions…but Moses had questions and fears. God gave His command, but Moses doubted its success. Is this happening with you when it comes to our mission of sharing the Gospel? God gives us a command, but we respond with fear, doubt, and questions. Know God isn’t upset at us for having any of that, He understand things like fear and questions are going to arise within us. What He is looking for is followers that will follow Him despite all those things. Ones that will trust His understanding of things and trust His power. So what’s your biggest question, fear, or worry about stepping into your mission to share the Gospel with others? Whatever it is, know your loving, Heavenly Father can take care of it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1889
Chapter 7
Exodus 7 Daily DEVO Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Exodus 7:11-12 – Our enemy loves to imitate God’s power. If he can begin to make you believe he has the same power as God, then maybe you’ll step away from God and put your trust in him instead. What we see though is what happens when God’s power faces up against our enemy’s power. The enemy gets swallowed up as nothing. Remember our enemy loves to lie and deceive with the purpose of keeping you from God. While he may be able to put on a good show, our God has all the power and one day will show that power to our enemy once and for all. Make sure you’re trusting in the real thing and not some cheap imitation. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 801
Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. Exodus 7:7 – Yesterday during Sunday School I shared with our youth how their teenage-age doesn’t disqualify them from being used by God. Here we see Aaron and Moses in their eighties being deeply used by God and their work was just beginning. Scripture is clear that age isn’t something that holds God back from using you for His purposes. 5 years old, 50, 16, 160…even if you’re already dead God can use you. So it’s not age that keeps us from being used by God, so what is? It’s the question of at what age are you going to commit to being used by God? Whatever age you are reading this and whatever season of life you are in, have you chosen to say yes to the work God has called you to? God has set before you the task to point people to Him and to tell people around you of His love for them. Don’t let your age make you believe you’re unusable to God for that task, you’re the perfect age. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1890
Chapter 8
Exodus 8 Daily DEVO The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. Exodus 8:18-19 – Here is the beautiful moment when the enemy finally has to admit his powers don’t compare to God’s. What’s amazing here is that even those who follow the enemy, who would have never acknowledged God’s power before, are now seeing and speaking about the power of God. As we read through these plagues be sure to take heart that God is so much more powerful than our enemy. Nothing the enemy had could stop what God was doing. What God is doing now is setting you free, pouring grace on you, and filling you with everything you need to live for Him. Nothing the enemy has can stop God from doing that. Remember you’re on the winning side. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 802
But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” Exodus 8:7-8 – Something not often talked about is how the plagues so far that God brought the magicians of Pharaoh were able to replicate. They too were able to turn water into blood and they too were able to bring frogs. Yet notice here that Pharaoh still had to plead with Moses to take away the frogs. The magicians were able to imitate the works of God, but they couldn’t reverse the works of God. They couldn’t stop God from doing what He set His mind to do. Know our enemy can deceive us in so many ways, making us believe he has just as much power as God. Yet just watch how much power he has when he tries to stop God from doing something God desires to do. It’s like a toddler holding the leash of a massive dog; there’s no chance that toddler could stop the dog from doing what the dog wanted. Remember who truly has the power. Our enemy plays a good game of deception, but is powerless when it comes to Jesus. I loves you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1891
Chapter 9
Exodus 9 Daily DEVO But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die. Exodus 9:4 – Sometimes we will have to suffer because of someone else’s wrong choices. Like if a family member chooses a wrong path, often we have to deal with pain that choice brought into the family. What we need though to see is that God has the power to protect His people even when the world around them continues to make poor choices. Yes, we may feel some of the aftermath of those choices, but we can know we have a promised safety in God. So when the news is bleak and the future seems lost, know for God’s followers there is a hope that the world who doesn’t follow God doesn’t have. We have Heaven ahead of us and an all powerful God with us everyday until then. Don’t let the news dictate your hope, let scripture remind you how hope-filled your future is. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 803
“Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.” Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses…Exodus9:19-20 -This showed God loved even the Egyptians. He gave them a chance to follow Him. Often it’s easy to read passages like this and to think ALL the Egyptians were evil and God wanted to punish them all. Or like within the Gospels it’s easy to believe ALL the Pharisees were haters of Jesus and Jesus was mad at all of them. Yet scripture doesn’t speak of these groups like this. We see here even within the Egyptian people there were some who listened to the words of God. Many Pharisees turned to believe and serve Jesus, Paul being one of them. Be careful then to lump people in groups and assume you know all about their desire for God. Maybe there is a faithful follower of Jesus within that other political party. Maybe there is someone open to Jesus within that certain group at school. Here we see why God is giving the whole world a chance to come to Him and why He commands us to tell each person in this world about Him. We never know who just might be willing to listen to the voice of Jesus. How terrible would it be to find out too late we held back the message of Jesus’ love from someone who would have listened but was from a group we thought would never accept the message. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1892
Chapter 10
Exodus 10 Daily DEVO Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?” Exodus10:7 – What a perfect example of the blindness sin brings into our life. Whether Pharaoh truly didn’t see it, or just simply refused to see it because of his pride, his country was destroyed because of the choices he was making. We to need to open our eyes when we are in the pursuit of sin. Take a moment to look at the damage you are bringing in your relationships, your emotional health, and your walk with God. Is it worth it? Whatever temporary pleasure it’s giving you isn’t worth the pain it’s bringing to others. You think your sin isn’t impacting others? I challenge you then to have an honest conversation with the people who truly care about you concerning this. Maybe your eyes will be opened a little more. Just remind yourself today that sin isn’t worth the pain it brings. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 804
But he said to them, “The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. Exodus 10:10-11 – Partial obedience is full disobedience. Notice here Pharaoh said twice in this chapter, “Go!” The very word Moses was waiting to hear from Pharaoh, the command that they were allowed to leave. Yet God wanted everyone, young and old, and all their livestock to go with them. Pharaoh finally said go but wouldn’t let all of them leave or wouldn’t let their livestock go with them. Pharaoh partly obeyed and we see him experience the punishment of full disobedience. God isn’t looking for us to partly obey Him. In fact God despises a halfhearted devotion to His call. Whether you look in Revelation to how He wanted to handle the lukewarm church to the ways Jesus speaks of dying to self completely and following Him with your whole heart, God is clear in scripture on what percentage of you He wants following Him…100% of you 100% of the time. So where are you giving God only a part obedience? Meaning you see clearly a way you could give more of yourself to Him and the mission. In each day God blesses us with let’s seek to give more of ourselves to Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1893
Chapter 11
Exodus 11 Daily DEVO But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Exodus 11:7 – God loves the world, but there is a distinction between how he blesses His followers compared to those who don’t follow Him. We’ve seen that clearly as we’ve read through these plagues. While Egypt was getting ruined, wherever God’s people were they were taken care of. God is using His people to demonstrate to the rest of the world that in Him is where we need to be. While we as Christians are still going to face troubles and struggles like the rest of the world, unlike the rest of the world, we have joy, hope, peace, and strength being handled to us every second. We still face death, cancer, money problems, and relationship issues. We though have God and all He brings with us in those struggles. Take hold of these things in your struggle so that God can use you as an example of how much better it is to follow Him. Just remember it’s not the absence of pain that proves God is with you, it’s that in the pain you have what you need from God that shows He’s there. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 805
And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 11:8-9 – We can’t control how people will respond to hearing the message God has for them. In our passage Moses shared the news of what the final plague would be, that all the firstborn in Egypt would die. A message that Moses hoped would be enough to push Pharaoh to make the decision to follow God, yet that didn’t happen. Moses then left in hot anger after once again seeing Pharaoh refuse to follow God. We too have to be watchful of how we react to people’s choice to not take to heart the message of God’s love for them that we are sharing with them. Sometimes they will respond in good way, accepting the truth and choosing Jesus. Other times the message when told will receive disbelief, anger, doubt, or even mockery. How we choose to respond then matters. If you choose to love them enough to share the message of the Gospel with them, love them even through their poor reactions to it. Be patient, listen to their responses, answer their questions, and walk with them through the heart change God is making within them. That change of heart from loving sin and self to seeking God is a big one and may take time. Be aware of how your reactions to their response to the Gospel can either open their minds to deeper conversations about Jesus or close their hearts even more. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac- Daily DEVO 1894
Chapter 12
Exodus 12 Daily DEVO At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. Exodus 12:29 – God’s wrath comes on all who refuse to follow Him. We see that pretty clearly in this passage, from the firstborn of royalty to the firstborn in prison felt the wrath of God. We must remember that God doesn’t look at our financial records and church attendance or even our community service records to determine if we have life with Him or not. God’s wrath comes to all who don’t follow Him yet for those who do follow God, His wrath was satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice. We have then free access to God’s unending love because of Jesus. So if you follow God know you are completely free from God’s wrath because of Jesus. Follow God with all you have and live knowing you’re free because of Jesus. – Daily DEVO 806
And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Exodus 12:4 – The story held within this chapter is a massive one for the people of Israel. After 430 years of being in Egypt, their bonds of slavery were broken and they were free to travel to the promise land. What captured my focus today was the way God gave these instructions for the Passover. Notice God gives clear directions on how He wants His people to follow Him, yet in this verse He gives ways to make it possible for even the poorer of the land to follow Him. God didn’t want things like money or lack thereof to be the deciding factor of if you could be a follower of God. He wanted to make it possible for any who wanted to follow Him to be able to. This is our story today. God knows we all don’t have money, talent, clean pasts, smarts, good families, or knowledge of the Bible. That’s why He isn’t asking for that in our steps towards Him. What He asks is for us to set aside the life of willfully walking away from intimacy with Him and begin walking towards that closeness instead. God hasn’t made it difficult for you to follow Him, He’s inviting you to come into His story and dwell with Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1895
Chapter 13
Exodus 13 Daily DEVO You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ Exodus 13:8 – Moses is telling the people that as you offer sacrifices and follow the directions of God and your kids ask you why you do what you do, tell them it’s because of all that God has done for me that I do what I do for Him. Make sure you have a habit of sharing with others what God has done for you. When people ask why you behave kindly or why you run a trustworthy business or why you go to church, give them the right answer. It’s because of all that God has done for me that I do what I do for Him. Then if the opportunities allow it, go into detail about those things He’s done for you. Share about the cross and the grace He has given. Share with them as well that God is willing to do the same for them too. Today, take a moment to reflect on what God has done for you and challenge yourself to share one thing with someone today. For a culture that struggles with worry about the future, remembering and sharing all the good things God has done for us is key to our hopefulness. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 807
Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.” Exodus 13:3 – Hindsight is often better than what it truly was. We can find ourselves looking back at seasons of our story and seeing them in ways that are so far from reality. Here is why Moses spoke this over the people, to remember this day what God’s strong hand pulled you out from, a house of slavery. Egypt wasn’t healthy for them, Egypt wasn’t safe for them, Egypt was the place of their most brutal oppression. Egypt wasn’t their promise land. Yet we see even in this chapter God making decisions on how to lead them because He knew they would be tempted to go back. To go back to the terrible oppression they were in. Be wise enough to see the chapters of your story for what they truly were. The times where sin was the greatest wasn’t the times of your greatest fill, you were empty. That bad relationship was just that, bad. If you stayed in that one season you may not be here today, but God rescued you with His strong hand. Choose to see these sort of seasons in your past as what they truly were, houses of slavery. Refuse to listen to the enemy who longs to take you back there. Don’t willingly walk back into the death Jesus saved you from. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1896
Chapter 14
Exodus 14 Daily DEVO The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” Exodus 14:15 – I love this. Here we have the Israelites trapped between the Red Sea and the oncoming army of the Egyptians. They begin crying out as if they were going to die and God says this verse. He looks and says why are you crying, keep moving forward. God had done so much for them already and was clearly still with them, yet they got caught up in the fear and lost focus. This passage is a great reminder for us as to the direction God wants us moving in, forward. Don’t be afraid of the sea in front of you or the enemy approaching. God isn’t afraid of it so we shouldn’t be either. Just keep moving forward. So what has God told you to do today? Let’s move forward in it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 808
“Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:12 – Understand who’s talking here, the people of Israel. God just did in front of their eyes miracle after miracle to rescue them from slavery. He was leading them to a land of promise. Yet in the moment when pressure came, when instead of being showered with gold by the Egyptians they are being pursued by the Egyptian army, we see a truth come out. We see they had no idea what freedom was. Which makes since because not a single person in that group ever existed before Israel was enslaved. It’s all they knew and they couldn’t grasp what could be better than slavery. Keep this story in mind when sharing the freedom that Jesus gives with people who know nothing but worldly sin. For them, just like the Egyptians, they see no reason to leave their slavery to sin. It’s all they know, they have no concept of the freedom that comes with Jesus. So don’t be surprised when someone who only knows sin chooses sin over Jesus. As Moses did with the people of Israel so we should do with the people in our story enslaved to sin. We stand up for their freedom, we show them a side of Jesus they’ve never seen before, and we lead them on a path to God that to them doesn’t makes sense. While they have no clue what freedom in Jesus looks like, you do. Show them what freedom looks like. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1897
Chapter 15
Exodus 15 Daily DEVO The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’ You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. Exodus 15:9-10 – We need to read verses like this because they are reminders of our enemy’s true intentions. It’s far too easy to be deceived into thinking that sin and the enemy wants to treat us and pleasure us. Here though we see the truth that’s covered up by all the enemy’s lies. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Thankfully though we see right after the enemy makes his plans known a demonstration of how powerful our God is and how easy it is for Him to thwart any plans our enemy has. Be wise and remind yourself what the enemy really wants with you. Sin of any type only hurts you and others. If you are being told otherwise, that’s not God speaking, that’s your enemy trying to deceive you. I’m tired of seeing people fall prey to the enemy’s tricks, hopefully passages like this being shared can help it happening less. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 809
You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. Exodus 15:13 – We’d all agree God led His people. In His love for the people He led them eventually to the land He promised them. Yet do you remember what was all still on this path laid out for them by God’s steadfast love? An army pursing them, walking across a sea, going days without water then the water you do finally find is bad, and oh yeah, decades lost in a wilderness. Even a path led by God’s love will have difficulties. God is leading us to Himself and His holy abode where we can dwell with Him. This is our promise land. On that journey though don’t be shocked when you find opposition, find the path is different than expected, and when there are seasons of without. While it may seem odd a path directed by God’s love would still hold those things, know the presence of them isn’t a sign God’s stopped leading you. If Jesus’ own journey here while on earth was filled with all those things and more, we can see there must be a reason for them bigger than we can see. Trust God knows the best path for you, even when that path leads straight into difficulty. Often the most difficult of journeys lead to the most beautiful of destinations. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1898
Chapter 16
Exodus 16 Daily DEVO And the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:3 – Do you fear that the same God who saved you from slavery can’t help you now? Because true, now you aren’t in slavery from sin, but the struggle you’re currently in is big and overwhelming. But is it bigger than eternity in Hell? Is it more powerful than the grip of Satan? Because Jesus conquered both of those and if He is able to do that, He’s able to take care of you now. Don’t let the current need blind you from what God has done for you in the past like we read happened with the Israelites. Your current need is seen by God and is nothing too big for Him to handle. He’s proven to be trustworthy more times than you can ever count and has never failed you either. He’s not going to start failing you now. Trust Him with your need. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 810
Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. Exodus 16:21 – There is a time to take hold of God’s blessing…now. Our chapter today spoke on how God provided food for His people as they traveled through the wilderness to the promise land. In the morning they were to collect a day’s portion of the manna that God had provided for them. It would be there every single morning without fail, yet when the sun came out and grew hot, the manna would melt and no longer be there to gather. A question for you then, if someone waited till late afternoon when the sun was hot to gather their manna and went outside to find the manna wasn’t there anymore because it had melted, was God unfaithful to His promise to them or were they just too late? God did everything He promised them He would, He even kept His word about it melting in the sun. God was never unfaithful, the one who waited just waited to long and missed the blessing. You as well are in danger of waiting too long and missing God’s blessing. Now is the time to share the Gospel with your loved ones because tomorrow might be too late. Now is the time to be faithful in your workplace because tomorrow might not be available to you. The promise of eternal life with Jesus is available to you right now, but the moment you die whatever choice you made while alive is the one you exist with for eternity. If you don’t take hold of it now, it may be too late for you. Don’t be like the guy in my example who waited to long to gather his manna. For him his suffering would have been an empty stomach for a day, yours would be an eternity away from Jesus. God’s faithfulness is here, take hold of it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1899
Chapter 17
Exodus 17 Daily DEVO And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus17:7 – What will it take for some people to get that God is real and with them? These people have seen the sort of miracles that come once in eternity and still question if God is with them. We read about people who watched Jesus Himself heal and be Himself day after day and still cried crucify Him when the chance arose. We too are going to have people in our lives that have had every thing they could need to believe shown to them yet still refuse to accept it. What we must do is continue to pray and be open to sharing God’s love with them. Truly there isn’t anything else we can do. Just don’t downplay the importance of keeping on praying for them. While we may not be able to do anything, God can. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 811
So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Exodus17:4 – The tool they were going to use to stone Moses with God used as the source of their provision. Once again the people is Israel found themselves without water on their travels and they began to grumble. They were so worked up that Moses came to God fearful the people were going to stone him to death. God, as He always does, provided for His people but in a unique way. When Moses struck a rock, the water needed came out from it. Rocks were the threat yet rocks became the means of provision. God can take the tools of our adversaries that are meant to hurt us and change them to be the means of provision we all need. He can use the pressure they put on us to move us out of a spot we needed to move from. He can use their words meant to destroy us to create in us a greater dependency on Him. While the stones in their hand may still be thrown at you, trust God is powerful enough to take their stones and create life for you out of them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1900
Chapter 18
Exodus 18 Daily DEVO Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.” Exodus 18:17-18 – When you do work alone that was meant to be done with others you’ll find yourself empty. Simple example could be moving into a new home. Try moving a couch into a moving truck by yourself…I’ve done it before, wasn’t pretty. When it comes to your pursuit of God and carrying out the mission of the Gospel, that’s a job meant to be done with others. When you go at it solo expect to find yourself running on fumes. Sure you can get some distance on fumes, but you then find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere calling for the help you should have leaned on to begin with. Jethro’s advice is for us too in our walk with God today. Lean on each other. You need people and people need you. The task of the Gospel is too big for you alone and too important to give up on because we’re tired. Today, who can be someone you can lean on to help you? How can you help them back? I’ll be praying for you so you can count on me being there, hopefully you’ll have my back to by praying for me as well. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 812
Exodus 18
V1 – You may not even realize it but people see, hear, and are impacted by what God is doing through you. What’s a story of when someone else’s life impacted you positivity and they had no clue it was impacting you that way?
V8&9 – Sometimes our life can feel really dry in the getting-blessings-from-God category. It’s hard to stay faithful and encouraged in that dry season. One way to keep going is rejoicing over the blessings from God you see happening in someone else’s life. Share with your partner a blessing you’re thankful happened in someone else’s story and take time in prayer to thank God for blessing them that way.
V27 – Could be a friend that moved away or a grandparent that has passed away, but we all have had people in our life that were here for a season but that season has passed and they aren’t with us anymore. God though put them there in our lives for a reason. Who is a person that fits that description for you and what’s a lesson they taught you about life and God that you don’t want to ever forget?
Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Exodus 18:19-21 – If you didn’t read the whole chapter, what’s going on is Moses’ father-in-law comes to visit, sees how Moses has taken the leader role here of this vast people, and how Moses has even taken on the task to sit all day everyday as their judge helping them with disputes. Notice the father-in-law never told Moses to stop serving as God had led him to do, just to change the way he was doing it. While it may seem crazy, even heretical at times, there are multiple ways we can complete the missions and tasks God has given us. Many forms of music work for worship to God. We can hold church in a historic chapel, a home, or even a bar and God is honored in each place if we put Him first there. We don’t even have to meet on Sunday, Tuesday works just fine. Let’s be willing to look at the ways we worship, serve, and even do church to see if there is better ways to do it. Never should we stop completing the mission God has set in front of us, but if changing the method means more people come to know Him we should change. In fact, I believe if we see in front of us a way we could change our methods to reach more people with the gospel yet we choose not to take it, we’re living in sin. Remember the reason we have breath today is share the love of Jesus with others. If we use that breath for anything else, we’ve misused the gift. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1901
Chapter 19
Exodus 19 Daily DEVO And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.” Exodus 19:21 – We see here something I believe will help as we progress through these next few chapters. We see the reason for the rules God gives. As we will be reading these next few days, we’re going to see a bunch of laws being given out and a simple question could be asked, “Why did they need all these laws?” It’s because God knew His perfection and He knew the people’s imperfection yet still wanted them to be able to have fellowship with Him. God wasn’t trying to ruin their life with all these laws, He was giving them an opportunity to be close with Him. While our relationship to the law given here has changed because of Jesus, the commandments we get from God still have that purpose. As we follow the teachings of Jesus and live as He commanded us to, our fellowship with God becomes richer. Just remember that the reason for the rules is because God wants closeness with you. We have salvation because of Jesus and as we follow the commandments of God our relationship with Him will grow and mature. That’s exactly what God wants. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 813
Exodus 19
V4 – Sometimes we just need to stop and remember the amazing things God has done for us. Share two things God has done for you in your life with your partner.
V8 – That’s pretty easy to say when life’s full of blessing, not so much when it’s full of struggle. When in the past have you noticed it wasn’t so easy for you to keep doing what God said to do? If a time like that comes again, how could your partner help you?
V21 – We see that God gave the rule so they wouldn’t die. He had a purpose for His command. What though has been a rule/teaching that God has given that you’ve struggled to understand why you should follow? Why do you think that rule was given?
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.” Exodus 19:21 – How long do things have to be confusing for you to give up listening to God? Here the Israelites were witnessing something truly amazing, God coming down on the top of a mountain. They could see the powerful cloud, hear the rumbles and trumpets, and Moses was giving them clear, simple commands from God to follow in that moment. Just don’t start up the mountain. Yet notice what Moses had to do after climbing all the way to the top, God sent him right back down because the people were already about to begin breaking off from their faithfulness to God. It’s good for us to truly ask ourselves how long do things have to be difficult, confusing, uncertain, and/or painful in our faith life for us to be considering walking away from it. Let’s be real up front, God never said anything about the pursuit of Him being painless. If that was spoken to you, your were lied to by some pastor or teacher. So how much are you willing to bear? My hope is that at this point in your story, you’ve had a chance to see God is greater than anything else, He’s good to His word, and He truly does loves you. Sure we can walk away, but is there anything at all that can offer us what God can? When something is worth the pain, you stick with it through the pain. When something doesn’t make sense, running away from the One who can make sense of it all is foolish. Know in this journey we to will find ourselves in seasons much like the one the people in our chapter are in. In a place we don’t know, surround by confusion, and things are happening that are just so out of our control. Those moments are not to moments to walk away but to lean in deeper. Allow God to show you in those times just how good He really is to you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1902
Chapter 20
Exodus 20 Daily DEVO And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it. Exodus 20:26 – God wanted them to respect the holiness of the altar and what they were doing there. We too need to respect the holiness and seriousness that comes with coming to the altar. But we have a different story than they did back then. Our story is different because of Jesus. He laid Himself on the altar, perfecting us in God’s eyes, that now we can come to God completely revealed and not be ashamed. Meaning you can come to God with everything laid out in the open and know you’ll be welcomed into His arms because of what Jesus did for you. Always remember what it took for you to be able to come to God like this, but also never let your mistakes now hold you back from coming to God. You are forever welcomed in His presence because of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 814
Exodus 20
V7 – You carry God’s name on you every second of everyday. Where/when do you feel you represent Him the best? How about the worst?
V23 – God is pretty heavy about not having idols. What’s an idol you’ve seen someone chase after that really messed them up?
V26 – How would you feel if every secret you had was exposed to God? We know God knows all that, so how does it then make you feel that He welcomes you to His altar even with all that revealed? God must really love you and want to be with you.
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Exodus 20:1-2 – We have the full list of the Ten Commandments within our chapter today, yet after reading this morning, might I suggest there is a “Command 0?” No, I’m not trying to be heretical, I just noticed how God started of His message. He called them to remember. To remember who He is to them and what He has done for them. That then is Command 0, remember. Everything starts with you remembering who God is to you and what He’s done for you. He’s holy, sovereign, creator of the universe, your redeemer, your Heavenly Father. He’s plucked you out of your pit, set you on solid ground, wiped away the sin, and called you holy. Remember. When life and the enemy seeks to fill you with lies about who God is remember who He truly is. When life and the enemy seeks to tell you what God is able to do remember what He’s already done. Remember. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1903
Chapter 21
Exodus 21 Daily DEVO When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. Exodus 21:28-29 – It’s one thing to have something we are in control over hurt someone because we were unaware of the damage it could bring, it’s something else to know how dangerous something is and refuse to keep it in check. For example, your words. Maybe you just haven’t learned yet how destructive words can be. You speak, hurt someone, yet see the pain you brought and make sure that you don’t ever use your words like that again. Sadly though we see more of people understanding the damage that words, and many other things in their control, can bring yet continuing to keep them unchecked. Let’s not be this way. Whether it’s your words, anger, etc, be in control. Their is a reason one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control and it’s because God knew how damaging an unchecked life can be. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 815
Exodus 21
V6 – So if the slave loved his master and wanted to stay with him forever the master would pierce his ear as a mark that he was the master’s. What should be a mark on our life that anyone around us can see clearly we are God’s forever?
V23 – God sees a baby as a life. It’s comforting in the chaos of our world that God has made the way He sees things very clear in scripture. What’s something else clearly stated in scripture that the world sees very differently than God sees it?
V28&29 – What’s something you are in control of that you haven’t kept in check and it’s ended up hurting someone around you? How can you be better at keeping that in check so no more hurt is caused?
…his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. Exodus 21:6 – Without context, this sounds like a seriously cruel rule God would make concerning slaves, but understand the whole picture. After the years of service that needed to be completed for the slave, if he loved his master and wanted to remain with him forever, he could willingly allow himself to remain under the service of his master for the rest of his life. This mark in the ear would be a sign to all that he was now a permanent part of the master’s household and under his care. You and I don’t have a mark in our ears saying we’re a part of God’s household or under his care. The mark though is in Jesus’ wrists. He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross so you could freely become a part of God’s household. He holds the marks forever as a sign to you that you’ve been redeemed and are now under care of God. When the struggles come and the pain rises, dwell on the scars that Jesus bears for you. They tell you that you are His, you are deeply known by Him, and He is going to provide for your need. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1904
Chapter 22
Exodus 22 Daily DEVO If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. Exodus 22:16 – There is a price to be paid after sin. For some odd reason we forget that obvious fact when the temptations are in front of us. Our desires are stirring and our enemy is working and we loose focus off of this truth that this desire we’re about to try and fulfill has a step price to pay afterwards. You pursue the affair, you pay with a ruined marriage. You pursue the anger, you pay with ruined relationships. You pursue the selfishness, you pay with loneliness. There is a reason God is leading you away from sinful desires. It’s because He knows all to well the price you have to pay for sin. Be wiser than the old you. Before you’d pursue that sin not thinking about the consequences, but that’s not you anymore. Take hold of the strength and new path God is giving away from that old way of living. You’re free from that now because of Jesus, don’t find yourself paying for things you don’t have to. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 816
Exodus 22
V5 – Each of us may answer this differently, so if someone we’re to hurt you (purposely or accidentally) what would be the best way for them to seek to make things right with you? If they pursue making things right after they hurt you, what’s your responsibility now in this process?
V16 – What’s a sin that people around your age seem to be tempted a lot with? What then is often the short term price they have to pay for trying to fill that desire? How about long term price?
V22 – No other nation in history really cared for the helpless. God though is showing He does care. What’s a group that is often not cared about by the rest of the world that God wants us to care about? How’s a way you can do that this week?
You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24 – God is clear on something here, He cares deeply for those the world often casts aside. In the culture when this passage was written, if there wasn’t a man of the house those in the house were left to fend for themselves. Widows and children without a dad were left with no support. As a result they were often mistreated and abused. God though commands His people to behave differently than the rest of the world. Those without support you support. Those cast aside you bring close. Those who need help you help. Show love to those who the world doesn’t show love to. This is the heart of God and the heart God directs you to have. Pause for a moment then and think of the people in your bubble that fit in this category. There are those in your church who have lost a spouse, there are the elderly who can’t physically do everything they used to be able do for themselves, there are so many kids in foster care, there are those truly working hard but just don’t have enough to cover their bills. You can’t do everything, but you can do something. Pray today to see how God may lead you show love to those He deeply loves. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1905
Chapter 23
Exodus 23 Daily DEVO Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Exodus 23:20 – Behold means to see, observe, look. God was telling His people to see, observe, and to look at how He was going to lead and protect them on this path He prepared for them. To take the time and open there eyes to the fact God was was them and working on their behalf. Let’s behold as well. Let’s take the time to see, observe, and look as well at all that God is doing. When we forget to take that time, life has a way of distracting us from what God is doing and we can begin to think He’s absent or has forgotten us because all we see is the daily struggles. Take the time today to behold. God is working in your story and He’s protecting you on this path He’s prepared for you. We just have to be willing to stop long enough to look. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 817
Exodus 23
V2&24 – God understands there will be people who just don’t follow Him, He just wants you to not be like that. Of the ways you see people around you not following God, what has been the thing you’ve struggled with the most to keep out of your walk with God?
V4&5 – Have you ever had the chance to be loving to an enemy? Story time
V20 – Take time today to behold (see, observe, look) at what God has been doing in your life. What’s something this week that you know God did for you but due to the business of life you didn’t see it at the time?
You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Exodus 23:9 – These sort of words come up all throughout the words God speaks to the Israelites. He commands them to be kind and compassionate to the sojourner, the traveler with no safe place to rest. Show love and care for them instead of cruelty. Show them everything you wished you were shown when you were in their place not that long ago. It’s important for us to remember that not long ago we too were slaves to sin, chained to our sinful ways with no knowledge of God’s true love. Thankfully many of us have found the truth and life Jesus gives and we are no longer where we used to be. Yet, just because we are no longer there doesn’t mean we can look cruelly on those who still are. Be the person who helps the one that doesn’t know Jesus know Jesus. Be the one who offers love, care, and compassion. Maybe someone did that for you in your journey to Jesus, maybe not, but make sure the people around you that don’t know Jesus have this help. Be the person in someone else’s story that shows the love Jesus would show them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1906
Chapter 24
Exodus 24 Daily DEVO And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. Exodus 24:11 – The chief men were able to sit in the presence of God, able to eat and drink in His presence, and not experience the wrath of God. They were able to have a perfect fellowship with God. For them, this was a once in a lifetime experience, to have fellowship with God this way. We must remember that their once in a lifetime experience is what we have available to us everyday. Because of Jesus, we have perfect fellowship with God eternally. We can sit, eat, and drink calmly in His presence not worried about His wrath coming on us because we’ve been perfected in Christ. Church please don’t take this for granted. You’ve been given access to God, take hold of it. The God who has the joy, peace, healing, acceptance, and love you need is available to you. Seek fellowship with Him and find what you are looking for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 818
Exodus 24
V2 – What’s your first thought when you hear that there was a time where some people could come to God and others couldn’t? What’s one word that describes how you feel knowing that it isn’t that way anymore? Share that with God and your partner.
V7 – Hearing is one thing, doing afterwards is another. What’s something you’ve heard you should be doing in your life with God yet haven’t begun the doing part yet? What’s keeping you from doing it?
V11 – They were able to be in God’s presence, something we Christians get to enjoy daily. Set a timer for 4 minutes and just sit with God. Enjoy the fact you can freely do this because of what Jesus did for you.
Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him. Exodus 24:2 – What was the message here, Moses can come, but others can’t. This was the reality for the people of Israel then. Sure they saw firsthand the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire leading them by night, and the cloud covering the mountain here, but they weren’t allowed to draw close to God. How blessed are we that this isn’t our story. Sure we haven’t seen a sea part, but we have freedom to draw close to God. The veil that separated us from the holiness of God has been torn because of Jesus and we can draw as near as we want. I wonder though how many of us who have this freedom use it. We can draw close to God, the One with all the answers and the One who has all we need to make it through today. Take hold of this beautiful blessing each day and draw close to God. Spend time talking with Him, read scripture to learn about Him, serve Him. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1907
Chapter 25
Exodus 25 Daily DEVO And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. Exodus 25:8-9 – Sometimes God asks us to give and to serve when we don’t fully understand the whole picture. For the Israelites, this was entirely new to them. A sanctuary, an ark, a set of laws to live in unity with God. All foreign, all confusing, but God understood that and was patient and gave clear instructions along the way. God also understands how foreign it is to follow God wholeheartedly compared to the world and also how confusing some of His directions can be at first. This is why it’s important to have a habit of seeking Him. That’s done by reading His Word, prayer, corporate worship, invested spiritual relationships. God’s plans and will is big but not impossible for us to understand. He wants the world to know about Him and He wants you to deeply know Him. The confusing parts about that journey can begin to be cleared up as we pursue Him. The more we spend time with God, the more familiar we get with His heart and what He’s leading us to do each day. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 819
Exodus 25
V2 – God doesn’t force us to give to Him, but asks us to. Why should you be open to giving what you have to God? What was something you remember Him asking you to give but struggled with letting go?
V22 – They were able to step into God’s presence by the ark. We though get to do that each day and can even get used to that privilege. What can become a problem if we get too familiar with being able to be with God like we can?
V37 – The light helped them see what they were meant to do in the sanctuary. Share a Bible verse that has helped you keep following God and share how it did so.
The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. Exodus 25:15 – We have a saying that if there is something gross we “wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.” Now gross isn’t the reason the poles were added to the ark, it was because of it’s holiness. The poles were to remain in the rings attached to the ark so no one would find themselves tempted to touch the ark due to the poles no longer being where they should be. What then is something God is telling you to keep the “pole in the rings” of so you can remain distant and non-tempted? Rather than a holy ark, is there something sinful that needs a ten foot pole attached to it so you won’t find yourself touching it? Has that something once had a pole, but you removed it so you can draw closer to it? Distance from sinful things is needed if you want your walk with Jesus to be everything it could be. What are some things then that can help create that distance? An accountability partner, a social media fast, rehab, a picture up of your loved one as a reminder who your sin is also hurting. Whatever your “pole” looks like, put it up where it needs to be so the things God is calling you not to touch you won’t touch. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1908
Chapter 26
Exodus 26 Daily DEVO And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. Exodus 26:31 – This was not the first time we see “skillfully” being said about how to make the things of the Tabernacle. They were to use the best hands who had the most skill and for those hands to give it their all. God is asking for our best because He deserves our best. Yet when we take a moment to think about the things He has placed in front of us to do, what percentage of our best is He getting? Like with loving your spouse, or with sharing God’s love with the people at your school, or with how you speak about Jesus with your friends, what percentage of your best is God getting? You can give 100%, but has He only been getting 99%? 50%? Less? Know God’s not here shaming you for not giving your best nor am I here doing that. He is just reminding both of us that He deserves our best and we have it in our power to give our best to Him. Today, you have opportunities to live for God in front of you, give it 100%. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 820
Exodus 26
V7 – God wanted rough goat hair on the outside yet beautiful things on the inside. Just like us as Christians. Who is someone in your life that from appearances you thought was cold and rough, but then after speaking with them you began to see the warmness of Jesus on the inside?
V33 – While this is not the same temple as in Jesus’ day, this veil was used just like the veil that was torn at Jesus’ death. To keep people and God apart. What’s a characteristic of God that you have been able to experience because that separation is gone that if you could, you would share with the people back then to help them understand God better?
V31 – God wants us giving our best to Him. Giving Him 100%. What’s something today you can give God 100% in that maybe yesterday you didn’t?
And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. And the extra that remains in the length of the curtains, the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it. Exodus26:12-13 – God even has a purpose for your extra. God already knew what Moses and whoever would be putting this all together we’re thinking…the math doesn’t add up, we’ll have leftover curtain if we make that much. Even before they had a chance to speak, God reminded of something. He knows what He is doing. To us, it seems like extra, to God it was the exact amount needed to get the job done right. So maybe the extra you find yourself with today has a purpose too. Somehow things worked out that you have an extra hour of free time, maybe that wasn’t a mistake but there’s a purpose for that “extra” hour. Maybe there’s a reason your dinner table has more seats than you have people in your home currently. Maybe there’s more to all this. Maybe it never was “extra” to God but the exact amount you needed if your were to be doing everything He’s called you to. Am I saying that if you have any surplus of anything in your life that it must have a purpose? Possibly, what I do know though is I can give that surplus a purpose if I choose to do so. If it can’t be brought into Heaven with me, or if it can’t even be brought into tomorrow, let’s see if there is a way we can use our extra purposefully. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1909
Chapter 27
Exodus 27 Daily DEVO You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. Exodus 27:20 – Apparently pure beaten olive oil was the best type of oil you could have. They were to bring their best so that the light in the tent wouldn’t go out and the work could continue. I see that resembling our command to give our best to God so that work of the Gospel can continue. Let’s make it even more applicable. Let’s make sure we are giving our best to our church home so the work of the local church we are a part of can continue. Give your tithe and offering. Give your talents and time. Give your best. The work God is doing through your church is incredibly important and He’s placed you in that church family to help see to the completion of that important work. Let’s be more than just a church attender, but a member who is invested and committed to seeing God’s work accomplished. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 821
Exodus 27
V1&2 – Think of the wood as us and the bronze overlay as Jesus covering us. Without the bronze, the fire (God’s holiness and wrath) would burn us, but with the bronze, we can withstand the flames. What type of emotions do you think you’d battle with daily if the bronze, if Jesus, wasn’t covering us?
V20 – The pure beaten oil was apparently the best oil you could have. God wanted them to give their absolute best to keep the work of the church happening. What’s something of yours you feel like you can give to the church to help it continue to get the work of God accomplished?
You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze. Exodus 27:3 – God is now giving directions on how to create the bronze altar, a place the people would soon be sacrificing animals on for a long time. Notice how God even in the directions of its creation includes the directions to create pots and shovels for all the ashes that would for sure come. God isn’t trying to hide the truth that their sacrificing to Him will get messy, instead He chose to provide a plan to deal with the mess. God isn’t trying to make us believe either that when we sacrifice to Him that it won’t be messy. He might ask you to let go of that dating relationship because it isn’t healthy for you. He might ask you to give up that habit that’s becoming toxic in your story. That mindset that you once protected yourself with now God is now asking you to give that up to Him. All this is messy and God gets that. This is why, just like with the Israelites, God has provided a plan to deal with that mess. One of those provisions is the church. So yes, God is asking you give up things for Him, and yes, God understands that may get messy and hard, but God has also provided a way to deal with that mess and pain. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1910
Chapter 28
Exodus 28 Daily DEVO And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. Exodus 28:2 – As I was studying this passage a commentary said the reason for the garments to be beautiful was so that the worship in the sanctuary would be more beautiful than it would have been without them in there. How amazing is this that we can make the worship more beautiful in God’s sanctuary. No you aren’t wearing a fancy robe, you have something better, the covering of Jesus on you. So remind yourself next time of this when you feel unworthy to be in church or to come before God in prayer. That the worship is more beautiful when you’re in it. You make the worship in God’s presence more beautiful when you’re there. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of the amazing work God has done in you. Never think anymore that you taint the specialness of worship somehow. No, your presence makes it more beautiful. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 822
Exodus 28
V33 – The robe the priest wore had little gold bells around the bottom that would ring as he moved about. The purpose was to remind the people outside that when they heard the bells that even though they couldn’t see the priest inside the tent, they knew he was still working on their behalf. What’s something that you use, or could begin using, as a reminder that even when you don’t see God working that He is working on your behalf?
V2 – The priest made the worship more beautiful in the sanctuary because of them being there. We too, because of Jesus, make the worship in the church more beautiful because we’re there. That’s not always how people see their addition to worship and church though. What’s a lie that the enemy could say to someone to make them believe they shouldn’t be apart of church and worship?
It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. Exodus 28:38 – Aaron as the high priest was to bear the guilt that came along with any of the offerings that came in from the people. Meaning that even the things set apart for their atonement had imperfections. Maybe those imperfections came with the sacrifice itself or the heart of the one giving the sacrifice, either way the sacrifice wasn’t always wholly holy. This is why in order for us to find perfect peace and unity with God we needed a permanent sacrifice that was wholly holy. In Jesus there was no imperfection. There was no unholiness that needed covered in Jesus’ sacrifice, it was perfect before God. So today don’t feel like you have to bear any of the burden of making your relationship with God holy. Jesus took care of that entirely. Jesus is wholly holy. Know whatever is needed to cover your sin and make it possible for you to be blameless before a perfect God has been given through Jesus. You can approach God now as a blameless, guiltless, shameless child of His…all because of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1911
Chapter 29
Exodus 29 Daily DEVO I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. Exodus 29:45 – Just reading this verse alone sounds like a typical verse you might see God speak to His people. That He will be with them and be their God. What we need to look at is the 44 verses that came before this one. We see the incredible and continual sacrifices needing to be made in order for the people to be in right standing so verse 45 can be a reality. We must remember the incredible and continual sacrifice that was made for us as well so that God can dwell with us and be our God. If you were overwhelmed by all that had to go into the sacrifices in this chapter, think about all that took place on the cross. God loves you and took care of the sacrifice for you. We’ve been granted holiness freely because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let’s make sure that the next time we think God hasn’t done anything for us we remember that there is a reason books like Exodus are a part of the history section of the Bible. That’s not the present narrative of our life with God anymore and it’s all because of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 823
Exodus 29
V9 – All of us who serve Jesus are called holy priests by Him for all of eternity. How does that make you feel knowing you are forever holy in God’s sight? When are the times you don’t feel so holy and what’s the reason for that?
V21 – We see death and blood being poured out a lot in this chapter. While we don’t deal with bulls and rams like this anymore thankfully, we can’t get away from the fact Jesus’ death was even more bloody than this. Why is it important for us to remember what took place in order for us to be made holy?
V39 – This represents the continual sacrifice Jesus is making for us as He stands forever between us and the Father. What’s something we should be continually giving over to God?
…and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar. Exodus 29:20 – Why on earth would God ask them to put blood on these so random of places on their body? At first this seemed just odd to me, but after studying this, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of this verse! This was to show they were giving all they had over to the service of God. Their ears to hear God’s law, their hands to obediently do God’s work, and their feet to always walk in God’s ways. From their head to their toes, all they had was being dedicated to the service and pursuit of God. It also showed they understood without this sacrificial blood they couldn’t serve and pursue God like they were called to. They couldn’t understand God’s law without the blood, the ways they serve with their hands wouldn’t be pleasing to God without the blood, and they wouldn’t be able to pursue God without the blood. Today, we have the blood of Jesus covering us completely, head to toe. We can understand God’s law, serve as God’s desires us to, and can pursue Him endlessly all because of the blood of Jesus. My hope is you are. Give your ears over today to the hearing and study of God’s Word. Give you hands over to the work God has for you today. Give your feet to the path God wants you on today. Give yourself wholly over to the holy pursuit of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1912
Chapter 30
Exodus 30 Daily DEVO When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. Exodus 30:20 – This sure seems like a lot of washing for them, why would God have them wash like this every time? Because He wanted them to remember always the purity of what they were doing. He wanted them to have a disgust for sin and how it ruins everything. While I’m glad we don’t have to follow this ritual cleansing anymore, I do wish as a church we’d take more time to remember the holiness and purity of what we’re doing in worship. This goes way deeper than the bringing your coffee into the sanctuary argument, this is about what type of heart are you bringing into worship? Is it one of gratitude or do you treat it as commonplace? Are you bringing your sin into worship with no plans to lay it at the altar? We must remember we serve a holy and pure God, one that angelic beings are so amazed with they worship Him eternally. This weekend at church, don’t let worship be commonplace. Remember the purity of and privilege we have to worship like this. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 824
Exodus 30
V9 – This was to show that things were to be done God’s way only. What’s something scriptury that people have a hard time doing God’s way and prefer to do it their own way instead?
V15 – God doesn’t care about how much money you have or don’t have when it comes to your sin. Why do you think God so often talks about in scripture the fact that rich people need to follow God’s ways and to seek forgiveness from God?
V20 – God wanted them to remember the specialness and purity of what they where doing by serving God in the tabernacle. What’s something you can do to help you remember the specialness of being in church so it doesn’t become something commonplace in your story?
And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people. Exodus 30:37-38 – In our passage God is giving clear directions of which spices were to be used in the creation of the incense that was to be used in the temple. After giving the directions God tells them to not make this blend for themselves to be used outside of the setting of the holy place. This blend was to be used solely for the purposes of God and not used for any other purpose. Do we have something like that today in our faith life? Something God has designed and said this was to be used only for His purposes and nothing else? Yes….you. You have been designed and created by God for His holy purposes and those purposes alone. You were not created to be used for any worldly purpose but solely for the holy pursuit of God and the purposes of God. How though have you allowed yourself to be used for other purposes? Seek to remind yourself today you have been designed by a perfect Creator for a singular purpose, to point people to God. Any other purpose you could give your life to isn’t your purpose. Give your all to what you were created for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1913
Chapter 31
Exodus 31 Daily DEVO And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you Exodus 31:6- If you’ve been reading along with me over these past few chapters, it can seem overwhelming all that God was asking them to do. It can also be overwhelming when we think about all that God asks us to do in our life with Him. Yet God here reminds Moses that while He has asked a lot to be done, He’s already provided what Moses needed to get it done. We must remember that if God gives us directions He’ll all give us what we need to follow those directions. God is seeking faithful followers and He promises to give them what they need as they follow after Him. While it may not look like there is what you need for what you see ahead, that’s why it’s called walking by faith and not by sight. God isn’t about to let you fall as you pursue Him. Keep moving forward trusting God is going to provide the step and all you need to keep taking steps. He’s done it so far, let’s see Him do it again. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 825
Exodus 31
V13 – Keeping the Sabbath was meant to be a way for the people to have rest with God yet it became for many a tool they used to make them feel better than others if they kept it enough. What’s something you’ve seen used in our church culture as a tool to make people feel more “godly” than someone else?
V6 – God gives us what we need to get the job done. We have a big job to get done in the church which is telling the world about Jesus. What is a God-given-gift that you’ve seen in someone at our church that could help us get done what God is calling us to do?
You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.” Exodus31:13 – Remember the sabbath and keep it holy. A command we’ve all most likely heard, a command to set aside a day of work for rest. Yes, this day is a way God has designed for us to find the replenishing rest we need to keep going, yet we see another reason in our passage for the sabbath. It’s so we can know it’s God who sanctifies us. Sanctify means to purify something, it’s the process of setting something a part because it’s holy. God wants us to remember it’s Him that makes us holy. Not our works, not our efforts, not our going hard and never stopping. See if we never rested, we may come to think it’s our own efforts that’s earning us this right standing with God. God, not wanting us to deceive ourselves, has said then for us to rest. Allow yourself time to see that when you stop all your efforts you still remain holy because it’s God who makes you such, not your works. Maybe today this is why you need a sabbath, not to just rest, but to remind you it’s God who has made you holy instead of the good works you’re doing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1914
Chapter 32
Exodus 32 Daily DEVO When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Exodus 32:1 – Weariness in our waiting can lead us falling into the temptation to take matters into our own hands rather than trusting them in God’s hands. We see that clearly in our passage today and we see clearly how that worked for them. I know God’s timing may seem off to you, but trust me it’s perfect. If you’re pursuing God yet you feel like things aren’t moving forward like you want, remind yourself His timing is perfect and continue to wait On Him. If we knew all that God knew about our future, we’d handle things exactly like He is handling them. Don’t let your impatience lead you to do things that’s only going to lead to regret. God sees you, God is working, and God is going to come through at the perfect time like always. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 826
Exodus 32
V1 – There wasn’t even 6 weeks between them proclaiming they’d follow God and now them saying this. What’s something you can be doing now to help you keep following God 6 weeks from now?
V8 – For them it was their impatience with Moses, but what often is a cause for teenagers to turn away from following God?
V22 – Aaron hard core was shifting the blame on others to get out of trouble. Share a story of when you placed the blame on someone and how did that work out? If you got away with it…👏, jk, shame upon you.
So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf. Exodus 32:24 – A little context here is important. This is Aaron speaking to the Israelites while Moses is up on the mountain talking with God. During the time they were waiting on Moses to come back down, the people had Aaron create a golden calf for them to worship. Aaron took their gold, melted it down, used tools to create the calf for them, and set it and an altar up to worship it for the people. Yet when confronted with the sin, he says he was simply given the gold, he threw it in the fire, and out jumped the golden calf. He’s avoiding any real responsibility of leading the people away from God. While we can see the foolishness of this let us remember God also sees how we like to avoid taking responsibility as well. Maybe we aren’t creating golden calves to lead people away from God, but we can with our words and actions lead people away from a pursuit of Jesus. Our cruel words to a customer service worker can taint their desire to want to know Jesus more because we’ve set a bad example of a disciple. Our lack of sharing the truth of what God says about our friend’s sin to them will cause them to continue on their path towards sin and away from God. No golden calves made, but our actions and words will still have the same result. People not following God. Rather than avoiding the conversation about how we are doing this, let’s own however we’ve done this till now and change our ways. Let’s make sure in every way our life if pointing people to Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1915
Chapter 33
Exodus 33 Daily DEVO For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth? Exodus 33:16 – Those who follow God have a difference in their life. Yes they should be talking differently than someone who doesn’t follow God and they should act differently to. But at the heart of it all, the reason why our life is different is we have God with us. So yes, show the people around you your difference. But the difference isn’t just your more pure way of speaking or living, the difference they need to see is Jesus. If all someone sees different about you is that you’re kinder than the person next to you, we’ve haven’t finished yet. They need to know the reason you’re kinder is because of Jesus. You’re different because of Jesus. Let them see why you’re different rather than just simply knowing you’re different. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 827
Exodus 33
V3&4 – The people didn’t understand why God wouldn’t go with them, but He knew He was doing what was best for them. What’s a story from your past where God was taking care of you, but at the time it seemed like He wasn’t with you?
V17 – “I know you by name.” Meaning God wanted Moses to know He deeply and personally knew him. With three words describe how it feels knowing this same powerful God we’ve been reading about knows your name.
V16 – It’s one thing for people to know we’re different, it’s important though they know we’re different because of Jesus. Here’s a challenge rather than a question. Be extra kind to people today and if people ask what’s the difference tell them you’re trying to be more like Jesus.
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Exodus 33:12 – God is going to ask big things of His faithful followers and at the same time not give all the details. Here Moses was being called to lead the Israelites, a people close to a million by now most likely, in to possess a land filled with established cites of enemies. A massive undertaking Moses is called to and all the details aren’t given on how to accomplish such a task. Yet Moses knows God knows him. God knows everything about Moses and still has called him to this. Know God knows you. As we find favor in His eyes by our faithful life God is going to set in front of us bigger, even scarier, ways to follow Him. He too may not share all the details up front, but He knows all the details of you and all the details of what He is capable of. If He has called you to it, move towards it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1916
Chapter 34
Exodus 34 Daily DEVO When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Exodus 34:29 – Time with God changes us. That change may be a complete overhaul of our lives by His forgiveness or a change from our depression to His joy. What we need to understand is God changes us when we spend time with Him. So if you’re looking for change right now in your story begin seeking Him out rather than that elusive “change.” God brings about change in our story, yet unlike us, He always brings the right change. So wherever you’re at right now (lost, lonely, strong but need more…in a spot where you need some change) take today to seek Him out deeper in your story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
Exodus 34 Daily DEVO The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” Exodus 34:1 – God was going to write exactly what was on the first tablets on the new ones. Meaning what He said first was perfect and needed no changing. Meaning there was no mistake in the Word He gave to Moses. This is true with the Word He gave to us. It is perfect and has no need for change. What’s disturbing is often our culture, and even the church culture of the day, thinks scripture needs changing. That God meant something different, that what God said isn’t applicable for today, or that God was just wrong about something and you’re more correct about it. Hear this, God’s Word is perfect and needs no changing. We must stop this taking God’s Word out of context to justify our sin. We must stop setting God’s Word aside so we can do what we want. God hasn’t made a mistake with His Word, the mistake comes when we don’t live by it. Let’s learn the true, perfect Word of God more and be ready to stand up for it when it is misused. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 828
Exodus 34
V12 – Making close ties with people who don’t follow God can really lead us into falling into temptation. Who is someone that God may be leading you to change the nature of your relationship with because they are leading you into sin more than you’re helping them know Jesus?
V29 – The most stunning and beautiful outward appearance begins with quality time with God. If this is true, what could be a change you make in your morning routine?
V1 – God wrote exactly what was on the first tablets on the second because what He said first was perfect and needed no changing. What’s something God says in the Bible that you’re glad is true and needs no changing?
The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” Exodus 34:1 – If Moses wanted to receive the Word of God He had to first listen to the Word God had already spoken to Him. New tablets with God’s law on them were being promised to Moses from God but if Moses wanted them he first had to listen to God directions and follow them. In our story today our walk isn’t that much different. No, we aren’t getting any new commandments like Moses did, but we are searching out God’s directions and voice in our story. What should we do next, who should we date, how do I help my wayward child? Big questions that needs God’s voice over them. God is also sharing that He has a plan in those things and seeks to share that with you. We just need to listen first to what He has spoken already. Listen to what He has said about putting Him first in our life and about how to handle the sin we are entertaining. What has He already spoken to you about that you’ve dismissed? Let’s address those things showing God we desire His voice in our story. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1917
Chapter 35
Exodus 35 Daily DEVO Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded Exodus 35:10 – We see in the following verses a full list of all the things they needed to make that the Lord commanded to be made. Yet what we see right after those verses is the people bringing in the supplies to do it. So what did God do for His people? He gave them clear commands on what to do, He made sure they had all the supplies needed to get it done, and made sure they had the skill sets to accomplish it perfectly as well. At first glance it can seem like God is overwhelming them with things to do, but when you look closer God is making sure everything they could possibly need is provided. God isn’t setting us up for failure, He’s provided all we need for success. Yes, our task of giving our entire life over to God and sharing His love with everyone we can is a lot, yet He has provided all we need to do our task just like He did for the people in our passage. God desires you to succeed and not fail. He wants to see you victorious in your pursuits for if our heart is His our pursuits are His pursuits. So as you look over the task you been given by God to do in this life, also look at how He has fully provided what you need for success in it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 829
Exodus 35
V5 – A couple times in this passage it talks about giving to God with a generous heart. When asked to give something to God, what is often your first reaction? What’s something that you’d rather not give to Him?
V29 – What’s something you’ve held back from God when He asked for it?
V1 – Moses called everyone and told everyone what God said. No one was left out. What’s a group of people that God has placed you in that you can do the work of sharing His love with everyone there?
And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. Exodus35:34 – Today, I doubt you thought too much about Bezalel in the Bible. He though sounds like a pretty impressive man. God had given him special talent with art of all mediums. Yet what’s so special about Bezalel was that God filled him with a heart to teach others what he knew. He had such gifts and skill yet chose to share his knowledge with others so they could serve God more fully. This heart is one we should seek to have as well. Look at your life and see the special gifts and skills God has given you. See the unique ways He has gifted you to serve Him well. Now, how could you teach someone else what you know? Yes, it can be tempting to keep that knowledge to ourselves so we can also keep the spotlight only on us. Yet when we share and teach others, it moves the spotlight off of us, even off of them, and onto where it needs to be…Jesus. Teach then however you can so others can serve Jesus more fully and Jesus can be glorified. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1918
Chapter 36
Exodus 36 Daily DEVO And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” Exodus 36:3-5 – Those doing the work God asked them to do had more than enough to get it done. I see a couple points with this passage I want to highlight. First, let’s seek to have hearts like this where when we see God moving were ready to give and keep giving to His purpose. Second, let’s trust that when we move with God He’s going to keep providing. He provided for yesterday, and He’ll provide for today, and tomorrow is already taken care of. So don’t be afraid to give to what God is doing and trust God’s going to provide where there is a need in your story. He’s the creator of the universe after all, I believe He is able to take care of the child that He loves. I truly believe He’s able to take care of you and surprise you along the way by how well He’s able to do it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 830
Exodus 36
V1 – All our talents come from God and He deserves us using them for Him. What’s one way you can use your talents for Him over spring break?
V5 – What’s a time where God blessed you more than you expected?
V3 – What’s something we as a group can be praying for you that God will provide in your story?
And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more. Exodus 36:3-7 – This passage hits home for me right now when I think of the season our church is currently in. This past Sunday our awesome senior pastor announced his retirement, which for any church is a big blow. What has been amazing is to see how the church is stepping up already to take on the task of covering the gap. Hearts and minds wanting to give, wanting to serve, wanting to make this the best it can be. As with the Israelites, when you see God truly moving it’s not a matter of getting people to give but getting them to stop! In our passage they had to restrain people from giving more, what a “problem” to have in a church! Where then is your heart when it comes to giving? Which describes your attitude towards giving of what you have to God’s work…reluctant or restrained? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1919
Chapter 37
Exodus 37 Daily DEVO Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. Exodus 37:1 – He made the ark. Sounds simple and like a phrase we’d often just fly over as we read the chapter as a whole. But he made the ark. He chose to do what he was told to do by God and he chose to use his gifts for God’s work. As a result people were able to connect and worship with God like never before. All that rested on him actually making the choice to do our not to do what God said. You’re faced with that choice today as well. Will you do what God asked you to do? Will you use your gifts for His work? Will people today be able to connect and worship God better because of you? What will you choose to do with your life today? I pray it will be said of you like it was said of Bezalel, you did what God asked of you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 831
Exodus 37
V1 – Today I wrote on this guy made the choice to do what God said and as a result people were able to connect and worship God better. How has someone else choosing to follow God’s directions helped you connect and worship God better?
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. Exodus 37:1-2 – In 2 Samuel chapter 6 we see a story of a guy touching the ark of the covenant and dying as a result. Note that the ark being spoken of in our passage is that very same ark. Yet, crazily enough, Bezalel didn’t die. For sure Bezalel had his hands all over and inside the ark when creating it. What does this teach us? It’s not the item that in itself is holy, it’s God who makes it such. Remember, without God’s presence with the ark, it was just a nice, gold box. Keep this in mind as we place value on things inside our faith life. A church building without God is just another building. A pulpit without God is just a wooden or metal stand. A Bible without God is just ink on paper. It’s God who makes things holy, outside of Him their is no holiness to be found. Today what we see God call holy is His followers. So have you treated an item in a church building with complete reverence yet treated a fellow brother or sister in Christ with disregard? Remember God’s heart towards those who treat what He calls holy as common. If there is anything in the church building to be treated with the utmost care and love it’s the church body. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1920
Chapter 38
Exodus 38 Daily DEVO – All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. Exodus 38:24 – We see a list here in this passage of all the metals and other items used to create all that God directed them to make. When you calculate up all that was required it is a staggering amount and expensive is putting it gently. What God asked of them required a lot to be given and what God has asked of you requires a lot. In fact it requires everything from you. But pause to remember all He’s given to you and where all you have came from. God’s not asking for anything He first hasn’t provided and hasn’t set the example first by giving to you. As opportunities arise to give more of yourself to God remember He gave all of Himself to you first. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 832
Exodus 38
V1 – He made everything exactly like God said to. When was a time you choose to do things a little differently than how God wanted and how did that work out?
V24 – God asked for a lot but He gave to them more than He even asked for. Take a moment to thank God for 10 different things He’s given you.
And he made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its utensils of bronze. Exodus 38:3 – So the one making all the essential structures like the ark and the altars also took time to make the small utensils that were to be used for the workings of the sacrifices and worship of God. They knew there were some much needed tools that must be also made and brought in for worship to happen like it needed to. Redirecting this now onto us, have you chosen to make for yourself the needed tools to worship God well? What do I mean by that? Well you chose whether you’re going to bring in a distracted mind or an focused mind into worship. You choose to be a cheerful or reluctant giver. You can bring in a hard heart or an open one. Yes, these tools are quite different than the shovels and forks being spoken of in our passage, but they all serve an essential purpose to the worship of God. Without them, our worship and time with Him won’t be all that it could be and possibly even dishonoring to Him. What then is a tool you need to “make” in order to deeply worship God like He is inviting us to? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1921
Chapter 39
Exodus 39 Daily DEVO According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. Exodus 39:42 – “As the Lord had commanded Moses.” This phrase, or something very close to it, comes up 10 times in this chapter. Usually when something is repeated in scripture it’s meant to grab your attention so when it’s used that many times in a single chapter, let’s listen to it. He did as the Lord commanded Moses. He didn’t add to or subtract from the directions given. Either or both would end up missing the mark and hitting imperfection instead. For him to be in line with God he needed to do all that God commanded. That goes for us too. We’re made perfect because of Jesus, so don’t take this as we have to do things to be good with God. God though has a plan for us, one that’s beautiful and rich of blessing. He’s asking us to follow His lead in every way, not turning to the right or left but doing all that He directs us to do. As we add our own ways to the directions or subtract the directions we don’t like we end up missing the mark. Let’s follow God’s ways completely. Along the path that might mean giving up your suggestions to the path and doing things you’d rather not at first do. His path has been proven to be better than your own though. Let’s try something new and begin following Him completely. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 833
He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue, and the opening of the robe in it was like the opening in a garment, with a binding around the opening, so that it might not tear. Exodus 39:22-23 – “So that it might not tear.” Notice how in the creation of the robe thought was given to the fact that there could be a possibility of it tearing. That would cause a whole range of issues if that were to happen, especially if the priest was wearing the robe and performing his duties when it tore. They took time to think about how to prevent an issue before the issue came up. Let’s as a church seek to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Let’s be on the look out for ways we can prevent an issue from happening long before it ever happens. Maybe that looks like simply being sure your church has enough bibles to hand out to those who need one so you never find yourself with the issue of someone leaving your church without access to God’s Word. This could look like being aware of your brother’s sin struggle and removing from your home anything that could trip him up when he comes over. It’s you investing time now to prevent future issues. Will we be able to prevent every issue? Of course not, but there are ones if we dedicated even a little time and effort we could resolve before they even arise. What can you be doing today to prevent the enemy from having a victory in tomorrow? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1922
Chapter 40
Exodus 40 Daily DEVO And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:35 – He couldn’t go in anymore. Moses would have been overseeing the construction of this all and the setting it all up. He would have most likely been in the room to make sure things were set up like they should have been. Yet when the glory of the Lord filled the room no longer could he go in. This shows that what’s holy and what should be worshipped is not the ark or the tent but the God who filled the room with His glory. We have to keep this in mind as we do church ourselves. Our worship and devotion shouldn’t go to anything in the church or even the church itself. No special picture on the wall or person behind the pulpit should get our worship. Let’s make sure God has our worship and is the one thing in the church we put our whole-hearted devotion to. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 834
Exodus 4
V36 – When was a time you saw God moving and knew you needed to move with Him?
V35 – What should be worshipped is God alone. What’s something you’ve seen in the church that people have “worshipped?” (Meaning they cared more for this than what they should have been caring about)
Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. Exodus 40:9 – God is about taking what’s unholy and making it holy. It’s odd to think about the tabernacle of the Old Testament being unholy. Like the ark of the covenant, the altar, even the whole tent itself being unholy. Yet, at one time, all of this was unholy. But God made a way for these unholy items to be made most holy for Him. God has also made a way for even the most unholy of people to be made most holy for Himself. There is not a single person alive today that Jesus’ sacrificial blood can’t make holy. Yes, that means your wayward child God is able to forgive all their sin and make holy. Yes, that family member of yours who has pushed God away their whole life God is able to make holy unto Him. Every sin, every hurt, every wrong God is able to cover, restore, and make holy. Don’t lose hope then concerning your loved one who has chosen a path of unholiness. Keep reflecting the love and grace of Jesus onto them. Until they take their last breath they can turn to follow Jesus and He is powerful enough to cover every wrong in their story. Pray for them, love them hard, serve them when you can, and speak well of Jesus in their presence. Holiness is still available for them. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1923
Daily DEVO 