Justin Houtz

Exodus 36, John 15, Proverbs 12, Ephesians 5

DateVersionReading Plan
@March 25, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Exodus 36

Exodus 36:3b–6 (ESV) 3b They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, 4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, 5 and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” 6 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,

The people continued to bring freewill offerings for the construction of the sanctuary, so much so that the craftsmen told Moses they had more than enough. This prompted Moses to give a command to the people to restrain them from bringing more. Reflecting on this as it relates to giving to the church and the highly consumptive, ownership-oriented culture in which we live today, this seems like it would be a unique problem to have.

John 15

John 15:18–19 (ESV) 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Jesus here uses strong language; not only should His followers expect conflict and disagreement with the world, but all out hatred. This is no mild enmity but an active antagonism. We are to proceed in love as we share the gospel and speak the objective truths of God, but this will still be received by some as an attack. It will be offensive in so far as light is offensive to darkness. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (Rom. 8:7)

Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

This was especially cutting as I read it today. How often I have been a fool and not heeded the godly advice of others. In my selfish pride, I can become so certain of things that I undermine their helpful guidance. It is a mark of humility to realize the noetic effect of sin to the end that you are willing to embrace wise counsel and carry it through.

Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:3–4 (ESV) 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Paul exhorts the church to allow no sexual immorality, covetousness, filthiness or foolish talk to be among them. This is not to be done with any type of self-initiative but by a posture of thanksgiving. Expressing gratitude for God in the sending of His Son to die for your sin and acknowledging His continual, sanctifying grace in your life has a neutralizing effect on sinful desires. The enticement of sin loses its power when the heart is set on the sacrifice of our Lord and His victory over sin, satan and death.

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