Author: Tim Ehrhardt

I'm just a common ordinary pastor, chaplain, father, grandfather, and dog owner who loves the smell of a genuine leather Bible and the aroma of its message. I'm on a quest to track down the best Bibles, how to best read and use them, and to discover the encouragement inside.

Exodus 35:1-29

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            At first glance this Old Testament passage might seem a bit tedious, perhaps even boring.  After all, getting the details on the furnishings for building the tabernacle (the Ark of the Covenant, the utensils for worship and sacrifice, and the tent that houses it all) can be laborious.  But that is the point.  It took a great deal of planning, effort, and commitment to realize it all.  Although Moses received the instructions and revelation from God on the mountain, he still had to communicate it to the people and solicit their help.
 
            What we see here is a wonderful synergy between God and the people, a kind of divine/human cooperative and a spiritual rhythm of revelation and response.  The contributions and the work were done by people “whose heart stirred” them to give and labor.  The people freely gave of their things and of themselves to realize the accomplishment of the tabernacle’s construction. 
 
            True worship of God has as its epicenter a dialogue between the divine and the human.  God speaks, and the people respond.  God reveals, and the people’s hearts are stirred.  Worship is cheapened when it is mere duty and drudgery, an obligation and nothing more.  What is more, one-way communication is not worship; it is a monologue.  Worship is not designed to be a passive activity of sitting and soaking.  Moses and God’s people seem genuinely enthused to participate and to be a part of what God was calling them to do.  Worship that comes from willing hearts is a beautiful thing, because encountering God and being stirred within by him is a unique and purposeful relationship – and it isn’t boring.
 

 

            Gracious God, just as you laid it upon the hearts of people long ago to participate in the work of worship, so impress my heart with your mission in this world.  I give you my life along with my possessions so that my entire self will be dedicated to the worship of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Transfiguration of Jesus

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 
 
When Jesus is around, extraordinary things happen.  Yet, this did not mean that the three disciples of Jesus – Peter, James, and John – perceived the extraordinary and what it really meant, at the time.  The transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain was incredible.  But Luke tells us that the disciples were confused, sleepy, and walked away silent about the whole affair (Luke 9:28-36).
 
            We are not always told in the Gospel accounts why Christ’s disciples often did not understand or perceive the significance of the miraculous, supernatural, and extraordinary events that took place right in front of them.  Maybe they were distracted.  Perhaps they were doing some ancient form of multi-tasking.  Maybe Peter was texting and driving at the same time on the way to the meeting on the mountain and had his mind elsewhere.  It could be that James and John were checking their e-mails from the other disciples while all this was taking place.  Perhaps they were just up too late the night before binge watching on Netflix.  Whatever was going on with the disciples, they were distracted.
 
            So, we actually have God the Father step into the scene at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and speak.  Now, we need to understand that God is not in the business of exhorting people to listen unless they are not paying attention.  The Father is quite clear, succinct, and to the point:  “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
 
            We are to listen to Jesus because he is God’s Son, and everything centers round him.  Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, the full representation of God on earth.  Jesus is Savior, Lord and Master, Teacher and Healer.  He is all that, and more.  Jesus is the complete fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises, and the one that will come again to judge the living and the dead.  Jesus is the mid-point of history, the one whom we must listen to when he speaks and acts.
 
            Our identity, then, is to be fully bent, molded, and shaped in Jesus Christ.  This spiritual formation of our lives happens as we intentionally seek to be with Jesus, listen to him, and do what he says.  Jesus took the three disciples up on the mountain to experience his transfiguration in a prayer meeting (Luke 9:28).  Extraordinary things happen in prayer meetings.  The early church gathered often in prayer meetings, following the example of their Lord Jesus.  As they listened to God and responded to him (a rhythm of revelation and response), they saw Peter miraculously delivered from jail, ordinary people delivered from empty lives and demonic influence, and guidance into how to proceed as a church.  Prayer is as much about listening to God as it is talking to him.  It is in listening to God that we are filled with God’s Spirit and empowered to come down from the mountain and engage in God’s mission.
 
            There was something that Jesus wanted the disciples to discern on the mountain.  Jesus was changed in front of them.  Moses and Elijah showed up and talked with him about his “departure” which is literally his “exodus.”  Moses was the one who listened to God and led the people in a mass exodus from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land.  Elijah was a prophet who listened to God and led the people out of centuries of idol worship and dead religion into the freedom of spiritual and national revival in Israel.  Jesus listened to the Father and came as the final and ultimate agent of freedom from sin, death, and hell.  Jesus came so that people can experience new life, a life of freedom, hope, peace, and joy.  Changed lives are God’s goal for us.  And a changed life will occur when we listen to God’s Son, learn from him, and lean into faith in him, all of which takes humility.
 

 

            Taking a posture of listening is a prerequisite to obedience, fruitful ministry, and success in the Christian life.  Creating the space and time for this to occur both individually and corporately through private devotions and public worship is a must.  In so doing, we may just clear away the distractions and encounter a transfiguration.

Deuteronomy 9:15-24

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


            God is full of grace, steadfast love, and covenant commitment.  But this does not mean that God is okay with sin.  He does not shrug his divine shoulders in a “meh” kind of attitude.  In fact, grace does not exist apart from sin.  Where there is boundless grace and compassion there will be found bucket loads of sin.  And, oh my, was there a load of sin among the ancient Israelites!  They were characterized as stiff-necked, stubborn, rebellious, and idolatrous.  This is the kind of stuff that evokes the ire of God.
             The truly godly person is the one who shares God’s heart and interests; what upsets God, upsets him/her; what makes God pleased, makes him/her pleased.  Notice Moses’ response to the people’s idolatry and sin:  he was visibly angered; he confronted the people with their sin; and, he engaged in an extended time of fasting and prayer on their behalf. 
             Lackadaisical attitudes and approaches toward God are rife throughout the Western church.  There is little to no sustained, prolonged, and focused times of prayer and fasting among both individuals and groups of people because we are too busy indulging in revelry with our idols of money, sex, power, and perfectionist control.  Until we are cut to the heart with this present darkness of empty souls and vacuous spirits which run to everything and everyone but God, there will be no entering the Promised Land of peace, love, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  The glory of the Lord is almost upon us, and the season of Lent is nearly here.  So, let us make a solid spiritual plan for the forty days leading up to Easter for prayer and fasting on behalf of our own sin, and the sin of the world.
             Holy God, idolatrous sin brings about your wrath because you cannot stand for the lack of love to take root in your world.  I bow before you and bend the knee to your sovereign reign in my life.  Please lead me in your way of righteousness, and have mercy on those trapped in darkness so that we might see you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 9:6-14

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


            Significant things happen on mountains in the Bible.  In anticipation of a glorious mountain top experience of Christ’s transfiguration this Sunday, today’s Old Testament lesson reminds us of a great mountain event, and it was not all bunnies and butterflies.  The book of Deuteronomy is a restatement of the law, and a recounting of Israel’s history as they were about to enter the Promised Land.  “Remember and do not forget…” is the constant theme of Moses’ address to God’s people.  The positive remembrance was that God graciously met with Moses on the mountain and gave him the Ten Words (Ten Commandments).  On the other hand, the ugly remembrance was that while on the mountain meeting with God the people became impatient, insolent, and rebellious; they degenerated into a chaotic mass of people who quickly worshiped an idol.  This was not Israel’s best moment.
             But Moses wanted the people to remember that event in all of its foulness and degradation.  It was important for them to not forget how stubborn and pig-headed their parents and grandparents were in running from the true God to a false god.  The people needed to avoid the sins of the previous generation so that they could enjoy God and thrive in the new land he was giving them.
             It does no one any good to whitewash the past or to altogether ignore it.  Whether it is one’s personal past, a previous generation, or even a national history, we must face the sins of our forebears, to remember and not forget.  We must neither be so extremely individualistic that we disconnect ourselves from our generational moorings, nor be dismissive of past sins, as if they have no influence upon us today.  Mountain experiences can either be glorious, turn very dark, or a bit of both.  We are meant to learn from them all, to remember and not forget.
             God of history, your sovereign reign and rule extends to all creation and has existed for all time.  You know the sins of my past, the heart of my present, and the soul of my future.  Do not let me forget my sins, not because you hold them over my head, but because your grace has saved me from them all through Jesus Christ, my Savior.  Amen.