Page 45 - Living Light Autumn 23

Friday October 20 - A two-way relationship
He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes,... for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
When a couple are in love, they talk to each other, listen to each other, and happily commit themselves to a faithful two-way relationship for life.
When God invited the Israelites into a ‘marriage’ relationship with him, he spelled out clearly how it should work: God would ‘set them apart’ from other nations, with the eternal purpose of saving all people, through them. They were to love him by faithfully following his righteous laws – for their blessing, and the salvation of his future people... including you and me!
In their desert wanderings, God taught his people how to live life his way, and provided for their failings, by giving them himself... “I am the Lord, who heals you.” ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you’ (Psalm 32:8-9).
You and I are part of God’s great salvation plan; we are his beloved people – the Bride of Christ, his church! Let’s commit ourselves afresh to this two-way relationship with our God – hearing him speak to us in the Bible, asking his Spirit to embed his words in our hearts, and talking to him in prayer.
Father, I thank you for bringing even me into a living relationship with Jesus. I long for heaven’s great wedding! Amen.
Saturday October 21 - A foretaste of home...
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 15:27
Imagine tasting the cool, pure waters of Elim, and feeling the shade of those seventy palm trees! After days of thirsting under the desert sun, no wonder the Israelites ‘camped near the water’ – they would not have wanted it out of their sight! God gave his people a beautiful picture of his goodness at Elim; a foretaste of the Promised Land to come.
God’s people lived ‘in-between’ lives: God’s promise was made but had not yet reached fulfilment. Even though Elim was not the Promised Land, it certainly made the promise tangible; this was what home would feel like... and the memory of Elim should (surely!) have reminded them of God’s goodness in the many tough times that lay ahead.
We too live ‘in-between’ lives – Jesus has come, our King dwells in our hearts by his Spirit... but the new heavens and new earth are yet to come! If God seems slow, it’s simply that his timing is perfect and ours is not – and we must wait expectantly!
Think back on those instances of God’s goodness to you, and give thanks for them – and for those yet to come!
Lord Jesus, I trust my life to you. Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY