Love With Everything Within And Without (4)

[Zac Loh]

THE 12 MATERIALS/ITEMS/ASPECTS OF GIVING

Gold: Malleability & Beauty

Silver: Purity & Reflectivity

Bronze: Durability & Ability

Blue, Purple And Scarlet Thread: Availability & Distinctly

Fine Linen: Uprightly & Mentality

Goats’ Hair: Faithfully & Exclusivity

Ram Skins Dyed Red: Sacrificially & Superiority

Badger Skins: Hospitality & Security

Acacia Wood: Sensitivity & Eternity

Oil For The Light: Energy & Visibility

Spices: Ecstasy & Testimony

Stones: Memory & Monumentally

Ram Skins Dyed Red: Sacrificially And Superiority

A ram is a mature, male sheep. The ram has more wools than the female sheep because of its bigger size. Red is the color of blood. The skins were obtained by the slaughtering of the rams. So, ram skins dyed red speaks to us of sacrifice.

God is desiring, yearning, seeking for a sacrificial relationship from us. He is looking whether we are willing to be sacrificial for our relationship with Him. He is looking whether we are willing to sacrifice to have Him in us.

“God, make me a living sacrifice for You.”

Rams have big and strong horns used for battering. They engage in head-to-head combat duels before mating. So, rams depict strength and superiority.

Each of us has our own particular individual gifts, talents, strengths, advantages and qualities. Some are known for their eloquence. Some are geniuses. For some, they are excellent in human skills. Some people are dynamic and function extremely well under stress. Some are hard-working plus industrious. Some could withstand pain and long term hardship. There are some who are exceptionally courageous. And some have very good self-discipline and self-control.

Nevertheless, God wants us to give these to Him. For some, it is extremely hard to do so. It calls for a great sacrifice …because these qualities have got them ahead and helped them survived in a tough world …even without having to depend on God!
They have grown with these qualities; these qualities have become their second nature. It is visible that others need their strong qualities. There are people who are clamoring for individuals with superior talents. Some feel that they are contributing to society with such advantages that they have.

What are your strengths? Have you noticed, in real life, the strengths that made you superior to others? What gives you the edge? Can you give God your strengths as well as weaknesses? Let God do with them however He wants!

Animals duel to gain leadership. God wants to be the leader, the Shepherd, of your life. Unless you have truly given Him your superior qualities which you thrived on, and depended on; God cannot truly lead you.

Recognize that no matter how gifted we are; we will need God someday. No matter how talented we are; still, it cannot be compared to God. No matter what the qualities, advantages and superiorities we have, we need to bow down before God – from within and without.

Ponder the below scriptures, avoid the downfall:

“Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.

(Ezekiel 28:12-15; 28:17)

In the book of Daniel, we read about King Nebuchadnezzar.

it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. (Daniel 4:22)

They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. (Daniel 4:25)

King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was lifted up, he was hardened in pride. So, God struck him. Subsequently, King Nebuchadnezzar behaved like an oxen, eating grass and dwelling with wild donkeys. He was deposed from his kingly throne (Daniel 5:20-21).

Yet, after the king was cured and restored, he didn’t humble himself; but lifted himself up against God, the Lord of heaven; by desecrating the temple of God.

The king took the utensils from the temple, and drank wine from these utensils; together with his officers, wives and concubines who also drank wine from these utensils. God struck King Nebuchadnezzar dead. God terminated his dynasty. His empire was no more. Not even for his children.

Do you see the implications?

“God, I acknowledge Your superiority.”

Badger Skins: Hospitality And Security

Badger skins were tough, durable and waterproof; yet they were flimsy and flexible. As such, badger skins are the main material for tents and footwear in those days. It was very accommodating to the feet, as comfort was necessary especially during the long walks.

The special feature of badger skins, put into the human social context, is being hospitable to people. In the Middle Eastern culture today, being hospitable is still of primary importance.

Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him, and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5)

Let us examine Abraham’s action. Abraham was quick to respond. He quickly invited the Lord. He treated the Lord …First Class. It was better than a Five Star Hotel. He treated the Lord in such a way that (if the Lord was you) you would never go any other place the next time round. What is our attitude towards the Lord? Are you going to give the Lord a Five Star Hotel treatment in your heart, in your life? Let it be a `yes, Lord’.

“God, may You find me hospitable to You. I welcome You.”

Badger skins were waterproof, and sufficiently tough to withstand wear-and-tear. They were widely used for tents and sandals. Badger skins portray `protection’. In the human soul, what kind protection are we looking for? There are various monetary apparatus available in the market place for our financial protection. Family and social ties are potential for emotional, psychological and financial securities. There is nothing wrong with any of these by themselves. But where do we find our security? God wants to be our security. He wants us to be secure by being with Him. He wants us to be secure by Him. Let us give Him all of these inner personal securities within us.

“I give my fears of the future in the area of finance to You.”

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

A close friend highlighted the below scripture to me: when we meditate on the fact that God loves us with the same love which He loves Jesus, we would not fear!

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23)

Acacia Wood: Sensitivity And Eternity

It is told that this wood is very difficult to work with. It is extremely hard and gnarly. And it is one of the most indestructible and durable types of wood.

Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ so I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ “ (Psalm 95:7-11)

Have you been in a condition that you could not hear anything from the Lord? Have you ever considered the reason for it? The scripture says that a hardened heart will not hear the voice of the Lord. When our heart is hardened, we are not sensitive to the voice of the Lord. The Holy Spirit, the gentle dove, will be grieved. He will stay away. Without the Holy Spirit, it is rare that you will hear God’s voice because He has the primary responsibility to speak to you.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12-14)

Acacia wood was valuable because it was the best for making furniture. It did not warp nor rot easily. Furniture is a picture of structures. The human soul, too, have structures. These, among others, comprises of our thought patterns habits, plans and schedules. It is said that we are a creature of habits. Old people are prone to have set mentalities. Intellectuals tend to box God in. We need to give our structured patterns to the Lord. He wants us to be flexible enough for Him to lead us in whatever manner and direction that He chose. He should not be hindered or limited by our set parameters. Let us give Him the liberty to cause a paradigm shift in us anytime He wants. He is Lord.

Let us be patient, and wait upon the Lord; to hear Him and discern His will. Even when we don’t hear Him nor receive His leading; He is still leading us in a way unknown to us …we just have to trust Him …because He will reveal to us what we need to know, when we need to know it. Sometimes, God will reveal more. Sometimes, He will reveal to us just enough. Sometimes, He wants us to seek Him for His leading. What matters is our heart. Are we seeking to follow Him? Are we planning to obey Him?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

God has a good plan, a blueprint for each of our lives. Even when we fail, God can come with a modified blueprint in less than a micro fraction of a second. If God is interested in a bird, how much more He cares about us. If God can number the hairs of our head, how much more He has a plan for each of us.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Matthew 10:29-30)

My point: God is good …therefore …His plans for us are good!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Let us give our future to the Lord. He has plans for us …from now to eternity!

PRAYER

Gold: “God, I surrender myself to You, shape me.”

Silver: “God, search me, sanctify me.”

Bronze: “God, let me be steadfast, and steady, for You and in You.”

Blue, Purple And Scarlet Thread: “God, as I spend time in Your presence, be significant in me …in my life.”

Fine Linen: “God, set me free from wrong thought patterns, synchronize my thoughts with Yours.”

Goats’ Hair: “God, I want to continually, consistently, stay in my devotion and dedication to You; I want to be separated, set apart, to be exclusive to You.”

Ram Skins Dyed Red: “God, I now willing to sacrifice for our relationship …because I value our relationship, it is worth it. God, let me see Your superiority …and humble myself before You, and let You take charge of my life …and lead me.”

Badger Skins: “God, may You, through the Holy Spirit, find Your home in and with me; I aim to treat You with my sincere honor and respect. I confess and proclaim that You are my security, I have no security other than You, I find my security in You!”

Acacia Wood: “God, screen through my life, and show me whichever plan that I have in my life …which is not according to Your plan. Thank You.”

“In Jesus name. Amen.”