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Daily Devotion: Exodus 19:1-6

Exodus 19:1-6     "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." 

And Moses went up unto God. There is a beautiful lesson for us in these simple words. “Up” is not so much a direction as it is a state of being when we talk about God. Any time the LORD, through the Holy Spirit, calls to us we are in a higher estate than when left in our carnality. Even when we have bowed ourselves to the earth in His presence, we have gone up. 

When we come up into His presence, we are often reminded of the great things He has done in our lives. We look back and see how the LORD has protected us against all odds. His very protection catches us up as on eagle’s wings. We have not come into His presence of our own volition: He has brought us unto Himself!

God, in the person of Jesus Christ, has told us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15-24). When we keep His commandments, we are a special (peculiar) treasure to Him above all others. He has sanctified us according to His will. He has called us to be a people, dwelling in His kingdom, who have something to offer unto God. By His mercy, we can present ourselves a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service unto the God who has called us “up!”

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