Bible Studies

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The Scriptures
Exodus 24:12-18 - Climbing the Mountain to Glory
Key Verses: (MSG)

• 12: "GOD said to Moses, "Climb higher up the mountain and wait there for me; I'll give you tablets of stone, the teachings and commandments that I've written to instruct them." - "GOD said to Moses"…listening for God's voice and following His instructions are the first steps towards holiness.
  
  
• 16-17: "The Glory of GOD settled over Mount Sinai. The Cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day He called out of the Cloud to Moses. ¹⁷In the view of the Israelites below, the Glory of God looked like a raging fire at the top of the mountain." - Our view of God will change with our perspectives…the closer we climb the more personal He becomes.
  
  
• 18: "Moses entered the middle of the Cloud and climbed the mountain. Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights." - Setting time aside to be with God and to experience the mountaintop provides us with strength, wisdom, and understanding for our tasks in life.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Are you following God's instructions for your life? Do you listen for His voice in the midst of your daily routine? Can you tell where He wants you to go and what He wants you to do? Are these the types of experiences that are reserved only for the holiest of God's chosen such as Moses or does God expect us all to be able to hear and follow? Where has God you led you this week? What instructions did He provide? To whom did you reveal a glimpse of God's glory?
  
  
• Does your church create mountaintop opportunities? When people come for worship are they provided possibilities to experience God first hand? Is the presence of God tangible and heart-felt? Is there time and opportunity set aside to simply dwell in His presence and bask in His glory? As pastors, worship leaders, and teachers, is it your task to create moments where God's glory can be revealed? Are you, in whatever ministry you are called, finding ways to help people develop a larger image of God?
  
  
• What barriers to God have you experienced? Have there been times when you were unable to draw close to God and feel His presence? Were these times of struggle and pain? Were you preoccupied and busy? Had fear and anxiety filled your heart? Or were you simply too busy? Moses sat for six days waiting for God. Do you give Him enough of your time so He can draw you near? Can you find ways to set aside the issues that cloud your view and keep Him from drawing close to your heart?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

Walking to the top of the mountain and sitting with God is not meant to be an everyday experience. They are special moments that will carry us through the rest of our lives. They are moments that reveal larger images of God's glory. However, even though our trips to the mountain may be few and far between, we must learn to listen for God's voice in the daily routine of our lives. Hearing His voice and following His instructions gives us the ability to reveal His glory to the world around us. We will never know when the mountaintop view of God may occur in the lives we touch. But we can open our eyes, ears, and hearts to Him as we go about our daily routines. We can purposely set aside blocks of time in our devotional studies and worship services that will give Him the opportunity to reveal Himself more fully. There is one thing to always keep in mind, the glory of God becomes more amazing the closer we come.

FUMC Devotionals
BLOG: Reflections from the Left

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