Mosaic Church - At Walt Disney World

The Tabernacle serves as a tangible representation of life with the God who dwells with His people. The layout and furniture of the Tabernacle were patterned after the realities of God’s merciful rule and reign over all of creation, His invitation to fellowship with Him through His provision, and the light and life that we have in Him now and forever. The story of the Tabernacle reminds us that despite our rebellion, God’s heart is to move in among us to redeem and restore us.

In the beginning, God created heaven and earth, overlapping one another in the beautiful life of the expandable garden of Eden. In this narrative, we glimpse God’s life-giving presence and his human image-bearers living in right relationship with one another. However, very quickly, the beauty in the garden shattered through our rebellion. And yet, God is clear that his plan is not undone, and in no way over. The garden points to the better end where Home comes for eternity, where the two realms overlap and God dwells with His people as their God, in their midst, forever.

As we come to the close of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we are reminded that the aim of everything we do as Christians is love, and are amazed that God has chosen us to be vessels of His love on the earth. We recognize our deep need for grace to accomplish this mission. Additionally, 1 Timothy reminds us of what matters as we fulfill this calling: love, truth, the Church, and our faithful perseverance in godliness, contentment, and generosity. As we live these things out, we are truly “guarding the deposit entrusted to us”- the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The God, who owns all and is the Giver of all, invites His people into the adventure of generosity. Those with an abundance of God-given resources are especially called to be rich in good works rather than setting their hope on what is passing away, sowing into gospel stories that endure into eternity.

In Paul’s third poetic praise toward God in writing to Timothy, we get another glimpse of where the power to walk in godliness comes from. We walk in the fight of faith, fleeing gain in this world in order to pursue godliness, because we have been made outposts of God’s kingdom, both for the benefit of others and ultimately for the glory of our King Jesus. In essence, awe of Jesus empowers faithfulness to Jesus.

We can discern false teaching when it conflicts with sound doctrine, the teachings of Jesus, and what accords with godliness, producing people who are depraved, deprived, and deceived. A common false teaching, both in Ephesus and in our culture, is that we can use the appearance of godliness to gain worldly things, such as money. But content, genuine godliness is gain in itself because of the incomparable worth of knowing and having King Jesus in this world and the next.

In our varied roles and relationships, those in Christ have the incredible opportunity to both represent and participate in bringing the Kingdom of God. So whether people are over us in authority or under our authority, our aim is always love and to honor all people for the sake of the Gospel, rather than for our own selfish gain.

In a culture that both idolizes and crushes its leaders, we in the Kingdom of God treat our leaders differently. Knowing that character holds more value than talent, we are not quick to elevate leaders to a platform based on talent alone. When established leaders lead well, we extend double honor. When a leader persists in unrepentant sin, we extend loving accountability. We do all of this trusting that God will bring everything unseen into the light, whether sin or good works.

Being close to Jesus, our Rabbi-Teacher, means being covered in the dust of the path He walks. This path is marked by finding Him in the rhythm of the same few things. If He’s not eating or sleeping, you might find Him proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel. You might find Him sitting fireside, teaching truth to those who would listen. Or you might not find Him at all as He disappears into the quiet with His Father. Jesus invites us to find rest in journeying with Him by His Spirit along this light and easy path.

As we enter a new year with new goals and ambitions, we remember that Jesus always calls us to pursue the freedom of child-likeness in the way we express curiosity, simplicity, and wonder at the majesty of our God through the world He made.