As God dwelled with the people, they came and went only as God commanded them. They were committed to following the lead of God. We live best when we live under the direction and lead of God.

Through their offerings, the people experience God’s glory. Today, as we present ourselves as offerings, we experience God’s grace, too.

God had heard the cry of the Israelites and redeemed them from Egypt. After seeing the power of God, the people came to know God as their God. When we take time to see how God has worked in our life, we see just how much God has done for us, too.

To covenant with God is to be sure that God will uphold his promises. Think about how often we turn away from what we have promised God. But God is faithful and renews us; Jacob experienced the renewal of God even after he had endured so much.

The very first thing the Bible teaches us about who we are is that we were created by God in the image and likeness of God. There is an image of God living in every single one of us. Somewhere, though, we let go of that image and, like Cain, became something else.

Simeon & Anna waited all their lives for the promise of God’s Messiah to come. When we learn to wait for the promises of God, we understand what trust and true joy is.

King David was ready to build a new temple to God. God reminded David there was no need; that would be something someone else would do later. Rather, God was ready to establish a “house” for David.

If we are truly a Spirit-full people, are lives are committed to justice, mercy and bring restoration to God’s world.

God brings comfort to us. We don’t have to wait for things to be perfect to pursue godliness. God hears our cry from the “wilderness” of our lives.

The question the goats and the sheep ask is the same, “When did we see you…” Jesus’ answer reminds us that our treatment of the least of these shows what we really feel about Christ the King.