Christian Growth
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who are deserving of His curse. He makes no mistakes, for angels are
keeping a record of all our works and words.
When the people of God were about to build the sanctuary in the
wilderness, extensive preparations were necessary. Costly materials
were collected, and among them was much gold and silver. As the
rightful owner of all their treasures, the Lord called for these offerings
from the people; but He accepted only those that were given freely.
The people offered willingly, until word was brought to Moses: “The
people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which
the Lord commanded to make.” And the proclamation was made to all
the congregation: “Let neither man nor woman make any more work
for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from
bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make
it, and too much.”
Had some men of limited ideas been on the ground they would
have opened their eyes in horror. Like Judas they would have asked:
“To what purpose is this waste?” “Why not make everything in the
cheapest manner?” But the sanctuary was not designed to honor man,
but the God of heaven. He had given specific directions how everything
was to be done. The people were to be taught that He was a being of
greatness and majesty, and that He was to be worshiped with reverence
and awe.
The house where God is worshiped should be in accordance with
His character and majesty. There are small churches that ever will
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be small because they place their own interests above the interests of
God’s cause. While they have large, convenient houses for themselves,
and are constantly improving their premises, they are content to have a
most unsuitable place for the worship of God, where His holy presence
is to dwell. They wonder that Joseph and Mary were obliged to find
shelter in a stable, and that there the Saviour was born; but they are
willing to expend upon themselves a large part of their means, while
the house of worship is shamefully neglected. How often they say:
“The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”
But the word of the Lord to them is: “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell
in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?”
The house where Jesus is to meet with His people should be neat
and attractive. If there are but few believers in a place, put up a neat
but humble house, and by dedicating it to God invite Jesus to come