Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Exodus 33:19, “Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.'” 

Background

Have you seen those diagrams of a cow? The ones that show where the different cuts of meat come from? They usually picture a side view of the cow, and his body is sectioned off by dotted lines, dividing the rib from the chuck, the round from the shank. It shows where flank steak comes from, and even that most desirable strip of tenderloin. Well, when most of us see a cow, we just see a cow. We don’t look at it envisioning the different sections of meat. That might be the special curse reserved for butchers and chefs. But imagine what Moses saw from the cleft of the rock when God allowed him to see His back as all of His goodness passed by him. I’m pretty sure he didn’t see God walk by and notice, “Hey, there’s compassion in His left hand. And patience is in His forearm. And look, forgiveness runs across His neck.” I have no idea what Moses saw, but I’m fairly certain that whatever it was exceeded anything that words could describe. How could you even soak in all of God’s goodness as it passed you by? How could God package that so that our eyes could look upon it? Maybe that’s why we suffer so badly from shrinking God down into the little pieces that we make Him into. Sure, we rattle off many of His marvelous traits in prayer, but as we walk through the day, we divide Him up into tiny sections. His patience doesn’t seem quite long enough for our situations. His grace gets remade into something that reflects our own preferences. His humility works on the cross, but not when someone challenges our pride or position. God, completely God, is able in all His goodness to get you through anything that comes your way. If we can spend time soaking in His goodness, all of it, then perhaps it will change all of our self. 

Application

Maybe then the sections of our lives won’t keep crumbling in defeat. Maybe then our thoughts, eyes, desires, actions and words will reflect the goodness that can consume us, if we’ll just look upon it. Maybe then our lives will be all about the God who one day will let us look upon His face. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, receive God in all His fullness. Soak in the fruit of His Spirit, and let Him be enough for you, no matter what you might encounter today.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words