Sat.’s Devo - The Third Day Miracles

Read: Exodus 19:16-21:21; Matthew 23:13-39; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 7:1-5
On the third day… In the Bible, many things happen on the third day. On the third day of creation the seed gave fruit that conformed to the seed. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Joseph was brought out of prison and elevated to second in command on the third day. There are many more “third day” happenings but they are all times when God acted. On this third day, God came down from heaven wrapped in a cloud and spoke to the people. He gave them the Ten Commandments and this was the first Pentecost. A trumpet sounded louder and louder and there were thunderings and lighting and the mountain was smoking. From this loud and awesome display of power, God called Moses up into the smoke to ascend the mountain so he could further speak to him. God wanted to give the people a visible experience of his glory and power so they wouldn’t forget him and would always trust him.
There is so much we could talk about in the commandments but I want to focus on the altar of the Lord. God forbade them to make gods of silver or gold. Their altar was to be of earth. On this altar they were to offer their burnt offerings, peace offering, sheep, and oxen. In all the places that He put his name he would come and bless them. These altars are now the altars of our heart. When we put God’s name on the altar of our heart, we can offer him sacrifices of prayer and repentence. They were not to be of hewn stone or anything they built of their own. God was saying that our altar couldn’t be make of our works but only the cross that Jesus laid his life on. They were not to make steps that go up to the altar that their nakedness not be discovered on them. That meant that we don’t get saved by achieving a step-by-step program or regimen. That is a religion of works which only points out our sin. We don’t get cleaned up first to be righteous enough to come to Jesus. We come just as we are and he sanctifies us.
Jesus condemned the Pharisees and Sadducees for their hypocritical lives and told them that instead of adding laws that oppressed the people they should follow after justice, mercy and faithfulness.
Lord, may we not try to impress you with our works but with the humbleness of our hearts. May we follow after justice, mercy and faithfulness.