Handle the Gold 7-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I talk to anyone else, I want to talk to You. Before I hear another voice, I want to hear Yours. ... "Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests.... And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God.... And I said to them, 'You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors" (Ezra 8:24-28). You restored Your people to their land out of their captivity when the judgment of exile was completed. And You restored all that had been stolen from them. Among them were all the vessels of silver and gold taken from the temple and hauled away into the treasuries of the kings of Babylon. But even there, these vessels were to be treated with only honor and respect, as the son of Nebuchadnezzar found out when he read the writing on the wall that prophesied his own judgment for defiling the vessels of the Lord (Daniel 5:1-31). The vessel of his soul was "weighed on the scales and found wanting" (v. 5:27). I think these vessels of the temple of the Lord speak of our souls. God commands they be treated with honor and respect, even in the times of judgment and consequences for our disobedience and sin. His heart is to always to restore us and return us to the place of His honor. And in Christ, we are all his priests as well, called to be holy through the cleansing of Your blood and commanded to handle the vessels of God's people with holy honor (1 Peter 2:9). "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish" (v. 1:18). Through faith in You, our souls are being cleansed and purified to be "more precious than gold," though "tested by fire," to be worthy vessels of honor. (1 Peter 1:6-7). Today, let me see myself that way and see others that way as well. As the vessels of the Lord were "weighed out" into the hands of Your priests by Ezra, they were called to "guard them and keep them" until they were completely restored into the house of the Lord (Ezra 8:29). Likewise, You've called me and each of us who are called by Your name to be holy priests to You, as we handle the gold of Your people's souls in our hands today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please sign up soon to come join Laura Beach and me for the overnight spiritual retreat we are leading August 2-3, 2008 near Lancaster, Kentucky, in the country just south of Lexington -- "The Shepherd's Pen" -- Come away with the Good Shepherd to learn to hear His voice and be comforted in His embrace. Through Tommy's teaching and Laura's leading of creative prayer experiences, "The Shepherd's Pen Retreat" will explore the beautiful passage of John 10 -- We will delve into what it means to: 1) Truly hear and discern the voice of God, our good shepherd, 2) Identify the broken fences that allow the wolf and the thief to disrupt our ability to hear the Good Shepherd, and 3) Experience the healing and restoration that occurs when we enter into the safe "pen" of God's love. There will be times of worship, teaching, practice hearing the voice of God in different ways and, of course, prayer to equip and nurture all who attend.Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, for more details and registration (859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com). It's not too late to sign up for our School of Spiritual Ministry intensive this Thurs night, Friday, and Saturday -- equipping and empowering spiritual leaders. My friend, Greg Howard, former commander of vehicle enforcement for the state will be teaching on leadership as well. Childcare available. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, for more details and registration (859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org