DO YOU PASS INSPECTION?

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of hides of sea cows and the shielding curtain; the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the atonement cover; the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests.

The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Exodus 39:32-43

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As many of my readers know, I served in the United States Navy for nearly three decades (retired after 28 ½ years)/ During my career, I was stationed on many different shore and sea commands, learning quickly that there was one constant.

Inspections are a way of life.

During boot camp, I can remember getting scrutinized on almost everything.

If I was in uniform, I was always being checked to see that I was wearing it in accordance with regulations.

If I had cleaning responsibilities, the work wouldn’t be considered done until someone looked over things and approved completion.

My Shipmates and I even had to go through regular locker inspections make sure all our clothes were folded properly as we were taught.

Ultimately, the goal was to teach us attention to detail and the importance of following directions to the letter. Later, when we got to the place where we were out of basic training and in the fleet, we would see how this stringent stressing of detail was critical because errors in the work one did could be mission impacting.

On the five ships I served on, I saw where there was the same rigorous assessments done, no matter if you are in port or preparing for your next deployment. The Navy wanted to make sure that all ships were maintained to the highest standards, not only so they would be battle ready but also because taxpayer dollars were used for these vessels and the Department of Defense wanted American citizens to know that their tax dollars were being used properly.

Of interest, the matter of being inspected didn’t just start when I joined the Navy because to a lesser degree, they were also part of my upbringing. Maybe you can relate.

For when I was living at home, my parents would always check out my room and, believe me, if it got messy I was going to hear about it. The same applied to my school work as my Dad and/or Mom would want to know this if they saw me sitting around:

"Are you done with your homework?"

And if my response was "Yes", then the next words were as follows:

"Bring it to me so I can check it."

Of course, they wanted to inspect my work to make sure I was doing things properly.

Well, in today’s scripture, we find Moses deciding that it was time to inspect the work done by the Israelites who had worked very hard to make the tabernacle, the courtyard, and all associated accessories in accordance with God’s directions. The scriptures tell us that "they brought” the “tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of hides of sea cows and the shielding curtain; the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the atonement cover; the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light; the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests".

In other words, they had brought everything they had been told to make.

Moses then went through it all, inspecting it to make sure it was "done it just as the Lord had commanded." And seeing that it was, we read that he "blessed them."

In other words, they had done a great job as Moses found that all had been constructed to the specifications that God had set forth. The people of Israel would soon have a place of regular formal worship.

This leads me to a quick question:

If God was to inspect your life, what kind of assessment would He give you? Would He give you a positive grade and bless you, seeing that you were living in accordance with His requirements?

You see, God gives us all the directions we need for living in His Word, leaving no doubt as to what we are to do.

There’s also no doubt that He is ever checking us out, peering deep into the depths of our hearts and minds, places only He can access, so to see if our lives measure up to His standards. He is always inspecting us to make sure we are conducting ourselves as He expects we will.

So again, the question this message forces is this:

Am I in a place where I can pass the Lord’s inspection?

Friends, if we’re honest, we all probably fall short somewhere when it comes to meeting God’s standards. After all, no one is perfect, not even close.

Thankfully, we serve a Lord of mercy and grace, a Lord who is always ready to refine us day-by-day so we can become the people He wants us to be. All we need to do is to submit ourselves to the scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit, committed to obedient, righteous living.

If we do this, devoting ourselves to our God, then we can have hope that God will want to praise and bless us after He inspects us, just as Moses did to the people of Israel.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.