URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 9th September Shine Moses Shine

Wednesday 9th September

Shine Moses Shine

Exodus 34:  29 – 35

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Reflection

Moses had been on the mountain and having a conversation with God.  This changed his physical appearance so much that his face shone.  This might remind us of the time when Jesus met Moses and Elijah.  Matthew 17:2 tells us that Jesus’s face shone like the sun.  Moses was unaware of this change to his appearance, but the people were afraid of him.  He had to summon them to approach him and Moses told them what God had said to him on Mount Sinai.

Do we all reflect the glory of God in our day to day lives or do we leave it for Sundays?  Perhaps more importantly does our relationship with God change every part of our lives?  Moses’s face shone to show that he had been in God’s presence and he wore a veil to hide it from other people but removed the veil when with God.  

Do we do something similar; do we hide our faith when with non-churchgoers?  We should let others see that we have this.  We live in times when many people are unsure about the existence of God, a time when they doubt many things.  We need to let the love of God shine through us into the dark places that many people inhabit.  We can do it in so many ways, supporting organisations such as Commitment for Life or Christian Aid are examples.  Kind words to strangers and simply telling friends how our personal faith helps us every day can show God’s glory shining from us.  There is much being said about a “new normal” will we as Christians all make sure that our new normal includes God in every part of it?

Prayer

Loving God, 
shine through me,
make me a beacon for you
where there is darkness let me bring light
where there are feelings of hopelessness or despair, let me bring joy
in Jesus name, Amen