February 21
“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles
of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14).
Here we have a vision of the wall of the Holy City, which have twelve foundations, on which
the names of the twelve Apostles are written. These precious stones speak of the strong
Apostolic foundation on which we are built (Eph. 2:19-22). Now the Apostles were only
ordinary men, they were men of like passions as we are, yet they were made strong by God.
We know what kind of a man Simon Peter was, yet, in spite of his failure; he became God’s
precious stone.
How did Simon Peter become a precious stone? That name ‘Peter’ means just an ordinary
rough stone, but the same rough stone became in the end a very precious, shinning
foundation stone. “The first foundation was Jasper (Rev. 21:19). Peter, the rough stone is
now linked to a shining, bright, beautiful, precious Jasper stone. How did he become like that?
Precious stones have to go through extreme heat under the ground to become so brilliant.
God asks us to believe in His perfect will and to allow the trials He may send to work His will
in us. That is how He can make of us shining stones. If we allow the light and truth of God to
work in us, we shall become like precious stones drawn close to the heart of God, to enjoy
His full love and affection.
daily devotion
What is Tabernacle? | February 6
February 6
“Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue,
and purple, and scarlet with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them” (Exodus 26:1).
Now mark carefully the coverings of the Tabernacle. In the Tabernacle the walls were boards of shittim wood covered with gold, but the ceiling was made of curtains (Exodus 26:1). Therewere four coverings. The first layer, was made of ten curtains of fine twined linen joined to one another by 50 blue loops and 50 gold taches. Together they formed “one tabernacle” over the sanctuary.
The linen was interwoven with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and cherubim were
embroidered upon it. The same materials were also used for the veil and for the hangings at the door of the Tabernacle and at the gate of the court. Every small detail has something to teach us about the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second set of curtains, was woven of goats’ hair, (Exodus 26:7-13). In this case there
were not ten curtains, but eleven. Together they formed the “tent” of the Tabernacle. Over
this was a third covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and on top of this again, was the last
covering of badgers’ skins (Exodus 26:14).