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 devotional
God’s throne | February 18
February 18
“Spices… for sweet incense” (Exodus 25:6).
Spices were also used to make the incense for burning! Read the instructions for preparing
them in Exodus 30:34-38. The anointing oil speaks of service which we should render in the
House of God, and the incense speaks of the intercession which ascends from the hearts of
believers before God’s throne.
In God’s Sanctuary the incense burned day and night on the golden altar in the Holy Place,
the whole day and the whole night. “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psa. 141:2).
We are God’s co-workers; that is why we have to pray. And even though we may never
receive an answer to our prayer upon this earth, when we reach heaven we shall know God’s
answer to every one. No prayer ever goes unanswered. The High Priest had to first burn
incense before the Mercy Seat (Lev. 16:12-13). Then only was the blood sprinkled on the
Mercy Seat (Lev. 16:6, 15-16). All this was a type or shadow of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself. He brought His own Blood inside the Most Holy Place, thereby wholly satisfying
God (Heb. 9:11-12).