March 29

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Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. Psalm 84:5

And thus you shall eat it (the Passover): with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Exodus 12:11

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🔊 This instruction from the Lord teaches that the right attitude for heart fellowship with Him is one of being on a pilgrimage – a journey in search of God and His kingdom. Jesus told his apostles that their ministry was a journey and they were to dress for it – Matthew 10:9-10. It is to be a journey with no return, like the Exodus. The whole deliverance from Egypt was meaningless unless the people immediately departed from Egypt. What use is salvation unless the saved person turns their back on the world and sets out to find the fullness of God in Christ? Salvation was to be the beginning of emigration. They were to leave behind the culture of Egypt, the mentality of slavery and the cruelty of oppression. We must learn the lessons of journeying. First, travel light – being encumbered with the cares of this life will slow down your progress. Second, fix your eyes on the goal – the promised land, the promises of God. Our goal is God, not just heaven. Third, to survive the rigours of the wilderness journey, we will need a rugged attitude, and a care for the weak and vulnerable. There will be days when we ourselves will need help, so while we are strong we should seek to help and encourage others on their journey with God. Are you still set on pilgrimage and dressed for the journey, or have you settled down in some quiet spot and forgotten the challenge of the quest? Renew your journeying spirit, and let the Holy Spirit fire you with the anticipation of wonderful things to come for those who really leave the world behind.