To Dwell Among Us

Transcript

Hello, my friend… what a joy to find you here today. This is By God's Call — day 25, To Dwell Among Us.

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." Exodus 25:8.

Let that phrase land slowly, because it carries something enormous hidden inside simple words.

God, who created the entire universe by speaking, who cannot be contained by the heavens, let alone a tent in the desert, asks for a sanctuary. Why? Does He need somewhere to live? Of course not. The reason is in the second half of the verse: "that I may dwell in their midst." The initiative is entirely His. The desire is His. God wants to be near — and He Himself asks His people to build the place where that nearness will happen.

Notice the verb too: "make." Not "buy," not "find already finished somewhere." The people build it themselves, with their own hands — wood, gold, fabric, curtain after curtain — everything that will hold the presence of God Himself. That strikes me. Worship has always asked for participation, not just passive attendance. God could have made the tabernacle appear out of nothing. Instead, He invites the people into the work — because what we build with our hands tends to settle into the heart differently.

And there's a word here that changes everything: "in their midst." Not above, not distant, not isolated on some unreachable mountain. In their midst. In the camp, among the ordinary tents, close enough to hear children playing, close enough to be part of everyday life. God didn't choose majestic distance. He chose everyday nearness.

And look what follows this verse — whole chapters of detailed instructions: exact measurements, specific materials, every piece of furniture designed with precision. Why so much care? Because God cares deeply about this nearness. He Himself designed every detail of the place where He would choose to be close to His people.

And that desire never changed. Centuries later, John writes about Jesus: "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Same word, same heart, fulfilled in an even more astonishing way. The tabernacle was temporary, made of skins and wood. Christ is the final fulfillment — God dwelling among us, truly, in flesh. And today, if you belong to Him, God's Spirit dwells in you. You are the sanctuary now.

But just as Israel had to build the space, you also need to open the space. God's presence doesn't force its way into a life crowded with noise, uninvited. It dwells where it is welcomed.

So today, here is the call: before breakfast, choose one specific spot in your home — a chair, a corner, a window. Set aside five minutes there, just to meet God. It isn't really about the spot; it's about the habit of returning there, today and tomorrow, building a small sanctuary into your routine. God wants to dwell in your midst — start by giving Him a concrete space for it.

Stay close to God. Pray — then act. I'll see you tomorrow, my friend.