Sacred Space: What Makes a Sacred Space

One day Moses was tending the flock
of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into
the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in
a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the
bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why
isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the LORD saw Moses coming to
take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses!
Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your
sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
I am the God of your father—the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he
covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
EXODUS 3:1-6 NLT

Sacred space never looks like you think it should

“Do not come any
closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy
ground. EXODUS 3:5 NLT

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, declares the LORD. ISAIAH
55:8 NLT

What makes something sacred is God’s presence

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone
swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his
oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? MATTHEW 23:16
NLT

There the angel of the
LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared
in amazement. EXODUS 3:2 NLT

God is always creating sacred space to connect with me

We all need sacred space where we can be real

With myself

But Moses protested to
God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel
out of Egypt?” EXODUS 3:11 NLT

With others

Then the LORD told him,
“I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their
cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of
their suffering. EXODUS 3:7 NLT

A sacred space that
becomes a selfish place is no longer sacred

With God

But Moses protested,
“If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has
sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell
them?” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel:
I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of
Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name,
my name to remember for all generations. EXODUS
3:13-15 NLT

Explore the Sacred Space Series

What Makes a Sacred Space

Meeting with God in Sacred Space

Real Rest