Goosbumps

I've been reading through Leviticus in my devotions lately, and I came to one of those stories, today, that gives me goosebumps just thinking about how awesome it must have been.  Leviticus 9 is an account of the ceremony that took place at the tabernacle when the priests were beginning their ministry.  The tent of meeting had just been set up, things were kicking off, and God organized an assembly of all of the people so that they would all witness what He was going to do.  After a series of slaughterings and burnings (the tabernacle must have been a seriously smelly place!) God showed up.  Out of the Holy of Holys flies a beam of fire, moving right in front of their eyes to burn up the offering on the altar and show all in attendance that GOD was there and all of this was HIS idea and HIS pleasure.  "And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (v. 24) 

Can you even imagine?  What if this happened today when a church held it's first worship service?  How incredible it must have been.

And the part that really gives me goosebumps is to think about how God did this again when the temple was constructed (2 Chronicles 7), and again when the temple was moved to the hearts of men (pentacost- Acts 2).  Each time God confirmed with the fire of His presence that that He was choosing to dwell and work in THIS place. 

The more I read about the work of the priests in the tabernacle, the more I wonder at how God calls us a priesthood, and our bodies His temple.  What a sacred and holy calling we have!

[EDIT] more on this here.