Scripture: Exodus 12:11 (Msg)
And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it's the Passover to God.
Observation: After a long and drawn-out stand-off with Pharaoh, Moses succeeded in attaining permission for the children of Israel to go and worship. In fact, not just to worship but to go for good. Pharaoh and his people had paid a terrible price for his stubbornness as all of Egypt was destroyed and finally, the first born sons were lost. As they prepared for this final sign, the Angel of death and his passing over of the homes of the faithful, God's instructions to the children of Israel were to be ready. They were told to eat their meal fully dressed with their sandals on--unusual in their culture--and to bake bread without leaven because there would be no time for it to rise. Essentially, they were to be on the alert for what God would do and be ready to follow immediately when He revealed Himself.
Application: I believe the same is true today. While I don't have the drama of ten plagues and the tragedy of the deaths of all first-borns, I still serve the almighty, all-powerful God who is at work in the world today. And I am instructed to be ready to follow. I am to act in obedience and then I am blessed with the privilege of waiting expectantly for God to reveal Himself. When He does, will He find me faithful? Ready to follow where He leads? Or will I be reclining at the table, my sandals off and my life is disarray? I want to be ready to follow. In order to do that, I should be pursuing what I know to be true--practicing the disciplines of my faith (worshiping with other believers, tithing, praying, studying the scriptures, serving others)--in order to be ready when God reveals Himself.
Father, I want to be ready, to follow at a moment's notice. Forgive me for the times I make wrong choices--ignoring what I know to be Your desire for my life and pursing the things which bring me temporary satisfaction. Help me today and tomorrow and the day after that, to do the simple things I know to do. Help me to embrace Your best plan instead of exchanging it for a poor substitute. Please use me as You see fit. Make me ready and shape my life into a useful tool for You.
Amen.
January 22, 2008 by Bob
Ex 4:11
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
In the first several chapter of the Book of Exodus, we read that Moses was commissioned by God to speak as His ambassador to set the Israelites free from the grip of the Egyptians. Although God had instructed Moses what to say and provided him with the power to perform signs to convince Pharaoh that he was a messenger from God, Moses resisted. In fact Moses questioned God’s ability to convince Pharaoh through him alone. Can you imagine telling the Creator of the Universe that his plan might fail? Then God responded to Moses with words that must have resonated throughout his remaining life, and should resonate with us today; "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? But even with this reaction it took Moses sometime to eventually come around and believe that God could use him to accomplish great things.
Today we worship the same God that Moses worshipped, with the same power to accomplish what He desires through us. Yet many of us are reluctant to believe that God can use us to accomplish what we alone cannot. Many times we focus on our own inabilities instead of God’s greatness. We become so obsessed in our own weaknesses that we fail to realize that God’s work is not about us, but instead about God’s purpose and power working through us.
Heavenly Father, forgive our feeble faith, and give us the strength and courage to step out boldly whenever we are led by you to accomplish your work. Teach us to rest our assurance on your glory and power alone.
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
In the first several chapter of the Book of Exodus, we read that Moses was commissioned by God to speak as His ambassador to set the Israelites free from the grip of the Egyptians. Although God had instructed Moses what to say and provided him with the power to perform signs to convince Pharaoh that he was a messenger from God, Moses resisted. In fact Moses questioned God’s ability to convince Pharaoh through him alone. Can you imagine telling the Creator of the Universe that his plan might fail? Then God responded to Moses with words that must have resonated throughout his remaining life, and should resonate with us today; "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? But even with this reaction it took Moses sometime to eventually come around and believe that God could use him to accomplish great things.
Today we worship the same God that Moses worshipped, with the same power to accomplish what He desires through us. Yet many of us are reluctant to believe that God can use us to accomplish what we alone cannot. Many times we focus on our own inabilities instead of God’s greatness. We become so obsessed in our own weaknesses that we fail to realize that God’s work is not about us, but instead about God’s purpose and power working through us.
Heavenly Father, forgive our feeble faith, and give us the strength and courage to step out boldly whenever we are led by you to accomplish your work. Teach us to rest our assurance on your glory and power alone.
January 21, 2008 by Randy
Date: 1/21/08
Title: Watching Eyes
Topic: Moses tried to hide his sin.
Scripture Reference: Exodus 2:12
SCRIPTURE (Ex 2:12 NIV) Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
OBSERVE Moses was sure no one would see his sin. The passage says he glanced "this way and that...seeing no one." Isn't true? Sooner or later, sin catches up with us. Either someone sees us, no matter how hard we try to conceal it or the consequences eventually expose us. Sin ALWAYS finds us out. However, failure never has to be final. Even though Moses sinned greatly, murdering someone, he was still used of God. No matter what we have done, God can graciously restore us.
APPLICATION I don't think "being watched" is a good motive for best behavior. But even in the small things, I need to be living out my faith. I rejoice that despite my mess ups and shortcomings, God can still use me. Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
PRAYER Father, I want to live a life of integrity. Help me to remember that I can never get away from sin. Also, others are watching me. Help me to be a good example. Most of all, Father, you are watching me. I want to live a life that brings honor and glory to you. AMEN.
Title: Watching Eyes
Topic: Moses tried to hide his sin.
Scripture Reference: Exodus 2:12
SCRIPTURE (Ex 2:12 NIV) Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
OBSERVE Moses was sure no one would see his sin. The passage says he glanced "this way and that...seeing no one." Isn't true? Sooner or later, sin catches up with us. Either someone sees us, no matter how hard we try to conceal it or the consequences eventually expose us. Sin ALWAYS finds us out. However, failure never has to be final. Even though Moses sinned greatly, murdering someone, he was still used of God. No matter what we have done, God can graciously restore us.
APPLICATION I don't think "being watched" is a good motive for best behavior. But even in the small things, I need to be living out my faith. I rejoice that despite my mess ups and shortcomings, God can still use me. Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
PRAYER Father, I want to live a life of integrity. Help me to remember that I can never get away from sin. Also, others are watching me. Help me to be a good example. Most of all, Father, you are watching me. I want to live a life that brings honor and glory to you. AMEN.
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