Peaceful Acceptance of the Calling

Peaceful Acceptance of the Calling

Exodus 4: ¹⁸ So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”

And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

 

¹⁹ Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” ²⁰ Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

 

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GOD appeared to Moses in the form of fire inside of a bush. GOD showed Moses HIS power by turning his rod into a snake. HE also turned Moses’s hand leprous and healed it. Moses declined the calling, BUT GOD gave him an alternative to his thinking. HE would send Aaron with him. Moses went to his father-in-law and told him about he was leaving.

 

My Observations:

• Moses accepted GOD’s calling on his life.
• Moses wanted peace with his father-in-law, so he asked for permission.
• GOD had to assure Moses that no one would be out to kill him because those who sought his life were all dead.

 

As comfortable and content as Moses was, he was being asked to go and free the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. GOD helped Moses overcome his comfort and contentment by sending him back into action. The reason Moses killed an Egyptian is because he saw unfair treatment. He took matters in his own hand, which caused the Egyptians to want to kill him and the Israelites to fear him. He was in a bad place.

 

BUT GOD gave him comfort that HE would be with him. Moses packed up his family, Zipporah, Gershom and Eliezer, and headed to Egypt. He also took with him the rod of GOD as a sign that he believed in what GOD said.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about his conversation with his father-in-law.
• Have you come to grips with GOD’s calling on your life even though it may be scary?
• Are you overwhelmed by GOD’s calling on your life and will you accept HIS peace?

Going Forward

Going Forward

Hebrews 6: Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God; ² of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. ³ Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.

 

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After learning my numbers, I was proud that I could count. But the next grade taught me addition and subtraction. Grades beyond taught me multiplication, division, percentages, arithmetic, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus (or trigonometry), calculus, and differential equations (Thermal dynamic heat equations).

 

• I could not imagine sitting in a class to learn how to count.
• I struggled with the other lessons and some I failed.
• Once I finished learning one concept, it was on to the next.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, urges believers to “go forward” from the basic lesson of salvation of JESUS. He implies that there is more to learn about JESUS than, salvation, baptism, and the resurrection.

 

My Observations

• JESUS is far greater than eternal life.
• JESUS cares about the life I live now and the life I will live in eternity.
• JESUS is more complex that I think and I should learn about HIM daily.

 

“Does GOD even care?” is the question I have asked many times. I mean, when things seem to be going horribly wrong it, is tough to rely on the promise that I am saved for eternity. “What about this horrible situation?”  I would ask. GOD hears and addresses everything.

 

HE cares about my current life and the life beyond this life. HE knows what I am going through and has empathy through JESUS who was tempted in every way. HE cares about the large and small and is involved in every moment of my life. I am glad GOD cares about me holistically.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer use “go forward?”
• Have you ever learned the basics of something and found yourself in the basic class again?
• How did you feel?
• Will you “go forward from salvation, baptism, and the resurrection, and learn how GOD interacts with you daily so you can mature in faith today?

Keep Going "Froward!"

Keep Going "Froward!"

Philippians 3: ¹² I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. ¹³ Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. ¹⁴ So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

 

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Wearing newish shoes was special to me because it happened once a year. This pair was cloth with rubber soles. I accidentally stepped in some dog poop. It got all over the shoes. I tried wiping the shoe on the grass to no avail. The stench wreaked the entire day at school, so much so that it brought unwanted attention to me.

 

• I was constantly reminded about my mistake.
• I was upset that my newish shoes were ruined and I had to wait a whole year for another pair.
• I was embarrassed because I distracted other people with my problem.

 

Paul gives everyone a great suggestion. “Keep striving to win the prize for which CHRIST JESUS has already won…” He then states he is not perfect, which implies that he made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. He gives a solution for making mistakes. “Reach what is ahead.”

 

My Observations

• The enemy constantly reminds me of my mistakes, BUT GOD reminds me HE has forgiven me.
• I replay mistakes over and over with regret, BUT GOD shows me I am still on HIS path.
• Embarrassment plagued my thoughts BUT GOD gave me purpose which wiped away my shame.

 

“GOD’s call through CHRIST to life above” is the one and only true goal. I mean, all other goals I set for myself will be riddled with problems and failures. Like stepping in dog poop, these issues remind me that things could be better or “new” or “different.” I then complain to GOD which takes me off HIS path.

 

Fortunately GOD picks me up and places me back on HIS path. HE bends down and washes my feet, making everything new. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. I am glad GOD is the goal and HE allows me to make mistakes because HE can clean up any mess and make me new.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer think he is perfect?
• What does perfection look like in your mind?
• Have you ever been disappointed with yourself for falling or failure?
• Will you be forgiven through CHRIST JESUS so you can run straight towards HIS purpose and allow HIM to wipe the sticky mess off your feet today?

Ready to Go

Ready to Go

Acts 13: Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

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“LORD, what do YOU want me to do ?” was finally a sincere question I had asked. Up until then, I wanted raises and promotions and new cars. Within a week, the reorg was announced. Days later I was told I would be moving to another state.

• There were times when I had to get in the right mind to serve.
• There were times when I had to clear my thoughts in order to hear GOD.
• There were times when I had to be ready for anything in order to be used by GOD.

As the group gathered in Antioch were fasting and ministering to the LORD, the HOLY SPIRIT called Barnabas and Saul for a special work. The group obeyed so they fasted, prayed, laid hands on them and sent them. Fasting may have taken days but they were ready right away.

• GOD wants me to be ready to go where HE wants me to go at a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to know that I am sent versus complacent.
• GOD wants me to prepare for HIS journey when HE calls me to a work.

“Preparation” is the action GOD wants when HE calls. Rather than a fight for complacency, HE wants readiness to touch other lives through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD is always ready to send harvesters, but knows  the laborers are few.

GOD wants me to sincerely ask “LORD, what do YOU want me to do ?” so HE can decide where and when HE wants me to go and plant HIS seeds. Other people are waiting on my gifts and talents. I am glad GOD includes me in HIS plans.

• Are you being sent?
• Does GOD want you to meet new people so you can fast and pray for them?
• Will you accept GOD’s calling and prepare for where HE is sending you to do HIS work?

Becoming Strong and Bright

Judges 5: ³¹ “So may all your enemies perish, Lord!
    But may all who love you be like the sun
    when it rises in its strength.”

Then the land had peace forty years.

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After speaking to the dean I was allowed back in school on special probation.  I focused and got on the dean’s list with great grades. I was at peace. After graduating tried hanging out with the “fun crowd, but something was missing.  I felt uneasy again. When I slowly started learning about GOD and what HE desires, I was at peace.

I started climbing the corporate ladder and ran into people who didn’t want me to succeed. I was uneasy. When I gave my career to GOD to do with it as HE pleased, I was at peace.

• Life is difficult and I face many obstacles.
• Life has some people who want me to fail.
• Life has situations that make me feel uneasy.

“What does peace look like?” I had to ask myself. Peace is a place that is devoid of worries, fear or doubt. It has joy and sometimes happiness. Peace is a place where I can actually see with clarity and feel free and fly high.

• GOD gives me peace when I focus on HIM.
• GOD provides so I can have peace.
• GOD gives me peace when I trust HIM.
• GOD protects so I can have peace.

Obstacles, trials and circumstances challenge my trust in the LORD. Each time HE delivers me, it makes me stronger and more dependent on HIM. HE makes me brighter and stronger which gives me peace.

• Are you restless?
• Are you confused?
• Can you face your problems with peace?
• Won’t you say to yourself “GOD is my peace” rather than focusing on the situation?

Remembering can hold me back

Philippians 3: ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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There he was, the bully who sat on me causing me to scrape my arm. I still had the scar after ten years but now I was ready for him. I was now muscular and just as big as him. “He’s going to apologize whether he likes it or not” I said to myself. 

When I walked up to him, he greeted me with a hug and the biggest smile. He was glad to see “old friends who love GOD.” Man, I guess I can’t pummel him today.

• When I hold on to the past I get stuck in the pain.
• When I replay history I get hysterical.
• When I go back to ancient times I wind up with agony.

Many people have messed up in their life in their actions toward me and I have messed up many times in my actions toward them. I have said things and done things that are downright hurtful and so have they. GOD wants me to focus on the prize instead of the problem.

• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget what people have done.
• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget when I have failed.
• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget how the pain feels.

Funny thing about memory, the less it’s used the more I forget. In other words when I purposefully spend my time filling my memory with great thoughts, I don’t have time to fill it with pain. I can then replay the great moments and not replay the “not so great moments.”  In fact the more great moments I can replay the less “stuck” I become.

GOD has given me a gift, namely HIS SON. I now have hope and I can look at the future with a positive outlook no matter the circumstance.

• Are you holding onto the past?
• Are you blinded by what happened instead of looking at how GOD is changing the situation?
• Do you realize GOD is not constantly tormenting you about how you messed up?
• Can you consider for a moment GOD has love for you AND “that” person?