Everyone But You

Everyone But You

Exodos 4: ²⁴ And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. ²⁵ Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” ²⁶ So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

 

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After leaving Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, they encountered the preincarnate JESUS. HE was about to kill Moses, whom HE called to bring the people out of Egypt. Zipporah performed a circumcision on Eliezer. JESUS let Moses go.

 

My Observations:

• GOD would not allow Moses to go to Egypt unless Gershom and Eliezer were circumcised.
• GOD told Abram, also known as Abraham, to be circumcised and from then on, every male was to be circumcised on the eight day.
• GOD would not allow Moses to be HIS leader unless he was serious about following what HE specified.

 

When everyone else could get away with ignoring what GOD said, Moses could not. When Moses said “yes” to GOD’s calling, he also said “Yes” to following GOD the way HE wanted. There were many men who grew up uncircumcised around Moses, but he had to follow what GOD told Abram to promise.

 

Zipporah may not have been privy to how serious GOD was about the covenant of circumcision. What seemed insignificant to her was extremely important to GOD. You would think that GOD would have simply told Moses to perform the circumcision like HE told Abram.

 

He must have circumcised Gershom, but for some reason Eliezer was not. This problem had to be rectified by Zipporah, who may have been against the circumcision. She reluctantly performed the delicate operation and protested. GOD did not harm Moses and it shows that HE is serious about HIS leaders. HE also intervenes.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about this circumcision incident?
• Has GOD said for you to do something that you may have mislabeled as insignificant?
• Do you say, “Everyone else can do stuff, why can’t I?” when GOD is trying to make you HIS leader?

No Comparison

No Comparison

Titus 2: ⁷ In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. ⁸ Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

 

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“But so and so did the same thing” was my argument in several instances. I tried to compare my actions with those of another person, usually when something was going wrong or when I did something “bad.” I was met with a startling response. “But we expect more out of you.”

 

• I was comparing myself to other people to justify my actions.
• I was not taking responsibility for issues I was causing.
• I wanted accolades by comparison, but not consequence.

 

Paul had just told Titus to guide older men and women and younger men to “live a holy life” by following sound doctrine. Then Paul turns directly to Titus by urging him to be accountable for his actions. Whether other people followed the advice of living a life for GOD, be responsible for your own actions.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to live a life that is pleasing to HIM.
• GOD wants me responsible for my actions versus passively trying to control others.
• GOD wants me to admit I am a sinner and I need a Savior.

 

Being accountable for my own sins is eye opening. I mean, it is easier to compare “my” good deeds to someone else who may not be doing what “I” am. Unfortunately, GOD detests when I compare myself to someone else. JESUS used a comparison parable when two people went to pray and one compared himself to another saying “I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there..”

 

The tax collector prayed “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” and JESUS then said the tax collector was justified versus the Pharisee. Comparison seems to enable a short memory for the sins and wrongs of the person. GOD wants me to have a memory that I am forgiven so I can carry grace. I am glad GOD forgives.

 

Challenge

• Was the writer being harsh in the advice given?
• Have you ever been in a situation where other people were misbehaving and you had a choice to not join in?
• What did you do?
• Will you be GOD’s example even when it is extremely hard to do so and keep away from comparing your life to other people?

Taking it Seriously

Taking it Seriously

1 Corinthians 4: ¹⁸ Some of you have become proud because you have thought that I would not be coming to visit you. ¹⁹ If the Lord is willing, however, I will come to you soon, and then I will find out for myself the power which these proud people have, and not just what they say. ²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power. ²¹ Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in a spirit of love and gentleness?

 

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“Do you know how to do this?” was the serious question the interviewer had for me. I was a programmer and he asked if I could show a heart beating on a screen during surgery. I had to say “No” because it was a life or death situation.

 

• There have been many times when I had to take what I was doing seriously.
• There have been times when I was not prepared for something a little more serious.
• There have been times when I wanted the title without the responsibility.

 

Paul heard of people who were speaking nice words, but were doing it without the power associated with the Kingdom of GOD. He points out that it is not what is said, but the power attached to the words.

 

• GOD wants me to take HIS Word seriously.
• GOD wants me to live by HIS words, not just say them to look good in front of people.
• GOD wants me to speak with authority because I live with authority.

 

Speaking about GOD needs to be taken seriously. I mean, it can be fashionable to post a scripture on my car, but it would be powerless if my driving is counter to the scripture. I am powerless when I use the phrase “Do as I say, not what I do.”

 

Fortunately for me, GOD is the power. I may make mistakes, but HIS power to forgive me gives me the authority to speak about HIM. I can say “JESUS forgave me for my sins” with all authority, because it points to HIM, not to me. There is nothing more serious than GOD’s kingdom. I am glad JESUS is my Savior. I take HIS Word of love seriously.

 

• Are you posting scripture recklessly?
• Do you take GOD’s name lightly?
• Will you use GOD’s Word with the seriousness HE has revealed to you so you can speak with the authority needed to grow the Kingdom of GOD today?