Exodus 4-5.24.21
Scripture
Exodus 4:3-4-
3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
Observation-What does it say?
God chooses Moses to go to Pharaoh and command that he let his people, the Israelites, free. He is introduced to one of the tools God has given him to complete this mission, his staff. Moses has to face his biggest fears and does it by trusting, relying on and obeying the One who is giving him his commands.
Understanding-What does it mean?
The power was not in the tool God gave him. It wasn’t in the staff. The power came through Moses’ faith and willingness to obey God’s commands to him.
God gives us all the tools we need to complete our mission of multiplying Christ followers everywhere. He gives us His Word, His Holy Spirit, the ability to pray to Him whenever we want, awesome Pastors and leaders in the faith to guide and shepherd us, our church family and individual passions, gifts and talents to use for Him within the church body. But, all this means nothing if it is not combined with faith. None of these tools can be utilized or put to use without faith. It is faith in Jesus Christ which allows us to do great things for the Kingdom.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6 NIV
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” -Matthew 7:22-23 NIV
Also, Faith is not the absence of fear. Moses’ story proves that he was fearful every step of the way. Take for example the first sign, where God turned his staff into a snake. Moses ran away from the snake, but God told him to reach out his hand and take it by the tail. That required Moses to move toward the snake, even though he was scared, and be close enough to grab its tail. He did it despite his fear because He trusted and obeyed the One who was giving him that command. Moses trusted that the God of the impossible was able to do the impossible through him.
Life Application
The God of the impossible is able to do impossible things through us, but we must have faith. Many times, we will have to face our greatest fears in order to complete the mission.
Jesus is a great example of this. Even though He was God in the flesh, he still feared his upcoming death as evident through Him sweating blood in the Garden and requesting that the cup be taken from Him. However, Christ was focused on the mission because He loved us and desired to do His father’s will, despite his feelings and fears. Because He didn’t quit, we get to enjoy the benefits of unhindered relationship with Him.
Don’t allow fear to stop you from completing the mission. Fear keeps us humble and dependent on the One who works through us, so that only He receives the glory, not us. As we push through the fear of whatever God is calling us to do, great things happen. As we have faith in Him more than our fears and hesitations, we are able to accomplish awesome things for His Kingdom.
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” -Matthew 19:26NIV
Dear God, I pray that we are able to push through any fear that may keep us from doing Your will. I pray that You would deposit greater faith in us to override any hesitations to accomplish the mission You’ve set before us. We seek to obey Your will over our own. Thank you for choosing to partner with us to accomplish Your mission although You could easily do it Yourself. Thank You for Your patience and love as we are everyday molded into Your image. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
-Michelle Gaddi
Exodus 3-5.24.21
Scripture
Exodus 3:11 NLT
“But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?””
Observation-What does it say?
Moses has just encountered God in the form of a burning bush. God speaks to Moses, giving him instructions to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses questions God’s decision on picking him to do it. God reassures Moses that He will be with Him every step of the way.
Understanding-What does it mean?
God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
If there is anyone in the Bible I can relate to, I think it would have to be Moses. Not only because we share the same name, but Moses was a strapping, young, and handsome man . But all jokes aside, the things I mostly had in common with Moses, was his fear of public speaking, and finding excuses on why we are not qualified to do something. In this passage, God calls Moses to be a leader of His people. Moses doesn’t feel qualified to do the task. God tells Moses not to worry because He will be with him. God even gives Moses detailed step by step instructions on what to do. But it seems Moses tries to give God every excuse in the book on why he shouldn’t be the one assigned to this task. Moses forgets that the God of the universe is on his side; that the God who formed the universe with just speaking it into existence is going to be with him every step of the way. But I know a lot of us are like Moses. We disqualify ourselves even before we try the task at hand. But throughout scripture you see the power and might of God by taking something or someone ordinary, and making them extraordinary. God uses everyday people like you and I, to fulfill His mission and purpose. I believe by doing so it shows us just how great and awesome our God is! If it were an extraordinary person, or someone who may seem more qualified asked to do something, one may believe it was from that person’s own strengths and merits that helped them accomplish the task. But, when God uses someone less qualified, and more “ordinary”, God’s grace and power is revealed through that person. That person God uses is more likely to fully rely on God’s strength, and not his own. Look at what God did for a lowly shepherd boy like David, or a stuttering man like Moses, or even a man like Paul who persecuted Jesus and his disciples. God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people. We just have to be willing to accept the challenge.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”-Philippians 4:13
Life Application
Are we willing to say “Yes” to God’s calling?
Have you ever been called by God to do something? Were you like Moses and tried to find any excuse to get out of doing it? Don’t disqualify yourself from something God qualifies you for. God is more concerned about your availability, not your abilities. Let me encourage you to say “Yes” to God. Allow God to do something extraordinary in your life. If you say yes, God will be with you the way He was with the people I mentioned earlier. He will equip you with everything you need and you will accomplish more than you can imagine. To God be the glory!
-Moses Gaddi
Philippians 4-5.21.21
Scripture
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Observation-What does it say?
Paul is the author of this letter to the church at Philippi. It was most likely written while he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting trial before the emperor (Acts 28:16). Throughout the letter, Paul expresses his love and gratitude for this church, especially in their willingness to suffer with him and for their generosity towards him (1:29). He also takes time to warn against other doctrines, like perfectionism and circumcision, that were beginning to take root in this group of believers (3:2-13). He finishes off his letter with words of encouragement and reminds them to rejoice. The irony of the situation never ceases to amaze me. Paul, while in prison, is telling others to rejoice. Throughout his journey to Rome, he was beaten, stoned and shipwrecked, but he never allows this to create bitterness in him. He never shows an attitude of self-pity or depression over his situation. Instead Paul chooses to focus on the surpassing greatness of God’s power and the richness of His glory (Ephesians 1:18-19). Paul’s contentment is found not in the temporary, but in the eternal goodness and strength of God (4:13). In addition to his focus on God’s goodness and strength, Paul also had his sights set on continual growth (3:12-14), never attaining the full knowledge of Christ, but always striving for it until the day of resurrection.
Understanding-What does it mean?
They say you have the most vivid memory of your first and most recent of certain experiences. I have some pretty vivid memories of my first summer running with my high school cross country team. I remember the extreme exhaustion I felt on my first “long” run, which was only four miles, a distance I would later quadruple in single runs. I remember the pain of running the “S” hill at nauseum. I remember the excitement I had getting my first uniform. I remember the dusty smell of the warm air in my coaches classroom, one of the modular classes that were situated by the basketball courts. And I remember sitting there as she told us to write down our goals for that season. Goal setting wasn’t entirely new to me, but what she had us do next was different. As a team, we sat with our eyes closed and imagined what it was going to feel like when we obtained these goals. She had us imagine how effortless it was going to feel to run our fastest times and win races. This was my first experience with the practice of having a positive mindset.
Paul was clearly a man light years ahead of his time. In writing these verses to the church in Philippi, he expresses practices that wouldn’t be written by psychologists for almost two thousand years. In our spiritual lives, probably even more than our physical lives, the practice of a positive mindset, or a growth mindset, sets us on a path for success. If we sit and ponder the reasons why we can’t overcome our sin, we simply won’t. But, if we focus our attention on God’s strength, His grace, and the power he gives us to move ever closer to Him, we will. A fixed mindset says “I can’t,” a growth mindset says “I haven’t yet, but I will.” Even if we slip up, God’s grace is sufficient for us. We can always get back up and keep moving towards the love of God and away from the destruction of the world.
Life Application
Jesus, help me to keep my eyes set on you, the author and perfecter of my faith. Help me to know that by seeking you, you will give me the desires of my heart. But, help me to make the desires of my heart align with your will. As I walk through life, help me to walk closer and closer to you each day.
-Tyler Galloway