Boldness and Persistence….

Moses was a special kind of man. His biography tells us this. He pursued God like few others in the Bible. We should learn from his example. Yes, he had flaws, but he didn’t dwell on them, for they would’ve prevented him from accomplishing all that he did. Here’s a truth we should take to heart and make it part of our being: a true seeker has to have boldness and persistence in pursuing God. Daily seeking leads to knowing God more deeply. You must ask. Here, Moses does just that, and he is rewarded for his boldness.

12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But You haven’t told me whom You will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that You look favorably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favor. And remember that this nation is Your very own people.”14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest–everything will be fine for you.”15 Then Moses said, “If You don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that You look favorably on me–on me and on Your people–if You don’t go with us? For Your presence among us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”18 Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”19 The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near Me on this rock. 22 As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand and let you see Me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:12-23

Living on The OutSkirts of Real Joy….

Man’s pursuit of pleasure, excitement, and joy can’t compare to the joy one gets when he experiences God’s presence. It’s what most never think about, and thus miss out on in this life. The ones that choose to live this life for the pleasures of this world (mentioned above), are ultimately only living on the outskirts of what true joy really is. A dog only enjoys the scraps that fall from the table because he was never invited to dine at the table with the Master. And it guarantees them regret and suffering in the life to come.

6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of Your presence. Psalms 21:6

Our Own BAD NEWS…..

The one thing an effective witness for Jesus must always do when he makes an attempt to share the Gospel is to make sure he shares the fact that we are all accountable for our own actions. God does not hold a child responsible for his parent’s sin, or vice-versa. Every man must realize he is accountable to God for his own sin. Until he realizes his own “bad news”, it’s impossible to receive the Good News of the Gospel.

33 But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against Me. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about. Look! My angel will lead the way before you. And when I come to call the people to account, I will certainly hold them responsible for their sins.”35 Then the Lord sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made. Exodus 32:33-35

When We Stop Teaching Children Right and Wrong….

’ve never really understood the thought-process of those who demanded the 10 Commandments be taken out of schools. I know it makes them feel guilty. I know it reminds them of God. What I don’t understand is the notion of telling someone murder is wrong, why it is wrong? When you stop teaching children what is right and what is wrong, how are they supposed to know the difference? And if they don’t know, how can you expect them to behave? People always ask the “why” questions when a tragic shooting at a school happens, but they never put the two together. They don’t want to be told what to do, but then expect to tell others what to do to solve a problem caused by their “not wanting to be told what to do”. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. If they kept the 10 Commandments posted on the walls in schools, and taught them, by holding people accountable when they are violated, I bet there the number of violent shootings would be extremely rare. How do I know this? Because they were written by the Finger of God. They serve a purpose. They point all willing to examine them back to Him. Once they see Jesus, and what He did on the cross, they realize, they are not just words, they are life. They point us to to only remedy for the “sin problem” we all have. They point us to our Savior.

18 When the Lord finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18

We Honor Him in the Process…..

It is God Who gives us our abilities, talents, and capacities. We are to use them to benefit others. In this way, we honor Him in the process.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. 4 He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!6 “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make: Exodus 31:1-6

When You “Do Life” God’s Way…..

We hear so much today about men sexually harassing women, so much so, it’s started the “me too” movement. I want to address the other side of that coin. How come we never hear about the women sexually seducing men? I’m certain it happens more than most think. It’s just as bad. It’s the same concept. When someone purposefully takes advantage of a vulnerable or even naive person, it’s wrong. The lives ruined are countless. And in some cases, it can be deadly (jealous revenge or disease, not to mention the psychological issues). The consequences of sexual immorality are irreversible. It affects more than just the two involved. It destroys families, and scars people for life. It’s not just a man thing, it’s a human thing. My best advice (to put it bluntly), keep your pants on, with a tight belt, and no zipper. Be faithful to whom you pledged your faithfulness too, and never lose the wonder of your first love. When you “do life” God’s way, you never have to worry about being unfaithful, and you’ll be able to stay away from those who want to seduce you away from what you know to be right.

Follow my advice, my son;always treasure my commands.2 Obey my commands and live!Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.Write them deep within your heart. 4 Love wisdom like a sister;make insight a beloved member of your family.5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. 6 While I was at the window of my house,looking through the curtain,7 I saw some naive young men,and one in particular who lacked common sense.8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,strolling down the path by her house.9 It was at twilight, in the evening,as deep darkness fell.10 The woman approached him,seductively dressed and sly of heart.11 She was the brash, rebellious type,never content to stay at home.12 She is often in the streets and markets,soliciting at every corner.13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,and with a brazen look she said,14 “I’ve just made my peace offeringsand fulfilled my vows.15 You’re the one I was looking for!I came out to find you, and here you are!16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.17 I’ve perfumed my bedwith myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,19 for my husband is not home.He’s away on a long trip.20 He has taken a wallet full of money with himand won’t return until later this month.” 21 So she seduced him with her pretty speechand enticed him with her flattery.22 He followed her at once,like an ox going to the slaughter.He was like a stag caught in a trap,23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.He was like a bird flying into a snare,little knowing it would cost him his life. 24 So listen to me, my sons,and pay attention to my words.25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.Don’t wander down her wayward path.26 For she has been the ruin of many;many men have been her victims.27 Her house is the road to the grave.Her bedroom is the den of death. Proverbs 7

Is It Heartfelt…..

When you pray is it heartfelt, or is it out of obligation? When God gave Moses the design instructions for everything in the tabernacle, from the ark of the covenant to the altar, and from the outer courtyard to the ephod worn by the priests; every single object had purpose and detail. The chest-piece worn by Aaron when acting as priest, had the twelve tribes of Israel on his chest, as a reminder that he represents the people as he comes before the Lord. He was to carry these symbols close to his heart. This reminded him of the importance of his duty, as well as the responsibility and seriousness of significant role he was to play when he entered into God’s presence. Shouldn’t we do the same? Shouldn’t our prayers be close to our heart? That’s what real intimacy with God is all about, isn’t it?

29 “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. 30 Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for His people whenever he goes in before the Lord. Exodus 28:29-30

Sin Loses Its Control When….

When you have surrendered your life to serve God, and repented of your sin, receiving eternal life, your desire to not be controlled by your sinful nature has only one response: dependence upon God to give you discernment and the power of forgiveness. It’s the only way to know you are free of guilt and seen as innocent of great sin. Being fully aware in your spiritual life is only possible through an honest pursuit of God, asking Him to empower you with His Spirit. It’s the only way possible that allows us to see spiritually. Sin loses its control when you see it for what it really is, through God’s eyes.

12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.13 Keep Your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:12-14

Discipline and Pampered Cows….

If there was one thing I could teach the modern teen it would be consequences follow our actions. Either for good or bad, consequences always follow. And they are not directly related to our view of the quality “we think” of how good or poor they are. If a man steals bread because he is hungry, there are still consequences. Yes, they may not be as harsh, but they’re still there. I know from experience as a teacher, the results on society that happens when natural consequences are removed. It ends up training people to focus more on themselves, and thus become more selfish people. The best thing society can do with children is discipline them. And that starts at home. So when they get older they won’t end up an enabled or entitled soul. What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.

30 Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving.31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house. Proverbs 6:30-31

The Book Of Nature….

Nature reveals the truth about God’s existence. A painting has a painter. A building has a builder. And all of creation has a Creator. If one stands on the edge of the ocean, or on a hilltop among the forest, or at the base of a mountain range, you can’t help but be in awe of what you see. Not only that, you feel alive, grateful, and have questions that are not answered. Nature, or the Book of Nature as some have deemed it, clearly proves God’s existence. It gives man evidence that demands his attention, and it leaves him without excuse. Nature let’s us know God is out there, but it doesn’t give an answer to our sin problem. Only God’s word gives us a clear understanding of our nature, our dilemma with sin, and the only remedy we have to be made right with God and restored into the one relationship that matters most. Nature’s beauty stirs up a sense to pursue knowing our Creator, or at least question Who He is. Creation reveals God’s power and knowledge, but it’s His Word that reveals His love and grace. Nature acknowledges God’s existence, but it’s His Word that shows us He desires a relationship with us. Nature pulls us into God’s existence, and His Word draws us into the right relationship that restores our soul. It starts with nature, then progress into His Word. The bottom line to all of this is the fact that we are without excuse; nature is the proving ground for the skeptic. We have no legitimate reason for not knowing our Maker. And we suffer for it when we ignore His call.

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.The skies display His craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak;night after night they make Him known.3 They speak without a sound or word;their voice is never heard.4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.6 The sun rises at one end of the heavensand follows its course to the other end.Nothing can hide from its heat. 7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,reviving the soul.The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,making wise the simple.8 The commandments of the Lord are right,bringing joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are clear,giving insight for living.9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,lasting forever.The laws of the Lord are true;each one is fair.10 They are more desirable than gold,even the finest gold.They are sweeter than honey,even honey dripping from the comb.11 They are a warning to Your servant,a great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?Cleanse me from these hidden faults.13 Keep Your servant from deliberate sins!Don’t let them control me.Then I will be free of guiltand innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heartbe pleasing to You,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:1-14

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20

These Simple Things….

There’s God’s way and the world’s way. They are polar opposites. If you currently live in a small town or grew up in one, there are still signs of God’s way being lived out. But if you live in a city, you probably see fewer examples of God’s way, and plenty of worldly ways. This section in Exodus 23 starts out like a behavioral guide for middle schoolers “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong”, and “You must not pass along false rumors”. Then it shifts to not being swayed to give false testimony and taking bribes. Don’t you wish our government should be required to read this during a major thunderstorm? BANG, BANG, POP, you’d think they would “get it”? These commands God gives the Israelites are common sense behaviors. Does God expect us to behave in a manner that is difficult? These are simply “loving your neighbor as yourself” principles. Why is it so ignored? Answer: pure selfishness. When our eyes focus inward, our outward behave shifts from living God’s way to living a worldly life. No joy, no peace, no real love, and no satisfaction will ever come from living in the world with an inner focus. It goes against everything God created us for. These simple things: not taking a bribe, taking care of your neighbor’s stuff like it was your own, or not lying to make yourself look “good” are simple things. And they make all the difference in the world, when we make them part of our everyday life.

1 “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.2 “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. 3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.4 “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. 5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.6 “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.7 “Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.8 “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.9 “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.10 “Plant and harvest your crops for six years, 11 but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.12 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed.13 “Pay close attention to all My instructions. You must not call on the name of any other gods. Do not even speak their names. Exodus 23:1-13

Must Apply To Ourselves First…

“Being religious” is when a man takes his convictions and makes it a burden to another man (regardless of his own beliefs). The Pharisees did just that. Jesus tells the crowds to listen to and do what the Pharisees say, but don’t behave the way they behave. They are hypocrites. The point here is that true religion is found in a relationship with God, through Jesus. It’s not an obligation. Our duty is out of gratitude and reverence for God. Whenever you read the Bible, we must apply to ourselves first. We should never use it to get want we want from others. It’s for us first, and other believers second. The way we behave either helps draw people to God, or in the “Being religious” method, drives them away from God. Your behavior, should match your testimony. It’s as simple as that. If it doesn’t, you deny the power of the Gospel with your life.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ Matthew 23:1-7a

___________ Keeps Us From Sinning…..

The fear of God is what keeps people from sinning. There’s no other reason. You either have a healthy reverence for Him or you don’t. If you don’t believe this to be true, maybe you need to start pursuing God a little more. The more you come to know Him, the deeper your spiritual walk will become, but even more so, your reverence for Him will develop like it should. An authentic relationship with God is the defining characteristic of a transformed life. It’s what’s missing in today’s Church.

19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of Him will keep you from sinning!”21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was. Exodus 20:19-21

God First Forever…..

God chooses us. That’s a hard concept to grasp. We don’t choose Him, rather we respond to His calling. That in and of itself is the key to Christian living. It was God First at the beginning, it’s God First now, and it will be God First forever. He chose us. It’s how we respond that determines the quality of our lives. Love always gives us a choice. We cannot ever forget this. God chose us, so our identity comes from Him. He created us, and thus has the authority to define us.

3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to Me. 6 And you will be My kingdom of priests, My holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord. Exodus 19:3-8

Lay Down The Truth In Heavy Doses….

When people tell me about Jesus, and they use words like tolerant, loving, accepting, peaceful, and good, I have to ask, “do you read the Bible?” Yes, Jesus is all those things, but He’s so much more. He’s just, righteous, holy, worthy, powerful, sovereign, immutable, omniscient, and saving. He’s not a product of the 1960s, full of peace, love, and tranquility. He calls out evil when confronted by it. If an abortionist were to debate Him on that topic, do you think He would tell them, “Right on man”, and slap him a high-five? Or a transgender person explain to Him about how many genders there are, He would respond with, “You’re righteous, Dude”? Jesus would lay down the truth in heavy doses. He would call you out, show you the error of your thinking by exposing it with truth. And the end of the conversation would end with, “Go and sin no more”. Jesus isn’t a flower-child from the 1960s, He’s God. It’s only when people see Him in that manner, is salvation possible. Otherwise, they will continue to live deceived by the longings of this world, walking around spiritually blind to all the blessings God has in store for us. And most importantly, never experience the indescribable love He has for us.

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law–justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy–full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs–beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time–from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.  37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.39 For I tell you this, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:23-39

Not Take Things Personally….

One of the hardest things to do as a Christian, is not to take things personally. When you are persecuted for your faith in God, you must remember, the resistance or retaliation is because of Him, not you. People have issues with God, because they don’t measure up. You are just the reminder of that. You are tangible, so you are the recipient of their wrath. It’s that simple. If you do and say what God prompts you to do and say, then your obedience will be met from others with one of three responses: repentance and contrition, apathy, or retaliation and persecution. None of which is your fault. It’s all on God’s shoulders. So the next time your witnessing or trying to help someone in need, and it’s received with vileness, remember it’s not you, it’s God they are attacking. This certainly helps me walk away knowing I’m doing His will. Opposition from others when it comes to the Gospel just shows you that you are Heaven-bound, and they are condemning themselves. This should be a new perspective you can take with you as you continue to serve our Lord.

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because He has heard your complaints, which are against Him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” 8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for He has heard all your complaints against Him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.” Exodus 16:6-8

Passing A Test….

How often do we recognize hardship or suffering as a test from God? Here in Exodus chapter 16 we read of the Israelites complaining about not having any food. They’ve already turned on Moses twice before (the Red Sea and the bitter water at Marah), now they complete the whining-trifecta and want to lynch him and Aaron again. How does God react? Out of anger and retribution? Nope. He provides food, in the form of manna. His provision is a test. They are to gather daily, only what they need, not what they want. He tells them that whatever is left over, will be rotted by morning, which many found to be true the next day. How often do we see our hardship as a test from God? If we did, would we respond differently? If you are experiencing something difficult? Is it a test from God, or something you’ve brought on yourself by not listening or doing what you know to be wrong? If you are suffering from being obedient to God, know that it’s a test. It will soon end. And in order to pass this test, you have to continue to be obedient. In our toughest times, the continuation of following God, doing the right thing, and drawing on our faith in Him, will be rewarded. Passing a test from God involves one thing: obedience. It’s grade (reward) is deeper faith. If it weren’t for testing, our faith wouldn’t grow, it would stagnate and we would live by complaining all the time. Sound familiar?

1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions. 5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:1-5

17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. Exodus 16:17-20

27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey My commands and instructions? 29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why He gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” 30 So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day. Exodus 16:27-30

You Can’t Beat God….

You can’t beat God. It’s not possible. Yet more and more people try. They think they can outsmart Him. Out-maneuver Him. Out-last Him. They think, “if I cannot win the war, I will at least win the battle”. Where does this come from? It comes from Satan, God’s defeated foe. If he can’t beat God, Satan will deceive as many souls as possible, just to get back at God. What kind of attitude is that? What kind of life is that? To think we are like God, or even better than the One Who created us, is ludicrous. And if we can’t defeat Him, some think, “I will at least not allow Him the joy of receiving my soul”. Does that not reveal the sinful nature the Bible talks so much about? And when we realize that and act in a way that’s vindictive towards Him, what does that say about the state of our heart? Exactly what the Bible says, a rebellious, enemy of God. That’s exactly why we need a Savior, to rescue and transform our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, full of His Spirit. God does it for those who ask, in a way that doesn’t involve bitterness, spite, or vindictiveness. His reaction (unlike in the OT) to our ugliness is with love and grace. What more do we need? Those that receive it, have unspeakable joy, and have a “real purpose” to live. You can’t beat God. For those who think you can, an eternity of torment awaits you, with no relief.

7 In the greatness of Your majesty, You overthrow those who rise against You. You unleash Your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw. Exodus 15:7

Stand And Watch….

There come times when we are to fight for our faith, and times when we are to be still, and witness God fighting for us. At the Red Sea, the Israelites are told by Moses to “stand and watch” God rescue them. The true disciple knows when to fight and when to “stand and watch”. Either way, its being connected to God that helps us know the the difference. When a life truly pursues God, discernment follows; obedience is rewarded with faith.

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:13-14

Thoughts On The Exodus…..

When I read about the Exodus out of Egypt several things come to mind. First, God keeps His promises. He promised Abraham that He would give him a land flowing with milk and honey. And He did. Second, God established a celebration, the Passover, as a reminder to the people of what He did, for we have such short memories and are fickle. Third, He knew exactly what to do. Instead of leading them straight into the “Promised land”, via the shortest route, through Philistine (war) country, He took them on a more miraculous route. Fourth, He provided the leadership they needed with a man He equipped to handle this enormous task in Moses. And fifth, He always communicated with them His expectations. Sometimes we don’t see God’s plan working out in our lives, but that’s where faith comes in. Trusting God with our lives, even when we seem blind to Him, is exactly what we are supposed to do. And He has given us this example in Exodus to help remember that He keeps His promises. “I will never leave you or forsake you”.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Dedicate to Me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to Me.”3 So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever–the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of His mighty hand. (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.) 4 On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free. 5 You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (He swore to your ancestors that He would give you this land–a land flowing with milk and honey.) 6 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the Lord. 7 Eat bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast bread or any yeast at all found within the borders of your land during this time.8 “On the seventh day you must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.’ 9 This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the Lord: ‘With a strong hand, the Lord rescued you from Egypt.’ 10 So observe the decree of this festival at the appointed time each year.11 “This is what you must do when the Lord fulfills the promise He swore to you and to your ancestors. When He gives you the land where the Canaanites now live, 12 you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the Lord, for they belong to Him. 13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the Lord by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.14 “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of His mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery. 15 Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord–except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.’ 16 This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.”  17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When He does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:1-22

Serve….

God never planned for us to abuse our power or flaunt our social status. God hates pride and arrogance, the number one contributor to selfishness, which leads to all the sins committed by man. What the world tells you about “reaching the next level” of self-promotion, Jesus contradicts with the “real way” to live our lives. Instead of striving to be first, serve. Instead of trying to be a leader, serve. Instead of wanting to be served, serve. That’s exactly what Jesus did. And how much better off are we because of it? What the world promotes as satisfying and worthy is the polar opposite of God’s design for us. Believers need to focus on the serving side of our faith, and let God do the promoting.

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:24-28

Traditions Serve a Purpose….

Traditions serve a purpose, they commemorate an event that has significance. When God establishes a tradition, it signifies a moment in time where He displayed His sovereignty. This act’s purpose is for us to remember His power, His control of everything, and His Grace. It also reminds us of our place and role on earth. We are not in control. When we lose sight of this, we suffer. It’s entire purpose is to participate in the tradition so that we never forget Who He is and what He’s done for us. God’s traditions are solely for the purpose of “Remembrance of Him”. May we never forget this.

24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though He struck the Egyptians, He spared our families.’ ” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped. Exodus 12:24-27

God Is Gracious With His Gifts…..

God is gracious with His gifts. He gives freely. Instead of complaining whether or not we deserve them, we should focus on the fact that He is giving. He owns it all. He can do as He pleases with it. We are not in charge, and certainly not deserved of what He did on the cross for us. Stop comparing. Stop associating blessings with “doing”. Adopt the attitude of being one of His children, and loving Him by being obedient to His Word. Live your life in gratitude for what He’s already done, so you can receive what He has for you daily, as additional love only a father can give. Humble yourself, so comparison isn’t an issue. Having a servant’s attitude will promote you in His kingdom, as long as it comes from a pure motive to love God First.

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16

We Are Responsible For Our Sin…

In the end we are responsible for our sin. We can’t blame anyone else. We can’t make excuses for the choices we’ve made. And we certainly can’t fool God. There’s no sugar-coating it. We are lost because of our foolishness, held captive by our own sins. Our lack of self-control will contribute to our death. Think about it, our lifestyle determines our fate (health wise). We suffer from our bad choices. A life lived without God is a lonely, discontented, purposeless life, ending with a few who knew us standing over our coffin “wondering what could’ve been”. Don’t allow yourself to go there. Sin isn’t worth what it promises.

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.23 He will die for lack of self-control;he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Proverbs 5:21-23

Hold On To Things Lightly…

One of my favorite stories Pastor Chuck Swindoll tells is when Corrie Ten Boom used to attend his church in California. She was a Dutch Christian during WWII. Her family helped rescue Jews, until they were caught, some killed, and sent off to Nazi concentration camps. I believe she was the only survivor of her entire family. One day Swindoll preached on Heaven and when it was over Corrie came up to him and said, “Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” This goes right along with my favorite scripture verse, Matthew 6:21; “ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When we treasure the affections of this world over our eternal duty, we lose sight of the prize that awaits us. When we put ourselves before others, in pursuit of selfish gain, we lose the power God gives us to help and share love that transforms lives. The rich young ruler went away sad because he knew his love was more for his things than it was for God. Peter wanted assurance that the sacrifices the disciples made by following Christ weren’t in vain. Jesus rewarded him with the vivid promise of a “hundred times return and eternal life” would greet him after he passed through death’s door. All that we do here for God, because of God, from a sincere and humble heart, will be rewarded in the life to come. And best yet, we will be with Jesus, the Author and Sustainer of life. So with this in mind, hold onto things lightly, proving your affections are on eternal things, and not on this transient world.

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”17 “Why ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question–if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”18 “Which ones?” the man asked.And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again–it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”27 Then Peter said to Him, “We’ve given up everything to follow You. What will we get?”28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been My followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. Matthew 19:16-30

Sex Is A Beautiful Thing When…..

When Christians talk about sex, it’s like taboo. My generation and before was never really taught about sex. And it was only brought up in church when it came to the sinful behavior in which it was contextualized. Sex is a beautiful thing, when it’s done within the parameters of God’s design. It’s almost a form of communion between two people. I mean you offer yourself completely, no clothes, no hang-ups, completely exposing your vulnerabilities. It’s exactly how we are to come to God in prayer (clothing required). In Proverbs chapter 5 we read about giving yourself (sexually) only to one person, your spouse. It tells us to drink only from the fountain God gave you. Why pour your drinking water in the street? It’s wasted, and later on, full of regret. We are never to share it with a stranger. Yet the world tells us “whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” It’s a lie. Whatever you do in Vegas follows you home. And if it’s a sexual act outside of marriage, it will follow you home and eventually weaken or completely destroy the bond you’ve formed with you spouse. Why do you think God equated sexual immorality with idolatry so much in the OT? Take it serious, and love your spouse. God will honor your marriage when you honor Him, and give you a satisfying sex life as a result. Sex is a good thing, God said it Himself. We just have to view it from His perspective and let the world’s agenda be pushed aside.

15 Drink water from your own well–share your love only with your wife.16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,having sex with just anyone?17 You should reserve it for yourselves.Never share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.Rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:15-18

Pick Your Side…..

No matter how bad people want acceptance and equality, there are only two kinds of people: sheep and goats. Sheep will love the goats, but they will do it in truth (God’s way). Goats will always dislike sheep. It’s just the nature of man. God clearly makes His point here in Exodus chapter 8, when He keeps the fly plague from entering Goshen (the Israelites home region). He makes clear in His words, “I will make a clear distinction between My people and your people”. You’re either with God or against Him. There’s no other ground to stand on. Pick your side.

21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where My people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 23 I will make a clear distinction between My people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’ ” Exodus 8:21-23

Miracles Serve God’s Purpose…..

When it’s all said and done, only God can do miracles. And when He does, even the pagans acknowledge it. The sad part is that acknowledgement doesn’t always translate into true faith. There will always be people who reject God, even if He works a miracle right in front of them. Jesus talked about this when He describes the “unpardonable sin”. God gave man freewill. What he does with it determines his eternity. Miracles serve God’s purpose. They either convict you, or condemn you. Your response is a test to reveal the true nature of one’s heart.

18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted. Exodus 8:18-19

We Are The Force Of The Gospel…..

If you’re not truly reading scripture to learn, to draw closer to God, then you are missing out on all the little nuggets of truth revealed in each verse. Here in Exodus chapter 7, this truth jumped out at me when I read it: people are God’s main source of revealing Himself to us. People are the main resource God uses to accomplish His will. We are His focus. It’s found in the second sentence of verse 4. He will “rescue His forces”, meaning we are His army, His soldiers, that do His work, that serve His purposes. We are the force of the Gospel on earth. We are what He uses to reach the lost, heal the sick, comfort the down-trodden. We serve a purpose, more so after we are saved from ourselves (become a Christian). We are the force God uses to accomplish His will. If you’re not reading carefully, you might have missed it.

4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down My fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue My forces–My people, the Israelites–from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. Exodus 7:4

Forgiving Fruit….

The key to human interaction is responsibility. It’s responsibility to God. If God didn’t forgive us, then we wouldn’t have to forgive others when they do us harm. There would be no civility because whomever has the biggest guns or most weapons, or greatest strength would dictate society. Evolution is all about the strong surviving. If Hitler would’ve won the war, we all would be speaking German, and there would be no Jewish descendants left on earth (and many more ethnicities as well). This proves that good and evil exist (something Darwinians can’t explain). And good will always triumph over evil (how do they explain that?). We forgive, giving up our right to get even, solely because God has forgiven us. We are to reciprocate it by emulating our Heavenly Father. The problem is, more and more people today, never take the time to pursue God, and thus don’t even know Who He is. People don’t realize without forgiveness, our condemnation will never find redemption. You see we are enemies of God. Until we are forgiven , through repentance, we can never escape judgement, and will continue to live under it. How can one expect to be forgiven if they don’t even know what transpired on the cross of Calvary? How can we expect to live in a society that needs to forgive when they see no need for it, for they believe they are a “good person”? Forgiveness changes a man from the inside out. There’s only two responses to being forgiven. Reciprocate it, out of a grateful heart, or forget it, and continue in your evils ways. In the end, each will be rewarded for how he handles his own need for forgiveness. One with Heaven, and the other with their wish granted, in Hell. It’s not a popular topic, but it must continue to be preached. You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat others, none more so than how they deal with forgiveness. You will know a tree by the fruit it bears. I hope your tree bears forgiving fruit.

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold–along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned–to pay the debt.26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded.30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened.32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.35 “That’s what My heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35

Knowing God Is There….

In reading Psalm 16 I can’t help but wonder what the secret is that the Psalmist had that helped him in times of trouble and distress. In times of prosperity. In times of “ho-hum-bored-like-a-drum”. Then I get to the last verse and the answer is right there jumping off the page: it’s knowing God is there, knowing He’s got my back. I can trust Him with all of my life. It’s God’s presence that makes the difference in one’s life. It’s knowing that no matter what happens to you, He will be there with you, holding your hand, or even carrying you through it. This is the joy that’s talked about in the Bible. It’s the indescribable feeling of security that helped Daniel as he was lowered into the lion’s den. It was the bold confidence that the three Jewish teens entered the fiery furnace with. It’s what Job discovered as he sat in misery listening to his three, so-called, friends try to explain away his suffering. It’s what every single disciple, including Paul, knew as they pressed on through persecution. It’s what every believer knows, yet often forgets in times of trouble. Press into God, and you will know exactly what I mean by our greatest joy comes from Knowing God is near, and that you are His child. I want this, do you?

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalms 16:11