I have not yet arrived, but I try very hard to live a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism is the idea that we are to live with less so that we have time for more. I listen to podcasts and read books about how to be a better minimalist, how to be a minimalist with kids, and how to decrease the amount of clutter in your house. I have about 7 T-shirts, 2 pairs of jeans, and 4 dress shirts that I cycle through each week. I love everything about minimalism.
But I’m not always great at it. Because there is this very powerful drive to always get new items. New shirts, new shoes, new cars, new games, new furniture, and new pants… I love getting new things. I love the research that goes into purchasing new items, I love opening the box of a new iPhone, and I love planning out how I will care for my new car. Part of this love of new things comes from our materialistic culture - companies know us better than we know ourselves and they know how to market to us. But this desire for new things and more things doesn’t mix well with my desire to be a minimalist. At some point, I must choose which way of life I’m going to live by. And the same is true when it comes to being made new in Christ. We can’t hold onto our OLD life while looking for NEW life in Christ. We love the idea of new, but we are often drawn back into the old. Let's be real... We struggle to let go of the past. And we try to fix ourselves with solutions that were never meant to fix us. Jesus spoke to this reality and he told us to not let it happen: Mark 2:21-22 says, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” You see, new and old don’t mix well together. My desire to live a minimalist lifestyle doesn’t mix well with our culture’s incessant need for more. And our desire to be made new in Christ, doesn’t mix well with the temptation of living in our old way of life. The truth is, and that I pray everyone accepts and believes, Jesus wants to make you new. He doesn’t want you to be burdened by regulation and tradition, shame and guilt, or that sin habit you can’t seem to break. He wants to make you totally and completely new... Not by using an old patch or old leather, but by giving you new life instead. But we can’t have a foot in both camps. Being made new will require total surrender to who He’s forming you into. It might mean tough conversations with friends or family. It will mean slowing down and processing before responding. And it will definitely mean a transformation in your thoughts, mind, and actions. But the reward of fully accepting the new and letting go of the old is worth the discomfort. It’s worth the self-denial and the tough conversations. Because when you surrender the old for the new, you are entering into an eternal relationship with Jesus forever. So, quit trying to fix new problems with old solutions … Instead, surrender that old life to Jesus and be made totally new. As you reflect on being made new today, check out this song. This song has ministered to me on more than one occasion as an encouragement to let Jesus make me new.
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If everything you love and hold dear was taken away from you tomorrow, could you still have joy?
Every single day we are inundated with “gospels” that tell us what we need to find true lasting joy. Tyler McKenzie, lead minister at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville KY has compiled a list of some of these popular “gospels” that each of us are tempted to put our hope and trust in: The Pursuit of Happiness Make America Great Again Living the Dream The American Dream Restore the Soul of America The Good Life Legacy Success Nirvana Inner Peace And the list could go on. Every single day, we have thousands of companies, individuals, and thought leaders competing for attention and our loyalty. And if we can just climb to the next level of society, if we can just buy this latest technology, or this new car, then we can be happy and have true joy. But how’s that working out for you? As you continually climb the ladder of societal success, have you found more joy? Or are you still chasing it? Paul, the apostle, had everything. He had status, power, and reputation. But he learned that those things didn’t matter. They promised joy, but they left him empty. Instead, Paul had learned a secret about joy that many of us would do well to learn as well. Paul had learned that the secret to joy lies in something beyond what this world can offer. Here’s how he puts it in his letter to the Philippians: Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little (Philippians 4:11-12). Paul lets his readers know that no matter his circumstances, whether he has plenty or nothing, he’s found the secret to joy no matter what. Isn’t that something we all long for? A secret to joy that isn’t stolen by a pandemic or political unrest? A secret to joy that isn’t tied to a political leader or the success of any particular political party? A secret to joy that isn’t in bed with wealth and power? If Paul has a secret that promises joy in all circumstances, then I want in on the secret. Lucky for us, he shares it with us. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). Ahhh… This famous verse. The one that is often taken #straightouttacontext. Notice how the meaning of this verse changes in light of Paul’s circumstances. This verse isn’t about learning to fly or winning the game… Paul’s secret to joy is about staying close to Jesus who gives him strength to endure every situation in life. Paul’s secret to joy is THE GOSPEL that promises perfect love with God the Father for all of Eternity. And when that is your goal and purpose in life, you can have joy no matter what… Because the worst thing that could happen to you is death. But death, in the kingdom of God, leads to resurrection and eternal love with the Father. So, if you want true lasting joy, you won’t find it any of the “gospels” listed above… It will only be found in the world changing love of Jesus. Cling to that and you’ll find joy. I read a lot… But I don’t necessarily enjoy it. I really have to force myself to pay attention and I can only tackle small chunks at a time (unless I’m reading Harry Potter… that story gripped me like no other!). Given my need to endure through reading, it’s ironic that I’m currently reading a book called Endurance.
It’s written by Alfred Lansing and if you’ve read it, you know that it’s a page turner. It’s the story of Ernest Shackleton and his team of men who set out to explore Antartica in 1914. The title of the book is fitting for two reasons… First, the ship upon which they sailed to Antarctic (specifically engineered to withstand and battle the arctic elements) was called the Endurance. Second, because the mission quickly failed, the Endurance sunk, and the men had to endure the harsh elements for months on end floating on a giant piece of ice. As I’ve read through the story, I’ve been blown away at the lengths to which these men went in order to survive. From eating seal blubber to sleeping in soaking wet clothes in sub-zero temperatures, these men endured to the very end. This story fascinates me because I’m not sure this will to survive and endure is something many of us exercise anymore. We switch from show to show until we are satisfied. We move from relationship to relationship until we feel loved. And we jump from job to job until we finally “arrive” at whatever status or income we are chasing. You don’t see too many people sticking it out with the same spouse for 50 years or staying at the same job for 30+ years. We don’t know how to endure anymore. Even more, we are often weakest when it comes to spiritual endurance. Maybe you tried to get sober, but the temptation was just too strong. Maybe you tried to quit watching pornography, but our sexualized culture keeps pulling you back in. Maybe you want to spend time with God everyday, but something always comes up. Maybe you’d really like to love your neighbor, but there’s too many other things fighting for your attention. Spiritual endurance is tough. But it’s worth it. Why? Because the reward of being with and knowing Jesus is far better than any temporary relief of pain we might experience by not enduring. It’s far better than any temporary dopamine rush that might satisfy our appetites for a few quick seconds. The reward of knowing and being with Jesus is eternal. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians knew why he endured. According to chapter 3 verse 12, he endured so that one day he might receive the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. And later, in verses 20-21 we see that the prize is not only being with Jesus, but a total renewal and redemption of our world and bodies. Paul knew that the pain of endurance was worth the prize of Jesus. But how do we endure? The best way I know to answer that is to keep your eyes on Jesus. We endure only when we can see beyond our current circumstances to our future reward. For many of us, this will require a change in mindset. We can no longer only be focused on the Here and Now, but rather we need to think Here and There. A Here and There mindset acknowledges the reality of the pain we experience here everyday… But it looks forward to the day when that pain is no more (Philippians 3:20-21). So, in a year that’s been rough and tough and full of hardship, can I encourage you today? I want to encourage you to endure. To set your eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED the cross. And what was the joy set before Him? Well… He died for you. Which leads me to believe that the joy for which He endured the cross was reconciliation with you. Jesus endured the most humiliating painful death, because He wanted the joy of being with you for eternity. He endured to experience the joy of no more evil, the resurrection of the dead, and new life to all who believe. And when you know that He is the reward waiting for you, hopefully you can endure as well. Humility is hard. It’s not something that comes naturally but is something we have to work at and daily decide to pursue. If we don’t intentionally choose humility, we will often make life about ourselves. We will focus on number one, before we can even think about you. And we will worry about Me, Myself, and I before we can worry about someone else. Humility is hard.
But according to the apostle Paul, it’s necessary for joy. In Philippians 2, Paul tells us to make his joy complete by being unified (v. 2). Then, he tells us how to be unified. By being humble. By not trying to impress others. By loving others (v. 3-4). Sometimes I don’t like Scripture. Because it confronts me with areas of personal weakness. And if I’m being honest, I don’t like what Paul is telling me I need to do as a follower Jesus. Because humility is hard. He surely doesn’t mean that I should hold back on what I share on Facebook? Surely, he doesn’t mean that I should engage in civil conversation rather than attacking and demonizing those I disagree with. Surely, he doesn’t think that I should slow down so that my calendar has pace to love others. Surely, he doesn’t think that I should make other people my priority over my own priorities. Please, Paul, tell me this means something else. Nope. It’s pretty simple this time. There’s no getting around this with fancy literary analysis and “this only applies to the first century” rationalization. No…Paul wants us to be humble. And why? Because it’s the way of Jesus (Just read Philippians 2:5-11 and you’ll see). So, how do we do that? How do we fight against our natural disposition to think of ourselves and be humble towards others instead? Let me suggest a few ideas that you can begin implementing today. #1 Shut Up You don’t always have to be the one talking. You don’t always have to make sure your opinion is heard. Next time you want to respond with a zinger and let people know how smart you are, just don’t. Stop typing and close your mouth. When we shut up, it allows us to actually hear and listen to the other points of view and perspectives that are out there. So, try listening… Maybe you’ll learn something. #2 Reach Out Have you ever received an encouraging note or compliment that made your day? You know why it made your day? Because someone took the time to notice you. And it feels good. Repay the favor. Reach out to a friend. Compliment a stranger. Let someone know you’re thinking and praying for them. This seems simple, but it helps move your focus from yourself to someone else. #3 Look In Sometimes we aren’t aware of how we are feeding our pride. To recognize and understand ourselves, sometimes we have to do some soul-searching. Spend some time with pen and paper and write down the things in life that fuel your pride. These are things that you would feel lost without. Maybe it’s personal or family image (we often put so much pressure on our loved ones to be a certain “type”). Maybe it’s a career, finances, or status that we’ve worked our whole life for. What is it in your life that you prioritize above all else? Awareness of those things can help you control and manage your pride around them. Basically, just don’t be obsessed with yourself. Listen to what others say. Admit that you might not have all the answers. Take an interest in others. Compliment them, love them, and serve them. Finally, be honest with yourself about what you love and what you prioritize, because that may be the source of your pride. One final thought that I’m stealing from Michael Todd, Lead Minister of Transformation Church in Tulsa, OK. 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) says, So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Notice the action is on us… We are told to humble ourselves. Because when you humble yourself, you never have to be humbled. We can avoid a lot of pain and give others a lot of joy if we just focus on humbling ourselves in same way as Christ Jesus. It’s pretty obvious when you love something or someone. Talk to me for any amount of time and you’ll be sure to hear about my love for Eric Church Music, a nice canvas or leather bag, Apple Products, The Andy Griffith Show, my son Griffith, or my wife Bailey. When you love someone or something, you express that love. You let the world know, “Hey… This is my person. These are my hobbies. This is what I do. This is what I love.”
Or, to quote Buddy the Elf, “I’m in love! I’m in love! And I don’t care who knows it!” Here’s the deal, our love should be accompanied by expression. If I say I love my wife, but don’t remember her birthday, don’t take her on dates, don’t do the dishes after a hard day, and generally disrespect her, do I really love her? Love should always be accompanied by action. If you’re familiar with the story of Peter in the Bible, you may know that Jesus essentially tells him the same thing. Right before Jesus was crucified, Peter (who had professed love over and over again) fails to stand up for Jesus in His greatest hour of need. In fact, he flat out denies knowing Jesus. Then Jesus came back to life and greeted Peter. Talk about awkward. But, Jesus was not trying to make Peter feel bad. Instead, Jesus asks him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” And every time Peter replied, “Yes.” Here’s how Jesus responded; “Then feed my sheep.” In other words, “Don’t just say it… Show it.” Love is always accompanied by expression. Years later the apostle Paul would write in his letter to the Philippians, “Work hard to show the results of you salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” This is not about working to earn God’s salvation, but about working because we love God. Because He has saved us. So the question goes to you, now… Do you love Jesus? And what are you doing to show it? What action is accompanying your declaration of love? Here’s my encouragement for you today: Make it a point to show your love for Jesus today. You can do this by serving someone else, by being generous, by spending time with God in prayer and Scripture, or by connecting with a friend and letting them know what Jesus means to you. “Do you love me?” Jesus asks… “Then feed my sheep.” We all tell little white lies… Probably everyday. And some of us more than others. A quick google search will reveal some of the most common lies people tell:
“I’m on my way…” When you’re actually just getting out of the shower. “I’m only 25…” When in reality you are 30! “I’m in a relationship…” Your dog doesn’t count. “Cute dress…” Not! “I’m not drunk… I’m just buzzing.” “Everything’s fine… I’m fine.” But are you? People lie all the time. In fact, I’ve known several people who lie for no reason at all… A little white lie here, and another there. They think they aren’t harming anyone, but in reality they are harming themselves, because they end up losing everyone’s trust. But more dangerous than lying to others is lying to ourselves You might be able to get away with lying to others, but the lies you tell yourself will certainly catch up to you. I remember being in high school and finding out that I wasn’t going to be starting on the basketball team anymore… And in my mind I told myself it was because the coach had it out for me, not because the new players were actually better than me. When we lie to ourselves, we often place ourselves in the best light and everyone else in the worst light. Because the problem couldn’t possibly lie with us. It must be someone else’s fault. And as a result we destroy relationships, quit jobs, move away, or gossip about others. But in reality, the fault lies with us. No amount of running or re-directing will fully deal with the lies that we believe about ourselves. And when it comes to Jesus, the enemy wants us to believe lies about ourselves and Him as often as possible. Shan Wood recently pointed out four lies that Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed Jesus) believed that led him down his own dark path of self-deceit and betrayal: We convince ourselves that there is no God. And justify selfish behavior. We don’t think God is worth following. And lose our purpose in life. We believe God doesn’t care. And turn to other things for fulfillment. We believe God can’t love us. And enter into deeper levels of depression and negative self-worth. All of these are damaging lies that we tell ourselves. They keep us from fully experiencing Jesus and delighting in His love and power. And when the enemy has us believing lies about God, he can convince us anything about ourselves, our friends, and other people. It’s the oldest trick in the book and he’s been using it since the Garden. So what do we do? If we are prone to deceive ourselves and believes lies, how do we overcome the lies? One preacher says, “If the devil’s greatest weapon is a lie, then you and I need the truth.” So here’s how you combat the lies that we so often tell ourselves: Psalm 8:3-9 — Everything you see on Earth has a Creator. Philippians 2:5-11 — Jesus gave up Heaven to save you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 — He wants all of your burdens… Because He loves you. Romans 10:10-13 — Everyone can be saved when we trust Jesus. Don’t fall into the trap of believing the lies about yourself and about God. Lean into the truth of Scripture and cover yourself with God’s love, care, peace, and concern for you. The Psalmist says in 139 that God created you, God knows you, and God loves you. No matter what thoughts or lies may come into your head, hold onto God’s overwhelming love for you. It might be one of the most dangerous prayers you can pray: God, give me patience. So often God’s response is not to give you more patience. Rather, He gives you more opportunities to be patient; sitting at the RMV, the waiting room at the doctor, the desire for a new car, the want of a new house, or standing in a long line at the grocery.
About a year ago I read an article that zeroed in on the most important skill to develop if you want to be wealthy someday… Any guesses? The ability to delay instant gratification. Which, living in the American society we live in, is not an easy skill to obtain. Companies are experts at convincing us into the latest technology, gadget, or status increasing purchase. But more than that, they convince us that we need it now and if we wait too long, we will be obsolete and out of style. We want what we want and we want it now. However, researchers have discovered that the ability to pass up smaller rewards now almost always leads to larger rewards later (Source). And if this is the case when it comes to purchasing stuff, how much more important is patience when it comes to following God? Shan Wood recently said, Being patient is a direct expression of your faith. It’s a measurement of how much we actually trust God. Yikes… That’s pretty scary when I consider how impatient I can be. But it is still true. I think when we rush into things, we rush into them because we fear missing out (FOMO!). Maybe you’ve had thoughts like this before: I’ll marry him because nobody else will love me. I’ll leave this company after two years because they will never promote me. We’ve tried three times to start a family, but I guess God is mad at us for something. I’ll just find new friends because she will never change and I don’t want to wait on her. This house is outside of our budget, but it’s the only thing available now. You see how we often convince ourselves to act now because we are scared of the unknown that lies ahead? Fear based decisions are never good. But they are easier. However, the hard work of following Jesus requires patience and trust. It means believing that His reward is worth giving up something good now for something greater later. So before you make an immediate decision, can I suggest three quick questions that might slow you down and help you practice patience? Question #1: What is the cost? Every decision we make will cost us something… Money, a relationship, integrity, opportunity. For example, when you rush into buying a house, not only are you spending lots of money, but you’re also sacrificing the close proximity to neighbors that you’ve developed friendships with over the years in your current apartment. While that may be okay with you, did you ever think that God put you in that apartment to serve and love your neighbors to Christ? Question #2: Will it add lasting value? Sure, switching companies may provide more money, but is the boss a good person to work for? Will you have flexibility to be a present spouse or parent? I know lots of people who have lots of money, but their work and family life is miserable. Or maybe you’re ready to ghost a friendship… Will having that person out of your life really make life better? Will the avoidance and awkwardness of seeing them in town make that much of a difference in your life? Question #3: Why right now? If you’re mad at someone, does cutting them out of your life right this minute really make that big of a difference? Are you ready to give up, in a moment of anger, years of friendship (both past and future) because you don’t have the patience to work through the conflict? When we make impulse decisions, we make poor decisions. Sleep on it. Talk through it. Reflect on why you want to make the decision now. As followers of Jesus, we are all trying to get better at waiting on God… It’s certainly not easy and requires some intense self-discipline. But it’s worth it. The reward later is far greater than the pleasure now. Comment below and let us know how you practice patience! I’m not a big fan of corny religious memes… In some ways they are the new church signs (I saw one that said, “Sin burn is prevented by Son screen”). I mean c’mon… That’s bad. Maybe you like them, and that’s okay. But they aren’t for me. And I will almost always make fun of them.
I also get annoyed when someone posts a meme, and then says, “Share by 3pm and receive a blessing from God,” as if God is some genie in a bottle that we can control. I get even more upset when someone says, “Share this… I WILL BE CHECKING.” Really? We are threatening people now? But I’m also not a fan of the corny religious sayings because I usually don’t agree with them. Here’s one I came across with a scenic background this week: “Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe, and have faith that everything will work out for the best." Hmmmm… Since when does following Jesus ever require turning my brain off and not thinking? When does following Jesus ever require me to lose my creativity and wonder? And what about when things don’t work out for the best? I know this means well, but this one really irked me. It irked me because I know many of us actually live our faith this way. We too often use faith in God as an excuse to do nothing. I don’t need to budget… I have faith. I don’t need counseling… I have faith. I don’t need AA or the meetings… I have faith. I don’t need a plan… I have faith. I don’t need to get a job… I have faith. And understand me, I’m not knocking the incredible risk associated with faith… But our heroes of faith were not ones who sat back and let life happen to them. They were people who actively engaged alongside God to push the mission of God forward. God has called us to work alongside Him, not sit back and watch Him do what we ask. This week at church we looked at the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls. And there is very small detail that I came across thanks to Chuck Swindoll… Check this out: I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. Prior to this interaction, Nehemiah had prayed, but then found himself waiting for four months for the right time to approach the king… Finally he had a chance. And thank God he didn’t spend the last four months just sitting on the couch “having faith” that God was going to rebuild the wall with the snap of His fingers. Rather, Nehemiah must have been using the four months to plan, wonder, imagine, and think about how he was going to rebuild the walls because he gave the king a definite time. Nehemiah, though he had great faith in God, still had a plan to move forward once God opened the door. And this in no way diminishes the faith of Nehemiah because he rebuilt the wall in 52 days! God was working through his faith. He still had faith and reliance on God, but he wasn’t passive. He didn’t turn his brain off. Rather, his faith was active. I don’t know where you’re at in life, but don’t believe the meme. God has given you talents, abilities, and intelligence to live with an active faith. Don’t sit back and wait for God to move… Rather, plan ahead and get ready for when God does move. To quote Chuck Swindoll again: “Don’t tell me you have faith, if you can’t tell me your plans.” If you believe God is calling you into something, how are you planning to join Him in making it a reality? It’s a common question. One that was asked as far back as the first century while Jesus was still on Earth. One of the disciples of Jesus looked at him and said, “Teach us to pray.” Which is a good question… If prayer is the way in which we talk to God, then it makes sense that we would want to pray properly. Prayer can be confusing. It can be difficult and we can often feel inadequate to pray. So let me suggest a simple way to pray…
Recently, I studied the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah had a great task before him that he knew would only be accomplished with the help of God. So, Nehemiah prays a beautiful prayer in chapter one of his diary (you can read it HERE). His prayer gives us three simple and attainable movements to pray in our own prayer life. In verses 5-7, Nehemiah starts by NAMING HIS PROBLEM. His family and his people had sinned against God. They were unfaithful and had walked away from their covenant with God. It’s important to notice that Nehemiah knows the problem lies with him… Not God. When we name our problem, it forces us to recognize our reality so that we can move forward and be redeemed from our problem. As long as we have sin blinders on, we won’t be fully honest and open before God which is required for salvation. In verse 8-9, Nehemiah continues by NAMING THE PROMISE. His words are “Please remember what you told your servant Moses…” In other words, God I’m only asking for something you’ve already promised. And you promised that if we turn back to you, you’d bring us out of exile. This is huge… Because Nehemiah teaches us that we can actually pray God’s words back to Him. Tim Keller says, “Our prayers should arise from our immersion in the Scriptures.” If you want to learn what to pray, spend more time in the Bible and pray God’s words back to him. Pay attention for the promises he has made to the his people… And then pray them in your own life. Finally, in verses 10-11, Nehemiah finishes by NAMING HIS PLACE. He says, “God, we are only rescued by YOUR great strength… we are YOUR SERVANTS.” This is classic “Not my will, but your will be done” language. And it is necessary in prayer, because this is not a "name and claim it” prayer formula… Nehemiah knew that at the end of the day, he served God, not the other way around. He had gotten to the point where he would be okay with whatever God decided because God was the one who did the rescuing… And an attitude like that requires humility. It’s a continuous process of naming your place before God, not in charge of God. So there you have it… A simple way to pray. It’s not the only way to pray, but it’s a simple prayer that can have a big impact in your life. One of the first sermons I ever preached was in high school. It was real bad… Like seriously, bad (I found the notes and my face turned red while reading it in my office this week). But there is an object lesson from the story, that even though I communicated poorly, is still true today.
The life of Moses is one big restart. He spends 40 years in Egypt as a prince, then he flees Egypt and spends 40 years in the desert. At the age of 80, God finally calls him and gives him his purpose. Can you image being 80 years old and finding out God’s purpose for your life? Here’s a freebie lesson for all the elderly folk who might read this: If you ain’t dead, you ain’t done. Let’s get back to the story. Moses is 80 years old and it’s time to restart… Again. One day he’s out with his sheep, and off in the distance he sees a little fire. He walks over to it, totally mesmerized by this burning bush because though it was engulfed in flames, it was not burning up. The Bible tells us that the Angel of the Lord was in the burning bush. As Moses gets closer, he begins to hear the voice of the Lord and God tells him the plans for starting over. Go read the story for yourself in Exodus 3, but for our purposes here, just know that God was calling Moses to go confront Pharaoh and lead God’s people out of slavery… What a job to start at 80 years old! And like many of us, Moses accepted the call right away with no push back, right? Wrong. Moses had a past and felt totally unworthy to lead Israel. Moses decides that he knows best so he goes back and forth with God insisting that he really isn’t the guy for the job. He pretty much says, “I appreciate it God, but no thanks.” Finally, in Exodus chapter 4, God had had enough. Moses protests one more time and finally God says, “What is that in your hand?” In Moses’ hand was a shepherd’s staff. Upon hearing this, God says, “Throw it on the ground,” and when it hits the dirt, it becomes a snake (Ew, Gross)! As the story progresses, it’s clear that the shepherd’s staff was going to be the one of the ways in which God expressed His power through Moses. So here’s the object lesson in all this (And I stole this idea from my dad who stole it from someone else)… Everyone has something in their hand that God can use. God looks at each of us and says, “What is that in your hand?” Maybe your staff is hospitality and God is calling you to host your neighbors on a consistent basis. Maybe your staff is financial security and God is calling you practice radical generosity. Maybe you’re great with kids and you need to go serve them. Maybe you’re an athlete and you can coach and mentor younger athletes. Maybe you are tech-savvy and need to help your church go digital in this COVID world. Whatever your staff, God calls each of us to trust Him with it. He calls each of us to use it to build the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven. And if you’re wanting to start over, maybe start over by looking at what God has already given you. Don’t try to be something you aren’t, but use your talents, your gifts, and your resources to be who God created you to be. Often times, the key to starting over is already in your possession… What’s the staff in your hand and how can use it for God? |
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April 2021
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