January 18, 2024

Exodus 31.3 (NIV)

"I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skills, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts."

Those whom God calls to any service he will either find, or make, fit for it.*

I used to fear that I may have messed up because I never went into “full time Christian service.”  I meant to but it never worked out that way. People like me should be happy to be reminded that God equips Spirit-filled people to go out into a world where the “professionals” can’t go.

How many people are Christians today because of a co-worker’s influence or invitation to church? How many seeds have been planted in the hearts of the lost by their exposure to a Christian’s work ethic? Not many preachers possess the skills or the time to cook for the homeless; to arrange the flowers to decorate the Lord’s house; to nurture and teach children; to change the oil for a single mom; or to perform household repairs for widows; but there is a Spirit-filled army who can be victorious in battlefields where a preacher would face defeat.

The Spirit of God is the inspiration for us to be good at our jobs and to be able to bless others with our time and talents. Acknowledge God as the provider of your marketable skills and look for ways to honor him as you go about your business.

Preaching the gospel happens with one’s hands as well as with one’s mouth.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 17, 2024

Exodus 23.27 (NIV)

"I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run."

We have a unique weapon of immense power the world cannot match.* 

Watching their enemies turn and run sounds like good times for Israel - but if you go back and read verse 22, you will see that the promise was conditional: “‘If you listen carefully to what he [Moses] says and do all that I say . . .’” There were obligations to meet before the promise could be claimed.

What are our obligations today? As Christians, it may seem that we have a long “to-do” list, as well as a longer “to-don’t” list, but it all boils down to Jesus’ two-item list: 1) love God; 2) love your neighbor (Matthew 22.37). If you can build your life around the two greatest commandments, you won’t need a check-list to keep you on track with meeting your obligations.

I’m not aware of any earthly enemies in my life, but Satan is my spiritual enemy and he will stop at nothing to steal my soul. He will use my friends and people who wish me well; he will use the good things in my life to try and trip me up. But human enemy or spiritual enemy, no one is more powerful than God. Check your “to-do” list and watch your enemies turn their backs and run!

Jesus’ experience demonstrates that Satan can be defeated.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 16, 2024

Exodus 23.25  (NIV)

Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water.

The things that make God dear to us are not so much His great big blessings as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us; He knows every detail of our individual lives.*

In Bible college I learned about God’s specifications for building and decorating the tabernacle. I thought it was a waste of time to study the colors, dimensions and materials used in the house of worship (and I was especially unenthusiastic when we had to draw a poster of the whole project). Did you know that God ordered intricate decorations for the tops of the pillars in the temple where only he could fully appreciate the workmanship?* He is the same God who told each tribe in the wilderness exactly where to camp and exactly what items to carry.*

By the time my poster project was completed, I came to appreciate that we worship a God who cares about details. It is no small thing that the Creator of the universe is interested in the small things. What could be more basic than our food and water? How can we think that our God doesn’t care about us when he has promised, not just to provide food and water, but to bless them?

A continual awareness of God’s presence in the midst of our daily activities can keep our thoughts and actions habitually righteous.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 15, 2024

Exodus 18.17, 18 (NIV)

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you, you cannot handle it alone.”

There may be over-doing even in well-doing.*

Doesn’t this seem to be a contradiction of one of our favorite New Testament verses: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4.13)? If we can do all things through him, why do we need other people?

God has his reasons for creating us with a need for each other. I don’t know his reasons but I know some practical truths about delegating.  When I first found myself with a staff to supervise, I was unprepared to let go of all the things I had previously done by myself – even the things I didn’t like to do and/or was not very good at. (I recall one time looking up and realizing that all three of my staff members were looking at me expectantly. “What?” I asked. “What do you want us to do?” one of them asked on behalf of the group.) Pretty soon I learned that 1) other people like to do some of the things I hate to do; 2) other people perform some tasks better than I do; 3) I was the boss so they had to do what I told them to; 4) knowing that I didn’t have to do it all by myself allowed me to be more creative and proactive in my own job.

While it is true that we can do all things through him who gives us strength, we are limited by our physical bodies and the laws of nature. Very seldom will God intervene in a supernatural way to help us accomplish his work – especially when he wants us to work as a team. In the community of faith, delegating takes on a spiritual dimension. In the words of Dwight L. Moody, “It is no kindness to others or service to God to do more than your share in the sacred duties of Church life."* When you try to do it all yourself, you deprive a brother or sister of their opportunity to bless and be blessed.

Finally, the most important lesson I have learned about delegating is that part of learning to trust God often involves trusting other people. When I can’t do it myself; when I don’t know what else to do; I have to trust that God will accomplish his purpose without my help.

Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive to make others useful.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 14, 2024

Exodus 15.13 (NIV) In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.

Psalm 44.26 (NIV) Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 130.7 (NIV) Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 

Our only hope for redemption is God’s unfailing love.* 

The “people” in the first verse here, in Exodus, are the Children of Israel who had been redeemed from captivity in Egypt and were being led into the Promised Land. By these words, we are reminded that God will lead his people. He doesn’t lead other people. Just his. In order to be his people, we have to follow. If we aren’t following God, he isn’t leading us – he’s moving forward without us.

Unfailing love and redemption go hand-in-hand. No matter what we do, or what happens to us, God’s love never fails and he redeems us totally. His character would not allow him to do one without the other. Unfailing love can do no less than provide total redemption. Full redemption would not be offered if it weren’t for his unfailing love.

Only a perfect and powerful God could look at me inside and out and say, “I love her.” Just the way I am. He wouldn’t love me more or less if I changed. He would have sacrificed his son all the same whether I improve or not.  

God does not save us because of what we’ve done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes. Only an egotistical god would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental god could be satisfied by sacrifices. Only a heartless god would sell salvation to the highest bidders. And only a great God does for his children what they can’t do for themselves.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 13, 2024

Exodus 15.1 (NIV)

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.”

There’s something magical that happens when the words and music go together.*

Music is one of God’s best creations, but when it is used to praise him, well, that just takes it to another level.  Music that is motivated by the very thought of his character makes me long for heaven and to be in his presence forever. 

I have always believed that music alone, without lyrics, is neutral – without power to provoke good or bad. But consider that throughout history, armies have used bugles, bagpipes, fifes, and drums to rally the troops. Can you think of musical arrangements (no lyrics) that have been used to incite people to evil?

Music, like all of God’s best stuff, has been hijacked by Satan for his own twisted purposes, especially church music. How thrilled he must be when God’s people are so divided over it. We’re not talking about disputes over whether or not the words are scriptural - congregations have split over nothing more than personal taste in music. The solution to the debate about music styles in church lies in our having the heart of Christ – and that’s all I’m going to say about that!

So I say

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty?

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me*

Heaven is revealed to earth as the homeland of music.*

*Quote sources available upon request.

January 12, 2024

Exodus 6.6 (NIV)

“And I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.”

To know the God of Moses is to know a power who knows no bounds.* 

In this verse we see two contrasting aspects of God’s nature: his love and his power. If I were an artist, my rendering of these words would show God reaching out with one arm to embrace me while sword-fighting the enemy with the other. His love and his power, along with my weakness, clearly illustrated!

Our understanding of scripture can often be enhanced by learning the nuances of the words in the original language - which in the Old Testament is Hebrew. According to scholars (I do not read, write or speak Hebrew!), the Hebrew word translated “redeem” is the same one used in reference to acquiring family rights or property that are in danger of being claimed by someone other than a family member. In other words, because God loves us, he is going to use his power to fight for our inheritance.

God’s power stands in contrast to ours – or our lack thereof. We are helpless to achieve our own redemption. We need the intervention of a third party to help us claim our birthright. God is our mighty advocate and champion. Our enemies don’t stand a chance! 

God’s power is beyond description and his timing is perfect.*

*Quote sources available upon request.