Scripture:
Exodus 3:1-2 “One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, … and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush.”
Observation:
Moses’ story is one of my favorites. He has an extraordinary encounter with God and receives a very clear calling that he tries to talk God out of multiple times. And God persists. I love it because so often the saying goes that God uses the willing, but Moses is a clear example of a very unwilling servant. This is not, however, why I chose this verse.
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law. The man who would lead a nation of slavery, who would be God’s vehicle for countless miracles, who would record the ten commandments. Looking after sheep. I think this is when most people encounter God – tending flock. In the midst of the course of our life, we are called to God’s assignment for us. Some, for events which will alter the course of their lives, others, for events that will alter the course of others lives.
Application:
The theme of God’s vast timeline has recently arisen frequently in my life. It’s hard to separate our timeframe from the short span of our life to observe God’s overall plan. And it’s hard to feel like there should be a plan for MY life, when God’s plan is quite a bit grander, and yields important results for me as an individual. I think we can tend to put God in the position of a tour guide and if our “tour” isn’t what we hoped, we’re disappointed. Instead, we should view God as the attraction – the reason we’re here. There is nothing more valuable we can be doing than standing in awe in appreciation of His magnificence.
Prayer:
Alright Lord … kids are up – I can’t think anymore, but I love you, thank you for meeting me!
Scripture:
Luke 14:33, 28 “So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me. But don’t begin until you count the cost.”
Observation:
This passage seems diametrically opposed to today’s comfortable approach: Come as you are. The language we use is “beginning a relationship” and “starting the journey” with Christ. It’s hard to think about coming at someone with “You’ll need to give up everything, so before you say ‘yes’ to Christ, make sure you have a good appreciation for what ‘everything’ is. If you’re not sure, I can help you make a list.”
On the other hand, I don’t know many (any?) Christians who would say “oh yeah – I’ve given up everything; I’m fully submitted.” And of course I feel this more deeply for myself – I haven’t given up everything, I don’t even know if I can! I mean – I can hardly say I know what that even looks like.
It’s odd, when I think about “complete surrender” I can’t help but think about american missionaries to third world destinations – they’ve left the comfort of the land of plenty. However, I also know that they have been called … maybe that’s what I’m feeling? The absence of that calling. It’s hard to know whether you’ve fulfilled Christs vision for you if you’re not particularly sure of the vision in the first place. Surrender to Christ is, in some ways, very ambiguous … he wants everything. Okay, I surrender my couch – now what? My 9 o’clock hour – now what? I surrender Savanna – now what? I don’t know to what I surrender these.
Application:
Maybe I should start by making a list of what, exactly I am surrendering to Christ. I was quite tempted to write “I surrender my throw pillows” instead of my couch because I thought “What if God actually wants my couch?!” (he does) It really doesn’t take long to see that I’m not fully surrendered. Regardless … I guess it’s never too late to “count the cost” and, even if I do so with fear and trembling, I ought to at least surrender everything in my head, even if I can’t immediately surrender it in my heart.
Prayer:
Whew – this entry was a process, Lord! Thank you doing devotions with me – I appreciate your presence in my life. I do want to be fully surrendered to you, but I know I can’t do it alone; please help me!
Scripture:
Mark 6:56 “Wherever Christ went – in villages and cities and out on the farms – they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets. The sick begged him to let them at least touch the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.”
Observation:
Jesus’ ministry … even when I think about the word “minister” as defined by offering care or aid is so different than what we see in churches today; we have “Adult Ministries” and “Youth Ministries” and “Children’s Ministries.” Jesus healed people. I wonder if all the accounts we had of Jesus preaching verses Jesus healing what the split would be. In any case, Jesus didn’t need to “do outreach” as we think of it today – that was his entire mission, and because of that people were drawn to him. He didn’t have to knock on doors. He didn’t have to hold “seeker friendly” events. People knew that if they came, they would receive healing … how much more “relevant” can you get?
Application:
I’m so grateful this is the direction Life Center is headed. This is the direction I need to head as a “minister” to my world. What are my resources? I have no robe with healing powers, but I have lots to offer.
Prayer:
Lord – help me identify what I have to give, how to do so, and where I can minister those gifts.
Scripture:
1 Chronicles 4:10 “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”
Observation:
Today’s reading in Psalms reminded me of this verse which I read again yesterday in The Hole in Our Gospel.
Application:
I need my territory enlarged. My circle of influence and area of affect are too small. The opportunities I have to interact with pre-believers is rare and limited. My interaction with the poor is limited to smiling at the ones standing on street corners as I drive by. I don’t really know what to do, but also know that it needs to be something.
Prayer:
Lord, please enlarge my territory; help me see where you want me to be.
Scripture:
Luke 5:11 “[Simon, James, and John] left everything and followed Jesus.”
Luke 5:28 “So Levi got up, left everything, and followed [Jesus].”
Observation:
They left everything. They left immediately, they didn’t sell their stuff or make arrangements… they didn’t really know anything about Jesus, his purpose, or how it “fit” with their life plans – they just got up, left it all behind, and followed Christ. What an incredible display of character and magnetism. Dad often talks about how Jesus’ depiction can be airy – aloof and disconnected. These guys – fishermen – are the working class. I just can’t imagine them being drawn by a person like that. And they are way more than just drawn – they drop it all.
Application:
“Faith” makes this so much more difficult. These guys didn’t necessarily care about the direction, they were just going to follow Christ and do whatever he told them to do. I don’t necessarily care about the direction either, but I don’t get to follow someone around – I can only follow what I feel like God is calling me to. And I know people – wiser and closer to Christ – screw this up. They follow what they felt called to, but they were wrong. Beyond this … I hardly know what this looks like for a family. I don’t think God would call me to leave my wife and kids – they are part of my calling, part of God’s plan for my life. But do I still think he wants us to “leave everything” and follow Him? Absolutely. But how?
Prayer:
Lord – I want my life to be fully surrendered to you. I lift up our family in offering and submission – what would you have us “leave” and what would you have us do?
