Daily thoughts and experiences from my mind and life.
Devotions/Studies
What God is teaching and speaking to me.
Seeing God…
May 22nd
(John 14:1-14) When Christ was here on Earth in and among the Disciples, man was able to see God first hand. Even then the Disciples didn’t quite get it, not really realizing that they had God among them. Today it might seem that we don’t have the benefit of seeing God as the Disciples did, however the Holy Spirit does live among us. I’m reminded of the sermon that Christ gave about the “sheep” and the “goats” as they came to heaven and Christ seperated them based on how they served and loved others. From His message we can see that day-to-day we have opportunities to show Christ to others.
God wants to use us for His work. When we are used by Him to even bless other Christians, we are seeing the qualities of God being shown to us. There are many who might say that we have it so much harder than the Disciples, because they were physically with Jesus. However, I think we have had things so much easier, and we haven’t had the sort of resistance and persecution that the Disciples had. For most Christians in the Western world today, we have lived in a culture that has allowed us to be Christians. There are those countries where Christianity is still outlawed, and I feel they probably have a greater faith in God than most Western believers. I’m not seeking persecution, merely a desire to put complete faith in my God who loves me and promises to take complete care of me. If persecution produces a deeper faith than that is what I would desire, a deeper faith by whatever means God would provide.
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God’s Timing…Not Ours
May 18th
(Exodus 11:1-10) Looking again at the story of Moses being used by God to bring the Isrealites out of Egypt, we can see that things didn’t go as the people, or Moses, had hoped. God, however, had a perfect plan in mind. I’ve talked about it before, but once again I am reminded, that in all things God has a plan for us. I really like both Proverbs 19:21 and also Proverbs 16:9, they both make it very clear that even though we may have something in mind, it’s ultimately God who is in control.
It can be very hard to accept God’s control and plan for our lives, especially when we have to deal with tough stuff. It can be very easy for us to awknowledge God’s plan/work when things are going great and seem to fall into place. However, that shouldn’t change when things are harder. The Isrealites began having an attitude of blaming and whinning, however they did eventually learn to accept God’s timing for the things that were happening. What was even great was that it turned out that even the Egyptians where at the very least respecting Moses and awknowledging God working.
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Hardships…Who’s to Blame?
May 17th
(Exodus 5:1-23) Initially it would seem that Moses and Aaron weren’t helping matters each time they talked to Pharaoh. The Isrealites even blamed them for making things harder for them. How did Moses and Aaron take that? Well we know that at least Moses in turn decided to blame God for what was happening to the Isrealites. It might seem that both the Isrealites and/or Moses were correct in placing blame, however they were wrong as God had a plan for it all.
I think about when things, even small things, don’t go our way we so easily look to place blame. I think it can be so easy for us to lose sight of the possibility that God is working. We can never fully understand God, and I know that there are so many times that life doesn’t make any sense. How is it that God can use the things He does, are allow things to happen, for His ultimate plan? That’s a question that I don’t see getting answered anytime soon. In fact even when we get to heaven, we may find no need for that question, and the millions of others, to even be answered.
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Is God Patient?
May 16th
(Exodus 4:10-18) Interesting question, it would seem that in this passage in Exodus
, that Moses wore out God’s patience. It clearly describes that God became angery with Moses when he refused to follow what God was calling him to. This doesn’t mean that God is completely impatient, however it does go to show that He will work with us for a time and perhaps arrange something entirely different to get us moving. We are stuborn people, if God simply waited on us none of His plans would come to pass I suspect. Are we choosing to live in a manner that continues to try God’s patience, or are we desiring to please Him with how we live our lives? I would hope and pray that as Christians we are all continuing to seek lives that are pleasing to Him. Amen!