Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
A life
with a message
“And God
said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who
have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship
God on this mountain.”
There’s often a saying that goes “God only gives you enough that
you can handle.” I remember going to a youth event where an
older youth leader told us the story of how his mom would always serve him
dinner on a plate. Each day, she would place an exact amount of food
on his plate, some days more and some days less. He would often
complain prior to eating that she would give too little or too much food;
however, when he was finished with his meal, he realized his mom knew JUST how
much food he needed that evening. In the same way, God knows our
needs and what we need to fulfill his works.
While reading this passage, I felt that there were two
perspectives that these verses were conveying—that of the Israelites in
captivity and that of Moses. For both, the passage clearly shows
that God hasn’t forgotten about our troubles and worries. In fact,
he promises a life much better than the life of before, a life filled with
lands flowing with milk and honey. In the case of Moses in this passage,
he questions God the same way many of us question Him, “Who am I that I should
______”
The theme of the past few devotionals is “A life with a
message”. As we reflect on the passage, we are reminded that our
life is filled with God’s purpose. I felt that there are a few
points from the passage that fills my life with the message of
purpose. The first point is that God doesn’t abandon us and he knows
each and every one of our problems. He clearly acknowledges, “I have
heard them crying out” and “I am concerned about their
suffering”. The next point is that God has more in store for us
despite the trials we face today. The third point is that He has
equipped us with the necessary qualities and abilities to face whatever
circumstances we are meant to face. Despite Moses questioning God,
he was simply told, “I will be with you.” Living life with this
message of hope and purpose is our belief as Christians to trust in the Lord in
every situation.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for promising us that You will always
be with us. Help us to remember that you hear our cries and burdens and
above all, You have a greater promise awaiting us.
Thought for
the day: God has not forgotten us and the promises. He has
great things in store for us even if it doesn't seem so at this moment.
Jerry Thomas, St. Thomas MTC, NY