Mid-Week Message - Spiritual Adequacy

"Then God asked him, 'Who gives a person a mouth?  Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now, go!  I myself will help you with your speech, and I'll teach you what you are to say.'  Moses said, 'Please, Lord, send somebody else.'"  Exodus 4:11-13  (ISV)

Some weeks, when I prepare to write my mid-week message, I feel very inadequate.  This is one of those times.  As I read about those who have lost everything in tornadoes, fires or other disasters or read about recent mass shootings and wars, I think about all of the pain in this world.  I know people are in need of hearing from the Lord and knowing that He remains on His throne and sees all that has happened and that He cares and is present.  They need hope and compassion.  They need tangible help.  They are asking, "Why?  Where was He while my world was being destroyed?"  

As I type word after word, I am asking the Father if they will make any difference.  I never know who will read these messages.  Each week I pray that the message will be seen by those who need to see it.  My only desire is to point the reader to the Savior and I read and re-read what I've written before I publish it and eventually just have to trust that it will be used in a positive way.  

As Moses was being instructed by God to go to Egypt, he argued that he was not capable of doing what he was being told to do.  He tried to convince the Lord that he should send someone else.  He countered each assurance he was given with an excuse.  Finally, scripture says, the Lord grew angry with him.  He had chosen Moses and He does not make mistakes.  All Moses had to do was to be obedient.  God would give him the words he needed and direct each step.  

Each of Christ's followers is called to represent Him.  Whatever talents and abilities He has given are to be used for His glory.  They are to serve a much nobler purpose than to please ourselves.  Some can preach, some teach, others lift their voices in song.  Some are good with numbers, organization or administration.  Some are artists or entertainers.  No matter what your strong points are, there is a way to use them to uplift, to encourage, to assist others who are in need and thereby spread the love of Jesus.  

Life is overwhelming.  At times it is even devastating.  At any given time, there are those who are searching for answers.  They are looking for direction, for hope, for security.  Any one of us may be put in the pathway of someone in need.  We cannot simply turn our backs and walk away thinking that someone else will step into the gap.  God has placed us there for a reason.  We may be the only one that cares enough to love someone who is suffering, confused or lost.  All we have to do is trust that our Father will show us what needs to take place in the moment then be obedient even when it is frightening or uncomfortable.  We may not all be a Moses, but we can all touch lives and make a difference.  With sincerity of heart, God bless. 

Faith Begins at Home

Before there were churches, before there were kings, and before any human institutions were formed, God, in His infinite wisdom, ordained the family. In the garden of Eden, God declared, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (Genesis 2:24, NLT). The family, therefore, is not a product of culture or human design—it is divine in origin.

As Paul writes to Timothy, a young pastor charged with shepherding the church in Ephesus, he does not shy away from the foundational matters of the faith. In 1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT), we find this sobering declaration: “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” These words are not simply a command—they are a piercing indictment of what it means to neglect the sacred calling to care for one’s family.

The Second Pillar of a God-Centered Life, The Importance of Family, is not just a value we hold dear; it is a responsibility woven into the very fabric of our faith. Our homes must reflect our devotion to God, not only in prayer and worship but in compassion, provision, and everyday sacrifice. A strong and faithful walk with the Lord begins not in public worship but in the quiet, unseen moments of familial faithfulness.

In this message, we will explore why Paul placed such high importance on caring for one’s household, how this care is directly tied to our profession of faith, and what it means today to live out the Gospel starting at home. For if we fail to love and lead within our own walls, how can we expect to be credible ambassadors for Christ beyond them?

The Apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, does not mince words in 1 Timothy 5:8. The verse is a striking admonition: “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” Such language demands our full attention, for it draws a line not merely between belief and unbelief, but between genuine faith and hypocrisy.

At the heart of Paul’s instruction is the understanding that our care for family is not optional—it is spiritual. To neglect the needs of those within our household is not merely a failure of responsibility; it is a denial of the very faith we claim to possess. In a world where faith is often seen as what one professes with their lips, Scripture reminds us that faith is more accurately measured by what we practice with our lives.

Paul was addressing a specific context in the early church—how to care for widows and dependent family members—but the principle applies universally. A person who claims to follow Christ but fails to meet the needs of their own family brings reproach upon the Gospel. In fact, Paul says that such a person is worse than an unbeliever—not because they have sinned more grievously, but because their conduct undermines the truth they claim to uphold.

Let us be clear: the faith we carry into the world must be born in the home. It is not enough to serve on church committees or speak eloquently of theology if one is neglectful, dismissive, or absent when it comes to the well-being of their spouse, their children, or their aging parents. If our faith is real, it will first manifest in daily, tangible acts of love and provision within our household.

There is a sacredness to family care. Whether it is ensuring food is on the table, listening with patience, or praying with and for your loved ones, each act of love becomes a living testimony of Christ’s love within us. The spiritual weight of this responsibility cannot be overstated—it is a foundational expression of true, Christ-centered discipleship.

If the Church is the body of Christ, then the family is its beating heart. It is within the sacred space of our homes that the Gospel is first seen, heard, and either confirmed or contradicted. Yet in our modern age, the nuclear family faces relentless assault—not only from cultural norms that devalue marriage and parental roles, but from a spirit of distraction that fractures unity and silences godly engagement.

Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 5:8 is not isolated from today’s realities. Fathers, once recognized as spiritual heads of the household, are often absent—physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Mothers, overwhelmed and under-supported, struggle to carry burdens they were never meant to bear alone. Children are frequently raised by digital devices instead of parents, and shared meals have become times of isolation, where faces glow not from candlelight or conversation, but from cell phone screens.

This was not God’s design.

The family was intended to be the first sanctuary, the first classroom, the first congregation. It is within the home that children are to be taught the Word of God (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). It is where husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25), and where wives respect and support their husbands (Ephesians 5:33). It is the very soil in which the next generation of disciples is to be planted and nurtured.

And yet, we see the sacred undone by the secular. We see commitment traded for convenience. Conversations replaced by notifications. Covenant love dismantled by casual living.

If we are to reclaim our homes for Christ, we must restore the family as our first ministry field. That means fathers must rise and reclaim their God-given role as spiritual leaders—not through domination, but through devotion. It means families must carve out time to read Scripture, pray together, and speak life to one another. It means putting down devices, turning off the noise, and being fully present in the sacred fellowship of home.

Our homes should echo with hymns, with laughter, with loving correction, and with grace. This is not a fantasy—it is a holy calling. The Church will never be stronger than the families that compose it. The Second Pillar—The Importance of Family—is not an accessory to faith. It is its very proving ground.

The enemy is subtle. He does not always attack the family with a sword—sometimes he does so with a screen, a schedule, or a subtle shift in values. One of the greatest challenges of our time is not open rebellion, but quiet neglect. Families are not always torn apart by storms—they often drift apart slowly in silence.

We live in a world where busyness is worn like a badge of honor. Parents are stretched thin, chasing after promotions, extracurriculars, social obligations, and digital distractions. But in this relentless pursuit of more, something sacred is often left behind: the intentional care and spiritual nurturing of the family. Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 5:8 expose this danger. We may be busy “doing good,” but if we are failing our family, we are failing our faith.

How many fathers have sacrificed spiritual leadership for career advancement? How many mothers are so overburdened that they have no time to reflect on their own spiritual well-being, let alone guide their children in it? How many children are being raised not with God’s Word, but by YouTube, TikTok, and whatever ideology comes through their feeds? And how often do families sit in the same room, each lost in their own digital world, strangers to one another in heart and soul?

This is not just a cultural concern—it is a spiritual crisis.

The Word of God does not conform to the times—it confronts them. We are called to steward our families with reverence, attentiveness, and sacrificial love. Stewardship means more than providing financially—it means being emotionally available, spiritually engaged, and relationally invested. It means saying no to the good so we can say yes to the godly.

Our faith must interrupt our routines. It must reclaim our time and rearrange our priorities. If our family life does not reflect our faith, then we are not truly living by faith. Paul’s rebuke is a holy warning: when we neglect our family, especially those in our own household, we do violence to the Gospel we profess.

But there is hope. Always hope. The Holy Spirit empowers us to reset, to return, to restore. The first step is recognizing that our home is not a side concern—it is the front lines of spiritual warfare. We must rise with courage, humility, and conviction to take it back.

If ever there were a moment when a person could be excused from concern for family—when the weight of divine mission, physical suffering, and eternal consequence might overshadow earthly relationships—it would be at Calvary. And yet, Jesus, from the cross, paused amid His agony to ensure the care of His mother. In John 19:26–27 (NLT), we read: “When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

Let the weight of that moment rest upon us. Jesus, pierced and dying, still fulfilled His duty as a Son. He modeled for us a love that does not forsake family, even when burdened with the salvation of the world. That is more than a gesture—it is a divine testimony to the sacred bond of family.

Our Savior did not only preach love—He lived it, and in His final breaths, He honored it. We are to do the same.

Today, many seek to live out their faith in public spaces, in platforms, in ministries, and missions. But our first and foremost calling is to live out our faith in our homes. That is where love must first be seen. That is where forgiveness must take root. That is where Christ must be enthroned.

Every word we speak to our spouse in love, every prayer whispered over a sleeping child, every tear shed in intercession for a wayward son or daughter—these are the true marks of a living faith. A family rooted in Christ is a witness that preaches louder than any pulpit ever could.

Paul’s charge to Timothy was not about institutional caretaking alone—it was about embodying Christ in the most personal and practical way: by honoring those whom God has placed in our charge. Whether aging parents, young children, or struggling relatives, the home is where our theology becomes our testimony.

And so, we are reminded that the Second Pillar—The Importance of Family—is not an accessory to faith but an essential fruit of it. Our families are not perfect, but when they are grounded in Christ, they become places of grace, discipleship, restoration, and peace.

We have heard the Word. We have felt its weight. Now we must respond—not merely with agreement, but with action. For the family, as God designed it, is not a social convenience; it is a sacred covenant. It is where faith is forged, where love is lived, and where Christ is first known.

Paul’s charge in 1 Timothy 5:8 stands not as a relic of ancient instruction, but as a burning standard for today. “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” These are not words to gloss over—they are words to awaken us. For what good is it to profess Christ if we deny Him in our homes?

So today, I call upon you—fathers, rise up and become the spiritual leaders of your families. Your children need more than provision—they need prayerful direction. Your wives need more than support—they need to see your faith in action, lived out in humility and strength.

Mothers, your nurturing hands shape the soul of the household. Never underestimate the power of your love, your prayers, your perseverance. You are not just raising children—you are raising future disciples.

Sons and daughters, honor those who raised you. Whether you are still under your parents’ roof or now raising families of your own, do not forget the commandment: “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12, NLT). Let respect, gratitude, and reconciliation be the fruit of your walk in Christ.

And to all—put down your phones at the dinner table. Turn off the noise. Reclaim conversation. Rediscover what it means to share a meal, to pray aloud, to weep together, to laugh without distraction. Let your homes ring not with the silence of disengagement but with the sound of godly fellowship.

If your family has fractured, pray. If communication has dried up, speak. If leadership has been abdicated, return. The Lord is merciful and ready to restore what the world has tried to tear down. But we must act—deliberately, urgently, prayerfully.

Let today be the day you recommit to the sacred stewardship of your home. The Second Pillar—The Importance of Family—demands no less. For in caring for those within your household, you proclaim a faith that is not only confessed with the lips but lived with the heart.

So, I say to you, "May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence."

No Other Gods: The Sole Focus of Our Lives

When God led the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, He did not merely liberate them for the sake of freedom itself. He delivered them so they might worship Him, serve Him, and walk in covenant relationship with Him. At Mount Sinai, God revealed His holy commandments—ten divine instructions that would shape not only the moral structure of a nation but the very heart of each individual who would call upon His name. The very first of these commandments thunders from the heavens with piercing clarity and eternal authority: “You must not have any other god but me” (Exodus 20:3, NLT).

This first command is not a suggestion or an optional recommendation. It is the immovable foundation upon which the entire structure of faithful living is built. It is God's divine claim to exclusivity in our lives. Before we are called to honor others, respect life, or avoid covetousness, we are commanded to fix our hearts and our eyes upon God alone. He is not to be one among many; He is to be the only One.

In this holy commandment, we see the direct connection to the first pillar of a God-Centered Life: The Importance of God and Keeping Him as Your Focus. Without this pillar, the rest of our spiritual house will collapse. If our attention and affection are divided, if other pursuits are placed alongside or above the Lord, then we are building on sand, not on the Rock. God’s voice calls out through the ages: “You must not have any other god but me.” His call is not just to ancient Israel—it is to us, here and now. The question we must each answer is this: Have we truly made God the only focus of our lives?

When the Lord declared, “You must not have any other god but me,” He was not only speaking against the worship of false deities made of stone or gold. He was speaking against anything that might compete for His rightful place in our hearts. God’s command is one of undivided devotion—a call to cast aside every rival and enthrone Him alone as Lord of our lives. But, sadly, the human heart is prone to wander, and if we are not watchful, even good things can become god-things.

In today’s world, idols rarely look like ancient statues or pagan altars. Instead, they come cloaked in modern forms—material possessions, selfish ambitions, unchecked addictions, and the never-ending pursuit of more. A prized automobile, polished and protected more than our own time in prayer, can silently take God's place. An addiction—whether to substances, habits, or pleasure—can master our attention and erode our spiritual discernment. Money, though neutral by nature, can become a god when our security and worth are measured by what we have rather than Who holds us. Fame and power, though alluring, are fleeting shadows that can consume the soul and blind us to eternal truth.

Jesus warned in Matthew 6:24 (NLT), “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Our Lord made it plain: we cannot claim God as our Master while giving our loyalty to something—or someone—else. The heart has only one throne, and only God is worthy to sit upon it.

Our lives reveal what we truly worship. Is God the first voice we seek in the morning and the last One we thank at night? Do we chase after Him with our energy, time, and thoughts—or are our days spent in pursuit of lesser things? It is in the little choices, the unseen decisions, and the silent longings of our hearts that we reveal who truly reigns within us.

To live out the first pillar of a God-Centered Life means that we must conduct spiritual inventory and be honest about what has crept into our lives. It is not enough to say we believe in God; we must live as though He alone is worthy of our worship and trust.

To keep God at the center of our lives is not a one-time declaration—it is a daily decision, a continual act of surrender and intentional focus. The first pillar of a God-Centered Life challenges us to build every part of our being—our thoughts, our choices, our relationships, our priorities—around the living presence of Almighty God. He is not to be confined to a corner of our Sunday mornings or called upon only in times of trouble. He must be the central, guiding presence in all that we do.

Living with God at the center means choosing, every single day, to look upward before looking outward. It means beginning each morning not with our to-do list, but with His Word opened before us and our hearts bowed in prayer. It means weighing every decision—large or small—through the lens of His will, asking not “What do I want?” but rather, “What would the Lord have me do?”

When God is not the center, disorder quickly follows. The idol of busyness may masquerade as productivity, but it keeps us distracted and spiritually malnourished. The idol of self-reliance tells us that we are strong enough, wise enough, and capable enough without God—but it eventually leaves us weary and empty. The idol of comfort whispers that we deserve ease, luxury, and indulgence, yet it ultimately distances us from sacrifice, humility, and the cross.

But when God is at the center—when our lives orbit around Him—we find clarity, purpose, and peace. We no longer serve the shifting standards of the world. We are no longer blown about by the winds of culture or consumed by the need to impress others. Instead, we live to honor the One who sees in secret, who rewards the faithful, and who walks with us through every valley and every victory.

In my own journey, I have discovered that keeping God at the center requires vigilance. There have been times when the noise of the world tried to drown out His voice. There have been moments when ambition, distraction, or even ministry itself attempted to occupy the throne reserved for Him alone. But God, in His mercy, always calls me back—not with condemnation, but with grace. He reminds me that my purpose is not to be great in the eyes of men, but to be faithful in the presence of my King.

A God-centered life does not happen by accident—it is built intentionally, deliberately, and prayerfully. It is shaped by quiet moments, surrendered hearts, and a longing to please God more than self. And in this daily discipline, we honor the first commandment: “You must not have any other god but me.”

When we fail to keep God as the sole focus of our lives—when we allow other things to take root in our hearts—we must understand that there are real and lasting consequences. Every decision, no matter how small, either brings us closer to God or leads us away from Him. The danger of misplaced devotion is not always immediate or dramatic. Sometimes, it begins with a single compromise, a subtle shift of priorities, a neglected time of prayer, or a heart distracted by worldly gain. But the result, over time, is a slow drift from the very presence of the One who gives life.

Scripture warns us clearly and repeatedly of this spiritual danger. In Exodus 34:14 (NLT), God declares, “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” That jealousy is not like human envy—it is the holy, righteous zeal of a loving God who refuses to share His glory with idols. He knows that anything we place before Him will ultimately destroy us, because nothing else can sustain us.

When we allow our hearts to serve money, we become consumed by greed and fear of loss. When we chase after power, we are poisoned by pride and a thirst for control. When we seek fame or affirmation from the world, we become slaves to approval and fragile egos. Even seemingly harmless pursuits—such as hobbies, entertainment, or comfort—can, if left unchecked, become idols that lead us into spiritual dullness and distance from God.

The consequences are not merely emotional—they are eternal. A life built around anything but God is a life built on sand. When the storms of trial and hardship come—as they surely will—such a life collapses under the weight of false security. Marriages falter. Relationships fracture. Faith dries up. Joy vanishes. Purpose is lost. And what began as a small decision—to place something else before God—leads to spiritual emptiness and separation.

One poor decision made today may not feel significant, but when repeated tomorrow, and the day after, it becomes a pathway of compromise. Left unchecked, it becomes a lifestyle of disobedience. And the heartbreaking truth is this: many who once walked closely with the Lord are now distant from Him, not because of one great failure, but because of many small choices that placed other “gods” above the One true God.

But thanks be to God—He does not leave us without hope. His Spirit convicts us not to shame us, but to restore us. His grace is still available, and His mercy is new every morning. But we must be willing to see the idols, tear them down, and return to the One who says, “You must not have any other god but me.”

When we choose to give God His rightful place—above all else—we discover that true blessing flows not from abundance, but from alignment. A heart solely devoted to the Lord is not without trials, but it is never without peace. It may face hardship, but it stands firm in hope. It may lose the world, but it gains eternity. The blessings of a God-centered life are not always visible in bank accounts or accolades, but they are deeply rooted in the soul: contentment, direction, joy, and unwavering strength.

To live with undivided devotion is to walk with clarity. No longer are we tossed about by confusion or led astray by the opinions of men. Our purpose becomes clear: to glorify God in every moment, every word, every choice. The heart that belongs entirely to God is no longer cluttered with conflicting loyalties. It has peace because its focus is singular. As Psalm 16:8 (NLT) reminds us, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”

This kind of focused life is what the first pillar of a God-Centered Life demands—a life that says "no" to idols so it can say "yes" to the fullness of God’s presence. It is a life built daily on the solid rock of God’s Word, one decision at a time, one surrendered moment after another.

And now, dear friends, I offer you this call to action:

Take a spiritual inventory today. Look not only at the obvious sins but at the subtle distractions—those creeping idols that rob God of the devotion that belongs to Him alone. Is there something you have placed above the Lord? Is there a habit, a possession, an ambition, or even a fear that has crowded out the majesty of God in your heart? If so, cast it down today. Surrender it. Confess it. Turn away from it.

Let this be the day you declare with renewed fervor: “You must not have any other god but me.” Let God have the throne of your heart without rival. Let your life reflect the first and greatest command: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.

So, I say to you, “May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence.”

Mid-Week Message - Honoring Our Parents

 "Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you." Exodus 20:12 (AMP)

Mother's Day 2022 has come and gone.  Hopefully, everyone took the opportunity to express appreciation and love for the women in our lives who raised us and saw us through all the trials of childhood.  My mother has passed on and I missed sending her flowers, choosing a card and telling her that I love her as I will miss doing something special for my father in June.  I wish I had understood that my time with them was limited but I allowed myself to falsely believe that they would always be with me.

The commandment to honor our parents has always intrigued me.  How interesting that the Lord thought it was important enough to etch it in stone on the tablets carried by Moses.  Surely He knew that children could be rebellious and ungrateful and that some parents would be very poor role models who did not necessarily earn respect.  I regularly read stories in the news about parents that abuse their children, some even kill them.  Does He mean to honor even them?  

I had a very difficult time with my mother.  She was very protective of my brother and sister.  Each of them had special circumstances surrounding their births that created in my mother a need to hold them close.  I, on the other hand, came into this world screaming and asserting myself.  A "Daddy's Girl" from the onset, my mother found it difficult to develop a relationship with me that was like what she had with my siblings.  She said that as a baby I would begin crying as soon as my father left for work and not stop until he returned.  In my teens, our problems grew as she experienced some physical and emotional problems that caused her to lash out at me in anger. Because of this I was cautious around her for the rest of our time on this earth together.  

My relationship with my father was completely different.  My favorite thing to do from the time I was a little girl until the day he passed away was to sit by his chair and hold his hand.  I miss that and if the Lord were to ask me to choose one thing that I could do for just five minutes in my life, I just might choose to hold Daddy's hand.  

My point in telling this story is that I understand that it can be easy, or very trying, to honor a parent.  I love that the Amplified Bible defines "honor" for us as, "respect, obey and care for."  This commandment is the first one that brings with it a promise.  And our Father does not make any qualifications in it.  There is no exclusion for bad parents.  It does not say, "If your parents deserve it, honor them."  It also does not say, "Until you are grown, honor them" or "honor them only until they die."  And that is what intrigues me.  

Parents are to be role models in the lives of their children.  Not only are they to rear and teach them to handle life in this world, but also to model the love of the Lord.  We are to teach our children the Word of God, and live it so they can learn how to truly apply it.  There is no better way to teach than to model.  They need to see us living moral and ethical lives on earth but also to see in us a true relationship with Christ.  They need to see and hear us praying and they need to know that we will be the same people on Monday and each day of the week that we are on Sunday in the Lord's house.  Unfortunately, especially today, this seems to be rare.  But again, the commandment doesn't exclude us from honoring our mothers and fathers if they don't live up to what we believe to be ideal.

My challenge this week is for each of us examine our relationships with our parents, living or dead.  How are we fulfilling God's charge that we honor them?  Are we waiting for special holidays or are we honoring them daily in how we live our lives?  Are we grateful?  What do we hold against them?  Forgiveness heals hearts.  Whatever they have done that may have hurt you, forgive them.  Once you do, honor can follow.  With great love, God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Feeling Spiritually Inadequate

"Then God asked him, 'Who gives a person a mouth?  Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now, go!  I myself will help you with your speech, and I'll teach you what you are to say.'  Moses said, 'Please, Lord, send somebody else.'"  Exodus 4:11-13  (ISV)

Some weeks, when I prepare to write my mid-week message, I feel very inadequate.  This is one of those times.  As I read about those who have lost everything in the Bahamas because of the hurricane, and hear more about the latest mass shooting, I think about all of the pain in this world.  I know people are in need of hearing from the Lord and knowing that He remains on His throne and sees all that has happened and that He cares and is present.  They need hope and compassion.  They need tangible help.  They are asking, "Why?  Where was He while my world was being destroyed?"  

As I type word after word, I am asking the Father if they will make any difference.  I never know who will read these messages.  Each week I pray that the message will be seen by those who need to see it.  My only desire is to point the reader to the Savior and I read and re-read what I've written before I publish it and eventually just have to trust that it will be used in a positive way.  

As Moses was being instructed by God to go to Egypt, he argued that he was not capable of doing what he was being told to do.  He tried to convince the Lord that he should send someone else.  He countered each assurance he was given with an excuse.  Finally, scripture says, the Lord grew angry with him.  He had chosen Moses and He does not make mistakes.  All Moses had to do was to be obedient.  God would give him the words he needed and direct each step.  

Each of Christ's followers is called to represent Him.  Whatever talents and abilities He has given are to be used for His glory.  They are to serve a much nobler purpose than to please ourselves.  Some can preach, some teach, others lift their voices in song.  Some are good with numbers, organization or administration.  Some are artists or entertainers.  No matter what your strong points are, there is a way to use them to uplift, to encourage, to assist others who are in need and thereby spread the love of Jesus.  

Life is overwhelming.  At times it is even devastating.  At any given time, there are those who are searching for answers.  They are looking for direction, for hope, for security.  Any one of us may be put in the pathway of someone in need.  We cannot simply turn our backs and walk away thinking that someone else will step into the gap.  God has placed us there for a reason.  We may be the only one that cares enough to love someone who is suffering, confused or lost.  All we have to do is trust that our Father will show us what needs to take place in the moment then be obedient even when it is frightening or uncomfortable.  We may not all be a Moses, but we can all touch lives and make a difference.  With sincerity of heart, God bless.  

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - The True and Genuine Religion

Many years ago, I embarked on a study of the different religions and denominations to understand why some say, “This religion or denomination is the true religion.” The question of what religion or denomination is the true religion has been around for a long, long time and will, in all probability, remain with humankind for all time. 

Each religion or denomination will point out how they do this or that and why theirs is the true and genuine religion. As an independent biblical scholar, I have listened to and studied all of the different treatises, documents, books and interpretation for and against each one.

What struck me the most is what James wrote in the first chapter of his epistle. In one simple sentence, James captured the very essence of Christianity. James writes, “27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

There are a couple of key teachings in this one sentence that need further thought. The first is that the true and genuine religion is defined by God the Father and not man. If you believe that you can define salvation or determine that you are able to provide redemption through your own acts, then you are foolish in your thinking. Our Heavenly Father is the only one who can provide us salvation through His Son, Christ Jesus. It is only by acknowledging him as our personal Savior and Lord that we can receive the perfect and undeserving gift of grace. 

In Exodus, we discover one of God’s many names, Jehovah Mekoddishkem. This name translated means “The Lord Who Sanctifies You” or “The Lord Who Makes Holy”. It is only through Him that we can be sanctified or holy. In Exodus 31, the Lord tells Moses, “13 Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.’”

Only God can make you holy or sanctify you. We cannot just say we are made holy or create a religion or denomination out of thin air and call ourselves saved or holy. It is only by God the Father that we can be saved and become a member of His kingdom.

As you think about this, you begin to see that only God the Father can determine the true and genuine religion. The next part is equally important. The true and genuine religion is more than just a bunch of words or creed that is nailed to a wall. It is living religion that breathes and acts daily in accordance to the Word and the Will of the Lord. 

In the latter part of verse 27, James writes that religion means “caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” The true and genuine religion is not only sanctified or made holy by God the Father but it also means that it causes us to act with compassion to those in need, particularly orphans and widows, and by refusing to allow the world to corrupt us. This means active participation and constant vigilance in our daily walk with the Lord. Once again, it is more than just a bunch of words strung together to make us feel good about ourselves. It requires us to be active participants in our true and genuine religion that comes from God. 

Later in his epistle, James writes in the second chapter, “19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”

James, once again in simple terms, tells us that faith and good deeds go hand in hand. We cannot have faith and call it enough. We must exercise our faith by doing those things we are called upon to do by Our Heavenly Father. 

Jesus, in Matthew 23, criticizes the religious leaders of his day and points out their ideas on religion. In that chapter, Jesus provides a scathing indictment of the religious leaders of his day, each working to push their own ideas of faith and taking advantage of their positions as religious leaders. As you read this chapter, you can easily see how the leaders of that time carefully maneuver around and manipulate the scriptures to give them what they want. Jesus calls them “blind guides” and “hypocrites”. 

In that same chapter of Matthew, Jesus says, “27 What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

If we follow our own ideas of religion and build our lives around them, then we are no better than the hypocrites of Jesus’ times. We are dead on the inside and filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. We cannot, as Jesus told the multitude during the “Sermon on the Mount”, serve two masters. Although Jesus was speaking about money, those same words and lesson can be applied to religion. We cannot call ourselves Christians if we persist in creating our own religion to suit our own needs and desires. God the Father is the only one that sees that true and genuine religion and calls us to action to do good deeds to show others that we have faith.

In Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea preached to the believers there that they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas argued vehemently against this. Finally, delegates were selected and sent to Jerusalem to put to bed, once and for all, this question.

There was a long, drawn out discussion, some argued that believers needed to be circumcised while others argued that it was not necessary and are, as Peter states, “saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

This debate, as recorded in Acts 15, nearly tears the early church apart. Finally, James stands up and gives the best summation of why Gentiles who are saved should not need to be circumcised. He states, “19 And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

James, in just a few sentences, states the important things that the saved Gentiles should follow. He boils down what are the acceptable actions of the saved in the eyes of God. In short, nothing that is done by a person can save them. It is faith and the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus that saves.

Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, writes the young preacher, “4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.”

Paul was talking about some of the men who engaged in endless discussions on the merits of certain teachings. The important thing is to live a life devoted to faith and loving and worshiping God the Father. Meaningless speculations only takes us away from our daily walk and clouds up the issues. By following the teachings of Jesus and the Word of God, we can live a simple Christ-like life devoted to serving and loving God and those around us. 

As you go through this week, I ask you to think about the words of Jesus, James and Paul and to reflect on your faith and the meaning of true and genuine religion. When you realize that we are all brothers and sisters in one family, you can easily and completely stand firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Exodus 3:13-17

Exodus 3:13-17 New International Version (NIV)

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[b] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.

16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Exodus 33:21-22

Exodus 33:21-22 New International Version (NIV)

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

Morning Scripture Reading - Exodus 14:13-14

Exodus 14:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Exodus 14:13-14

Exodus 14:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Morning Scripture Reading - Exodus 34:10

Exodus 34:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world.The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.

Afternoon Scripture Reading - Exodus 14:13-14

Exodus 14:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Daily Word of God - Exodus 4:29-31

Exodus 4:29-31 New Living Translation (NLT)

29 Then Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt and called all the elders of Israel together. 30 Aaron told them everything the Lord had told Moses, and Moses performed the miraculous signs as they watched. 31 Then the people of Israel were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Thanksgiving Message - The Blessing of the Fifth Kernel of Corn: God Listens and Answers

As we prepare for Thanksgiving Day, let us prepare our hearts by remembering the early settlers of this great nation and their hardships. They endured more than just harsh weather and crop failures; they endured the testing of their faith. Anyone put into their situation or the situations we face today, financial, medical and spiritual problems, would wonder the same thing, “Is God even listening to me?”

It is a very honest question to ask when you consider the problems that you have had to endure or are continuing to endure. Like them, we sometimes need to stop and be reminded of God’s love and grace in our lives. As we go through our trials and troubles, we only see the darkness and we sometimes fail to see the brightness of God’s love around us. We believe that God has given up on us and left us for dead. Problems seem to compound themselves one on top of the other.

2018 has been that sort of year for my family and myself. We have had to endure many painful and difficult times. The medical and financial issues have really caused us to cry out to the Lord. When things seem to be improving and we think we see the light at the end of the tunnel, the light disappears and there is more darkness. The light just moves away from us and is only a distant speck in a very bleak and long trek to seeing the end of these ordeals.

As we continued with our journey, we became tired and weary. We continued to ask God for His will to be done in our lives; however, it became more and more difficult to even utter those words. Prayers of praise and thanksgiving soon became prayers of despair and loneliness. We, like Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27 and David in Psalm 22, cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” We began to wonder what we had done so wrong to deserve our current lot in life. Had we sinned so badly that God had turned away from us? 

These questions and many more filled our prayers and daily thoughts especially when things were getting worse. My wife, daughter and I had more questions and hardly any answers. More and more issues plagued our daily lives. What were we supposed to do? In fact, some of our prayers were no longer prayers. They became moments of weeping and groaning to the Lord. There were many occasions when I found myself on my hands and knees pleading before the Lord. I was laid humble before Him and just asked Him for help. At the time, I felt that He was not listening. Help seemed nonexistent. But, I was so very wrong. 

As we recovered from those “meltdown moments”, the first thing we realized is that God listens to His children and responds to their cries for help and mercy. Even when all seems lost or when we have abandoned all hope, God does not give up on or abandon us. He remains our Heavenly Father and hears our prayers. As I was reading the second chapter of Exodus, I meditated on this passage, “23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.”

My family and I endured a different sort of bondage. It was a bondage of medical and financial issues. We were being crushed and continue to be crushed by those two things, but I began to see the message that God was placing in my heart. The first is that our groaning was being heard by God. He does listen to our prayers even when they are just groaning and weeping. He knows exactly what our hearts are filled with and the pain we have. The second is He remembers the covenant that He has with us. He has plans for us that are to prosper and not bring us harm. The third and final part of the message is that God acts when the timing is in accordance to His will. All things are subject to His will and timing and we must always remember that God is bound by His covenants and promises to us.

Once we began to see this message, our prayers changed from groaning and weeping to prayers of praise and thanksgiving. We began to sing and praise Him daily for the beauty and blessings of a single day. We remembered the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, “So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.” Tomorrow is tomorrow and we cannot change that fact. All we have is today and we should be happy. 

The words of the Psalmist in Psalm 118 should be our morning prayer, “24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Our sorrow became joy and we continued to carry that joy in our hearts throughout the course of the day and we continued to rejoice in the Lord’s blessings and in His joy. It was then that we also realized another valuable lesson which is best captured in the beautiful words of the eighth chapter of Nehemiah, “10 Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

The Lord rejoices over His children and loves each of us dearly, so dearly that he gave His one and only son as our atonement sacrifice to pay our debt of sin. When we began to put all of these messages that He placed in our hearts together and began to see the beauty of our relationship with the Lord, we realized that we should never believe or even think that God is not listening. He always listens. Equally as important, we should never believe or even think that God will not act. He always acts in accordance with His will and perfect timing. 

Answers to all of our problems have already been planned and executed. Those things that we need are already on their way and we must just remain faithful to Him and remember that God will deliver us out of our bondage just like He had done for the Israelites in Egypt. We will be delivered out of our dark times and we will get through the valley of darkness and come out of the situations that we faced stronger in our faith and with more wisdom in knowing and understanding God’s plan in our lives.

As I have often said before, it is easy to be a believer when things are going well. However, when things turn from good to bad, our faith is truly tested and we must learn that God always listens to His children. We should never doubt that one immutable fact. We should always remember that we, as His children, must come into His presence with joy and thanksgiving. The Psalmist eloquently tells us in Psalm 95, “1 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.”

It has taken me almost a full year to begin to see the light of day. During this year, my family and I have had to endure many hardships and difficulties. Some days it seems like problems pile up on our shoulders and we are crushed by their weight. It is at those moments that we remember the scriptures of God’s wondrous works and His covenants and promises to His children. He always listens. He will never forsake us. He will provide for us. He, most importantly, will always love us and see us through those dark moments of dread and despair. We just have to remain faithful to Him and praise Him for what we have, our daily bread, and let Him handle our problems.

Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, tells them in chapter four, “6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Always remain joyful and thank Him for everything. When we do that our outlook on life will change from despair to joy. As you and your family and friends sit down for your Thanksgiving meal, start your prayer with just a few simple words of thanksgiving and joy. When you do that,  you will be filled with joy and strength and, most assuredly, can stand firm in His grace.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Daily Word of God - Exodus 23:25-26

Exodus 23:25-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I[a] will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.

Footnotes:
23:25 As in Greek and Latin versions; Hebrew reads he.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - The Secret to Great Wealth

If you go to any book store or watch late night infomercials, you will always find a slew of books on how to achieve great wealth. Each book or program has its own scheme on how to make it big. Some will tell you that you can do it through real estate. Others will provide you with secrets about investment so that you can enjoy the “high life” and have all that you want and even more. Others will show you the way to wealth by using small, classified ads in newspapers to sell informational booklets to others. In all cases, each book or program showcases the outcome if you follow their steps to success. Books will describe a life of luxury. Infomercials will show you pictures of expensive homes, cars and yachts. All promise a life of wealth and happiness.

But, what happens if the schemes do not work? Will you be poor and unhappy? If you didn’t invest your entire savings into the program or book, you are just out that money. You still have your current life where your needs for food, shelter and clothing are being met. In short, you are no worse than before you started the scheme outlined by the books or programs. The real question that you should be asking yourself is, “Am I happy?”

If your basic needs are being met and you have your health, you should be content with that. You may think that having a lot of money to do whatever you want and buy whatever you want is the key to happiness. If you think that, you cannot be further from the truth. Having more of anything including money does not bring happiness. It just brings more and different problems. 

For example, if you have more money, you will soon discover that you will pay more and more in taxes. Buying more things only leads to a desire to buy more things. It almost seems an addiction. When that occurs, you then need to make more money so that you can afford more things. In some cases, it does become an addiction and a vicious cycle. You begin to sacrifice more and more to make more and more. In the end, you may find yourself bankrupt not only financially but also morally and physically. You have given up everything to achieve what you thought would bring you ultimate happiness only to find that you were truly happy long before you even began this journey of self-destruction and sacrifice.

So, what is the secret to great wealth? Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, explains it quite clearly in chapter 6, “6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Even back then, people did the same things that we do today. They craved and desired more than they needed. They all wanted the “high life” and wanted to live on “easy street”. But, as they soon discovered, this desire to be rich only leads to ruin and destruction. This desire only for money leads people to temptation and all kinds of evil. They crave nothing but money and begin to wander away from their faith, their family and soon find themselves deeper in debt and with even more sorrows than before.

Many years ago, I saw a movie called “The Boost” with James Woods and Sean Young. Woods played a salesman who wanted to give his wife, played by Sean Young, the “high life”. After only finding disappointment in other sales jobs, he got involved in a real estate scheme that was guaranteed to provide them with more wealth and happiness without any chance of risk or failure. At first, he was making more money than he had ever made in his entire life. He began to buy expensive toys for both himself and his wife. Cars, homes, airplanes and more were all toys for them to enjoy and buy. They adorned themselves with expensive clothing and jewelry. The both of them had it all and more. Soon, they discovered cocaine and began to spend money on that expensive habit. In time, the real estate scheme ran out of steam and the source of their wealth dried up. They could no longer afford all of their expensive toys, clothes or jewelry. They were bankrupt, but they now had something that they could not shake or walk away from even through bankruptcy. They were both addicted to cocaine and that master needed to be fed hourly. 

They lost everything including each other. At the end of the movie, you see both of them now separated and unhappy. The movie came out during the 1980s. That decade has been called by some historians as the “Decade of Excess”. The economy was on fire and everyone was enjoying the fruits of their labor. There seemed to be no end in sight. The stock market was booming and everyone was getting rich. Many soon found themselves in the same position as the couple from the movie. Buying more only to find that they wanted more. The “Decade of Excess” soon turned into the decade of disappointment, sadness and sorrow. There was an uptick in the number of cases of bankruptcies, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction and suicides.

During each period of financial boom, this story repeats itself. People make more and spend more only to find themselves destitute and unhappy. They all realize, in the end, that they were truly happy when they did not have all of the expensive toys, clothing and jewelry. Excess did not mean happiness for most. It became a curse that soon took its toll on their lives.

Several Sundays ago I presented the message entitled “Two Masters”. In that message, I discussed the insidiousness of having two masters in your life, God and money. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6, “24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

True wealth comes from being godly and content with what you have. God provides for your daily needs of food, clothing and shelter. Having more of any one of those items does not make you happier. Having a bigger, more expensive house does not shelter you more. It does the same as a smaller one. It provides a roof over your head and protection from the elements. That is all a shelter does.

In Exodus 16, we see God providing food for the Israelites with one very important provision, “gather enough for that day”. God provided them with manna, heavenly bread, to eat, but some decided to gather more than they needed. They became disobedient and soon discovered that the manna spoiled and was full of maggots. Their greed to have more than they needed separated them from God.

When you allow greed and the craving for money to take over your life, you will soon find yourself on the path to ruin and destruction. By the time many find that they are on that path, it is too late. Some lose everything including themselves. Their relationship with the Lord is shattered and they wander aimlessly through life wondering what happened. Although it may be too late to salvage their financial lives, it is never too late to realize the error of their ways and return to the Father. Like the prodigal son realizing that he made a big mistake in taking his inheritance early from his father, you can always return to the Father and He will welcome you back with open arms and celebrate your return.

If you find yourself on this path to ruin and destruction or just starting down that path, there is still time to change and live a life filled with contentment with what you have and build a strong relationship with God through His son, Christ Jesus. Once you turn your life around, I can assure you that you will enjoy a wealth greater than anything this world can offer and be able to stand firm in His grace.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Being God’s Obedient Servant

Over the years, I have pondered the question of what it means to be God’s obedient servant. During my reflection, I discovered a couple of key traits that are shared by God’s servants and what it takes to be His servant. Being His obedient servant is not an easy task or something that is taken on lightly. It requires the utmost in dedication, a heightened relationship with the Lord, a willingness to go wherever He leads and trusting Him without question. 

When you look at the men and women of the Bible, you see the best examples of what it means to be an obedient servant. When you examine their lives, you see that they faced internal and external struggles, persecution and, in some cases, physical harm or death. It is part of being God’s servant. Each faced temptation. Each, I am sure, may have had his or her moments of doubt, but those thoughts were quickly dismissed. Each refocused by keeping the prize in sight and continued to run the good race and fight the good fight.

As I was reading Isaiah 50, I began to see, with clarity, the required characteristics of an obedient servant who is willing to humble himself or herself before the Lord and do as He commands. Let us begin to look at those characteristics and examine them with some detail to see how we measure up in our lives.

The first thing I noticed is that the obedient servant receives his or her wisdom directly from the Lord. They do not seek the worldly wisdom of those around them but look to the Lord for guidance. That wisdom that they receive is not just to be used for personal advancement or kept quietly in their hearts. It is to be shared with others in order to bring them comfort or help them with problems that they are facing. Isaiah states this point very clearly, “4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.”

Each day, we should wake up and ask God to provide us with the words of wisdom to share with others and provide comfort to those in need of it. When we ask for those words, we are also able to see His will in our lives. He provides to us a purpose and a desire to fulfill it. When we begin to see God’s will working in our lives, we have a profound sense of responsibility not only to Him but also to His children. His will directs our every step and provides us with the right words to share with those around us. 

Moses, in Exodus 4, is called by God to deliver His children out of bondage in Egypt. Moses questions the Lord and offers up excuses. He tells the Lord that the people may ask who sent him. They will demand an answer. God tells Moses, “14 I am who I am. You must tell them: ‘The one who is called I Am has sent me to you.’” God provided the answer to Moses so that there would be no question or doubt in the minds of the Israelites that God had sent him to lead them out of bondage.

Isaiah, in verse 5, tells us of another characteristic of an obedient servant, “The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.” An obedient servant of God listens intently to the words and wisdom of the Father and does not shirk their responsibilities or turn away from the Lord. Sometimes, we may try to avoid our responsibilities out of fear of persecution or even death, but, in turn, God brings conviction to our heart and we realize that what we need to refocus and concentrate on doing God’s will here on earth no matter what the consequences are.

Elijah, for example, fled to Horeb, the mountain of God, in order to escape the wrath of Ahad and Jezebel. Elijah feared for his life and felt that he was all alone. He took refuge in a cave and there the Lord spoke to him. God did not appear in a great wind, fire or earthquake. God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. Let us look at 1 Kings 19. “11 The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” Elijah had to listen to God carefully as anyone would do if someone were whispering to him or her. God gave him specific instructions and provided him with the plan of action.

Listening and acting in accordance to God’s will and direction is different from hearing Him. It is all well and good to say that you have heard the Lord speaking to you, but as His obedient servant, you must listen carefully to His word and act as directed by Him. Elijah, after listening to God, followed His explicit instructions and continued down the righteous path God had for him. 

But, what does it mean to listen to the Lord? Let us look to Samuel and how God called to him. Samuel was given to Eli, the High Priest of Shiloh, by his mother, Hannah. She prayed to God and asked Him for a son. As part of her prayer, she promised she would give her son back to God so that he could serve Him. God heard her prayer and she was with child. As she had promised, she gave her son, Samuel, to Eli so that he could be trained to serve the Lord. As he slumbers, God calls to Samuel. Samuel instead thinks it was Eli calling him. After Eli tells him that it was not he who called out to him, Eli realizes that God was calling Samuel. Eli gave Samuel explicit instructions on how to respond to the voice. In 1 Samuel 3, Eli tells Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” Samuel did as he was told to do.

As His obedient servants, we must actively listen to the Lord. We must open our hearts and minds to Him and His words. We cannot allow distractions to get in the way as He speaks to our hearts and provides us with the wisdom and direction we need. God speaks to us every day either through His Word or directly. I can safely say that I have heard the voice of the Lord as He directed me to preach His word and to start a ministry to serve in His kingdom. For nonbelievers, this is difficult to comprehend or even find credible. Some will scoff at the very thought of God speaking to individuals. 

As we grow in our faith, there are certain things we can expect to occur in our lives. There will be those in the world that will mock or persecute us for our faith. They will call us, “crazy people who worship some bearded being in the clouds.” Others may even seek to imprison us for our beliefs. But, as obedient servants of God, we are to put those things aside and remain focused on the prize that lies ahead. 

Jesus, when he came to live among us, left his exalted place on high with the Father to become human. He did not come into this world to judge us. He came to save us by providing a gift of salvation directly from the Father. Paul writes, in Philippians 2, about Jesus, “6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Part of being God’s obedient servants is to be humble even if means subjecting ourselves to ridicule, mockery, physical torture or even death as part of our service to the Lord. Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy, “12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Jesus, in Matthew 10, reminds his disciples, “22 And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” 

As we endure the mockery, ridicule and, in some case, much worse, we demonstrate our unwavering faith in the Lord and continue to be His obedient servants. As with Jesus, Paul and others in the Bible, it is part and parcel of being a servant to the Most High. We will find ourselves the punchline to jokes or standing alone in the midst of a mob who ask the question, “Where is your God now?” But, we should gain comfort in Jesus’s words in Matthew 11, “29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The other characteristic that I find striking is that an obedient servant of God knows that God is always near and is on his or her side. Isaiah writes, “8 He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear! 9 See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty? All my enemies will be destroyed like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!”

God is always there for His obedient servants and will provide whatever is necessary to overcome the overwhelming. At times, we may face problems that are so overwhelming and feel that there is no way to overcome them. God will always provide a way. There is nothing that will stand in your way when God is right there with you. God promises this in Isaiah 54, “17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Nothing will ultimately stand in our way as long as we remain His obedient servants. There are times when we question His direction and will in our lives, but we must not dwell on those thoughts. Those fears, uncertainties and doubts play directly into the hands of Satan. He will whisper into our ears and cause us to question or doubt God’s wisdom, will and direction in our lives. We must not listen to him. When those thoughts come into our mind, we must seek out God and ask Him for a hedge of protection. God is our refuge, fortress and shield. If God be for us, who can be against us? Satan has no power over us when we seek shelter in the everlasting arms of the Lord.

As we approach the end of our lives and we stand before the Lord, the words that we long to hear from Him will be our reward for our service, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!”

As you go through the rest of this week, I ask you to take inventory of these characteristics and to be honest with yourselves. I find myself lacking in some of them from time to time, but I quickly realize my shortcomings and ask God to forgive me and direct my steps. When we do that, we will soon find it easier to be an obedient servant that can stand firm in His grace.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)