“Throw it down”

The Bible says: “Then the Lord asked him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A shepherd’s staff,’ Moses replied. ‘Throw it down on the ground,’ the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. Then the Lord told him, ‘Reach out and grab its tail.’ So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand” (vv. 2-4 NLT). Then God instructed Moses to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to set the children of Israel free. “Take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you” (v. 17 NLT).

It represented his security. It gave him physical security from wild animals. It gave him financial security – his sheep were his financial asset. Moses’ staff also identified him as a shepherd. This experience marked the ending of one season in his life, and the beginning of another. The staff Moses threw down had been used to tend sheep, but the one he picked up would be used to part the waters of the Red Sea and lead God’s people to the promised land.

Is God asking you to throw down that which represents your security and your identity? Don’t be afraid, do it! What you get back will be greater than anything you are asked to give up. The only way you find your new identity is by letting go of your old one. The only way you will find your security in Christ is by throwing down the human securities you cling to.

Soul food: Dan 1-2; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 127; Prov 10:11

Problems? Draw closer to God

We say we trust God but often fear that He won’t come through for us when we need Him most. So, we falsely assume that if we keep thinking about the problem and worrying about it enough, somehow we can take care of it on our own – just in case God doesn’t show up and do something according to our timetable. This brings us closer to our problems, but not to the One who can solve them. But when we choose to believe that God is in control of our lives and is going to handle whatever situation we are in, we move closer to Him and our problems don’t seem so worrisome at all.

It works like this: The closer you get to the problem, the smaller God seems, and the closer you get to God, the smaller your problem seems. The Bible says, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 AMPC). Trusting God will keep you from reasoning and trying to figure out things you don’t have answers for yet. Instead of listening to that nagging voice inside that says, “What are you going to do?” draw closer to God and say, “I’m going to trust God to show me what to do.”

David declared, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart… how good it is to be near God!” (Psalm 73:26, 28 NLT). Where is God when you need Him most? Right beside you!

Soul food: Exo 39-40; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 135; Prov 7:21-23

When God shows up

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s ninety-foot golden god, he threatened them with a fiery furnace. Here is what they told him: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not…we do not serve your gods” (vv. 17-18 NKJV).

When does God show up? When you say, “God is able to deliver me, but if not, I’m going to serve Him anyway.” It’s wonderful when God provides what we need. Yet, the faith that truly pleases God says, “But if not, I’m going to trust God anyway.”

Peter writes: “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT).

And one more thought: The Bible does not say that the three Hebrew children saw the fourth man who was with them in the fire; it says that Nebuchadnezzar did, and he described Him as “the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). So even when you don’t know it, your faith, your life, and testimony are impacting those around you and bringing glory to God.

Soul food: Eze 47:1-12; Rev 21:22-22:5

Trust God and take action

There is a time to be cautious and a time to throw caution to the wind. And it takes discernment to know the difference. If you’re waiting for perfect conditions before seizing an opportunity, you will be hesitating until you die. The Bible says, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” More often than not, the only thing between you and the fulfillment of your dream is an excuse: “I’m too busy… I don’t have enough money… I’m unqualified… I’m not ready yet… I have lots of problems.”

News flash: No one is ever ready. Immediately before Christ’s first miracle, he shows a hint of hesitation: “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4 NLT). But Jesus had a mother who loved Him enough to persuade Him.

In his book Jump In!, Mark Burnett writes about his path to TV-producer prominence. Burnett created hit shows like Survivor and The Apprentice. He writes: “Nothing will ever be… perfect, and nothing can be totally planned. The best you can hope for is to be about half certain of your plan and know that you and the team you’ve assembled are willing to work hard enough to overcome the inevitable problems as they arrive.” Note the words “the best you can hope for is to be about half certain.” That’s a pretty good paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 11.

So, don’t “observe the wind,” and don’t “regard the clouds.” After you have prayed and prepared, it’s time to trust God and take action.

Soul food: Est 5-10; John 21:1-25; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 26:24-27