July 28: Learning to be a Nobody

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NKJV)

Who am I? This was not the question of someone who had that much confidence in himself. It was that of someone who had been drained of his pride. 40 years earlier Moses would have been  the first one to beat his chest in confidence and sign up for the latest assignment. After all, he was the adopted son of pharaoh's daughter, probably educated in the Egyptian Ivy League institutions, a royal prince of Egypt, heir to some high official position, enjoying all the privileges. He was cocky, impulsive and full of himself.  He displayed this when he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. He was the self-appointed deliverer whose job was to tell everyone what to do.

However, the Moses we see in our text today is a different one. It was a subdued Moses, one who had been emptied of his pride. The bible would later call him the meekest man on the earth. Something had happened to Moses that changed his view of himself.  Here it is: Moses spent the first 40 years of his life thinking he was somebody, then after he became a fugitive, he spent the next 40 years learning he was a nobody. The encounter in our text today is the beginning of how he learned during the last 40 years of his life what God could do with a nobody.

40 years ago, he thought God needed somebodies. Here he would learn that God wants nobodies that he could make somebodies out of. God wants people who have enough space within themselves that he could pour Himself into because they had been emptied of self. He wants people with weaknesses  enough to depend on His strength and inadequacies enough to cling to His sufficiency. 

Your call in God can only be accomplished through dependence on Him. You can only bear fruits when you abide and stay hooked to the vine. Every effort in self-sufficiency even with the loftiest of aims results in a curse because woe it is to the man who trusts in man and makes the arms of flesh his trust. This is the reason why God's use for those who seek independence is limited. God is looking for those who have come to the end of themselves; those who are at the point where their identities are no where else but in Him. Those who ask Him, " Who am I" like Moses did. It is those humble souls who have come to terms with their "nobodyness" who He takes on the journey of being somebody. 


Decision of the Day

I understand that independence and pride will hinder me from being used of God, but a recognition of my  helplessness and inadequacies in my self leading me to dependence on Him is the path to my destiny. I decide today to pursue that path of dependence

July 25: To Whose Cry Are You an Answer?

"Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9,10 ) 

The people cried. God heard their cries. His response? Find a person to send, in this case, Moses.  This pattern is not just isolated to today's text, but repeats all though scriptures and history. God raises men and women and sends them to be the answers to cries reaching His ears from the mass of humanity.  The pattern of God for carrying out His purposes on earth is for persons summoned and empowered by Him to be sent into areas of pain and hurt to bring His will. God uses people to help people. He uses those who heed His call to respond to humanity's calls. 

God uses people to carry out His will on the earth. He calls, empowers and sends them as answers to the tears and burdens of other men. For the Gentile's cries, He calls and sends a Paul. For the people of Nineveh, a Jonah.  For an ark to be built, it was a Noah. For the covenant nation to be formed, it was Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For it to be preserved from the famine  that would sweep the world, He found and prepared a Joseph and summoned him to the palace. In fact, the ultimate example is Jesus Christ becoming a man in response to the cries of humanity for deliverance from sin and its consequences. 

You are also an answer from God to the cry of someone. The passions He's given you, the experiences you've had, the trainings you've received, your weaknesses, your testimony, your failures, your story, your talents and your pains all intersect at some point with the predicament and desperate aspirations of someone or some persons. You are the answer from God to their desperate prayers to God. You are the cold water they seek for their thirsty souls and the bearer of glad tidings whose feet are beautiful on the mountains of their lives. . 

Pray today for God to show you those people. Ask the Lord to know the question you were made to answer, the need you were created to meet and the void He sent you here to fill. Then take a look around you, because these ones are as near as the next person who asks you for a helping hand, the helpless child around the corner or the things around you that unlock your compassion and infuriate you with holy anger. Heed the call and begin the exciting life of being a co-laborer with God.  

Decision of the Day

I understand that God answers the cries of humanity by sending other humans to help. I know there is a cry I am sent to answer. There is someone crying to God and I am the answer to that cry. I will respond as God call me and be willing to lend a hand to hurting people around me. 

July 23: God Knows

And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. (Exodus 3:7 NKJV)

Our text today is one of those verses of scripture that require no other illustration to communicate its message. In itself, it is a graphic illustration of the great truth of God's concern and care for His people. It speaks of the extent of God's awareness.

Care and concern begins with awareness. You can not be concerned with what you are unaware of. Whatever is below your radar doesn't move your bowel of compassion. The popular adage says, "Out of sight is out of mind." That is why often when people pass through difficult times, the questions on their minds are often about awareness. Does anyone know? Does someone see? Does someone care? Does anyone care to ask? Am I alone in this? Where is God in all these?

God answers these questions in our text. He tells us, sees, hears and knows our situations. There is nothing going on in your life right now that God is unaware of. Jesus said, "not even a sparrow can fall down without the Father's notice, that even the very hairs of your head are numbered." Each little one. He knows and cares about what we feel and the little details of our lives.

Someone once asked a pastor if God cares about the little and trivial things of life. The Pastor replied, "Lady, can you think of anything that is big for God? In other words, everything in our lives is small when compared with God yet He sees all, hears all and feels all. He is touched with the feelings of your infirmity. He is concerned about you.

As you go about your day today, retain an awareness that no matter what life looks like for you now. No matter what you are going through right now, God is very well acquainted with it all. He has tread the path you now tread when Christ came and identified with our humanity. He knows every weakness and understands everything. God loves you and cares for you. Relax in His care. Cast your burdens on Him. He will see you through this season of life.

Decision of the Day

I understand that God is aware of everything I face. That He cares for me. Nothing is too little for His concern. I roll my cares on Him today, knowing that He has a plan for every situation in my life and He will see me through.

July 22: The God of Transformation

Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6 NKJV)

For God to call himself the God of Abraham or Isaac is easily accepted. Abraham is a name from God Himself and Isaac is a name of joy, it means laughter. But to call Himself the God of Jacob, which means "swindler", "cheater" or "supplanter" should make us pause a little. Didn't He Himself change Jacob's name to Israel. Why not call Himself, the God of Israel here instead?

Translate the names and our text would read, " I am the God of the father of nations. I am the God of laughter and I am the God of the swindler and the cheat. It is then the message jumps out from the pages of scripture.

God retains the name of Jacob to leave hope for everyone. He wants the thief, the adulterer, the liar, the criminal, the murderer and the chiefest of sinners to know that no matter how far they've gone in their vices, there is still a place of acceptance for them with Him if they would turn to Him. He is here calling Himself, the God of Transformation., the God of Change, the one who can turn the shaky reed, Peter into a rock, and the one who can make the murderer of saints, Saul into His choice apostle, Paul.

How far do you think you may have fallen? How bad do you think things are in your life? Is there a trait that you feel has become your permanent badge. Turn to the God of transformation today and see what He can make out of you. God doesn't consult your past to determine your future. He doesn't look at your pedigree or lack of one to qualify you for His best. If your thinking is stinking, take it to Him and let Him change you. If your strength is feeble, let Him infuse you with His strength. He is the Unchanging Changer and the Master Potter. He can remold whatever has been broken, if placed in His hands. Trust Him for transformation today. He is the God of the Swindler.


Decision of the Day

I will praise God today because He is the God of Transformation. He is not just the God of the great and perfect but also the God of the broken and tarnished. I trust you Lord for increasing transformation of my life into your image day by day.

July 21: When God calls Himself by Your Name

Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6 NKJV)

The natural order of things is for the creator to name his invention as he wills, sometimes giving it his own name. So the Ford company is named after its founder and the George Foreman grill after its popular inventor. However, it is not often seen for a creator to name himself after his creation.

That was why it was first a puzzle to me when I would read God’s introduction about Himself in our text today. The great God of the universe chose to permanently tag Himself with the names of fallen men, and wears the tag proudly, it reads," I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

It is like a great king appending his name with that of his subjects and using it proudly, or a father calling himself by his children's names. It is sure a sign of total identification and acceptance.

Then a little study of scripture also shows that not only did He take on their names, He also gave them His own name. So as He was the God of Abraham, Abraham was also Abraham of God Most high.

It is then obvious that this name was a demonstration of God's covenant keeping nature. Through the blood covenant, He had willingly bound Himself forever with Abraham and His descendants to be their God forever. God had stooped low to meet with fallen humanity at his level and offered a hand of loving commitment to lift humanity up to His level.

This brings to mind what Jesus did with us. He left the glories of heaven and came to sinful earth to live with us. He took on your nature so that you could have access to His righteousness. He felt what you feel and lived where you live. He took on the name of a man and has offered to you His own name and privileges. And it is written, He did it all without a hint of shame,

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:16 NKJV)

Take this as a great encouragement for today. It is a message of your acceptance before Him. Despite your weaknesses and shortcomings, He doesn’t blush when He mentions your name. He has no intention of issuing a disclaimer about you. He is putting no distance between Himself and you. In fact, He wears your tag on His sleeve proudly. He fully identifies with you. He is like that father who displays the sticker proudly on his car, proclaiming to all that He is the father of an honor student at Riverdale High.

Yes, you sometimes fall short. Yes, you sometimes stumble, but think of this. If God can call Himself the God of a Swindler, which is what "Jacob" means, He surely can call Himself your God.

Decision of the Day

I praise God today and always because He is not ashamed of me. He fully identifies with my weaknesses and shortcomings and proudly accepts me as I am in His son. He calls me by His own name. He sees His righteousness in me. Forever by His blood He has bound Himself to me, never to leave me or forsake me.

July 20: When God Whispers Your Name

So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4 NKJV)

Growing up, whenever my parents called my name more than once in succession, I knew something was in the offing. Either a word of praise or a time of correction, a new errand to run, or probably a dose of wisdom words. Something always followed the repeated calling of my name.

God called Moses' name in our text today, repeating it twice. He did the same some other times in Scriptures. It was the same voice that called Samuel as a little boy, repeating His name. The one that called Simon Peter, repeating his name, telling him to tend His flock. He called Saul's name on the road to Damascus, in the same tone, giving him a mission. When God whispers your name, you can be assured that something more would follow.

Moses needed to hear that something more. Over the years, his confidence had waned. The zeal that burned in him with passion in His youthful day had all but been extinguished by the monotony of life. In the first half of his life, he was one who was important, being raised in the palace, in the second half, he was a fugitive, but little did he know, that the third phase was about to begin where He would become the deliverer of a nation. And it would begin through that whisper of His name. He answered and his story changed.

God still knows the names of His creation. He is still calling people by name. He is still dealing with people on a first-name basis. He knows your name too and He is calling it today. If you will answer, there is more waiting for you.

Decision of the Day

I will answer Him today as I hear Him calling me.

July 19: The Sacred and the Secular

"Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5 NKJV)

There are certain places you visit on earth where you are overwhelmed with a sense of awe and of God's presence. For example, many  visitors to Israel who walk  through the various places mentioned in scriptures testify of a sense of awe and sacredness that come with such places. Also church grounds, worship services and gathering of believers are seen as symbols of the sacred. 

However, there are certain other places no one easily associates with sacredness. Few go to work and burst out in worship at the awesome holiness of God saturating their work facilities and offices. No one visits the penitentiary, the pubs or bars and ever think in terms of how holy such places are. 

As a result of this, we have created neat labels of distinction. We call one the sacred and the other, secular. We see the sacred as the home of spirituality and the secular, the place of sensuality. We view the sacred as the abode of faith and the secular is the arena of facts; the sacred as the place of worship and the secular as the place of workmanship. The former is seen as the abode of religion and the latter, the topography of reason.  

But these distinctions are man-made. Very often in Scriptures we see God blurring the line between the "sacred" and the "secular." Really to Him, there is no line. Every place on earth can become Holy Ground. That was His original intention before the fall. That is why He made appearances and visited men and women in many ordinary places such as in our text today. Moses received a visitation of God at work, in exile, in the wilderness.

 In other places, God met people at the well, He inspired many portions of the Holy scriptures in prisons. He chose to be born in a manger, to be friends with sinners and crucified in a place no one identified with sacredness, Golgotha the place of skulls.

We should also stop the distinction and remove the dividing line. Because you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, everywhere you go and everything you do irrespective of their natures become sacred. As a living stone of spiritual worship, your presence should turn ordinary places into holy spots where God should be honored. 

So as you go about doing your work today, no matter how unspiritual it may seem and as you visit certain places today in your line of duty, no matter how devoid of God they may feel, remember that, just as all it takes to make a thing wet is the presence of water,  all it takes to make a spot sacred is the presence of God and that great God calls you His temple.


Decision of the Day

I understand that with God there is no division between the secular and the sacred. He wants to fill the whole earth with His presence. He wants everywhere to become Holy Spots and that is why He has granted me access to the places I frequent and do the things I do. I will remain aware of this today. I will put the touch of sacredness on everything I do and everyone I meet. As His temple, I will extend the perimeters of His holy presence wherever I find myself.