Working Alone – Blackaby devotional

So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?"
Exodus 18:14

In our zeal to please God and advance His kingdom, we Christians often take on responsibilities that God never intended us to have.  One of the great challenges of the Christian life is determining what God does not want us to do!  Our intentions are admirable: we love God, we love His people, and we see many needs around us.  But sometimes our good intentions cause more harm than good.

Moses was aware of the need for someone to settle disputes among the Israelites.  Someone had to help those former slaves learn how to live together as the people of God, so Moses took it upon himself to meet this need.  Long lines of unhappy people, hoping to have their cases heard, stood before Moses each day.  Moses spent day after day carrying the weight of his nation’s problems on his shoulders.  Finally his father-in-law, an outsider, witnessed what Moses was doing and challenged the wisdom of his actions.  Moses was taking on more than he could handle.  He was wearing himself out trying to do what was impossible for one person.  In doing this service alone, Moses was robbing others of an opportunity to serve the Lord.  He was also doing a disservice to his people, who otherwise could have had their issues resolved much sooner.

When you become aware of a need, do not automatically assume God wants you to meet it.  The only reason to perform ministry is that God clearly tells you it is His will.  If you are feeling overwhelmed by all that you are doing, you are probably doing more than God has asked.  Pray carefully about the assignments you take on, so that you don’t rob yourself and others of God’s best.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Servants of Christ – Blackaby devotional

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ "
Exodus 33:15

The servant carries out the master’s will.  The servant doesn’t tell the master what to do.  The servant does not choose which tasks to perform for the master, nor does the servant suggest days or times when it would be convenient to serve the master.  The servant’s function is to follow instructions.  The master, on the other hand, gives directions.  The master does not tell the servant to develop a vision that will guide the master.  The master is the one with the vision; the servant’s task is to help fulfill the master’s purposes.

We are the servants; God is the Master.  We tend to try to reverse this!  God’s revelation of Himself, His purposes, and His ways depends directly upon our obedience.  He may not reveal today His intentions for the next five years, but He will tell us what our next step should be.  As we respond to God’s revelation, He will accomplish what He desires, and He will be the One who receives the glory.

Our fulfillment comes from serving our master.  The world will encourage you to strive for positions of authority and power.  God wants you to take the role of a servant.  As God’s servant you should have no other agenda than to be obedient to whatever He tells you.  God does not need you to dream great dreams for your life, your family, your business, or your church.  He simply asks for obedience.  He has plans that would dwarf yours in comparison. (Ephesians 3:20).

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Fix Your Eyes on God – Blackaby devotional

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock;and he said to them,"Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?"
Numbers 20:10

It is easy to see why Moses became frustrated with the Hebrew people.  They were so hard-hearted and weak in their faith that Moses lost his patience and became angry with them.  Yet every time Moses shifted his focus away from God, it cost him.  When he sought to help his people by taking matters into his own hands, he spent the next forty years herding sheep in the wilderness (Exodus 2:11-15).  This time his impetuous behavior cost him the opportunity to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).  In his frustration at the peoples’ irreverence, Moses committed the very same sin, blatantly disobeying God’s instructions.  How did this happen?  Moses allowed his attention to shift to the behavior of others rather than focusing on the activity of God.

This could happen to you as well.  God has put people around you who need your ministry to them. You will never be able to properly help them, however, unless your primary focus is on God.  If you concentrate on people, their weaknesses, their disobedience, their lack of faith, and their stubbornness will quickly frustrate you.  You may, like Moses, commit the very sins you are condemning.  If, however, your eyes are fixed on holy God, you will become more like Him—gracious, forgiving, long-suffering, and righteous.  When a friend’s behavior disappoints you, go immediately to the Lord.  Seek to discern what God is wanting to do in your friend’s life rather than concentrating on your friend’s sin.  Then you will have the strength, wisdom, and patience you need to help your friend in the way God desires.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Friday humor – 20090410

A little humor for Friday courtesy of Sacred Sandwich.

Reminds me of a few posts by E. Barrett of R3 concerning some “Christians” that display a less than Christian attitude when behind the wheel.  And no, as far as I can recall, there is no specific commandment that reads:

“Though shalt not drive yon chariot as a demon possessed fool.”

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, the one about Christ that is; not the 6 foot bunny,chocolates and boiled eggs.

1st Corinthians 15:1-8
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Grace and peace be with you.

Forgive to Be Forgiven – Blackaby devotional

"And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors."
Matthew 6:12

Few things are more precious to receive than forgiveness. After carrying the burden of our sin, it is wonderfully freeing to know that the one we have wronged has completely forgiven us.

Jesus warned that we should expect forgiveness from God as we forgive those who sin against us, for God will forgive us in the same way we forgive others (Matt. 6:15). God’s nature is forgiveness (Exod. 34:6-7). If we are to be His disciples, we must follow His example. If God will forgive our most relentless enemy, we can do nothing less. Jesus did not say that certain offenses are unworthy of our forgiveness. We have no biblical excuse for allowing unforgiveness in our hearts.

If you choose to withhold forgiveness from someone, your worship and prayers are futile (Matt. 5:23-24). Ask God to make you aware of those dark corners in your life where you are harboring resentment. A keen awareness of your own need for forgiveness will put the offenses of others in their proper light. Ask God to make you like Christ so that, even when you are being persecuted, you can pray "Father, forgive them"

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day