A Christian’s Responsibility to Social Media

Never in the history of the world have there been more ways to communicate.  We have telephones, cell phones, email, Twitter, Facebook, Skype, and many other ways to keep in touch with one another.  Yet with all the various ways to keep in touch it seems there is some confusion on how a person; especially a child of God should use this technology.  Franklin D Roosevelt penned in his notes “Today we have learned the agony of war that great power involved great responsibility.”  This quote is from a speech that FDR was going to deliver at the Jefferson Day Dinner in 1945; he died the day before.  (Most of you thought this quote was from Uncle Ben via Stan Lee from Spiderman didn’t you!)  Actually Jesus said it first when he stated in the parables, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:48).

Social media use has become so pervasive in the lives of American teens that having a presence on a social network site is almost synonymous with being online. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites. Many log on daily to their social network pages and these have become spaces where much of the social activity of teen life is echoed and amplified—in both good and bad ways.

NEUTRAL

Depending on who you talk to you will get a wide array of opinions in regards to social media being a good thing or a bad thing.  The same could be said about firearms, drugs, etc.  You see a firearm in the hands of a police officer is a good thing.  A firearm in the hands of a robber is obviously a bad thing.  Drugs in the hands of your doctor can help you get well.  Drugs in the hands of a drug distributor is bad.  I firmly believe the same is true with social media.  It all depends on how we choose to use it!

NEGATIVE

However; 90% of teens reported they have experienced someone being mean or cruel to another person on a social network site. 15% stated they have personally been the target of such cruelty.   From time to time we have all probably witnessed some negative behaviors like gossip/slander, jealousy, bullying, sites depicting who is hot and who is not, apathy, lack of time management, posting positive comments about ungodly television shows or movies, arguments over politics and sports just to name a few.  Far too often these seems to be no “policing” of what people do and say making some of our experiences negative in nature.  We are commanded, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

POSITIVE

A recent survey revealed that most American teens who use social media say people are mostly kind to one another on social network sites. Overall, 69% of social media-using teens think that peers are mostly kind to each other on social network sites.

Jesus calls us to live in the world – in the culture that we are born into – to be difference makers for the cause of Christ (Matthew 5:13-16).  We need to show non-Christians, with all their stereotypes and negative experiences of Christ, what Christianity really is.  I believe that Twitter and Facebook are perfect media for this.  Christians can use social media to show the rest of the world what we’re really about.  Or, we can perpetuate the stereotypes we’re fighting against.  In the book of Revelation we find “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). 

So you may be wondering, “How can I use Facebook and Twitter for the glory of God?”  I would suggest you talk positively about other people and especially the church.  It is always encouraging to see a young person post Scriptures and even expound a little bit as to why you enjoy that Scripture so much.  I personally have been resolved to take the time to “inbox” notes of encouragement to other people.  It is a great way to post/share articles which cover a wide array of issues and topics relating to one’s spiritual well-being.  I have no doubt there are so many other ways to use it for the glory of God.

Pure Hearts/Pure Minds

I have no clue where you are in your walk with God.  I do not know the struggles you are currently enduring.  I do know that God loves you and wants you to live a life of holiness.  Holiness is being, “set apart from the world.”  We are called to live lives of holiness (1 Peter 1:15).  In order to be holy we need to strongly consider what we think about by transforming our minds (Romans 12:1-2).  We must fill our minds with those things which are right (Luke 8:35), bring about life and peace (Romans 8:6), and lead to a life of obedience (Hebrews 8:10).  We must also guard our hearts because whatever we take in, will come out (Proverbs 4:23).  Jesus stated, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (Matthew 15:18-19).  Also note Jesus’ words in Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks”.

May we always focus and portray those things which are good within our lives (Phil. 4:8-9).  May God continually bless you richly!

“True North” by Peter Nelson

From where you are sitting, do you know which direction north is?  As an illustration to this question in the past, I have asked a small group of people to close their eyes and point north.  The outcome was very interesting.   Some people immediately and confidently point a direction, while others seemed unsure and thought about it before reluctantly pointing a direction.  After everyone decided which way to point, I asked them to open their eyes and look around the room while still pointing to the direction that they believed was north.  The room soon was filled with giggles and comments.  As I looked around the room, people were pointing in every direction, and I think there may have even been some pointing up, towards the sky.  The truth was, not many knew which direction true north was when asked, unprepared, to demonstrate by pointing the direction they thought or understood it to be.

True north is a constant.  It does not change.  It is a measurable fact, a physical property of the magnetism of our planet, and is not a matter of opinion.  It has been used for centuries as a way to gauge where you are and how to get where you want to be.  It is used to help redirect you when you get lost and can’t find your bearings.  If early explorers closed their eyes and pointed which direct they felt, or understood in their own minds, was north, there would be fewer stories of successful explorers because they would have been lost and never heard from again.

How often do we close our eyes and rely solely on our own understanding of this world and our lives?

Proverbs 3:5-8 reads

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

God provided for us a compass.  It is our Bible, God’s Word.  It tells us which way the Truth is, and gives us our bearings.  It is an unchangeable, inerrant truth that we can rely on to find our way in this life.  He gave us His compass so that we would not have to rely on our own understanding.  He gave us His compass so we could find hope when we are lost.  He gave us His compass so we could gauge where we are in His eyes and where we need to be.  He gave us His compass so we could find our way home.  He gave us His compass so that we could find our way back to Him.  He gave us his Word so that we could be saved from our sins.

The GPS is the newest technology that helps us find our way around.  It not only tells you which way is north, it tells you where exactly you are at and where to turn to reach a destination.  It has its flaws though, sometimes telling to head down wrong streets or dead ends.  This technology is nothing new to God, though.  His GPS (aka God’s Positioning System, or God’s Plan Saves) has been around since man was made, and doesn’t steer you down a dead end street like the current devices do.  Rely on God’s word, trust God, do not spend your time closing your eyes and pointing which direction you think is true north.  Study your Bible, it is the compass that you need to guide your life.

This article was written by Peter Nelson.  Peter may be contacted at peter.j.nelson@jacobs.com.

Everyone Needs Compassion; The Kindness of the Savior

If you follow college sports, it is easy to get caught up in all the negatives and controversies surrounding the game.  Currently, there is quite a ruckus in regards to certain teams “over signing” players one year, only to cut other players on the team before the next season begins.  However; this past Wednesday (National Signing Day) I read of an event which shed a positive light amidst all the political drama.

Laith Harlow, who had been committed to the University of Oklahoma since May, isn’t likely to ever play football again.  Harlow, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Tallahassee, Florida, had back surgery during the season, and recent reports surfaced that Harlow would receive a medical hardship. The hardship would keep Harlow on scholarship, which wouldn’t count against the NCAA’s limit of 85 per team. Once Harlow goes on medical hardship, though, his eligibility is over.

I have tried to imagine the level of stress and anxiety this young man and his family have endured.  Laith once had a promising career as a collegiate TE, only to find himself in the realm of uncertainty.  I have been moved by the willingness of Bob Stoops and the University of Oklahoma for fulfilling their commitment to this young man’s educational future regardless if he is able to ever suit up for the Crimson and Cream.

“And of some have compassion, making a difference.” (Jude 22)

Simple acts of compassion make a difference in every area of life.  When our children run through the house and fall down, they need a hug or a kiss to make everything all right.  When a friend finds themselves in a tough situation, a listening ear makes all the difference in the world.  When someone is sick, a call or a card can brighten their day.

What does the Bible teach us about compassion?

• Genesis 19:16 -  The Lord showed compassion on Lot.
• Deut. 13:17 – Compassion is promised for repentance.
• Deut. 32:26 -  The Lord has compassion on the weak.
• 2 Kings 13:23 – God’s shows special compassion with covenant people.
• Neh. 9:19 – God delivered Israel from Egypt because of His compassion.
• Psalm 40:11 – David begs God to show him compassion.
• Psalm 72:13 – God shows compassion on the poor and needy.
• Psalm 135:14 – The Lord has compassion on His servants.
• Matthew 9:13 – The Lord wants us to show compassion.
• Matthew 9:36 – Jesus felt compassion for the multitude because they were lost.
• Matthew 14:14 -  Jesus felt compassion on them and healed their sick.
• Matthew 15:32 -  Jesus felt compassion on the 5,000 and fed them.
• Matthew 20:34 – Jesus felt compassion and healed the blind men.
• James 5:11 – The Lord is full of compassion.
• Jonah 4:11 – God had compassion on Nineveh.

If you think about it; we have all experienced the compassion of Jesus in one way or another.  Our God is a just God who must punish us for our sinfulness.  However; our God is also a gracious, compassionate God who sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to be lost for all eternity.

God wants us to have a heart of compassion for others.  Compassion involves feeling, but it involves so much more. If we only feel, then we are sympathetic. If our sympathy motivates us to act, then it becomes compassion. True compassion feels and it acts! Notice that compassion begins with feeling. Without feeling, there is no compassion. Feeling is not enough, but it is a place to begin. If we do not weep for those who are hurting, how can we minister to them? How can we tell the lost about a Savior if we are not broken that they will spend an eternity in hell? We cannot simply be concerned about our religious progress or the number of people filling our church. We must be about the Savior’s preoccupation with people. I believe that if we serve hurting people, encourage those in despair, help those in need, and hurt with those in pain, we will have more people than we can stand. People don’t go where the action is, people go where the love is!

• 1 Peter 2:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
• 1 John 3:17 – “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Kindness is part of the wardrobe of a Christian’s soul.  We are called to cloth ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12; 2 Peter 1:5-7; 2 Corinthians 6:6).

How what can I do to become more compassionate?

First, we should see persons as individuals, not as member of a disliked group. Individuals are usually much more likable than a group we view with distorted prejudice. Someone said, “Make no judgments where you have no compassion.”

Second, we can recall times when we needed compassion. Jesus became a man and felt the things we feel (Philippians 2:1-5).

Third, we can imagine what we would need under similar circumstances—then apply the Golden Rule: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12). Abraham Lincoln said, “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.”

Fourth, we cannot expect too much at once   Ecclesiastes 7:8 states, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Sometimes olives branches are knocked from our hands the first time we extend them. But if we’ll pick them up, shake off the dust, and extend them again with a smile, they may be taken. Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) wrote, “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”

Fifth, we can remember that we will one day be judged according to how we have helped others (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:10). William Penn wrote, “If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

May God bless you richly as we learn to develop a heart of compassion for others.

“Strengthening the Church by Strengthening the Family”

Last month I was asked by a friend to write an article for the December issue of “Hope and Expectation” magazine.  The title I was assigned was, “Strengthening the Church by Strengthening the Family” in 800 words or less (which is quite a challenge!).  This article is one in that series which may be read/downloaded at http://thejenkinsinstitute.com/journal.  I pray it will be of encouragement to you.

“As I travel and visit various congregations within our brotherhood, I try to take note of the different ways congregations are ministering to the flock.  It appears that most congregations are spending much of their resources on ministering to their women through retreats and monthly fellowships.  The men have an annual retreat, quarterly breakfast, and an occasional Bible class to minister to their needs.  The young people have lots of activities to aid in their spiritual growth development through devotionals, retreats, camps, etc.  But please consider, along with me, the question: “What are we doing to grow, strengthen, and minister to the ever changing needs of the family as a whole?”  It seems that almost everywhere we look we see and know people who are trying to persevere through the storms of life.  Many of them are facing financial strain, failing marriages, apathy, and/or dysfunctional parenting.  We see the toll it is taking on them; but what are we as ministers and the church doing to aid them?

There has become a growing trend in which the answer to this question is, “We have a youth and family minister who works with our young people and our families.  That is his area of ministry.”  However, when I speak with most of these ministers and inquire how they are ministering to the families I receive the same answer; “I’m not doing as much as I should or I don’t have the time to minister in this area because I am also working with the youth group.”  I even recently met a man who was hired as the new “family minister” for a large church who admitted that he had no clue where to begin or what to do because he had never seen a healthy, functioning family ministry model.

I have spent much time praying and meditating on some practical things that I feel can become a starting point for churches to consider.  I want to be very clear – I am in no way an expert.  I am just like many of you, a servant who is trying to discover the most effective way to minister to our church families.

A few things I would encourage you to consider as you look for ways to strengthen the church by strengthening the family:

Develop the compassion of Jesus

Jesus was a man of deep compassion.  He has compassion upon those who were distressed (Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36), hungry (Mark 8:2), afflicted (Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:40-41; 9:22, 25), bereaved (Luke 7:12-13) and the spiritually lost (Luke 15:20) to list a few.  Like the old saying goes, “People don’t care what you know, unless they know how much you care.”

Truly know the sheep

Jesus saw people for who they really are.  Spend time with the flock and get to know them and their spiritual and emotional needs.  We must work to get past the “I’m fine so leave me alone” phase and get to the point where we can be accountable and transparent with one another’s true needs.

Fulfill our mission

God’s Word is very clear as to what the purpose and function of the body is to be.  He clearly states that we are to focus on evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Philippians 2:15-16).  We are to fellowship together (I Corinthians 12:25-26; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 10:24; James 5:16). We are help others grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ as an individual and as a family unit (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:17-19; Colossians 1:28; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1:12).  The Lord wants us to serve others through ministry (Galatians 6:10; Mark 10:43-45; John 13:14-17) and finally we are to glorify God through authentic worship and Christian living (John 4:23-24; Romans 15:5-6).  I want to strongly encourage each of us to consider each of these purposes and find ways to incorporate each of them within our ministry to families.  If we spend too much time in one area then we do not have a healthy, well-balanced ministry.  Often many of our current ministries can simply be modified to meet more than one of these purposes.

Minister to their needs

There are so many good resources available to help get us started.  It is always a good idea to sit down with some of the families at church and brainstorm as to what type of ministry the families you minister to truly need.  They may need some classes over Biblical finances, parenting, grief recovery, marriage enrichment, and/or how to have family devotionals.

Don’t try to be the expert

This is the best advice I ever received.  Far too often we feel as though we have to be the expert on every problem or situation that our families will face.  Develop a team of people, and a good library covering strengths in various areas of ministry, that can be utilized as a resource for family growth and improvement.

I wholeheartedly believe that if we will follow these principles that families will be strengthened, lives will be enriched, and the church will be blessed beyond all we can possibly hope or imagine.  May the Lord bless each of us richly as we fervently serve Him by wholeheartedly serve one another.”

Psalm 1 – Choosing the Proper Way

I have just finished up a wonderful study over the first Psalm.  This psalm is often a favorite among the people of God.  It is a psalm which imparts wisdom by contrasting the righteous and the wicked.  It falls naturally into two parts:  the blessedness of the godly (vs. 1-3) and the wretchedness of the ungodly (vs. 4-6). 

The blessedness of the godly person (1-3)

The psalmist begins with a triumphant proclamation: “Blessed is the man…”  The psalmist is stating, “How happy is the man…”  The psalmist opens this psalm with a statement that would cause many a nonbeliever to laugh.  He intends to show that the person who devotes himself to living a godly and righteous life is the one who finds true happiness, while the one who lives without regard to God is the miserable person!  The world doesn’t comprehend this truth because they have it the other way.  The God-devoted person is miserable and those who live for themselves find the fun.  Time will prove the psalmist to be correct.

What the godly person refuses (vs. 1)

The Counsel of the Wicked

If we replace the word “counsel” with the word “advice”, we quickly get to the heart of the matter.  The righteous person does not govern his life on the basis of bad advice from bad people.  It seems rather ironic for those who have no room for God often seem eager and read to offer advice to those who are living for God.  We find such advice in our personal conversations, in magazines and newspaper articles, in movies and television shows, and many others just to name a few.

The Path of Sinners

The focus shifts from the advice offered by the godless to their lifestyle or pattern of behavior.  It is one who does not conform to the laws of God.  Seeing this, the godly person avoids its.  He does not stand in this path, to be subject to their influence within their life.

The Seat of Scoffers

There seems to be a growing trend of people who hold nothing sacred, scoffing at God and all that are associated with him.  The psalmist uses the term, “to sit” to imply going a step further than walking and standing.  It suggests remaining and abiding with them and enjoying their company.   Those who are in Christ, always feel out of place and unhappy around those who make fun of God and His decrees.

What the godly person chooses (vs. 2)

Delights in God’s Word

A godly person is one who takes his counsel or way of living from the Word of God.  This is the source of strength, direction, and purpose for their life.  The Word is a delight and they find it to be immensely interesting and relevant.  Some have asked, “What does it mean to delight in the Word of God?  Here is a man who is in love with a woman.  He delights in her.  He yearns to spend time with her.  And when he is with her, he drinks in every word she speaks.  He is intoxicated with her beauty.  So it is with the godly person and the Word of God!

Meditates on God’s Word

The psalmist goes a step further.  The godly person also meditates on the Word of God “day and night”.  The word “meditate” means “to murmur or to mutter”.  It literally means to speak to one’s self in a low voice.  The Word of God is never far from the thoughts and considerations of a child of God.  When he is depressed or distressed, he calls to mind it promises.  When he is uncertain and perplexed, he considers its guidelines.  When his sins loom before him, he ponders it’s message of love and forgiveness made available through Jesus Christ.

What the godly person realizes (vs. 3)

The outcome of the godly person’s refusing and choosing is not left in doubt.  He will be “like a tree.”  For quite some time I didn’t fully grasp what the psalmist was conveying here.  Until I reflected upon my past travels to the Redwood National Forest in Northern California.  I can distinctly recall the strength and stability of these mighty trees.  They were trees of great beauty and refreshing shade.  I also recalled the fruit trees found around the home of my grandparents and their fruitfulness.  All of these things are found in the one who delights in the Word of God.  We have strength and stability in our times of trouble.  He manifests the virtues and qualities that are called the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  And such a life makes him beautiful and refreshing to others.

The wretchedness of the ungodly person (vs. 4-6)

The psalmist points out the difference by comparing the mighty tree to that of a chaff.  The psalmist’s mention of chaff takes us back to the farming techniques of that time.  The farmer would place the harvested wheat on a stone threshing floor and drive his oxen around it so that their hooves would separate the grain from the husks.  He would then use a kind of fork or shovel to pitch the grain and the chaff in the air.  The grain would fall to the floor to be preserved and the chaff would blow away.

John the Baptist tells us a day or separation is coming.  Regarding Jesus Christ he shared, “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Those who choose to live apart from God and his people in this life will find that they will have no part with them in eternity.  Those who stand with the ungodly in this life will not be able to stand with the righteous in the next.

I hope you can see the wisdom in this psalm and find ways to apply it to your own walk with God.  There is no greater wisdom than adjusting our steps to be in accordance with the path He has set for each of us.

May God bless you richly!

Winter Quest 2012 – “The (Christian) Game of LIFE”

This past weekend, 196 teenagers and adults from various parts of Oklahoma and Texas has the privileged to take part in our tenth year of Winter Quest.  Many years ago, Tony Hall came to small number of us and began to impart his vision for a winter retreat.  He shared, “It is a long time for many of these young people to get together since Reach Week.  We need to put together a winter retreat to help them refocus their walk with God and to rekindle their relationships with each other.”

Over the past ten years we have examined theme’s such as; “Quest for the Best, Standing with Giants, The Chronicles of Christ, Closer, Worship 180, Imagine, Enlightened, and Undone.“  Within these themes we have spent numerous hours examining God’s Word over topics such as Biblical acts of Worship; Heaven, Hell, and the coming Judgment; aspects of Evangelism; The deity of Jesus; and so many more.

This past weekend, we looked at the “The Game of Life”.  We spent time focusing on James’ words in James 4:14 – “What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

What is your life?  What is the meaning of your life?  Many individuals would say their life is all about finding happiness, fulfillment, and/or purpose.  Others may reply that their life is all about finding true love; a love that will last a lifetime.  Still others may share that their life is about displaying compassion, or acquiring power.

James gives us the illustration of a vapor.  Something which is here today and gone tomorrow.  Our life is but a vapor compared to the length and width of eternity.

David shares in Psalm 103:15-18, “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.”  He understood the brevity of life and the steadfast love of the Lord as being from everlasting to everlasting.  What a beautiful scene for us to ponder today.

Since our earthly life is so short, I hope you will agree that we need to get it “right”.  In an attempt to help those young people who attended Winter Quest this year, we, as a staff, came up with a list of 13 topics (10 classes and 3 sermons) to prayerfully equip them with Biblical information about decisions they must make or aspects of life they will face in hopes of allowing them to gain some clarity of what they need to do to be found righteous before the Lord.

I want to again thank my awesome staff.  For without each and every one of them, we would not have been able to have such a great and powerful weekend.  They were willing to sacrifice the comforts of their own home to spend the weekend investing in the lives of others.

I would like to share with you the lesson/sermon outlines from that weekend.  If you are interested in some FREE materials, please click on this link.  http://kellercofc.org/2011/11/winter-quest-2012/

It is my prayer that we all may learn to invest a little bit more of ourselves in the lives of others so that in all ways, He may be glorified!

May God bless you richly!

You Can Make a Difference If You Try!

I am currently reading, “Growing Up Colt” by Brad and Colt McCoy.  In one of the chapters, Colt shares an statement frequently stated by his parents.  Colt writes, “Dad and I developed our own little ritual back when I was in the first and second grades.  When I didn’t take the school bus and he’d drive me to school, we’d be talking as he pulled up to the student drop-off.  Just before I got out of the car, he’d always remind me that he loved me and that I should do my best and be a leader at school that day.  He said those three things so often that we developed a little routine.  ”Have a good day at school, Colt.  I love you, and remember to do your best -”  Dad would pause, which was my cue. “- and be a leader, ” I answered just before I stepped out of the car”” (Growing Up Colt, page 83).

What an incredible challenge!  The challenge is set before each of us to be a leader in our schools, in our workplaces, our local congregations, and even within our families. Yet far too often we fail to display the proper leadership in these and other vital areas; thus not fulfilling the will of God and as a result leaving us with feeling of failure and a displeased Lord.

God wants us to do some incredible things for His kingdom.  We only need to be available and obedient.  But you may be thinking, “You have got to be kidding me.  You want ME to do something big for God?  No way!” or better yet, “I have committed so many mistakes in my life there is no way I can do something big for God.”

Recently I began to consider a famous episode in the life of Moses in Exodus 3; a surreal experience by Moses with God at the burning bush.  As I began to reveal the layers of life application from this account, I began to consider my own walk with God.  I reflected upon those situations in which I didn’t display leadership or my faith because of my own insecurities.  I ask that you allow yourself to consider some vital applications from this sacred event in history.

God is Bigger Than Your Past

Moses was a man who had quite a past.  We find in Exodus 2:11-15, “One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.”

God knew all about Moses’ past, yet He still chose to utilize Him for His glory.  God saw something in Moses that Moses didn’t even see in himself.  I find this is often the case for us today.  Isn’t it amazing to serve a God who knows us better than we know ourselves?  God knows our strengths as well as our weaknesses.  God knows our gifts as well our crutches.  God knows everything about us!

God see our past.  He sees something inside of each of us that we may not even see.  In spite of our weaknesses and failures, He still chose you and me and He wants to use us!

God is Bigger Than Your Excuses

In Exodus 3:1-10 we find where God calls Moses to be his voice before Pharaoh.  Instead of jumping for joy at being called to serve Jehovah, Moses begins to question, doubt, and offer excuses as to why he cannot be His messenger.  Please note:

• “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Ex 3:11)
• I don’t know what to do…what should I do? (Ex. 3:13).
• What if they laugh at me and don’t believe me? (Ex. 4:1)
• I don’t have what it takes; I’m not talented enough! (Ex. 4:10)
• Don’t you have anyone else who can do it? (Ex. 4:13)

Moses was fearful and doubtful of his own abilities – just like us!  All the time, God just told Moses to focus on who He is and what they could accomplish together (Exodus 6:1:13).  What a great reminder for us today. The reminder to focus on our Heavenly Father and do what is necessary to shift our focus from our own insecurities and failures and to focus on His divine power (2 Peter 1:3).

Even through all Moses’ excuses, it didn’t change how God felt about him or disqualify him from what God wanted to do.  We must learn to persevere by pushing forward with our faith and good works.

God is Bigger Than Your Obstacles

As we continue with the account of Moses going before Pharaoh we quickly learn where Moses returns to Egypt, not knowing what obstacles would be in his way.  In chapters 7-13 of the Exodus account we learn of the stubbornness of Pharaoh, the fickleness of the Israelites, and the pursuit of the Egyptian soldiers.  Yet of perhaps the greatest obstacle of all was the Red Sea.  This sea is 1,200 miles long, ranges from 130-230 miles wide and at the deepest part is 7,200 feet deep.  This is no small puddle my friend!   But through all of these challenges, God was faithful to Moses.  He removed all the obstacles and worked through Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. (Ex. 14:21-28)

As long as our heart beats we will each face many obstacles in our life.  But always remember that God is bigger than any obstacle you have in your way.  His is willing to part the sea to use you!

As you read this post I want to encourage you to begin the process of working through some of the feelings, thoughts, and excuses you may be exerting and begin to focus on His divine power.  Accounts such as the one we find in Exodus 3 is written to help teach us to overcome whatever obstacle we may be facing (1 Cor. 10:11).  May we each find ways to be used and utilized by our Father for His glory!

May God bless you richly!