Sent

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.        Exodus 3.10

These words, so simply stated, are among the most powerful, challenging and life-changing in the whole of the Scriptures.

Moses is well advanced in years and has himself a comfortable position tending his father-in-law’s flocks. He is just about set for retirement.

Then – suddenly (God seems to enjoy working in suddenlies) – he has an encounter with God, a most powerful and significant event. God captures Moses’ attention through the burning bush. As Moses approaches, he is reminded that he’s standing on holy ground.

God Tells of His concern for the treatment His people are experiencing in Egypt. He has decided the time to act is now and He has chosen Moses as his man. Moses is flabbergasted. He remonstrates that he is nobody, whereupon he gets an amazing response from God, “I will be with you.” This is a promise from God that is not to be taken lightly. What God promises, He will do. His promise to be with, and to sustain, His people is repeated often throughout the Scriptures. It is real. It is true. I have been blessed to ‘hear’ these same words spoken by God directly to me. And I praise Him for them.

Moses continues to make excuses to God concerning his unsuitability for the task ahead. And God persists in countering his arguments and endorsing him for the mission. Moses is reminded that he has been commissioned by the great I am.

There was no mistake in God’s choosing Moses. He was carefully selected by God and his whole life had been a preparation – and a most interesting preparation at that – for this time.

At a point of significant change in my life I started to suggest to God that I was too old, whereupon He immediately responded that I was to “Remember Moses”. I have subsequently developed quite an affinity with the man to whom God spoke out of a burning bush. God has spoken to me, but not yet as clearly as He did to Moses concerning mission. Nevertheless I believe there are Godly purposes still to be outworked in my life. I remember this now and recommit myself to God for whatever He might choose to do.

The words “So now, go” are so simple, so straightforward. The journey that lay before Moses was anything but simple, but his mission was real, achievable and totally fulfilling – because God was with him. Hallelujah!

Lord God,

I am excited. I reaffirm my wish and desire to serve You and to do my very best to live in obedience to You. Whether there is work ahead or whether my purpose is simply to sit at Your feet, I offer myself wholeheartedly.

Your will is what I seek, to live in the centre of Your will. To enjoy continuing intimacy with You is the heart of my desire.

I know I am not too old, for You have told me so. Whatever might lie ahead, I just want to journey with You. You are my reason for living and when my purpose in You is over in this life, I ask You to take me speedily home to be with You.

Lord God, You are my portion and my delight. Lead me on. May I come closer to You. May You draw me ever nearer. I ask for relationship with the Triune God, with Father, Son and Spirit. I dare to ask for fellowship, for sharing together in social intercourse, for partnership in joint participation, for close mutual association, and for intimacy. I present these requests to You on the promise contained in Your Word: Ask and you will receive. I humbly ask, Lord. I expect to receive. I believe. I have faith and I ask for more faith. I thank You for who You are. I love You and I want to tell You so.

Receive my love. Receive me. May we journey together, through this day and through this year. In Jesus’ Name I ask.                                                                                                  Amen.

Return

“Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD almighty.               Malachi 3.7

A return to the Lord is a return of the sinner, and the way of return is repentance. God is pure and righteous and cannot look upon sinful man. But all is not lost for the sinner.

God promises to return, to come back, to reconnect with the one who returns to Him. That is, anyone who makes the move towards God in genuine repentance will be received by Him back into relationship. And this will not be a formal reception – stiff and starchy, but it will have all the love and wonderful emotion that Luke describes in the story of the prodigal. What rejoicing occurs when just one sinner returns to relationship with our loving and sinless God. May the angels sing out and the heavens rejoice, and may many, many return to Him.

Loving God,

I thank You that Your way is the way of love. Through Malachi You promise to return to any who return to You. I know this promise is sincere and will be kept.

I pray for those who are away from You. I am reminded of such even as I write. My prayer is that You would touch them with Holy Spirit reminders. I pray for eyes to be opened, ears unplugged and for hearts to be softened. Let Your message of love be heard afresh and may countless men and women respond and return to You.

I thank You for my own return. Let my wonderful story be repeated in many other lives. I pray especially for family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances. Draw them to You, Lord. Let them return to You in the fullness of repentance,

                                                             in Jesus’ Name I ask.                                     Amen.

Now go

The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”                          Exodus 4.11,12

Moses is still complaining of how unsuitable he is for the task that God has called him to. As I write these words, I am suddenly struck by the impertinence that Moses exhibits in challenging God so. – Pray God that I might not do this!

Moses argues that he does not possess eloquence of speech. God counters by reminding him that He gave him all of his senses and He will equip and guide him in what he is to do. What a wonderful, wonderful encouragement this is. I receive these powerful words for myself. I see the revelation in this of God reminding me that everything I have is God given, and God will lead me in all that He would have me do. I take this word very much for me, for today.

Moses, however, was not satisfied. He continued to object (v13ff), and God got angry such that He commissioned Aaron to work with Moses. I would not presume to set myself above Moses, but I do not wish to make God angry. There are likely times that I do, and I confess and repent of these. My deepest desire is to do His will. I pray that I am open, at all times, to hear Him and to obey.

Again I read the words “Now go.” God had clearly commissioned Moses, but what of me? I have taken particular note that on two successive days recently the word of the Lord that I have received and meditated upon has said, “Now go.” Is this the start of further development in my journey with God? Will I get closer to Him? Will He open up further opportunities for me and lead me into encounters with His Spirit? Will He expand and increase my faith to amazing proportions? Oh, that the answer to all these questions would be, “Yes, of course. Yes, indeed. Yes, yes, YES, and Amen.”

Lord God,

I am nothing without You. I love You and I desire to please You in all that I do. Yet I do not always succeed. I know this, and I am sorry. I ask You to forgive me. Forgive me, please, and help me to move forward in You. I thank You for the words spoken to Moses which I receive today for myself. I am reminded that all I am and all that I have comes from You. Furthermore, you can do anything whatsoever in me, with me, and through me.

Lord, I feel so willing. Two deep desires in my heart are to draw closer to You, to live in deep and sweet intimacy and harmony with you, and also to bring many others into relationship with You for themselves. I thank You for the opportunities You give me. I am hungry for more. I surrender this to You. I wait upon You. In your time I am ready to receive, and to go. Lead me, glorious Lord and precious Saviour. Let your light shine brightly through me, in Jesus’ Name I pray.                                                                                                         Amen.

Suddenly

Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.                    Matt. 28.9

This brief cameo, from the events of the day of Resurrection illustrates the whole experience of Resurrection life in Jesus.

The unbeliever may suddenly experience an encounter with the living Christ. Life may be progressing in routine way, perhaps even in gloom as I sense the women felt on that first Easter morning. But, when they met with Jesus, any misery was dispelled. Their Lord was with them, truly with them this time, for He had conquered sin and death and was positively placed to lead them into the fullness of renewed relationship with God.

Suddenly He met them. God works often in the suddenlies. The women were likely in the depths of despair, grief and mourning and – suddenly – Jesus is there. But, more than this, he met them. An encounter with Jesus happens when He meets us. We may have searched. We may have made many attempts to draw near, to press in, but the action that saves proceeds from Him. It is when He determines the time is right that we might experience a suddenly. And, suddenly, all manner of things begin to fall into the right place.

We may seek and search, and this is good but, in the end, He finds us. He will meet us and maybe, like the women, we know that we are ready to meet Him. The women had come to the tomb looking for Jesus. We may, or may not, be aware that we are seeking, that we are earnestly looking out for Him. We can believe that He seeks us out for He himself said, the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4.23).

When He meets with us, He calls to us in greeting. He invites us into relationship. Each time we encounter Him, He says “Greetings”. He is always ready to welcome us, to receive us, to acknowledge us and to join with us. He reminds us that we did not choose Him, but He chose us (John 15.16). This is true, yet we have the option of coming to Him or not. I see this as perhaps the most weighty exercise of any option there might be. He comes to us, maybe suddenly. He meets with us and extends greetings to us. He is inviting us to respond. We may turn away, or we may come to Him. Oh, that we might respond positively to His invitation!

Lord God,

I rejoice in this revelation of Your wonderful working. I thank You for this insight into the experience of the women on the day of Resurrection. I thank You that this same experience is available to all whom You choose and invite to respond to You, and for the reminder that Jesus welcomes us with loving greeting each and every time we turn to Him.

Lord, I pray for the countless unsaved on the face of the earth. I pray for a glorious season of suddenlies. I ask for the faith to believe that Your saving power will bring many that I know and love into true and lasting relationship with You. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.    Exodus 20.8

Things are not holy within their own nature but are made so by the divine presence. God enters in, and holiness results.

The Sabbath is a day in which to celebrate God’s presence. It is a day to celebrate in God’s presence. It could follow that every day might be a Sabbath for, surely, the true believer would desire to live each day in and with God.

Does a day need to be “set aside” in order for it to be spent with God? Whilst it is a good action to devote whole days to focus on and devote to God, I believe it is possible to live every day in a state of holiness – to seek God, to receive Him and know Him and His presence throughout the progress of each day. As I remember God, He reveals himself to me. In him I live, and breathe, and have my being.

Gracious Lord,

The psalmist said, “Better is one day in your courts that a thousand elsewhere” (Ps.84.10). I wish to spend every day in Your royal household.

I claim the promise offered in James: Come near to God and he will come near to you (4.8). I’m here, Lord. I press in and expect to journey through the day ahead in company with You all the way. My prayer is that nothing will obstruct or hinder. I confess my sins humbly before You and I ask Your forgiveness. If there is anything I need to repent of specifically, I ask You to show me.

Be with me, Lord. I am nothing without You. I so enjoy Your company. I wish for Your leading in everything. I pray the constant presence of Your Holy Spirit in my life. May I be strengthened, equipped, enabled and guided by You in all that I am and anything that I do.

I love You, Lord. Receive my love anew and fresh today. Lead me in Your ways. May I know the peace of Jesus as I Journey with You.

Hallelujah! Bless Your Name.                                                                                     Amen.