Throwdown!

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” (Exodus 4:1-3)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Reverend Dr. Carla Sunberg spoke from Exodus chapters 3 and 4. Though her message was one of encouragement to us, she also imparted this challenge: Throw down whatever it is that you’re holding in your hand.

Reverend Carla reminded us that Moses was given this directive by God. The shepherd’s staff in Moses’ hand was a symbol of his role, his expertise, and his comfort zone. When Moses obeyed the directive and threw the staff on the ground, God caused it to transform into a snake. Moses saw, firsthand, that God held the power to do what was impossible for man.

Later in the narrative, we find that a group of Egyptian magicians was able to perform the same miracle through the power of sorcery. But God, who had instructed Moses and Aaron to throw down Aaron’s staff in the presence of Pharaoh, caused a second miracle to occur: the staff thrown down by Aaron swallowed up every other staff that had been thrown down by the magicians  (see Exodus 7:8-12). The false was swallowed up by the true.

This word of God to us, “Throw it down,” is a word that we are called to obey wholeheartedly. When we let go of the skills and accomplishments we have carried by our own power, and when we walk away from our comfort zone, we make room for God to transform our work into something that can only be attributed to His miracle-working power. And, His miraculous power will overcome every false god and false sign manufactured by those who have devoted themselves to counterfeit works.

What’s that in your hand? Throw it down, and watch God do the miraculous.

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Absolutely Distinguished.

"We're not satisfied to just 'go through our liturgy'." (Pastor Sam)

During yesterday's pre-sermon prayer, Pastor Sam recalled the petition of Moses:

Then Moses said to God, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? (Exodus 33:15-16)

The word distinguished is one that we can reflect on today. What is it that makes a Christian stand out from the crowds of people from other faiths, or from those who claim to have no faith? It's not the engagement of the worship that sets us apart. Back in Moses's day, people who were not worshipers of the God of Israel were nonetheless quite engaged in the worship of the gods they knew. Further, it was not even the experience of the wonders that set God's people apart. In the early stages of the Egyptian plagues, there was a cadre of magicians that had no problem duplicating the signs (see Exodus 7:8-12).

The people of God, then and now, have a distinguishing mark. It is the presence of God. God Himself is found in our community. God Himself is found in us. There is the evidence of the Word: it is God in us, His goodness expressed through our lifestyle and ministry, that catches the attention of the world.

Let's take inventory today, especially those of us who "do church" as part of our life-routine. When people hear our speech, or see our works, or read what we write, what do they walk away with? Is their heart filled with the joy of the Lord? Are they inspired and moved to draw closer to God?

Lord God, give me the experience of You in a deeper way today... I want to bear a distinguishing mark that identifies me as belonging to You. Do Your work in me today, I pray, so that You will be glorified. Amen.