Exodus 3:4-6
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Yesterday I posted about the “burning bush” experience that God wants us to have with Him. Today I want to take it a step further. The first thing I notice, is that God did not reveal Himself until He knew that He had Moses attention.
Sometimes I like to go out hiking or camping in the woods. While I’m there, I usually take the time to pray and seek the Lord. The reason I love to meet with God in the wilderness is that there are no distractions.
We live in a world where there’s a whirlwind of activity around us. We desperately need to take the time and get alone with God in a solitary place. Only then will God have the freedom to speak with us on the level He desires.
The next thing is that God instructs Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. God wants nothing to insulate Moses from His holiness. So often we want a buffer between us and God. We want the Pastor to pray for us and tell us what to do. The truth is that we need to see ourselves as holy – set apart for the exclusive use of God.
Take the time right now to bask in the holiness of the Lord. Begin to see yourself as set apart for His plan. Lay down your desires upon the altar of God. In that way you are opening the door for a “burning bush” of your own.
Tags: alone with God, attention, Bible, burning bush, camping, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's faithfulness, hiking, holiness, holy ground, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Moses, prayer, presence of the lord, set apart, wilderness
Exodus 3:1-3
Now Moses was tending the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.”
This is a very familiar portion of the Word of God. Every Sunday School student knows about Moses and the burning bush. Here we see Moses going through the normal routine of an average day. Then, out of nowhere, God shows up and absolutely revolutionizes his life.
What may surprise you is that God desires us all to have “burning bush” experiences. We serve a God who always desires fellowship with his children. If you are listening, there will be times of deep intimacy between you and the Lord. These are times when you have a special moment with the Lord.
You also need to understand that these times are few and far between. However, they are times when the Spirit of God speaks to you so clearly that you can almost hear Him with your physical ears.
The important thing to remember is that we need to keep our eyes open for these times of special clarity in our walk with God. We cannot afford to miss them – they are life changing.
Spend some time, today, in quiet reverence before the Lord. Let Him know that you are willing to listen to His voice. Allow Him to share His heart with yours.
Tags: Bible, burning bush, Christian, clarity, devotion, distractions, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, holy worship, intimacy, life changing, presence of the lord, reverence
Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.
In this passage, Nehemiah is praying, and remembering why Israel is presently in captivity in a foreign land. Time and time again they refused to listen to the Lord’s leading. They took no time to think and meditate on the many miracles that God performed on their behalf. Instead they had a history of outright rebellion against God’s leadership.
But here is the amazing part – in all that time God remained forgiving, gracious, and compassionate. I’m so glad that our God is not bound to emotional outbursts the way we humans are. Instead of writing them off and giving up on them, God worked with Israel. He tried to draw them in by His love for them.
This is truly a God who is abounding in love. This verse literally says that God has an over abundance of love. That only stands to reason. God is love. God is infinite. Therefore, His love is infinite.
What a comforting thought – God has more than enough love for us. You can personalize that and say that God has more than enough love for you. He will never run out. No one can ever say that they have done so many things wrong that God doesn’t love them any more.
Bask in the warmth of that love today. Let God’s overabundance minister to your soul. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak words of encouragement to your inner man. Be refreshed by this love that passes all understanding.
Tags: abounding in love, Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, fellowship, God is love, God's love, Holy Spirit, inner man, love, loving God, miracles, Nehemiah, praise, presence of the lord, rebellion
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
I can’t think of a greater blessing! We can be children of God.
This is not for everybody. You have to want it. It comes by faith in God and what He has done through Christ. It has to be received, if we believe in His provision for us on the cross. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, then we are God’s children.
Some people look at themselves as slaves of God. Then they get the attitude that it is hard to work for Him. They have an angry look on their face and act like serving God is the worst thing you could do.
Now I do admit that children are supposed to obey their parents. In that sense we must “serve” God. I know that on more than one occasion I accused my parents of treating me as their slave. The fact is, even when you have to do what you’re told, the parent-child relationship is far superior to that of a master and slave.
This verse tells me that I am not just treated like a child of God. He doesn’t just call me His son. It is much greater than that. I have the right – with all the responsibilities and privileges – to be a child of God. This is an amazing thought. God views us as full fledged sons and daughters. That is why He both blesses and disciplines us.
Spending time with our Father should be the most natural inclination. It should be where we want to go for love, support, encouragement, and strength. Spend time with the Lord today, knowing that He wants you to experience the best that being a part of His family has to offer.
Tags: Bible, blessings, calling, child of God, Christian, cross, devotion, encouragement, faith, family, hard work, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, obedience, parent, problems, provision, relationship, savior, slave, testimony
2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Sometimes it’s good to look back over your life to see where God has brought you from. I love to hear a testimony of a changed life. I have known drug addicts, gang members and people from the “underworld” who have given their lives to Christ and were changed by His power. I have met people who have been bound by addictions, hurt by abuse and oppressed under the weight of depression all set free by the blood of Jesus.
It is an encouragement to see the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. I, for one was insulated from most of these issues. I tend to relate more with Timothy. My grandparents were saved soon after they came over to America from Italy. My parents were raised in church, and followed Christ throughout their lives. When I came along, I had no choice – church was where our family went, whenever the doors were open.
Then, one day, at a children’s camp (Camp Woodhaven in West Boylston, MA) I personally received the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. I have tried to follow His leading ever since.
Sometimes I used to feel that I missed out on something, when I would hear the testimonies of how God saved people from an evil life. But when I grew older I realized the blessing of being born into a Christian home. God kept me from some of the things that could have destroyed me. I have a testimony of the Lord’s power to keep and protect a life from the darkness of the world.
So, whether you came to Christ from a life of great sin, or you were raised in church, be grateful to the Lord for His presence in your life. The fact is, we all need a Savior. No one is too far away from His love. Equally, no one is good enough to deserve His love. We all need the power of the cross to set us free. Praise God for His grace that He freely gives to all who seek Him.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, disciple, encouragement, evil, faith, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, praise, protection, sin, testimony, trust, world
Proverbs 8:25-26
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
This verse comes from a very beautiful section in the book of Proverbs. Here Solomon uses the writing style of personification to speak for wisdom.
We are told that before creation was begun God had already mapped out His wisdom. That is a comforting thought. God’s wisdom is not a response to any event. There is nothing that ever takes God by surprise. On the contrary, all of creation is an outgrowth of God’s wisdom.
I remember the day that I committed my life to the Lord, Jesus Christ. When that happened, the Lord didn’t sit down with the Holy Spirit and say, “Now we have to figure out how to fit Nick into the kingdom.” Before I was born, my life was designed exclusively with His plan in mind. My life was made to function best in His wisdom.
This is why seeking His wisdom should be your number one priority. God wants the very best for your life. He has a plan for you that was established before the mountains and rivers were created. Seek out the wisdom of God for your life. Only then can you know the complete joy of personal fulfillment.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, God's will, God's wisdom, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, praise, problems, response, seeking, wisdom
Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
I love watching the sky in the evening. When you go outside on a bright starry night and gaze at the heavens, it seems to go on forever. Indeed, all the stars that you are able to see are light-years away. They are unreachable at our present level of knowledge.
That is how much God loves us – to a level unattainable by human thought. My finite brain cannot comprehend His love and compassion for me. That He would pay the price for my forgiveness at a point when I didn’t even know Him is beyond my understanding.
But there is more to it. If I were to travel in a direction – east or west – and continue on forever, I would still never come to my sin that was taken away. He has permanently removed the sin, guilt, and punishment that should have been mine. What an incredible thought.
These are basic truths that are known by most believers. Yet, it is a good thing for us to take the time to review and meditate on them once in a while. Spend some time in the stillness of your surroundings today, and allow these deep principles to work on your soul. Let them revive and renew your appreciation for the Savior of your life. Give Him thanks today for all He has done for you.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, east, encouragement, faith, forgiveness, God's love, higher, holy worship, Jesus Christ, praise, presence of the lord, stars, thank God, thanks, west
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Try as we might, we can never run away from God. What I have actually found is that people who try to run away from Him the hardest, end up running right into His arms. It is, as this Psalm puts so eloquently, impossible to flee from the presence of God.
If you are looking, His presence can be felt everywhere and in every situation. As a matter of fact, sometimes when I am hiking or camping in the most remote wilderness settings – far from any sign of civilization – I find His presence the strongest. The reality is that I can hear from the Lord the clearest when I am out in the wild.
It is an incredible blessing to know that the God of the universe is my constant companion. Wherever I go and whatever I do is in the company of His Holy Spirit. All I need is to ask and His guiding hand will take mine and lead me into His will for my life.
Go to Him today in the knowledge that He will never leave you or forsake you. Thank the Lord for His abiding presence in your life. Seek Him for His wisdom, strength, and guidance for the road ahead.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, light, path, praise, presence of the lord, trust
Psalm 46:4-6
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
Yesterday I posted about the fact that there is nothing certain in this world. Our trust, hope, and expectations must abide elsewhere. We need to fix our eyes on the heavenly kingdom.
No matter what kind of trouble this world faces, the power of God remains secure. The river of life will never fail. If we remain in Christ, then the things that shake this world around us will not affect our walk.
Rising gas prices, economic failures, terrorist threats, and global warming are just a few of the issues that have nations in turmoil. Through it all, the kingdom of God is still secure. No matter what happens I know that the grace of the Lord can still reach me. I can come to this river at any time for sustenance and refreshment.
We can face the uncertainty of life without fear. This only comes from the knowledge that our feet are securely in a kingdom that is not of this world.
Spend time meditating upon the faithfulness of God. Think about the times He has brought you through the difficulties you have faced in the past. This should inspire praise and worship before Him. Then, take your future and commit it into the Lord’s hands. Only then will you have true security.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, fear, glory, God's faithfulness, grace of God, heavenly kingdom, Holy Spirit, hope, praise, presence of the lord, problems, protection, security, strength, trouble, trust
Psalm 121:1-4
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Whether you are talking about the Rockies or the Appalachians, mountains and hills are a majestic sight. I can spend hours praising, worshiping, and praying to God when I am in the presence of such beauty. When I look at their splendor I cannot help but sense a power far greater than my own.
It is an awesome revelation that the God I am in relationship with is the Creator of those mountains. Greater still, He also created the stars I see wheeling over those peaks.
Yet, in spite of all that power, He wants to help me. Now that is a humbling thought! The God of the universe wants to be a part of my life.
Praise the Lord! He is my source and my strength. It is He who upholds and sustains me. I can rest in Him knowing that the path of my life is safe and secure in His loving hands.
Even though I get tired and fall asleep, the Lord does not have that weakness. That is a comforting thought. He is always awake and alert, watching over my life and helping it to conform to His Word.
Take the time today to thank God for His unfailing help and protection in your life. Give Him praise for His majesty and strength.
Tags: Bible, Christian, Creator, devotion, encouragement, God's faithfulness, help, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, mountain, mountaintop, outdoors, praise, presence of the lord, problems, protection, sleep, strength, trust, wilderness
The Spirit and the Word 