Journeying Mercies

Wednesday Reflection, December 1, 2021

Greetings friends. Todays reflection bids us look at a time in Israel’s history and Moses life where they realized and recognized that going anywhere or doing anything without the Lord God being with them would be futile.

We are reminded of the genesis of Moses’ call to serve he was timid and full of excuses yet in Exodus 33 we note a difference in his attitude abd manner, the way in which he approaches God and speaks to him in that way we do with the people with whom we are familiar. In addition to that, ln the watchword for today, Exodus 33:15, Moses said to the Lord, ‘if your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.’

God instructed the people to leave Sinai but we see where Moses was now at a place where he now trusted and appreciated the Lord’s power and presence. Moses , in reasoning with the Lord, reminded God of His promises to the people and pleaded with Him to let them remain at Sinai if His presence would not journey with them.

Brothers and sisters, has God called you to do anything? Has He instructed you to leave a place, person or state? What was or has your reaction been? Has God not delivered and brought you hitherto?

Perhaps your tongue is lined with excuses and your heart be full of fear but know this,as you repent and as you bow your heart in reverence and totally submit your will to the Lord, remind Him of His promises, reason with the Lord and await the revelation. John 10:4 the new testament text for today reminds us thus, ‘the good shepherd goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because
they know his voice.

Until next week, let us pray…
Grant us Lord, the ability to hear you, to listen to you and to follow you in the cocophony of sounds that surround us.
Amen

Kerone Lamoth

My Times are In God’s Hands.

In times of distress, it is good to know that we can call on the Lord for help and have the confidence that God will orchestrate events to make things better for us. Such was the confidence of David having been pursued by King Saul and seeing God’s hand at work in his deliverance, and later ascension to the throne of Israel. Psalm 31 is a Psalm of David, believed to have been written as his response to God’s saving him from Saul. Today’s Watchword is verse 15: My times are in your hand.

David was in a desperate situation. Hunted by Saul and his army, abandoned by his friends, desperate, hungry, and out in the cold. From David we learn that when the ones you love and depend on forget, fail, and forsake you, the Lord will remain faithful. David committed his life to God’s hands in verse 5 of the Psalm. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. Having done that he settled his mind to the fact that nothing that took place in his life would be outside of God’s will and way. When we commit our spirit to God’s care, then nothing that comes at us will be able to destroy our faith. Rather we will see all the troubles and trials that come our way as having already been taken care of by God.

When out times are in God’s hands, it means we have relinquished control of our lives and given it over to God. This gives us the confidence to face anything that comes our way for we know that Jesus to whom we have given charge of our lives will be able to guard and protect us. He will protect us from famine, from danger, from disease and from death. Such was the confidence of David and it was also the confidence of Paul in 2 Tim 1: 12 for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. I pray that we too may exercise that same confidence in God’s promises and ability to care for those who have committed themselves to Him. In the face of adverse situations let us remember whose we are. Indeed, out times are in God’s hands. Amen.

Monday Reflection – November 29, 2021
God’s Conditionality

If you will only obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:1,6

Life is generally conditional. In whatever sphere of life we find ourselves, conditions exist. So we tell our children that if they study hard and do what is required, they will excel in their studies and ultimately be successful in life. Many companies tell workers that if they do their job and meet or exceed expectations, they will be rewarded, whether by keeping their job, get bonuses and/or get a promotion. Admittedly, we also know that in many parts of society, including politics and business, many times if persons know some important person or rather they know them or they have some connections, then such persons get benefits and priviledges that are not accorded to the regular person. The conditionality of life is a living reality.

Such conditionality of life is also relevant in our walk with the Lord. While God graciously dispenses His grace, mercy and love to us, evident in His provisions, protection etc., there are some blessings reserved for those who follow God. In the context of today’s Watchword, Moses continues to provide guidance to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the long-awaited Promised Land. Moses begins chapter 28 with the conditional word ‘if’ that looms large. Moses exhorts the nation regarding the matter of choice. The idea behind the choice is that God was determined to reveal Himself to the world through Israel. He would do this either by making them so blessed that the world would know only God could have blessed them so; or by making them so cursed that only God could have cursed them and cause them to still survive. The choice was up to Israel.

In our own lives, God desires to reveal Himself to and through us. We experience times and seasons of apparent fullness and lack, opportunity and trial. Somehow, there seems to be a choice that is up to us, something or someone is beckoning to us with a message and a reason for our survival. Our Creator wishes to make Himself known to us, and then through us to the world. Note that this message from Moses is similar to ancient treaties between a king and his people; this is God the King, making a covenant with His people, Israel. 

All of God’s promises, which were a covenant with His people, ended with a blessing. So, if God’s people obeyed him, they would be set high above all the nations of the earth. Blessings shall come upon them and overtake them, they couldn’t escape it. They would be blessed in the city and in the field; the fruit of their womb, the fruit of their ground, the fruit of their livestock would be blessed; their basket and their kneading bowl would be blessed; and they would be blessed when they come in, and when they they out (vss. 1-6). Oh what blessings await us when we obey God and diligently do His will!

In the midst of human nature where we want to do our own thing, we must always be prepared to deal with the inevitable disaster. Yet, we have a God who desires only what is best for us and promises sweet blessings when we do His will. God also promises a beautiful relationship that produces growth and ultimate actualization for us. We remember that Jesus said: ‘Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’ Matthew 12:50. Let’s do God’s will and enjoy the benefits.

Jermaine Gibson