Today’s hero is Moses, a man who shows us how to faithfully obey, even in times of doubt.
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Transcription:
Hi again. I’m Jen in for Erica this week and today we’re checking out Moses. Years ago I was asked to lead a devotion and given several months in advance. Back then opportunities for me to share were far in between. So I was super excited. I was especially excited because my audience would be a group of high caliber leaders and pastors, which is a unique opportunity. So, of course, I couldn’t think of a darn thing to say. Weeks and weeks went by. I had nothing. Therefore, it occurred to me, well, perhaps I’m supposed to speak about nothing, or rather what it is to have nothing to say. Immediately. Exodus 4:11-12 popped into my head. It’s one I memorized years and years ago when I was a teenager. When Moses was called to lead the Israelites. He threw every excuse in the book at God and God looked at him with a look of seriously, Moses? executed with the perfect eye roll, at least that’s how I imagine it, and said, who made man’s mouth, the mute, the seeing or the blind? Have an eye go and I’ll teach you what to say. I like to refer to this exchange between Moses and God as a duh moment. Duh, Moses, God made you and called you. He’ll give you words. God and I have a lot of “duh” moments. I come up with excuses and God says in his charming and fatherly way, duh. I also remember Jeremiah one, six through nine. He told God he was too young and inexperienced to do what was being asked of him. God said, don’t say that. You’ll go where I say to go and say what I tell you to say. Don’t worry about what others think or do. I’ve given you words. Don’t worry about what others think.
That’s why I couldn’t think of anything to say. I was worried about what my awesome audience would think. I wanted to be witty and wise and use my opportunity to impress. And honestly isn’t that our issue a lot of the time as people with a gift to share? One, our focus or motivation is off, and two, we forget the power of the one who sent us. Our focus and motivation must always be the fact that we are called to point to Jesus, by Jesus. We always have something to say. We need to take our focus off being perfectly witty word geniuses that gain oohs and ahs and just talk. Jesus, yo. Craig Rachele says, We don’t always have to know what to say or what to do. Just listen to the one who sent you. It’s God’s authority that authorizes us to speak on his behalf and not our own.
It’s God’s authority that worked in Moses, not his own. Don’t ever forget the power of who sent us. He made the deaf mute seeing and the blind. He has touched our mouths and given us words. If the problem is not that we have nothing to say, but rather that we hate what we’ve come up with, well then I have this to say to you: I read on the internet the other day that every speaker has a message that feels like an ugly dog and they don’t want to walk it in public. But if the day to deliver comes and you’ve got nothing but an ugly dog, then go out there and walk that dog proudly. You will likely see God use that, quote-unquote ugly dog, to change lives. If you’ve been called to communicate, then be bold and trusts that God will use what you have to say in ways you can’t imagine. So, whether you have an ugly dog or no dog at all, check your motivation. Remember who God is and walk that dog proudly. I mean, if anything, I figure your dog will be so ugly, the crowd will be left speechless and then at least you won’t hear any criticism! Thank you, Moses, for showing us faithfulness to obey, even when you initially showed doubt.
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