Moses – the Reluctant Follower

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Exodus 3:1-15; 4:1-17

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%203%3A1-15%2CExodus%204%3A1-17&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

Growing up, my family attended church every Sunday, including Sunday school followed by the worship service. However, I have this vivid memory that sticks in my mind of one particular Sunday, when for some unknown reason, I decided that I wasn’t going to church.

When the time came, I ran out of the garage with my Dad in hot pursuit. Apparently though, he eventually caught me, because I have this second memory of sitting in the car through both Sunday school and worship. I guess you could say that I was a reluctant follower of God.

Moses, although he was a Hebrew, grew up as an Egyptian. Not just your run of the mill Egyptian, but as royalty, in the house of Pharaoh. He knew what it meant to wield power; to have servants; to get what he wanted. In a way, he was the perfect man to lead the Hebrews.

However, there are two stories that give us some insight into the kind of man that Moses was. On one occasion, while going out among his people, he saw an Egyptian beating a fellow Hebrew. Moses made sure nobody was watching him, and then killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. Moses took justice into his own hands, without the leading of the LORD.

The second story is when the LORD called Moses from the burning bush to lead his people out of slavery; out of Egypt to the Promised Land. But Moses didn’t want any part of it. He pushed back with every excuse that he could think of and finally said, “LORD please! Send anyone else”. Moses was a reluctant follower of the LORD.

Can you relate to both sides of Moses’ nature? I know I can. Acting impulsively outside of God’s will, as well as being reluctant to follow Him, can be too easy.

The good news is that the same promises that the LORD made to Moses, He makes to us today. The LORD will always be with you; he is faithful; he has a plan for you; and he will provide for you.

Your calling may not include a burning bush. But however, and whenever the LORD calls you to action, be sure to be ready, and not reluctant.

The stained glass piece below of Moses' burning bush, was made by a friend of mine. Thanks Bruce for sharing it.

A Bill of Goods

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Genesis 12:1-9

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012%3A1-9&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

Have you ever felt like somebody sold you a bill of goods? I have. And when it happens, I’m always reminded of something my Dad used to say, “If something sounds too good to be true; it probably is”.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”                NIV

These verses in Genesis are titled, “The call of Abram”. However, it seems like the Lord could have sold Abram a “bill of goods”. Now, before you accuse me of being a heretic, think about it for a minute.

Imagine Abram making a list of pros and cons while trying to decide if this is truly God’s will for his life to uproot his family and go to Canaan.

On the con side are all the risk factors: He would have to leave his Father and all his relatives; his home; and all that was familiar to him. He was already a fairly wealthy man and risked losing all of that. Plus he had never visited Canaan and had no idea what the people were like. It was a huge unknown risk.

On the pro side are all the benefits: The Lord’s promises seemed to indicate that he would gain even more wealth, fame, land and descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; enough to become a nation.

On the unknown future side are all the events that waited for Abram: There would be many hardships and tests that Abram would face. These included famine, conflict, decades of infertility and a test of Abram’s faith to sacrifice his only son.

The truth is, none of us knows what the future holds. So, if you believe that the Lord is calling you to do something, don’t be afraid of the risks. Don’t doubt and think that He is trying to sell you a bill of goods. But remember that the Lord is faithful. He loves you and is always with you.

That may sound too good to be true, but it’s not.

One plus One

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Luke 4:14-21

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A14-21&version=NIV;GNT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

One plus one is two; two plus two is four; three plus three is six. You get the idea. It’s basic math. You start with addition, go to subtraction, elevate to multiplication and take a quantum leap to division. You have to master the basics before you jump into analytical geometry or calculus. A foundation must be laid.

The same is true with regards to your faith. You start with a simple concept… “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”. Then you move on to a more mature understanding… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” A foundation is laid in order to develop a fuller understanding.

I believe the same principle is true with regards to our calling to ministry; at least it was for me. God’s call on my life took years before I began to follow it; understand it; and owned it. He brought people, circumstances and experiences into my life that were well beyond the realm of just being coincidental.

He took a simple, specific desire of “using basketball to reach black inner city boys for Christ”, and grew it into a twenty-five year career of full time ministry.

When Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, he stood up and read the following prophecy from Isaiah.

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”       NIV

Following the reading, he sat down and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled”. By making this statement, he was claiming to be the expected Messiah.

This passage helped me in my understanding of the calling God had given me. Not that I saw myself to be Jesus; but as someone who had been called to bring the message of hope, freedom and salvation to those who needed to hear it.

What is your call to ministry?

Now You’re Cooking with Gas

Reaching Higher: A Series on My Journey of Discipleship

Matthew 25:14-30

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A14-30&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: This series is autobiographical to the extent that it is loosely based on my spiritual journey. In some ways, you could compare it to the stock market with a gradual overall increase, but many ups and downs; even a crash or two. Through it all though, the Lord has loved me and been with me the whole time. I hope you find my journey encouraging, but also, that the Lord might speak to you through it.]

  

“Now you’re cooking with gas”.

That’s what my Dad used to say to me when he helped me with a homework problem. Normally it was math or science. But instead of just giving me the answer, like I wanted, he would make me work through it and figure it out for myself. And when I did, he would say, “Now you’re cooking with gas”.

 

I had no idea where that saying originated; but for me, when my Dad said it, I knew he was praising me for the work I had done. “Now you’re cooking with gas”.

 

Those five, otherwise meaningless words, carried the emotional impact of making me feel worthwhile; capable of doing anything; of overcoming great odds. Those five words answered the question that every child has: “Do you think I can do it Dad?” And his answer to me was a resounding, “YES!”

 

Jesus was known for telling stories to teach a lesson. They’re called parables. In Matthew 25, there’s a story that focuses on a master who gives three of his servants bags of gold to invest while he’s away on a journey.

 

The amount of gold they were given was based on their ability. One was given five bags; another two; and the third one. The first two invested their master’s gold and doubled his money; but the third buried it. The first two were praised. “Well done, my good and faithful servant”, he told them.

 

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’    NIV

 

The master told his servants, “Well done”. My Dad told me, “Now you’re cooking with gas”. Both were saying, “YES, you can do it. I believe in you”.

 

There can be no greater feeling than hearing your Heavenly Father say to you at the end of your life, “Well done, my son; my daughter. Well done”.

 

 

 

Here am I. Send Me.

Reaching Higher: A Series on My Journey of Discipleship

Isaiah 6:1-9

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3A1-9&version=NIV;TLB

[Preface: This series is autobiographical to the extent that it is loosely based on my spiritual journey. In some ways, you could compare it to the stock market with a gradual overall increase, but many ups and downs; even a crash or two. Through it all though, the Lord has loved me and been with me the whole time. I hope you find my journey encouraging, but also, that the Lord might speak to you through it.]

 

How do you know what your calling in life is?

During the period between dropping out of college at Michigan Tech and returning to school at Michigan State, something happened to me. It was during this interim time that I experienced God’s call on my life… only I didn’t know it.

 

It came in the form of a simple specific desire; the desire “to use basketball to reach young black boys for Christ”. The Lord grew that mustard seed size desire for ministry, one step at a time, into twenty five years of working with urban youth.

 

In the Temple, Isaiah sees an awe inspiring vision of the Lord, including seraphim with six wings.

 ³ In a great antiphonal chorus they sang,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is filled with his glory.”

⁴ Such singing it was! It shook the Temple to its foundations, and suddenly the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke. TLB

 

 

As a result of coming face to face with the holy Lord Almighty, Isaiah was struck by his own sinfulness. It was only through the Lord that his sins were forgiven. Following this, Isaiah felt the call of God on his life.

 

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”           NIV

 

It took me years to figure out what the Lord wanted me to do; what my calling was. Not everyone has a rock concert “call of God” experience like Isaiah. More often, I think our Father calls us in a “still small voice”, and takes us through a series of steps. After all, if we knew what was on the road ahead, we might never go.

How do you know what your calling in life is?

Look at the people in your life; look at the things you enjoy doing and are good at; look at the opportunities around you; look at the desires of your heart.

Don’t miss his “still small voice” while listening for the smoke and thunder. Don’t let the business of life; the intimidation of the unknown; or the fear of rejection keep you from what the Lord has called you to do.

Then… take your first small step.