Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 18, 2014
He [Moses] led the flock to the far side of the wilderness 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. Exodus 3:1-2
Moses murdered a man and then fled to the wilderness rather than be killed by Pharaoh. His self imposed exile from Egypt led to a surreal encounter with holy God. It was also in this foreign land that in defense of seven defenseless women he was blessed with a wife. Jethro, the respected priest of Midan, rewarded Moses’ courage with his daughter and with a job. Moses, free from his troubles back home, enjoyed a fresh start. God blessed his 40-year wilderness experience.
We all mess up in life. Our bad choices or another’s bad choices can create unintended negative consequences. Like Moses, our anger can cause us to carry out hurtful, even life-threatening actions. Anger left unchecked can become a cruel master. We spew destructive words; like daggers they kill a friend or family member’s joy. Anger is such a serious offense, Jesus compares it to murder (Matthew 5:21-22). So, we may find ourselves in a relational or spiritual wilderness looking for the Lord. He blesses if we let our pride be chipped away by our troubles.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
Has a relationship imploded? Are you confused,afraid of a radical change? Do you feel isolated and alone? If so, look for the Lord’s favor in your unfavorable circumstances. Be a humble student who better understands your strengths and weakness. Be aggressive in your service of others and God will bless your unselfish heart. You create value when you value others. Ask what issues a friend needs to solve and offer them creative ideas and solutions. You are blessed in the process of blessing another. The Lord favors those who serve the at risk–at their own risk.
Most of all, navigating unfamiliar circumstances is a prime opportunity to become more familiar with our heavenly Father. He wants to bless us in spite of our insecurities over new surroundings. We seek to experience God during our wilderness experience. As our faith is tested, we persevere. As we persevere our trust in the Lord matures and we become complete in Christ. We don’t lack anything because we have everything we need in Him. Our wilderness is His blessing.
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened” (1 Peter 3:14).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the opportunity to experience You during my wilderness experience.
Related Readings: Job 23:10; Isaiah 8:12, 48:10; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 2:20
Post/Tweet today: The Lord favors those who serve the at risk–at their own risk. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: A wise friend’s Wilderness Blessings: http://bit.ly/TR9s0g
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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved. www.wisdomhunters.com
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I feel like I have been in a wilderness for the last three years and I have been focused on it from a worldly viewpoint, but today I see a Kingdom Perspective that my wilderness experience is God’s blessing as my faith is tested every single day, it is purified in the fires of loneliness and as I persevere, my trust in God becomes pure, holy of heart and motive and life becomes less about what I want and more about God and His Kingdom. I am learning that I have everything I need in God alone and I am hoping to become complete in HIM. I have felt at times that this life season is more than I could humanly bear, this was the worldly viewpoint I lived in and it tortured my soul seeing through this lens, but now I am learning to see with a Kingdom perspective, I am no longer kindling my own fire and walking by a man made fire, that discouragingly so, flames out when I need it the most. A Kingdom Perspective is an all consuming fire, a light of hope that shines in this wilderness with a brilliance that I could never muster and gives me a strength to persevere that is not my own, that my will does not need to maintain, therefore my soul rests in this wilderness knowing that the challenge of it is not greater than the Kingdom purpose of it!