Yes, You!

There are times that God will call us to something bigger than ourselves. When this call comes, it is not uncommon to feel fear or apprehension. However, what we do in this moment of pause is of vital importance. On the one hand, we can be paralyzed by fear which will lead to inaction. On the other, we can proceed in faith and allow God to do in us what we cannot do ourselves.

Moses faced such a dilemma. He did not view himself as a leader or as particularly competent. All Moses could see was his past and the failures that had mounted in his life. However, God chose Moses to be the one who would lead Israel out of her slavery in Egypt. Moses would be the one to approach Pharaoh and let him know that God had said it was time for the people of Israel to go free.

When God’s call came to Moses, he did not exactly respond in confidence. In fact, Moses says, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Moses was only looking at his own resources and abilities. However, God responds by saying, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain” (Exodus 3:12). God was not fixated on what Moses could do, but what He could do through Moses. So sure was God that this would work that He spoke of the end result as if it had already happened – “you shall serve God on this mountain.”

When God calls you out, do not think of all the reasons you cannot do what He is asking. Instead, look for God’s promised presence. If God has promised to be with you, then pursue His call with all you are. Do not allow fear or disbelief to stand between you and God’s will. Allow God to use you in spite of your weaknesses. If you wait until you think you are ready, you will never move.

Finding God in the Weeds

Where do we turn when it seems all hope is lost? What do we do when we have exhausted all options and still there is no way? What do we do when we have come to the end of our resources? It is here, at the end of the road, that we are likely to discover the presence of God and His purposes for our lives. For whatever reason, until we come to the end of ourselves we are not ready to hear or yield to God and his purposes. However, the quicker we get to this point, the quicker we will likely see God move.

Such was the case for Moses’ mom (Exodus 2). Pharaoh had commanded that “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile” (Exodus 1:22). Moses’ mom tried to hide Moses for a while, but after three months she could hide him no longer. As a result, she put him in a basket and floated him in the Nile. After she did this, she stepped back and watched to see what would happen. Before long, the daughter of Pharaoh came along and discovered Moses in his basket (Exodus 2:6). She and her servant decided to find one of the Hebrew women to care for this child.

What happens from here cannot be told better than the Scripture records it. “Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed him.” That’s right, in a way that only God could, he preserved the life of Moses and gave his mother the opportunity to care for him in the early years – and get paid for it.

You may be facing challenging days. There may be things before you that look impossible. Do not lose heart. God is always up to something. Just give Him time to move and work. Remember, it is often at the end of ourselves that we find the beginning of God’s plan. Pray to that end. Pray that God will help you see past your own efforts to fully and truly trust Him.

Our Greatest Ambition

Inherent to the call to follow Christ is also the call to propagate the gospel. It is the plan of Christ that His followers will share the good news of His death, burial, and resurrection. Christ desires that others would know that the price has been paid for their sins and that He has paved a way for us to have a relationship with the Father and to have eternal life.

In Acts 26, having been arrested because of his testimony of Christ, Paul boldly proclaims what Christ has done for him. He share a step by step account as to who he was and how Christ changed him. Paul shows no sense of fear or shame as he proclaims the truth of who Christ is. So convincing is Paul that Agrippa, in front of whom Paul was arguing his case, asks, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). Without a doubt, Agrippa is sensing the truth of what Paul has to say and is not sure how to respond.

Paul’s answer to Agrippa in this moment reflects the heart that every believer ought to have when it comes to the spread of the gospel. Paul says, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for these chains” (Acts 26:29). Paul had one driving force in his life. Paul knew his calling; his mission. Paul’s greatest desire was to see people come to Christ.

What is our greatest desire? Too often our greatest desire is to receive that long overdue promotion. Maybe we desire to finally build the home we have dreamed about forever. Or, maybe we simply desire to take that once in a lifetime vacation. Not Paul. Paul only desired to see people come to the Lord. He was driven by this desire. So great was his desire to see people come to the Lord, he prioritized it even before his own freedom. Oh that the heart of Paul would be transferred us. If only the church would catch such a passion today, what might change? Make it a point, today, to ask the Lord to begin to work in your heart as He did in Paul’s.