A CHRISTIAN family lives in Chicago—and travels to California every year to see their relatives.
But every time they return, their daughter will ask the same question. Why do we live here and not in California?
And her father will always give the same reply. We live here because this is where the Lord has led us.
How many of us can say that we are in a good place because the Lord has led us?
Innovators go where their creativity takes them, but we go where the Spirit of God leads us.
Certainly, all who God’s Spirit guides are God’s children. (Rom. 8:14)
Elijah knew that he was in a good place when God told him to go to Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:10) And the Spirit of God led Jesus to a hard place—to be tempted by the devil. (Matt. 4:1)
The Holy Spirit may not always lead you to comfort, but he will guide you into God’s Will.
To get to where God intends for your life, you must always think about the big picture.
THE NARRATIVE
GOD had kept his promise to Abraham—his children had become great. But when the Pharaoh who knew Joseph died, things changed.
The new king felt he couldn’t trust them. So, he came up with strong measures and outright hostility.
He increased their chores and appointed slave masters over them.
They were becoming too powerful for his liking, and he commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill their male sons at birth. But the midwives feared God and did not do such a thing.
Moses was born at this time, and his mother would not give him up.
She did not fear Pharaoh’s directive and hid him for three months.
But when she could no longer do so, she put in an ark covered with bulrushes, and she put him on the river. (Exod. 1)
She trusted that God would save him, and he did.
Pharaoh’s daughter came to take a bath. She spotted the ark and knew it was a Hebrew son.
The princess liked him and favoured him. So she gave him to his mum to nurse.
Moses grew up in her arms—and when the time was right, she returned him to the palace.
EVERY MOMENT of our lives is charged with meaning.
Moses chose not only to be seen as the son of the king’s daughter but to share in the sufferings of the children of God.
He considered the abuse they had suffered in Egypt.
When he saw two people fighting, an Israelite and an Egyptian, he killed the Egyptian.
The following day, he saw two Israelites having a spat and confronted the offender.
The offender asked him who made him a judge over them and accused him of murder.
Fear gripped him. He knew the news had spread—and he needed to get out of town. (Exod. 2:11-15)
Greatness isn't in your comfort but your mandate
He ran to Midian, where he later married the daughter of Jethro.
YOU CAN NEVER be more concerned about the kingdom than God Himself.
God once answered Moses’ cry for help. He told him to choose 70 elders.
God took some of the Spirit upon him and placed it on them—and they shared his burden. (Numbers 11:16-25)
The burden you carry is shared with you by God.
If you are a believer in Christ, you are not your own. (Gal. 3:13-15)
You do not take matters of God into your hands without involving God.
Moses was concerned about his people, and he walked the route alone.
Elijah once felt he was alone, but God told him that he had others doing the work. (1 Kings 19:10)
You may love a fellow believer, but you cannot love them more than God.
Whenever you are concerned about someone, do not gossip about them. Instead, take the person to the Lord in prayer.
LIFE COMES from our daily pursuits. A good life comes from what you care about—but merely good is the mortal enemy of great.
When you settle for good, you’ll never be great.
Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego had good lives in Babylon, but they sought God’s greatness.
And they told Nebuchadnezzar, “Even if the Lord does not save us, we will not bow to your idol.” (Dan. 3:16-18)
They knew that the only legitimate idol they could have in their lives is God.
If you choose not to make the thoughts of God your own, you risk moving on a downward spiral.
The present and future of every child of God are not in disobedience but obedience to the word of God.
ONE DAY, God appeared to Moses at the backside of the desert and shared his plan with him.
Moses realized his purpose and returned to Egypt.
Your story will become effective when God ties you to the big picture—without it, your life will have no meaning.
Jesus Christ is the big picture.
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
BATTLES are won when God fights them—the path to victory is not going the route alone.
Moses lived in prosperity—but he was lonely. His greatness wasn’t in his comfort but in his mandate.
What is your mandate?
Have a great week.