IT'S EASY to be common, but it becomes uneasy when you choose to be uncommon.
Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego sounded weird when they refused meat sacrificed to idols. (Dan. 1:8-16)
Mordecai looked arrogant when he chose not to bow to Haman—and he had a target on his back. (Est. 3:5)
Moses seemed ungrateful when he refused to identify solely as the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose instead to share the sufferings of his people. (Heb. 11:24-26)
Everyone who stood for God had something in common—the Burning Bush.
WE FEEL forgotten through certain seasons of life and do not realize that we are never out of God's view.
Even when we leave him out of our plans, he never shuts us out of His—and we still end up right where he wants us.
He's always looking for people with whom he will do the impossible.
For God knows the plans, he has for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope. (Jer. 29:11)
FOR FORTY YEARS as an outsider, the future waited on Moses.
He saw himself as a murderer, a fugitive and a man forgotten.
One day as he shepherded his father-in-law's sheep, he guarded them away from the usual pastures to Horeb—the mountain of God.
There he saw a great sight: the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up.
So, he said: "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."
And as he did, God called out to him. Moses, Moses!
Here, I am, he answered.
"Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals because you are standing on holy ground." (Exod. 3:1-5)
Moses needed a strange sight to be drawn in. So God gave him a divine revelation.
ONE DAY, Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee.
The people crowded around him—and he got into Peter's boat.
When he was done preaching, he told Peter to launch into the deep and let down his nets.
"Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."
They let down their nets, and they caught so many fish that their nets were about to break.
When Peter saw what had happened, he fell before Jesus and said: "Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful person." (Luke 5:1-8)
Peter experienced a divine persuasion and couldn't hold back.
Life is God's novel
YOU MAY say you've never had a burning bush experience—but I beg to differ. That nudge you're unable to shake off can be your burning bush.
To the eyes that see, every bush is a burning bush – Eugene Peterson.
ELIJAH'S burning bush was the still small voice that asked, "What are you doing here?" (1 Kings 19:13)
Whenever God asks a question, he already has the answer.
But he does so to draw your attention to his divine purpose.
What has the Lord asked you lately?
WHEN LAST did you set aside ample time to spend with Him?
Have you done the last thing he told you to do?
While you are waiting on Him, he is waiting on you.
Bringing it Together
UNTIL YOU turn aside to look, God will not speak. But, when you give attention to Him, he gives attention to you.
Life is God's novel. Let Him write it! - Isaac B. Singer