Come Home for Christmas
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the opportunity to live in Your plan for my life. While Your plans for the Israelites as they left Egypt seem bigger than life, and Your guidance as they traveled “home” seems so specific, I know that Your hand on my life is no less real or vital or specific. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit right now that I may hear Your voice and do Your will as You reveal it to me today. Use me to lead others to You as I go about my day whether through a kind word, or a small act of compassion, or whatever You have in mind for me. God, I pray for those today who are “hard hearted.” I pray that any hard heartedness in me will be softened, and that those who truly have set their hearts against You will be transformed, and will become Your followers. God, please draw people to Yourself in our community, and use New Life as a church family that welcomes people home to You regardless of where it is they have been in the past on their journey home. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Focus Scripture: Exodus 13:17-18
17When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army.
Supplemental Scripture: Exodus 14:1-4
1Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 2“Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon. 3Then Pharaoh will think, ‘those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!’ 4And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.
Reflecting on God’s Word
Think of a time when your heart was hard? What was the cause of it?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Look at today’s supplemental Scripture from Exodus 14:1-4. Notice how specifically God communicated with Moses. In what ways does God communicate specifically with us today?
What was God’s plan in having the Israelites march toward Pi-hahiroth, and to camp near Baal-zephon?
What was God going to do to show the Egyptians that He is the LORD?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
According to Exodus 14:1-4, what is God’s purpose for our lives as it relates to those around us who are “hard hearted”?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
God gave Moses quite specific instructions about where to march and where to camp, and what would be the result of that (the Israelites would seem confused to the Egyptians.) Consider that sometimes what God asks us to do may make us look confused to those in the world who do not yet know Him! What kinds of things are you doing right now, in obedience to God that may seem confusing to others? How can you use those things as a means of helping them get “home”?
Thoughts—As They Were Told…
As the Israelites left Egypt, God gave Moses extremely specific instructions for the beginning of their journey home. He told them to march through certain places and to camp in a certain place, and Exodus 14:4b tells us, “So the Israelites camped there as they were told.” In our lives, we will find that God may give us specific commands, and He expects us to do as we are told. The commands may be simple or complex. They may be easy to follow or difficult. They may not make much sense to us, but as the Scripture makes clear from start to end, obedience to God is more desirable to Him than sacrifice, or ex-cuses or anything else. That’s because our obedience TO God demonstrates our faith IN God. As we go about this day, we can be sure that others are watching us, if they know that we are followers of Jesus. They are watching to see whether our actions fall in line with our words. They want to know if we are living as we have been told. Our consistency or lack of it in following the ways of Jesus sends a message to those who are not yet on the journey home to Jesus. As we go about this day, it is more important than we realize to live in obedience to Jesus, not only because it is right, but because living in accordance with Jesus’ teachings and commands is the clearest witness to a world that is in desperate need of clear witnesses to God’s grace and power!