Community Devotions

Just Mere Vessels

Numbers 20:10-12

10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. 12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

OBSERVATION

When the Israelites reached the Desert of Zin, they were witnesses of innumerable miracles and display of God’s power.  All the miracles in Egypt that forced Pharaoh to release the Israelites to leave Egypt after 400 years of bondage, crossing of the Red Sea, God’s provision in the desert – these were all clear examples of God’s love and power.  Yet, the Israelites complained every time their situation became unbearable and even worse, expressed their desire to return to Egypt and spoke fondly of their conditions in Egypt, forgetting that they were crying out to the LORD to deliver them out of slavery in Egypt.

First, Moses had every right to be angry with the Israelites but he did not have the authority to replace God who can deliver them from their crisis. Second, Moses let his pride take the best of him – “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  It was not Moses who was going to provide water to them but it was God who made the miracle happen.  Moses in his anger placed himself in God’s place by saying that “must we” make the water come out of the rock. 

APPLICATION 

We are mere vessels for God whose role is to be a conduit for His power and love.  There is nothing special or important about me but only through God’s election and His power, do I become an instrument for Him.  

Be careful to avoid making decisions in anger.  It serves no one well.

PRAYER 

Father God, thank you for your grace and mercy.  May I be the vessel for your love and grace.  I surrender my pride to you and accept your authority to Lord of my life.  Protect and bless Michael, Joshua and Daniel.  Bless Grandpa and give him health and peace.  Guide and protect Christine as she teaches today.  I love you Lord Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

The Sufficiency of the Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" - Psalm 23:1

The classic example of "it takes one to know one" rings true in Psalm 23. It takes a shepherd to know a shepherd. This psalm of David describing God being our all sufficient shepherd is penned from a shepherd himself. David completely understood what it meant to be a shepherd. It meant providing for and protecting his sheep. He experienced trekking the terrain to lead his sheep into green pastures to feed them. He has journeyed through the wilderness in order to provide still waters for the sheep to be refreshed with water. He knows full well that a good shepherd is willing to sacrifice his own life by fighting ravenous wolves and dangerous lions. 

One of the richest and most meaningful metaphors of God in the bible is a shepherd. Jesus said in John 10:11 that he is the good shepherd and that the good shepherd lays his life down for the sake of his sheep. Christ layed down his life by making it as a sacrificing atonement for my sins at the cross. Jesus is all sufficient. He is all I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures by giving rest for my weary and tired soul. He leads me beside still waters and has offered me to drink from waters that I will never thirst again. He restores my soul's longing for identity by blessing me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14) and I am beloved. Points of Obedience:

- Go to the Good Shepherd first and don’t resort to him last: Stop committing the evil of forsaking Christ the fountain of living waters and digging out my own broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jer. 2:13). Find my fulfillment and joy Christ as my first resort. Don’t go digging for broken cisterns of people’s approval or material possession

- As a shepherd of God’s people, lay my life down for the sheep. Jesus qualifies a good shepherd by his willingness to lay down his life for the sheep. This means sacrificing my rights, privileges and pride for the sake of shepherding people to the cross.

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for being all sufficient! I lack nothing. I need nothing because you are everything. Please forgive me for my self sufficiency and digging for myself broken cisterns that cannot hold water and leave me wanting and  unsatisfied. I repent of finding my value in my performance. I repent of seeking my identity in people’s approval. I repent for leading my self instead of being led by you. Thank you for you grace and kindness that leads me to repentance. Please be the good shepherd of my family. Would you lead Renee, Judah, Noah and Ezra first? Would you remind me that they are yours first and that you are the good shepherd of their souls. Help me to lead with love by laying down myself for them. Strengthen me as a shepherd to lead New Hope Community Church to you. I love you. Maranatha!