Mention the name of Moses and people think of leadership, strength, and the Ten Commandments. They tend to forget about the murder. They lose sight of his 40 years as a fugitive. They overlook his anger problem and his intense reluctance to say yes to God.
Moses ran to the desert because he killed a man for persecuting a fellow Hebrew. He must have enjoyed his quiet life in the Sinai, because He didn’t want to leave it when God showed up with marching orders (see Exodus 3:1-10). He even got into a lengthy argument with God.
Moses played the I’m-not-good-enough card, asking God: “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11). God didn’t answer that question. Nor did He promise to keep Moses from difficult times. He simply said, “I will be with you” (v.12). Then He told Moses who He was: “I Am Who I Am” (v.14).
A sense of our own inadequacy is healthy. But if we go there as an excuse to keep God from using us, we insult Him. What we’re really saying is that God is not good enough.
A friend of mine was asked to step out of his job and into a position in ministry. He wanted to do it. He had been feeling a pull toward something different, something more meaningful. This offer to serve on staff at a church seemed to fit perfectly. “I don’t deserve this,” he said. “They don’t know me. I’m not good enough.”
He’s right. He’s not good enough. Which means that God has him right where He wants him. “The world is full of bad people,” said Pastor Mark Driscoll, “and Jesus.” When we realize that, God has us right where He wants us.
The question shouldn’t be, Who am I? It should be, Who is God?
More:
I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for Us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
Next:
Where is God calling you to serve Him? What keeps you from following Him?
mike on January 9, 2010 at 7:50 am
Very good devo, thanks for sharing.
After being out of the marlet place for over a year I continually look for where God is working around me with a desire to join Him where He already is.
It is healthy to understand that when God does call we need to recognize; “We don’t deserve this” and “I’m not good enough”. This should not however paralyze us from acting but rather acknowledging that it Christ at work in us that allows us to do those things God has places in our hearts and minds.
Blessings,
Mike
tyronebcookin on January 9, 2010 at 8:06 am
Your devo also serves to remind us of how ‘single’ minded we are…we base our thoughts of inadequacy and self worth without including Christ.
We say we have a relationship with Christ, we can do all things thru Christ, we are santified thru Christ, …etcetera. But then we seem to forget all that and think ‘how can I do this or how am I worthy?’.
I agree that a sense of our own inadequacy is healthy. But its not healthy to keep excluding ‘Christ in us’ like we are still operating alone.
Thats what spoke to me from your devo this morning…I need to remember to LIVE like Christ is in me so I can be able to overcome these moments of the inadequacy of ‘me’.
Thanks.
shayskin on January 9, 2010 at 11:28 am
When we as a poeple believe in God with our whloe heart he can used us in any field he like
Give God your whole body and mind and he will keep you until the end of days
God get the glory
Thank you for the passage this morning
Paulajo on January 9, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I have seen in my own life, where God has put me in positions where I have had to completely rely on Him for wisdom, strength, boldness, etc., in order to do what He was calling me to do. In all those situations, I got to see the power of God! My faith in Him increased each and every time making it easier and easier to trust Him. It was like seeing God face to face, up close and personal because in my weakness, His strength was manifested in me to then succeed and make it through what He called me to do. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God wants to show Himself to us all the time, if only we would let Him!
Thank you for sharing such a thought provoking devotional!
~Paula
learning2serv on January 10, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Touche!
whoami on January 9, 2010 at 7:09 pm
last week i took a re-exam.
for me the exam was really a difficult one.
during my preparations, my prayer is that i am nothing.
Jesus, the only one that gave me the strength and wisdom.
He works inside me, and it is really amazing that when you trust Him, Jesus is there with you and i pass with a good mark…
HE IS LORD…