Week 27 - July 26 - Robynn Watts

Exodus 3 and 4

These two chapters are two of my most favorite chapters in the whole Bible. Listening to people's stories is one of my favorite activities and hearing stories of how God is working in their lives is second to none. Moses had quite a story to tell the people! I am amazed that time and time again, all throughout the Bible, God never used a "prescription" for how He would make Himself known to His children. He used unique and specific ways to relay Himself and His purposes. No one until Moses experienced a burning bush and no one after Moses would. God used this unique delivery system to get Moses' attention. How does God speak uniquely to you?

God's conversation with Moses always went back to Moses understanding WHO God is. God had an agenda as He came to Moses and Moses had an opportunity to be the man God would use. Only, God ran into some unbelief on Moses' part. He had to do a lot of convincing Moses that He is able to complete what He set out to do. God gives Moses several concrete examples of how He would provide (this is even after a burning bush!!), but Moses still had a hard time getting past his own insecurities. He just didn't get it that God wanted to do a great work through him and would equip him with everything, yes everything he would need. So, instead of Moses being allowed the full pleasure of seeing God's awesome power work through him, he got a partner whom he had to speak through. God's anger burned against Moses (4:14) as he settled on having Aaron speak for Moses. I wonder what Moses would have experienced had he had the faith to believe that God could do what He says. I wonder what I would experience if I had the faith to believe that God is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do....


Psalm 27

This past year in Bible study, our group studied a lot about strongholds that prevent us from living the life God has for us here on Earth. Most of the time we tend to think of strongholds as negative things, but here in Psalm 27 we learn an important truth. That God should be the stronghold of our life. (vs. 1) And if He is, what do we have to be afraid of? This psalm speaks of the awesome protection we have in our all powerful God. I recently finished a book that tells a story of some servants of God going into some of the darkest, sin infested places on Earth to rescue innocent ones from the grips of terror. A question these rescuers are asked frequently is "Where is God?" in this city that reeks of evil. The rescuers reply.... "God is here. Some question that, we depend on it." The Lord is our light and our salvation... we need not fear. Even in our darkest times and as we walk through dark places... He is here.

Proverbs 27

A few verses that stand out to me... vs. 6, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." I believe we had a message not too long ago that talked about this verse. Made me stop to think if I'm really being honest with my friends or just telling them what I know they want to hear. Been working on that... I'm pretty decent at encouragement, not so much at honest truth telling in a nice way.

I'm sure my husband would like me to mention verses 15-16... however I have nothing great to say about that other than I tend to be a constant drip at times!

I like verse 19... "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Very true. Be on the lookout for your flocks.... :-)

Acts 6

The church is now rapidly growing. To be sure, there were many issues that needed to be dealt with. Some dividing of labors happens here at the beginning of chapter 6. The "church" has to find some new ways of doing things as they continue to grow and lead more and more people to Jesus. An exciting time, also a time of much change and adaptation. Not unlike moving into a new church building and growing ourselves!

Wouldn't you love to have your introduction in the Bible be, " insert your name here , a man/woman full of God's grace and power..." That is the introduction we get to Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to lead. Of course, our "wet blanket" Pharisees have to have a problem with him. They secretly stir up trouble against Stephen. Notice how evil is often time bound by secrets. The thing that hits me hardest is what the Pharisees actually say about Stephen. Verse 11 states, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God." Notice carefully the order in which this "blasphemy" was committed. Against Moses first, THEN against God! Yikes!! They really were wrapped up in the Law weren't they? This whole section is filled with secrets, false witnesses and lies. However, the fact that Stephen's face is most likely radiant, full of God's glory surpasses anything they could "throw at him"......