Here I Am, Lord. Send Him (and other devotionals)

"Here I Am, Lord. Send Him."

But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else."

—Exodus 4:13

When God called Moses to return to Egypt, I find it interesting that Moses used the word Lord and then effectively said no: "Lord, please! Send anyone else" (Exodus 4:13).

It reminds me of Peter, when he had that vision on the housetop of Simon (see Acts 10:9–16). In his vision, a great sheet was lowered from Heaven with creatures that Peter was forbidden to eat, according to Mosaic Law. God told him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them" (verse 13).

But Peter said, "No, Lord" (verse 14).

Those words don't go together. You don't say, "No, Lord." Rather, it is, "Yes, Lord."

Moses was saying to God, "No, Lord, I don't want to do this. I can't do this. I am not the right guy. Send someone else."

This angered God. Moses should have just done what God called him to do.

Here is something to consider. If God is calling you in some way, shape, or form, to not respond actually can be a sin. Yes, God has given you a free will, and I suppose you can live your life as you want to live it for the most part. But if God calls you to do something for Him and you say no, that is disobedience, and that is a sin. To not obey Him is to sin against Him.

"But I am not qualified," you might say. Well really, who is? In fact, often the ones who think they are qualified are disqualified. They're so full of themselves that God won't use them. God likes to use people who don't think they're worthy. God likes to use people who don't think they ever could be used by Him. God likes to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways so that He receives the glory.

~Greg Laurie~

________________________________

Happiness lies in the heart, rather than in the purse!


(Charles Spurgeon, "A Good Start!")

Contentment with your lot, and confidence in God--will make life peaceful and happy! A dinner of herbs with contentment, will yield a flavor of satisfaction unknown to those who eat the fattened ox.

It is better to be happy than to be rich--happiness lies in the heart, rather than in the purse!It is not what a man has, but what a man is--which will decide his bliss or woe in both this life and the next.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need--and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want!" Philippians 4:11-12

___________________________

Jesus... said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” (Matthew20:32,33 ESV)

We shall never see Divine things by the aid of our reason. We shall never see things because they are put plainly to us by the one who ministers. No, it will only be as Jesus of Nazareth comes into touch with us and we with Him. And that applies to every stage of the Christian life. If there are any reading these lines, who have never in the first place had their eyes opened to see, so that the result is Life eternal – for knowing is only another word for seeing, and Jesus said, "This is life eternal, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send, even Jesus Christ" (John 17:3); "that they should know" – another word for seeing – if you have not yet entered into Life, received eternal Life, remember that it will not just happen to you; it will not simply happen. You will have to become tremendously concerned about this and show the Lord that you mean business; you will have to be like Bartimaeus and cry, and "so much the more" cry. Remember that the Lord does so often wait, delay, and hold off, to see if we really place value upon this seeing. We are tested as to how much we esteem His things.

And what is true at the beginning is true all the way along. There is no end to Divine revelation; there is no end to our seeing. Oh, how little we have seen, how little we know, of the vast stores of Divine intention and thought and purpose and meaning. We stand and paddle on the shores of this vast ocean of God and of His purposes and meanings in our creation. How little we know about it! – and we are not going to know until we have deep heart exercise. But it is there, and it is there for us, and oh, we have got to come in this way – "so much the more." Are you like that after a conference, or after any meeting in which there has been a ministry of God's Word? Are you sure you have seen all that God meant you to see? Are you just hearing what is said? You agree – but what is the effect? The real effect waits upon this heart exercise, this crying out – and a crying out "so much the more." The Lord is not close and mean, holding it from you, but He is wanting to know that this is of greater price to you than all else; if needs be, of greater price than your sleep, your rest: you are going to give Him no rest until He opens your eyes.

By T. Austin-Sparks