Topic: GRACE TO PROMOTE GOD’S AGENDA IN HIS WAY  [Church of God Mission International] Above Only Daily Devotional 31 August 2021

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Above Only Daily Devotional

TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

GRACE TO PROMOTE GOD’S AGENDA IN HIS WAY

NUMBERS 20:7-11(GNB)

The Lord said to Moses, “Take the stick…then you and Aaron assemble the whole community… speak to that rock over there, and water will gush out of it. In this way you will bring water out of the rock for the people,….”Moses went and got the stick, as the LORD had commanded. He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, “Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?”Then Moses raised the stick and struck the rock twice with it, and a great stream of water gushed out.

The fact that we do God’s will is good and important but as we studied yesterday, it is not enough. The manner in which we carry out God’s will is also very important. In our text above, God told Moses to take his rod but speak to the rock. Moses took his rod, spoke rudely to God’s people then struck the rock. God did not even ask him to say anything to the people. Why did Moses speak rudely to the people? The Bible says Moses ‘ spirit was provoked and he spoke inadvisedly with his lips (Psalm 106:33 ). The Good News Bible adds that”(t)hey made him so bitter that he spoke without stopping to think.”

In Exodus 17:6, God told Moses to strike the rock for water to come out, but this time God wanted him to speak to the rock. Though water still came out from the rock, the very next verse after our text above says, “But the LORD reprimanded Moses and Aaron. He said, “Because you did not have enough faith to acknowledge my holy power before the people of Israel , you will not lead them into the land that I promised to give them.” (Numbers 20:12, GNB.)

Whenever we do not do God’s will in God’s way, we are disrespecting God and expressing our lack of faith and confidence in Him. God did not excuse Moses ‘ wrong behavior because Moses was provoked by the people. There is no reason why we should go against God’s way in carrying out God’s will. Partial obedience is a form of rebellion. As we go about doing God’s will and fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives, we must learn to keep our flesh, emotions, sentiments and ambitions under control and elevate only God’s will and God’s way. We can only do this by yielding to the leading of the Spirit.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I desire to do Your will in the way You want me to. Help me by Your Spirit to always do Your will in Your way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN
Job 37:1-39:30, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10, Psalm 44: 9-26 & Proverbs 22:13