June 3, 2013 … Using God’s Staff for His Glory

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 154

 Passage of the Day #1: Exodus 4: 17 [God’s charge to Moses to use what God gave him for God’s glory.] [NLT] …  
17 “… And be sure to take your shepherd’s staff along so you can perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”  
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 Contextual Study for today’s passage: Exodus, Chapter 4 [NLT] … Go to this link … 
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 Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 14-16 : [Shining His light through our own works. ] … [NLT] …  
14 You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 

Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 6-8 : [Our work-life is our worship life.] …[NLT] …  
6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. 7 If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

My Journal for Today: When Moses was called by God after being well trained to be a shepherd for 40 years, God charged Moses to use the tool of a shepherd, i.e., his staff, as the primary tool Moses would use to do what God called this shepherd to do, … i.e., to free God’s people.

What has God called us to do? And what is the “STAFF” which God can use to carry out His purposes? Perhaps you have a specific calling, as did Moses. Maybe you’ve been called to ministry in your work, career, or profession. Perhaps you’ve been called, as have I, into some ministry or mission in life. Most certainly all Christians have been called to witness for Christ or to share His glory with others (see Acts 1: 8 and Matthew 28: 19-20). But no matter what our calling or commission in life, God will also give us “a staff,” some talent and/or most certainly, a Spirit-rendered gift, so that we can be Christ’s light in the world (see Jesus’ exhortation of Matt. 5: 14-16 cited above).

God gave Moses a shepherd’s staff so that Moses, a shepherd, could do God’s work. And we know from biblical history that Moses used that staff to leverage work after work, miracle after miracle, to shine God’s light before Pharaoh and Egypt … so that Moses, as he used God’s staff, could carry out the work God had called Moses to accomplish.

Again I ask us all to evaluate our calling or commission from God. Are we using the “staff” God has given each of us for His glory? If we’re Christians, God has given each of us at least one Spirit-imparted gift to use as our “staff” to carry out God’s calling or His purposes for our lives. If we read God’s word in Romans 12: 6-8, perhaps you’ve been given a gift of mercy to reach out and help others; or maybe your gift is that of leadership or administration and you’ve been called to lead others in the workplace or in a church? Maybe you’ve been given some special talent, such as musical abilities, in order to shine God’s light in this darkened world.

But since we’ve been called to shine Christ’s light in this world and God has a calling for all of His children, we all are also called by God to use the “staff” He has given us to carry out His commission for the glory of God in this world. I’ll leave it to you to decide what your “staff” is and what your calling is. However, my friend, as Christians each of us has a calling and each of us has been given a “staff.” So, let’s each of us go and use what God has given us in order to give God glory and to shine His light in this world.

Are we using our “staff” and using it for God’s calling in our lives today? Are we shining His light in an ever darkening world? … Tough question … which require answers for God’s glory.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me use the “staff” You’ve given me for Your glory today. … Amen

Blogger’s PS: Here’s your chance to be a critic and my counselor today. I’ve always known that God has given me Spirit-given gifts of teaching and encouragement. And I hope I’m not being prideful to claim that the Lord has also given me some degree of talent to write. So, I ask you, … am I using God’s “staff” for His glory by coming here and journaling these devotions daily? I hope so; but if you think I could be using these gifts and this “staff” more effectively, I’d sure like to get your feedback in this regard.