2009 – Day 77.Mar. 19 – The Essential Ingredient

2009 – Day 77.Mar. 19 – The Essential Ingredient

Passage of the Day: Exodus 11: 1 - 10 … Link to the passage …

My Journal for Today: Earlier this month we were reading how Moses had gotten to a very low place, being rejected by Pharaoh, ridiculed by the Egyptians, and even hated by the Hebrew leaders. But though Moses had doubts about himself as God’s leader, he stuck in there and was obedient to God’s plan. And as Swindoll points out in today’s devotional entry, and reading ahead in Exodus 11 – 12, that is the main point – the essential ingredient – of success in God’s eyes … OBEDIENCE. God plans it. He wills it. We, who follow Him, do it.

At this point my memory harkens back to an old advertisement slogan from the Nike company: “Just do it!” And the slogan was referring to the effort and discipline it takes to be great in the sports world. One may have the talent of a Michael Jordan in basketball or a Tiger Woods in golf; but those two become the leaders in their field of endeavor do so because of obedience to the truth that it takes practice and discipline to be the best. Moses, as we read in today’s passage, even became esteemed to the Egyptians, … not because he did things his own way. No, it was because he stuck with God’s plan and purpose.

We receive power when we are witnesses for and with God, doing life “HIS WAY,” not our own. Swindoll quotes Proverbs 16: 7 which states that even our enemies will admire us when we do life in the center of God’s will. And that’s what had come about with Moses; but Pharaoh hated him with extreme jealousy. And those who were unwilling to do things God’s way were about to pay a horrible price. God’s plan was unfolding, even in the details of the people asking for gold and silver, which would one day be used for God’s Tabernacle in worship. And I’m sure that some of God’s people were disobedient and ignored what Moses asked them to do. But in God’s time they would not have the favor of God as would those who were obedient.

Many times in my devotionals over the years I’ve quoted a dear, departed friend of ours who had a saying that many of us called "1st Loretta 1: 1." Loretta used to say, “First obedience, … then the blessing.” And that’s what today’s devotional is all about, challenging me (and you) to ask, “Just how obedient am I in living out life in God’s way?” Other question could be asked more specifically, such as, “Am I tithing as God’s word commands (see Malachi 3: 8 - 12 and 2nd Cor. 9: 6, 7)?” Or, you might realize that we can’t ignore giving our best, using the time God gives to us for His glory by getting in and staying in God’s word (see Joshua 1: 8 and Ephesians 5: 15-16)?

In the time of Moses, all who followed Moses obediently were blessed. All who were disobedient to God’s plan, spoken through Moses and Aaron, incurred God’s horrible wrath. And, as I’ve said many times before, “We either choose to humble ourselves before our God, or He will humble us in His sight.” We choose Whom we’ll follow. God chooses the outcome.

My Prayer for Today: I choose to follow You, Lord. Amen