Monday, April 7
Exodus 4:10-31
Psalms 31, 35
1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Mark 9:30-41
How
many times have you doubted your ability to accomplish a task, whether it be an
assignment by a teacher, a responsibility at your job, a serious issue with a
loved one, an illness, or countless other times you have had a true feeling of
inadequacy? How many times have you
forgotten to call on the LORD to equip you to handle these situations?
In
Exodus 4:10-31 God reminds us that He created us the way we are. So since He created us, he can then give us
the wisdom and creativity that we may lack if we trust Him and ask Him. If He asks something of us, He will equip us
with what it takes. Even Moses doubted
his ability to tell the elders of Israel that God had sent him to go to Pharaoh
and convince him to release the Israelites from Egypt. Moses did not seem to trust in God’s ability
to equip him to do this task. God gave
Moses a staff with which became a physical and visual reassurance that God
would help him when he felt inadequate.
God has given us the perfect manual in the bible, in His word with which
we can cling to and call on in our times of weakness and inadequacy.
In
Psalms 31 David shows us his unfailing faithfulness and trust in the LORD. Even when he is weak and rejected his words
“Into Your hands I commend my spirit” show his complete trust in God and his
total dependence on Him. He praises God
and knows that it is the LORD who keeps him safe. This is the perfect example of how we should
live our lives. We are called to “be
strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
Psalm
35 is another example of David’s trust.
David is being unjustly persecuted and pleads with the LORD to come to
his aid and defense. Even though he is
being persecuted so vehemently, he knows that God sees what is unjustly being
done to him. Even though his prayers
seem unanswered, David uses this time to deepen his faith, giving the matter of
justice to God. He continues to praise
God knowing that He will help him and hear his cries. In this song we never see him waiver in his
trust in the LORD.
In
1 Corinthians 14:1-19 Paul speaks to us and tells us to desire the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Here again we see that God
is equipping us to teach. With the gift
of speaking in tongue we benefit ourselves by speaking to the Holy Spirit although
others “the church” cannot understand us.
This is a way of teaching ourselves, and Paul reminds us that this is a
gift of the Holy Spirit. He then
continues to tell us that the gift of prophecy is greater because it teaches
others, bringing them strength, encouragement and comfort. Paul asks us to use the gifts we have been
given, those gifts that God has used to equip us to edify the church.
We
read in Mark 9:30-41 how Jesus gathers His disciples away from the public to
teach them in private because He knows the importance of equipping them to
carry on teaching about Jesus for when He soon will return to heaven. He teaches them to welcome the children, who
at that time were not considered important, and teach them about Jesus. He taught them that it is not just the
disciples who can do good in Jesus’ name, that anyone on the side of Jesus can
build up the kingdom of God.
Do
you see the consistency in these scriptures?
In each one God has equipped Moses, David, His disciples and us with
what we need to live our lives in His name.
In everything we do, if we truly do it in the name of Jesus, we will be
given the means to succeed. Not just in
these verses, but many times throughout the bible we see how God equips His
people. Take a look, it will empower
you.
When
you are feeling inadequate, trust in the LORD with all your heart, with all
your soul and with all your mind.
Barbara Novelli
Bookkeeper, Holy Spirit
Episcopal School