Grace for Today... Lord, what would You have me to do?

Exodus 32:1-10
Now it didn’t take long for the Israelites to fall right back into worshipping idols again. They had seen God in action, but they still wanted the familiar gods they could see and shape into the images they desired. Let’s be honest, how often do we try to do those very same things? Our greatest temptation is still to shape God into what we want Him to be; to make it convenient to obey Him or ignore Him. God cannot work in us when we elevate anything or anyone above Him. Disobedience to God is not a small thing. God was ready to destroy the Israelites, but spared them because of His mercy.
Deut. 10:17 Speaks of the awesome power and justice of God and that we cannot even stand before Him without His mercy being extended to us. We thank God that His mercy is unlimited and new every morning. When we fully grasp the extent of God’s mercy toward us, we see what true love really is and how deeply God loves us. God chooses to show love and mercy to all those who seek him. He is the one true God, the only God and we must worship Him in truth and in spirit. These people, favored of God could not keep the Law and neither can we. Today we are saved by grace, but in fact it was grace that saved in the Old Testament, as we see no one was saved by the law, but by the merciful grace of God. So it’s not what we can do, but rather, Lord what would You have me to do? We must surrender to His will and not ours, because the truth is in his justice and excellence. He cannot overlook disobedience.
2 Peter 2:20,21 gives us a sobering reality. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Knowledge without Obedience is Dangerous! Jesus said in Matthew 26:24 that it would have been better for Judas to have never been born than to have turned from the truth he had known.
Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Jesus calls us to a true commitment and a realization that some Scripture is hard on our flesh, our desires and our way of thinking. Jesus is not asking us to merely deny ourselves a piece of cake, or a shopping spree. He is asking that we deny ourselves! A brokenness of all and a willingness to take up the cross set before us individually, and follow Him only. His encouragement is filled with peace and joy extended to us in knowing there is a reward to those who surrender to His will and to His ways.

For me, this has been a fresh reminder: Lord, what would You have me to do? Let me know what you think....
In Grace Alone, Sheila
Copyright 2007 Sheila Davis
All Rights Reserved

Grace for Today…The Bigger Picture
Exodus 16
We pick up our story of Moses and the Israelites as they continue to [Wander in the Wilderness]. As we watch the events that unfold in this story, it is easy to agree that we can describe this wandering as being out of the will of God for their lives. However, can we admit that our own murmuring and complaining as we go through a wilderness experience, be classified in line with the children of Israel? Do we become faint at heart when we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness, or can we turn our eyes to Jesus and begin to see the bigger picture?
Let’s look first at the Israelites. It took them 40 years to go on an 11 day journey. They had to keep going around the same old mountain, not receiving what God had for them, because of murmuring and complaining, disobedience, sin and pride, rebellion and lack of trust. God even called them a stiff necked or stubborn people.
We can describe this [wilderness of sin] as a vast and hostile environment of sand and stone. The barren surroundings gave the perfect place for God to test and to shape the character of his people. They had only been a month and some days since they left Egypt. During that short time God had already provided an escape from their enemy by dividing the waters of the Red Sea for them to have easy access to safety. He led them through the wilderness of Shur, turning the bitter waters of Marah to sweet drinking water. There he made a Covenant with them, as we read in Exodus 15:26) If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.
The Israelites had watched the hand of God move in Egypt. They had seen all these miracles and experienced God’s mercy and deliverance first hand. God had then led them to Elim, where He gave them a place to rest, a place of trees with plenty of water and plenty of shade before continuing. However, now in Chapter 16, we find the whole congregation complaining. Can you picture this: Maybe at first a few began to complain and as they did, more joined in and as it spread the complaining and murmuring became stronger and louder, until they just couldn’t stand the thought of being there.
Remember God saying he heard the cries of the Hebrews in their bondage in Egypt? Here they are crying again and saying they would rather die in bondage with plenty of food, than to be in this situation. They really didn’t mean they would rather be back there. We really have to hear this: It was in the pressure of the moment that they could not focus on the cause of their stress, which was actually their lack of trust in God. They were only looking for the quickest way of escape. The Israelites focused on food and water and after all they had seen, they couldn’t see that food and water would be a small thing for God to provide.
God’s response to the complaining was that God himself would provide bread from heaven. He promised to supply their food himself, so there would be no doubt they would not go hungry.
In verse 4 we find God saying that He will provide food from heaven, with a stipulation to gather only a certain amount daily. He goes on to say this is so I may test them, whether they will walk in my laws or no. God was not setting them up for failure; rather He was testing their obedience. God wanted them to trust Him and they would learn to trust Him by following Him. God proves or tests us, not for us to fail, but to prove what we really are. Obedience is learned by small steps of obeying. Trusting grows as we walk it out and follow God. Instead of looking on the problem, we must learn to look to Him for the answer.
In 1Timothy 4, we are given instruction to exercise in Godly things. We must stop blaming things and get back in the will of God. If it doesn’t come from the Lord’s hand, it is not worth having anyway, as the Scriptures tell us in Psalm 127, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that built it; except the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus wants us to come to Him and He will give us rest. When we look at the Keywords [ heavy laden], we find them to mean, loaded down or burdened. As we learn to walk in obedience and stay in the will of God for our life, we will begin to experience our burdens becoming lighter. It is each wilderness experience that should grow us more in allowing Jesus to carry the burden, as we focus on the [bigger picture].
Galatians 2:20 tells us) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

The Life… I now live.
The life we now live, we live it by faith. We are not back in Egypt in bondage, but rather Jesus gave Himself so we could have freedom in Him. There is a price to pay. It is called obedience, but living [the life] God has planned for us is light and not burdensome when we learn to die to ourselves and live for God, receiving the precious promises He has laid before us. Let’s purpose in our heart today to focus on [The Bigger Picture]!

Give glory and honor that is due His name!

In Grace Alone, Sheila
Copyright 2007 Sheila Davis
All Rights Reserved

God if you don’t go, don’t send me.


Exodus 33
14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”



What a contrast from Moses [looking on the burden] of the Hebrews and just reacting, getting ahead of God; to the man we see here who portrays one who could only continue if he knew for sure that [the Lord’s presence was with him]. He had been brought to the place of brokenness to know he could not take one step without the assurance that God was walking with him. Moses was now willing to go where God sent him, as long as God would be present. Moses was now moldable into God’s plan, purpose and call. Much has happened since Chapter 3. Much time has passed and some things have changed. Let’s look at to contrasts.

1. Moses’ time on the backside of the desert gave God the opportunity to take the Egypt out of Moses. Let’s ask ourselves: When was the last time I found myself on the backside of the desert or in a deep valley? Did I give God the opportunity to take an Egypt out of me? What work needed to be done in me before he could send me out to fulfill his plan, purpose and call?
2. The Israelites had murmured and complained since they left Egypt. Their cries were heard from heaven and God sent them a deliverer. He made a way for them to follow his path that led to the land of milk and honey. Instead of receiving what God had purposed for them, they blamed everything and everyone for what they were going through. Let’s ask ourselves: Have I found myself wandering in the wilderness, complaining and ending up in disobedience, rebellion or lack of trust in the God who loves me so much that he came to die just for my sins?

11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

Moses was God’s friend. It was out of reach for the other Hebrews, but it is not out of reach for us today. We too can be [a friend to God]. We can seek his face. We can have an intimate relationship with him. We can be assured of his presence with us.

John 15
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

God wants to reveal himself to us. He desires to show us his plans and include us in them. God searched out Abraham so he may share his plans with him, including him in the future of those plans. Abraham too was called God’s friend.
The question for us today is: Can God call me his friend? Can he trust me with his plans? Do I have the desire as Paul did in Philippians 3:10 where he shares his heart in saying he just wanted to know Him…. He wanted to be like him. Does God know that I will yield my will to do his will and am I eager to hear his plans and follow him wherever he leads? Is that our heart today?

In Grace Alone, Sheila Davis
Copyright 2008 Sheila Davis
All Rights Reserved

Exodus 7:1 I have made thee a god to pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
God lifted Moses up. God did what he said he would do by making Moses a god in the eyes of pharaoh. Moses was to be considered powerful and deserved to be listened to. Egyptian pharaohs were considered gods and their words were seen as divine messages. They had absolute control over the people. Moses grew up in a pharaoh’s court and knew quite well that pharaoh would pay little attention to just an ordinary man. Moses was the prophet of the Lord and so Aaron became Moses' prophet. Aaron would speak for Moses, for the prophet was the mouth of the one who sent him.
Pharaoh did not heed the warnings from God’s messengers however and I’m sure that did not add to Moses confidence level. Did Moses forget what God had spoke to him early when God said he would harden pharaoh’s heart, that he shall not let the people go? Exodus 4:21
Hold onto what God says. God shows us the end, not all the in-between. We don’t have to understand everything God says, because we don’t know all the in- between as God works. Many times we expect faster results and fewer problems. If we step out and run into set backs or problems, we tend to begin to think we didn’t hear from God.
Joel 3:14 talks about [the valley of decision]. Joel identifies this period as “the day of the LORD.” which begins after the Rapture of the church. The Great Tribulation will continue to the second coming of Christ when he establishes his kingdom and the judgment as to who will enter the kingdom. Then Christ will reign for one thousand years; where there will be a short period of rebellion when Satan is let loose, then the final judgment at the Great White Throne, and eternity will begin. All of that is included in the Day of the Lord. How close can we be to these events beginning? I believe we are at the threshold. It is so amazing that after Jesus’ second coming, as he sets up his Kingdom on earth, there will be those who rebel against him. That is why the Scripture tells us Satan will be loosed again, due to the rebellion. Joel 3:19 tells us God will judge Egypt and Edom even into the millennial kingdom. They have always been enemies of the nation Israel. Hold on to what God says. He will do what he says he will do. When we don’t understand the in-between we must believe what God has told us and step out in faith, trusting God. Trust in his word. It has never failed. In his time, he will reveal all to us.
Exodus 6:1 God’s timing: Now shalt thou see what I will do…
Do you wait excited, anticipating what God will do? Trust in his word. Believe he is in complete control. Allow him to work through you and step out in faith, knowing that he knows the end from the beginning.
Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
We cannot rush God’s timing. We must learn to trust that for everything God has a plan.
Romans 8:14-16 tells us that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit; giving us the [peace] within us.
Romans 8:26 we find the truth that says the Holy Ghost helps with our limitations and weaknesses. We must learn to rely on him for strength and assurance.
1 Corinthians 14:2 reminds us to pray in the spirit. Many times we are not sure how to pray, but we can be confident that the Spirit of God will speak directly to God for us, praying out the plan of God for our lives.
1 Timothy 1:18 reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives [confirmation]. Hold on to what God says!

In Grace Alone, Sheila
Copyright 2007 Sheila Davis

 Mt. Sinai, mountain of God

The Lord shall lift you up…Part 3

We pick up our story of Moses in Exodus 4:27-29; where we find Moses and his brother Aaron following the instructions given to them of the Lord. There had been no contact between these two brothers for 40 years. God was sending Aaron to be his brothers spoke person, as one of Moses’ objections to obeying God was his inability to speak well. We must accept a truth that when God calls us to do something, it is he that will equip us. He will provide all the necessary elements for us to carry out our task. Sound hard to believe? That/s what Moses was going through. He had made one huge mistake in his past and he wasn’t about to repeat the process, but he was looking in terms of his ability and not that of God’s. There/s a big difference and we must submit to that authority and step out in faith, knowing that it is not by might and not by strength, but by his spirit, saith the Lord! When we finally reach that place, it is then that God can use a willing vessel to accomplish great things for his glory. Moses had reached the place of knowing that he was not capable, but he had not reached the place of assurance that God was capable.

We must remember that in God’s timing, he will lift us up. We must be able to say with a pure heart, God I’m nothing, but you are everything. I f you choose to use me, here I am. James 4:10 tells us: Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. During the time of preparation, on the backside of the desert, Moses was learning humility. When God appeared to him in the burning bush to proclaim that Moses would be the one he would use to deliver his people from slavery, Moses replied: who am I , that I should go? Moses was weighted down with the guilt of wrong doing. By his own hands he killed a man. He had purposed in his heart to avenge and free the one being dealt with unjustly. A noble thing, right? Now we see him carrying the weight of his mistake to the point of showing lack of faith in God’s ability. Have you ever been there? I have. When we reach these crossroads with the Lord, it is a growing time. He will always bring us to a place where we must believe him more than what is coming against our mind. That’s what faith is all about. Are we going to mess up? For sure! Will we be forgiven? Absolutely! Does God give second chances? He’s God. He knows we will fail. He knows our shortcomings. He knows our inabilities, but he chooses to use these broken vessels anyway. His grace is made perfect in our weakness and if we truly believe that, then there is nothing that God cannot accomplish through this cracked pot! Do you agree? What a freeing thought to know we don’t have to do it. We don’t have to be a great speaker, a great writer, a talented anything. His word says if we will humble ourselves in his sight, then he will lift us up before all men. He will give favor where needed. He will open doors that no man can open. He will give the respect and position to accomplish what he has called us to do. He will do it!

In Exodus 3:10-12 we see God reassuring Moses that he would be with him as he said: [Certainly I will be with thee] He wanted Moses to place total trust in God’s ability. God does call us to tasks too hard to do alone, but he never asks us to do them alone. God offered help to Moses through stating that God himself would be with him, through his brother Aaron’s assistance and through the ability to do miracles. Let’s focus our mind on what we know God has called us to do. What tools has he placed in our hands to accomplish our task? Are we placing full confidence in his ability, or are we giving place to fear, rejection, inadequacies, or plain old excuses? Have we stepped out in faith saying, here I am Lord, send me and over time, the vision God placed in our heart has become a dim memory? Hang onto the vision. Hang onto the call. Hang onto God for he will supply your every need. He will give strength and favor. He will open and close doors. He will direct your every path. Purpose today in your heart to follow hard after God and allow him to do great things through you.

In Grace Alone, Sheila
Copyright 2007 Sheila Davis