Corona Devo 381

Keep it up!  Keep doing the next right thing for God.

The logic of "doing what's right" is not hard or complicated, especially for the Christ follower.  Logically, we "know" what the best choice is in a situation, and (hopefully) much of the time we are making choices that way. 

Be encouraged today to stay steady and focused in doing the next right thing for God.

Because sometimes we fail in doing the next right thing for God.  We allow passion/exhaustion/impatience/or temper to decide for us, and we act/speak/decide in the flesh instead of being led by the Holy Spirit to do the next right thing for God.  

No one is perfect, and God doesn't expect us to be, but the reality of consequence is on us when we succumb to pride or flesh instead of doing the next right thing.

Moses was a man chosen but God to lead the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt and into a Promised Land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8) provided by God.  The people often behaved like little spoiled children: complaining, whining and even accusing Moses of many things.  Repeatedly and almost impeccably, Moses did the right thing.  He consistently interceded to God on behalf of the people, requesting the Lord's patience and favor over the people, even though they lacked faith in God.  

But nobody's perfect.  Moses wasn't and we aren't either.    

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.  (3) The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!  (4) Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?  (5) Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place?  This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”

(6) Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground.  Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, (7) and the Lord said to Moses, (8) “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community.  As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water.  You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

(9) So Moses did as he was told.  He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.  (10) Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock.  “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted.  “Must we bring you water from this rock?”  (11) Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out.  So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

(12) But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”  ~Numbers 20:2-12

Please be encouraged and not discouraged by these verses to keep trying to do the next right thing.  See them not as the quick-to-punish hand of God, but as a loving-yet-firm-parent who has more for us if we will honor Him and do the next right thing in serving Him.  If we can step back, if we can take a deep breath, if we can think before we react: it may bless our now and our later.

Moses failed to do the next right thing for God.  We cannot alter what God says and expect the same results.

God told Moses to gather the people and to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:8), which would have been Moses' next right thing.  But instead, Moses let his anger control his speech and he spoke harshly to the people ("Listen, you rebels!”/Numbers 20:10). 

And instead of speaking to the rock, Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff (Numbers 20:11).  

It was uncharacteristic of Moses.  It was a lapse-of-character for him.  He was usually very good at doing the next right thing for God.  

We are the same.  We know God.  We seek to serve Him.  We are usually good at doing the next right thing for Him. 

 

But temptation/pride/being-at-your-wit's-end are real things.  However, acting on them will cost us a consequence.  For Moses, it was entering the Promised Land.  God had more in store for Moses, but his pride cut the blessing short.  We can injure ourselves and our blessings the same way.

God did not remove His blessing from Moses, or cause calamity, sickness, or sorrow.  And neither will our Heavenly Father "smite" us in any of those ways when we fall short (which we will!).  That's not how God works.  But He is a holy God and Father, and He does not negotiate with His children.  

We always have a choice.  We always have a moment to take a moment and do the next right thing for God.

Keep it up today!  Keep doing the next right thing for God.

Be encouraged today to stay steady and focused on doing the next right thing for God.

He has more for us, and we want the full blessing of God!  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/