Choices

Choosing God – Part 2

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Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Hebrews 11:25-26 KJV

Because of Moses’ faith, he chose to leave Egypt, trusting that the rewards of God were of greater value than the pleasures of Egypt. How could anyone have known that after Moses left Egypt it would be forty years before God met him at the burning bush? Yes God did choose Moses but Moses also left behind his friends, family, and all that was familiar as a choice by faith in a God he had never seen. There in the land of Midian, he married, worked as a shepherd and grew older. But in that lonely place where he may have even begun to forget his calling God never forgot. Decades passed until finally at just the right time in His calendar, God called him to return to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery and towards the land of promise!

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One Step

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One step without the Savior

Begins a path without His word

Two steps lead to eight

And soon His voice will not be heard

But if instead we start our day

With a slow and faithful stride

That walks to where He said to go

He will lead us to His side!

Row Harder!

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For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11

“Row harder! More to the left! Don’t stand up! Just be careful!” Who hasn’t heard all these instructions as you began your first solo voyage in a kayak? You might have been feeling a little nervous, but then just as you launched out, barely ten feet from the shore it seems you were sinking under waves of advice.

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The Jewish people as they arrived in their new home in Babylon were in very much the same situation. Some people were so depressed they just literally wanted to hang up their harps and give up. There were also some “Prosperity prophets” around telling the people to cheer up because God was going to destroy Babylon any minute and they would soon be back in their own land (PS send a big offering to me) Last of all, there were folks with their hands just itching to pull out their swords because they hated the foreign rulers and wanted revenge. With so many voices pushing and pulling at them many ordinary people were plenty confused.

That was exactly when God sent Jeremiah with this word of encouragement and guidance. No matter the situation you are facing today, the first person to listen to is God! Only God knows the plan. He knows which way to go and how long it will take to get there. But the best part is that no matter how far we have to go, He does not just want to tell us the way.  His desire is to get right in the boat with us and help with the rowing. He already knows the way but we need to be willing to listen and if we ask he’ll pick up the oars and go with us to the other side!

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