Flashpoints

I am in the process of reading the book, "Flashpoints" by Stephen Arterburn. It is not a new book, but one that I was attracted to because of the subtitle— "When God ignites the passion of your soul to make a difference— no matter what the cost."

I came across a passage that I thought I would share with you:

"Some of us are called to church ministry. Others are called to the workaday world or to serve their families at home. But regardless of where we are, we will be among people who either need to be told or reminded that God is alive and all-powerful. And whatever God calls us to do, He will equip us for service—even if it requires Him to work miracles of provision. Even then we might be tempted to shrink back and make excuses."

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words."
"Who makes mouths?" the Lord asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say."
But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send someone else."
Then the Lord became angry with Moses. "All right," He said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? He is a good speaker. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. And when he sees you, he will be very glad. You will talk to him, giving him the Words to say. I will help both of you to speak clearly, and I will tell you what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people, and you will be as God to Him, telling him what to say. And be sure to take your shepherd's staff along so you can perform the miraculous signs I have shown you." EXODUS 4:10-17

"Can you imagine arguing with God the way Moses did? In light of the miraculous burning bush, his resistance is hard to imagine. Yet we all defy God every day, arguing with the Almighty about changes we need to make or opportunities we ought to take. We just don't resist Him as honestly as Moses did. Instead, we ignore, deny, rationalize, and excuse ourselves from the things God calls us to do. We declare ourselves not worthy or ill-equipped. We buy into the false belief that God can use us only on the basis of our qualifications, rather than in spite of our weaknesses."

This is so true. What is God calling us to do? What are we ignoring? It is easy to point a finger at Moses and say, "You had a burning bush experience! What's your problem?" Yet, when we hear a Word from the Lord, we are quick to dismiss it. We should strive to respond at His first call and not hesitate until He is angry with us. Think about where we could be if we followed Him without question. He already has a vision of it in His mind.

Whatever He says - DO IT - in spite of your weaknesses! That is when He is made strong.