A Grace Case: Moses (Part 15)

First of all, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend.  I sure did.  I had a house full of family, friends, food, and fun.  I am thankful for God’s grace and His continued blessing.  I hope you are as well.

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at the life of Moses.  We have already seen how Moses first questioned God — questioning whether or not what God said would come to pass — and how he also questioned his own abilities; even after God clearly said he could do what he was being sent out to do.  Let’s pick up the story there.

Moses was still questioning whether or not he was the right man for the job when he said, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”  Moses did not understand God or grace.  The fact that Moses was not a public speaker, that he was not comfortable with being a mouthpiece for God, and that he was not particularly gifted in the area the Lord was assigning him to, are all norms with God.  God routinely makes holy garments from flawed material.  Why?  So that it can be evident to all that He is the one doing the work.  This way the Father gets the glory and no one else.

In the New Testament, Paul, thinking of this very point, said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor 4:7).  God knew Moses was not necessarily qualified, and I believe that is actually one of the reasons why he was chosen.  God had the treasure (the power), all he needed from Moses was the earthen vessel (a cooperative human).  Guess what?  The same holds true for you and me.  God can do the extraordinary in, with, and through you; not necessarily because of your awesome ability, but rather because of His infinite power.  If God uses you, in a way that clearly exceeds your proven ability, then He gets the glory and you get the pleasure of partnering with God to accomplish His Kingdom plans and purposes in the earth.

So what was the Lord’s response to Moses?  How did the Lord deal with Moses’ insecurity?  The answer is: more grace.  The Lord said, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  The Lord was ready, willing, and able to deal with any and all of Moses’ inadequacies.  He was patient and gracious with Moses, even in spite of his low self-esteem.  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:
1.  The Lord wants you to use you in ways that are beyond your normal ability, so that it would be evident that His grace is on you, and so that He would get the glory.
2.  Align your opinion of you, with God’s opinion of you.  Never allow low self-esteem to keep you from achieving God’s best.
3.  The Lord is not looking for perfection, He is looking for availablity.  Will you answer His call?
4.  If you will provide the willing body, He will provide the supernatural power.  This way it becomes an act of grace and the honor, when it comes, gets rightly redirected back to God.
5.  If you say, “Yes,” God will say, “Let’s go make a difference.”

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank you for Your overwhelming and incalculable grace.  You look at me — with my failures, flaws, and all — and You still choose to use me for Your glory.  Not because I am perfect, and not because of my great ability, but because of Your lovingkindness, tender mercy, and grace.  You have plans for me and even though I often feel like I don’t deserve to be used of You, and I am unworthy of Your blessing, You choose to see those plans through anyway.  So this morning, I make a vow to align my opinion of me with Your opinion of me.  I will not allow low self-esteem, self-condemnation, or past failures, to keep me from future success in You.  I make myself available to You Father.  Here I am, use me for Your glory.  You have the power, I have the earthen vessel.  I submit and surrender to You.  Manifest your glory in my life and when You do, I will redirect all the honor right back to You!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.