Thursday, July 30, 2015

Thursday Thought – July 30, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?’” (Exodus 18:13-14)

Moses answered that he was only doing what the people wanted him to do. “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.” (Exodus 18:15-16)

Jethro was convinced that God had other ideas for how the needs of the people were to be met. “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. … Select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. … If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.’” (Exodus 18:17-23)

Moses was misunderstanding God’s plan for his life. He thought he was to do everything the people wanted him to do. Moses felt obligated to meet whatever need was brought to him. But the people were not to set Moses’ agenda. God wanted to set Moses’ agenda. Moses’ agenda was to represent the people before God. Others could be appointed to handle the minor problems and disputes to free Moses for what God called him to do.

Every leader is to be a servant of the people. But the principle is that each person must determine what God is calling him to do and do that. What God is calling a person to do is not always the same as what people around us think God is calling that person to do!

We aren’t leading a group of the people as large as Israel, but the principle is still good. Don’t allow the clamor of people around you to determine what God is calling you to do. Listen for God’s call and do those things!


His, by Grace, Steve

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