May 10 Edify Devotional

Today’s Devotional Theme      Do I Have To?   Daily Scripture Exodus 3:1-4:17 Encouragement We have all seen the classic comedy moment when a leader stands before his team and asks for someone to volunteer to serve. Then in unison, less the naive newbie, the team takes a step back to leave their teammate as their sacrifice to serve their leader. Too often we are like the majority and not the “putz” who “has” to serve. We are just like Moses was in our scripture passages today. He begged off on his opportunity to serve; not once, not twice, not even three times. He tried to get out of this assignment five times! His attitude and his fear came to the forefront as he essentially asked God “do I have to?”! In complete contrast to this attitude, we find a young man in 1 Samuel 3:1-10 that was primed and looking to serve. Young Samuel was being called on to serve by God and his response to God was the complete opposite of Moses' response. Samuel declared in that opportune moment, “Speak, Your servant is listening”! I would strongly suggest we follow more closely in the response to service opportunities to Samuel rather than Moses. Apply God’s Word Whether it be at work, at home, in our community, and, yes, even in our church, we are going to be asked to serve in some capacity. Clean your room, take out the trash, we need you to stay later to finish this project, come in early tomorrow, will you lead this small group, lead us in prayer, and will you work with the kids all takes on a different tone and perspective when approached as an opportunity to serve and not an imposition on our lives and schedule. I want to challenge each of us to abandon “do I have to?” for “speak, Your servant is listening.”! After your parent, your boss, or your pastor gets back up after fainting, ask them what the assignment is and then serve them in that capacity with all you've got! Come into His Presence Father, help me to be ready and willing when my opportunity to serve comes my way. Help me to not make excuses like Moses, but embrace serving like Samuel. Thank You for the grace to set aside my schedule and agenda to serve others in my life! In Jesus' name, amen. Brian Fatheree Pastor Email Pastor Brian

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