January 7th – The Next Chapter
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants” Exodus 33:1
It’s a fact, 2020 WORE US OUT!! We’re tired of the pandemic, the lockdowns, the funerals, the suffering. We are tired of corrupt politics, bad news and especially tired and fearful of the unknown. It’s the beginning of a new year and many are frustrated by what they’ve just journeyed through that they’re in danger of forfeiting this new season. Many have no expectation of 2021 being any better.
HOW CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU??
Let me give a brief recap of the context. Exodus 32 is an account of how low the Israelites have sunk in their devotion to God. God had delivered them from the Egyptians and set them on course for the Promised Land. He gathered them at Sinai and begins to establish law and rules for living that will hold them in right relations with Himself and others. While God is relaying more instructions to Moses on the top of Sinai the Israelites become impatient with Moses’ absence and persuade Aaron to create another form of worship that is more suitable to them (golden calf).
Moses comes down the mountain and sees the Israelites bowing down to an idol. He drops the tablets, and the wrath of God is released. Three thousand lose their lives and a plague is released. That all takes place in chapter 32. In chapter 33 God tells them to keep heading for the Promised Land.
Even in the face of their blatant rebellion and the consequences suffered, God gives them an opportunity to leave where they’ve been and make their way into a new season.
2021 is the next chapter and it’s waiting for you to embrace it. Walk into it like a champion in spite of the failures and hardships of the previous chapter. Don’t get stuck in the last chapter.
DON’T MISS WHATS NEXT BECAUSE YOU CAN’T GET OVER WHATS BEEN!!
Here are some principles to motivate you.
- Your past is not greater than God’s promise. When you’ve failed, God is still faithful to His promise.
- Leave This Place. You can’t stay where you are and reach for greater. You can’t walk forward while looking back. If you do that you’ll trip into your future instead of intentionally walking into it.
- You Need God. Moses knew the best cure for discouragement, disillusionment and despair is a fresh glimpse of who God is, His presence and His glory.
Reflect: If you don’t let go of the past it will destroy your future
Prayer: “Father I thank you that by Your Grace and Mercy you have given me access to the next chapter of my life and experience with You. I commit to moving forward to where taking me“
~Pastor Richard J. Brown~
Recent Comments