21st. September. 2021. Daily Devotion.
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:4-6
The learning of Egypt was not sufficient to equip Moses for his lifework. He is taken to the solitudes of the wilderness. That is God’s college. All who have done the greatest work in the world have graduated there – Elijah at Horeb, Ezekiel at Chebar, Paul in Arabia, John in Patmos. God’s workers may take their arts course in the universities but must take their Divinity course alone with him. Often in the midst of daily duty, we come onto the outshining of his Presence. Let us be on the lookout for it and take off our shoes.
This burning bush has generally been taken as the emblem of the Church amid the fires of tribulation, but there is a deeper meaning. The fire was the token of God’s presence. The bush was unconsumed because God’s love was its own fuel.
But there should be no shrinking back when God says I AM. Fill in this blank check with whatever you need for life or godliness, and God will do that and more also, with exceeding abundance. F. B. Meyer
Loving your light, O Lord, may our hearts rejoice in your goodness. Living in your light may our lives reveal your grace. Walking in your light may our works reflect your glory. Amen. Margaret Fell (1614-1702)
Dedication
Walk with me, dear Lord, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in your presence. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may reflect the light of your truth, to inspire others as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet. Amen.
Prayer for This Day
Holy God, I pray in the name of Christ that you will this day increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labour in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments.
Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favour, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life.
Bless my family, friends & kindred; unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father. Amen. ~ from a prayer of George Washington
