Only a few will step up and share the load of leadership. There won’t be many who want to put aside their schedules and suffer the consequences of taking the lead.
But there are many who’ll say that they would like to come. They say things like: “Go ahead and set it up, and I’ll show up if I have the time.”
The trailblazers get ignited with only a spark. They jump at the opportunity of a new vision. Of course, they’re trailblazers.
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I don’t like to beg. Asking people to give is sometimes like drawing blood. It’s hard to convince people to part with their possessions.
When the tabernacle was being built, Moses asked the people to bring contributions. But we have to remember that these people only had a limited supply of possessions and no opportunity to earn more. But those who gave were moved from within.“And they came, everyone whose hearts stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for its service, and for the holy garments.” (Exo 35:21)
So the better option is to allow their hearts to be stirred and their spirits to be moved.
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The natural response may be to retaliate. You may feel like you have every right to get back at them. You may be one of the factors why they are alive today. You may have had a significant role in their marriage being rescued from disaster. So in one sense, you have every right to retaliate in a similar fashion as they treated you.
But. What do you want to spread? Do you want to spread hatred, animosity, and an attitude of retaliation within your organization? Or, would you prefer to spread forgiveness, mutual understanding and mutual respect? It’s your choice. You are the leader.
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The need to be accepted and to be part of the group cannot be ignored. In fact, we’ll do anything to be accepted. We’ll even become (or try to be) something that we are not, just to be accepted.
This internal need for acceptance fits well with the demand for conformity in all groups. For many groups, community is defined by conformity. Exceptions are rare and come with an expectation to conform as quickly as possible.
Now, God also has a standard. His is a standard of holiness that we may never be able to attain on our own. But God wants us anyway. Just because we are his creation – his inheritance. This was Moses’ response to the merciful God:“…If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord to in the midst of us for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” (Exo 34:9)
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No external response, but you’re displeased. No verbal objections, but you object with every cell in your body. No anger displayed, but your blood boils. You don’t really want to harm anyone, but you are consistently harming yourself.
You are harmed with an ongoing internal cyclone with a spiraling effect deep within. That “cyclone” ultimately translates into physical ailments that are explainable, or gets categorized as genetic or hereditary.
People with such an internalizing nature need to find a suitable solution to the problems they face. A peaceful solution – especially for you.
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How would you calculate that? What’s your worth? I suppose the kidnappers may consider how much your family can afford or how much they can borrow. They’d want to get the maximum but they also want to get rid of you and get the money. How much?
The Israelites were to pay a ransom for their lives to the Lord when the census was taken (Exodus 30:11-16). Sin has made them guilty and the wages of sin is death. So, instead of getting the due penalty of death, they could ransom their lives by payment. Everyone twenty years of age and above were to pay a ransom. It was a set amount for everyone. No one was allowed to pay more or less.
So, let’s come back to the original question. How much are you worth? The ransom paid by the people was never enough. That’s why it was repeated every year. But the full payment was made by Jesus on the cross at Calvary. That’s expensive. And that’s how much you are worth!
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We offer to God what we think he would like. Because that’s what we like. Therefore we think he would/should like what we like.
While Moses had gone up to the mountain to be with the Lord for forty days, the people became impatient. They wondered what happened to Moses and began to build an idol made of Gold.
It is intriguing to note that Aaron looked at the idol and said “tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord (Yahweh).” But the feasting and celebration to the Lord was in front of an Idol, something God never allowed.
Whatever we do in our worship, we need to seek the face of God and make sure it pleases him. We may have the best programs and setup that we can imagine. But is God being pleased or will he say “NO THANKS!”
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It seems odd that God would take the primary leader and his assistant away for 40 days (Exodus 24:15-18). To us that may seem like a long time for a leader to stay away. We might even think of it as a bad leadership decision on God’s part.
We know that God was giving his requirements for them as they live as his chosen people. Maybe Moses had lots of questions for God as they spent time together.
There was also sufficient time for the people and the leaders to show their true colors. Who were they? What were they really like when the primary leader is away? How important is their commitment to God?
I’m sure Moses needed some time away from the people and in God’s presence. We know that Jesus spent extensive time away from people and in God’s presence. This time in God’s presence would prepare Moses for some of the horrendous things he would see when he comes down the mountain.
Value your time away from people and your time in God’s presence. God is doing some things within you so he can do many things through you.
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When conformity becomes the measure, everything else gets devalued. Truth, mutual respect, genuine love, and anything else important gets put on the back burner. Oh they’re still important.
“But you’re not like us.”
Why do you do the things you do? Why do you do it the way you do it? It’s too different. If you could just make some adjustments, you could be like us and be accepted.
“But you’re not like us.”
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He’s not. But he is trying to make a point.
The ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests seem to be quite elaborate. It was seven days of grueling hard work of sacrificing various animals according to the details prescribed.
I wonder about all the detail and extensiveness of the ceremonies during those extended days of ordination. First, I realize that there were ancient traditions that were important to the people. These were vital for them to set people apart for leadership.
Second, I believe there is an imagery that shows that humans are too unworthy to be God’s representatives on the earth. This was represented by all the detailed sacrifices and formalities. It just seems too difficult to please God. And for us as people, and on our own, it is impossible.
You see, as humans we are just too flaky (weak). But because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, he has fulfilled all the requirements. We are now a Kingdom of priests!
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