SCRIPTURE
Exodus 18:1-12 (NRSV)
Jethro's family eats before GodJethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been an alien in a foreign land"), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"). Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses' sons and wife to him. He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons." Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other's welfare, and they went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.
Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh.
7/19/2010
Exodus 18:1-12 (NRSV)
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back, along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been an alien in a foreign land"), and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"). Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses' sons and wife to him. He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons." Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other's welfare, and they went into the tent. Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.
Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them." And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.
DEVOTION
Today I am reminded of the importance of sharing our good news testimonies with others. It grieves me that, as Christians, we often fail to bear witness to the work of God in our lives. We have bought the myth that if we rejoice in our many blessings, we will be labeled as braggarts.
My friends, this is not true, for there is surely a difference between bragging (which glorifies the self) and testifying (which glorifies God).
In today's story Moses told Jethro all that GOD had done for him and for the Israelites. In response, Jethro said, ""Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them."
As a result of Moses' testimony, Jethro was moved to worship God and as a result of our good news testimonies our friends, families, co-workers, neighbors, and enemies may be moved to do the same.
Sharing the good work of God in our lives helps to increase the faith of others. Many have said after hearing a good news testimony, "If God did that for her, God can do it for me too!"
If you share your testimony and you are accused of bragging, boldly state, "The only one I'm bragging on is GOD!"
God deserves our adoration, praise, and worship! God's good deeds deserve to be publicized within our spheres of influence and beyond.
God has been too good to us to keep it to ourselves! We ought to be shouting God's praise from the rooftops!
No one has--or will--ever love us the way that God does. It is only our God who loved us enough to give Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. It is only our God who was powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead on the third day, thus defeating sin, death, and the grave and opening the door to our forgiveness and eternal life!
All this would be enough to cause us to testify regarding the goodness of God; but God is still at work! God is still blessing us each and every day!
It is simply a fact that there is no human being alive that does not have cause to celebrate God's love for us.
Today, I want to challenge you to step out on faith and boldly share a good news testimony with someone you meet today. It may change their life, increase their faith, and ultimately compel them to put all of their hope in Jesus! Now, that would be truly good news...
Let us pray: God, thank you for loving me so much that you gave Jesus to live, die, and rise again for me. I believe that Jesus made atonement for my sin and gifted me with eternal life. Please forgive all of my sin this day and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can faithfully share the good news with everyone whom I meet! I pray this in Your Holy Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!
I would be honored if you would take a moment to share your good news with me by clicking "YES" in the upper right hand corner of the blog in answer to the question, "Did you put all of your hope in Jesus today?" Thanks!
Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!
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