Back to School

Pause

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.

from “I Then Shall Live” by Gloria Gaither (1981)

Listen

“So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God said, “I’ll be with you. And this will show you that I’m the one who sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will come back here and worship God on this mountain.”

But Moses said to God, “If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them?”

God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” God continued, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever; this is how all generations will remember me."

Exodus 3:10-15

Think

Guidelines for emergency preparedness tells us to have at least one gallon of water per person for at least three days and at least three days of non-perishable food per person. That’s a situation we hope to never find ourselves in, but at least we know how to be prepared.

Moses sees God in a burning bush, and God tells him to go to Egypt to free the Israelites. How was Moses supposed to prepare for this? I don’t think there are any set guidelines for this situation.

There will be moments when we’re woefully unprepared, moments that we wonder who am I to be called by God?. In these times, God reminds us, “I’ll be with you.” Knowing the name of God provides us comfort and helps give us context in our calling. We can be reminded that God has sent many before us and that God, whose name stays the same forever, will always be with us. While we feel unprepared on our own, God has been preparing our hearts and minds for our calling.

Ben Brown

Pray

God who sends me, remind me that you are I AM and that you have sent me. Help me to set people free today. Amen.

Go

Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude. Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just in the moments we set aside for worship or spiritual disciplines. Not just in the moments when life seems easy.

Henri Nouwen in Turning My Mourning into Dancing (2004)

Go today in gratitude.

Go today with God.