Today in the Word for July 13-17

Today in The Word

Monday July 13, 2020

Can we feel sometimes like God is a hard taskmaster? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The man in Jesus’ parable thought so. He said in Luke 19:

“…Sir, here is your mina: I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not put in, and reap what you did not sow.”

But what did God say to Moses when he thought God’s task was too hard? Exodus 4:1-3 reads:

“…What is they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.”

Moses is imagining what people won’t do, and God is asking Moses to tell him what he has right now. In this case, all Moses has is a stick. But God will use that stick miraculously to confront Pharaoh. God will use that stick to display his power.

God is not unfair to call us to serve him. He can magnify what is in our hand to accomplish his plan through us. Even if all we have is a stick.

 And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

Today in The Word

Tuesday July 14, 2020

Do we think God despises our weaknesses? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Exodus 4:10-15 contains this conversation:

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken…The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths...I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “…Please send someone else.”

Then the Lord…said, “What about your brother, Aaron…he is already on his way to meet you…You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.”

Moses has a fear of public speaking and he is resisting God’s call. God is not unaware of Moses’ weakness when he calls. And neither does he despise his weakness. But rather he anticipates his weakness before Moses expresses it! Aaron is on his way before Moses turns God down. God does not reject Moses because he is fearful, rather, he is sending help for Moses’ fear.

God can anticipate your weakness too. He can help you fulfill his good plan for your life.

And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana. 

Today in the Word

Wednesday July 15, 2020

Can we ask God to remember something? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Many times, the people in the Bible prayed to God to remember. And we can too. Samson has failed, been captured and tortured by the Philistines. He has been trotted out for ridicule at a huge Philistine party. He has asked to be brought to the support pillars of the building, and prays in Judges 16:28:

“…” Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines…””

Samson asks God to remember to empower him. He is asking God to use him one more time. And so, we can pray to be empowered by God, even when our failures have sidelined us. We are not simply the sum of our mistakes. God in his grace can use us if we are willing to believe that he remembers us. We can pray for God to use us to make a difference in his Kingdom.    

And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly.  Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word. 

Today in the Word

Thursday July 16, 2020

When we are in difficulty, can we call on God to remember? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Hannah is in a terrible situation. She is one of two wives of a man. She cannot bear children, and her rival has had several and rubs her nose in it every chance she gets. So, in I Samuel 1:11 she prays:

“…Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…”

In her misery, what Hannah remembers is that God is able to heal and restore. She prays to God for rescue. She could feel like she has been forgotten, so she reminds herself that God doesn’t forget. God answers her prayer, and the great prophet Samuel is born to her.

And we can pray for god to rescue us. He is still in the business of rescuing us from difficulty. 

And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana. 

Today in the Word

Friday July 17, 2020

Can we pray when we are under attack? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Nehemiah has been tasked with rebuilding the defenses of Jerusalem. However, his enemies try to get to him through a mercenary-minded prophet. In Nehemiah 6:12-14 he figures the plot out:

“I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin… and then they would…discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done: remember also the prophet Noadiah…”

Nehemiah is saying to God, ‘remember my oppressors’. And he is saying that when the enemy attacks him it is actually an attack against God and his character. So, we, like Nehemiah can pray to God to handle our oppressors. We can trust him to make things right. God stands ready to help us when we are under attack.   

And that’s the Word.  You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:45 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.