Are you dealing with your character or just getting more discreet? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our MOSES series with a message about the cost of character.
Numbers 20:11-12
Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Moses’ life serves as an encouragement and warning to all of us. His successes and failures can teach us about how we can faithfully live out God’s purposes for our lives. What does this story teach us?
1) Your CHARACTER counts.
If we look at the story of Moses’ life, we can see anger is a persistent and unresolved issue. Character flaws will remain in our lives when we choose to hide them instead of addressing them.
There is no healing in hiding.
Moses’ crazy, rock-striking anger comes because he values his own leadership and the people’s respect more than obedience to God. He reacts in a way that diminishes God in front of the people, and God declares a judgment over Moses that he will not personally enter the promised land.
2) Your CALLING is not your healing.
The scariest part of the story is that even though Moses was wrong to strike the rock, God still caused the water to flow. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your gifting and calling is the same as God’s approval. Gifting can provide validation, but it won’t produce transformation.
3) CHRIST is the pattern for our lives.
Anger can reveal so much about what we love. God’s plan and purpose is to grow us up to love what He loves, in the way the He loves.
It’s easier to act like a Christian than to react like a Christian.
Pastor Mark Batterson
God does not call you to greatness; He calls you to Christlikeness. He calls you to the humility and meekness and love and righteousness of Jesus. And He has promised to help you!
Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
