YOU Want Me?!

For the next while our Friday blogs will be excerpts form a book of daily devotionals by Noel Churchman. Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.

YOU Want Me?!

The Lord appeared… from within a bush. (Ex 3:2)

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Exodus 3:1-6 (NIV) 1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

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I think of Moses when he was asked to lead the nation of Israel from Egypt into the Promised Land. I Can see Moses protesting, “Who me? I’m sure you have made a mistake in choosing me to be your spokesperson in the courts of Pharaoh”. That is only the beginning. The Bible is chock full of similar examples: the youngest boy from Jesse’s family, David; and God's choice to have Rahab parachuted into the direct lineage of Jesus (Mt 1:5)?

Did you get the situation in the account we just read? God indwells an ordinary, dried up desert bush. God didn’t choose an autumn maple on a hill top with all of its colourful splendouror the beutifull cedars of Lebanon.

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Mark invited me to sing a duet with him at a Friendship Club meeting. Mark has Downs Syndrome and the Friendship Club is a Christian program that provides opportunity for worshipping God, as well as instruction that will assist people with developmental challenges to grow into a close relationship with Jesus.

I don’t think Mark was interested in my voice. The evening came and I arrived, dressed as instructed, in an outfit closely resembling Mark’s outfit. We must have looked very professional. We performed our segment following a short rehearsal of a hymn which Mark had chosen earlier from the church hymnal. The audience was gracious and they listened, more or less. Following the open session, everyone met with a friend to get involved in activities suited to their development and understanding. When the evening was over no one came up to me to say “I enjoyed your singing”. Mark wanted me to be there with him. It was enough for everyone to know that Mark loved me and that I was his friend. It was the relationship that was the message. It wasn't my skill or lack thereof. I saw myself as a desert bush, Mark saw me as a special blessing. Some would say that the truth is that I cannot sing. Mark was looking through different glasses and I tend to think that his observation is every bit as valid.

By the way, that ordinary desert bush which stopped Moses in his tracks is a notable bush because God indwelt it. I don’t know what happened to the colourful maple or the sturdy cedar. God’s glory shines brightest through the availability of the weak, the overlooked and often the ordinary when He works His grand purposes. Moses stopped to see this strange sight. Then we read, “God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” Do you hear God speaking to you from this rather unremarkable page? “Moses said, ‘Here I am’”(Ex 3:4).

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Heavenly Father, as I read the scriptures and as I meet other followers of Jesus, I am often in awe of what You have done and are doing. Some people seem to be highly excited when they talk of things You have done with them or through them. I would love to experience You actively in my life. Help me to recognize each opportunity that presents itself today, where I can serve You in a way that will make a difference in someone’s life. Amen.

- Noel Churchman