FISH - Scripture reflections
Matthew 14:22-23 - Jesus remembered to pray after the big event of feeding the 5000. Why? It is after the big event you can be tempted by exhaustion to say yes to the wrong thing - John tell us they wanted to make him king. Prayer is the antidote to pride.
Acts 20:13-38 - Paul is an inspiration to me. God warns him what lies ahead, but he still is faithful to go ahead. That is mature trust in God. I want to be a wise shepherd like Paul - listen to how he talks about his role and the role he hands off to the leaders of the Ephesian church. And then in Acts 21:1-26, even though he has done great things for God, been on mission journeys, been a transforming teacher, he is still submissive to the authority of the apostles in Jerusalem. Every good leader knows how to be submissive.
Psalm 34 - One of my favorite Psalms - It teaches me that God is close by and wants to take action on behalf of His people.
Exodus 30:11-16 - Two very important points. One, everyone has to bring the same atonement offering. Second, the offering was used to support the work of the Tent of Meeting. There’s an answer to all who say they give, just not to God’s work.
Exodus 31: God had prepared skilled workmen for skilled work.
Exodus 32: Aaron comes off as a goof ball in this chapter. He lets the crowd control him. Remember that a majority that is wrong is never right. Listen to him, “I threw the jewelry into fire, and out popped this calf!” But here’s the piece that gets me - this is catastrophic failure. But God forgives Aaron and still allows him to serve a the priest who enters the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God. That’s amazing grace.
Exodus 33: I want our church to have the prayer of Moses - If you do not go up with us, we aren’t moving! And God, give us as much of your glory as we can handle - and then just a little bit more!
