4 February 2024
Reading From Exodus 16-18
“ The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?’
Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.’
Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.’”
–Exodus 18:13-23
I look at the world around me and I see so much need in people’s lives. Need for love, need for wisdom, need for God’s intervention and direction. When I see the need I see all the Lord’s work to be done.[1] Jethro saw Moses doing the work of the Lord and knew that it was too much for one person. God used Jethro to speak wisdom into the situation. His words were a blessing to Moses and to the people. Moses was wearing himself out judging matters for them and the people wore themselves out quarreling and waiting in line.
If people are taught the way that God wants them to live, it decreases the amount of quarrelling that needs to be dealt with, as long as they put those principles into practice.[2] As they are taught from the Scriptures[3] and guided by the Holy Spirit,[4] they mature spiritually and grow to the point where they are able to lead others on the same path. This is the way the family of God is meant to grow. As the family grows, more leaders are raised up and the burden becomes lighter because we all share in the Lord’s ministry on Earth.[5] One person should not have all the burden laid upon their shoulders. This process of personal growth and leadership development is a vital component of living in healthy community together. “Every member is a minister.”[6] Share the load and share the love.[7]
“God, show me ways I can partner with others in Your work. Guard my heart from pride. Soften my rough edges with humility and kindness. Bring wisdom to my mind as to how to delegate tasks as we advance Your love and message to our community, our region and around the world. Give grace and mercy as healthy, balanced disciples grow to become leaders in Your eternal family. I love You. Thank You for Your love and care as the Perfect Parent. Amen.”
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Galatians 6:2-6
[1] Luke 9:62, Titus 3:14
[2] I Samuel 2:26, II Peter 3:18, Colossians 2:7, Hebrews 12:14-15, James 1:22
[3] I Corinthians 14:6, II Timothy 4:2, Proverbs 1:8-9
[4] Romans 8:14, John 14:26, 16:13, Galatians 5:16, I Corinthians 2:13, Isaiah 59:21
[5] Luke 22:26, Matthew 20:26
[6] Rick Warren
[7] Galatians 6:9, I John 4:7, Hebrews 13:1
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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