Daily Devotional: Thursday, October 3 – Throw It Down

“Then the Lord stated to him, ‘What’s that in your hand?’ ‘A workers,’ he replied. The Lord stated, ‘Throw it on the bottom.’ Moses threw it on the bottom and it grew to become a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord stated to him, ‘Attain out your hand and take it by the tail.’ So Moses reached out and took maintain of the snake and it turned again right into a workers in his hand.” — Exodus 4:2-4

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I’ve learn the story of Moses and the burning bush a number of instances, and have even taught vital rules from it. Nonetheless, as I used to be studying Exodus 3 and 4 once more not too long ago, a key command given to Moses appeared to only soar off the web page at me. God was difficult me with this wonderful reality and idea.

Exodus 4:3 comprises this particular command and instruction as God tells Moses, “Throw it on the bottom.” After all, God was telling Moses to throw his workers on the bottom, and we’ll see why quickly. In verse 2, God asks Moses what was in his fingers. I’m fairly certain the almighty, omniscient God knew it was a workers, however God allowed Moses to reply.

I don’t see Moses in a sarcastic tone saying, “Umm, it’s my workers, God.” I image extra of a humble response from Moses the place he mainly says, “God, that is my id. It’s my workers. I’m a shepherd. It’s my consolation. It’s what I’m good at and what I do.”

That is the place it obtained actual with me as I needed to self-reflect and suppose by way of God asking me, “Jim, what’s in your fingers? What’s your id? What are you snug with?”

Our solutions could differ, however truthfully answering this query permits us to be utterly clear and actual with God. Once more, an almighty, omniscient God is aware of what’s in our fingers already, however He provides us an opportunity to reply. He permits us to be all we’re referred to as and created to be by throwing down no matter is in our fingers. What does He ask us to sacrifice? What’s God calling us to throw on the bottom? What’s He calling us to surrender for Him?

He has huge plans for our lives, and solely once we “throw down” our personal objectives and wishes can He use us for His final functions and plan.

Personally, for me as a former highschool basketball coach of 25 years, God was clearly asking me to throw down my whistle. It’s what I started doing in 1997 as I started my profession as a 21-year-old basketball coach. It grew to become my id, my consolation, and my profession for these 25 years. My dad was my highschool basketball coach and it’s all I actually wished to do since I used to be 17 years previous.

As I grew and matured, although, God broke me and began altering the wishes of my coronary heart. God was not simply my Savior, however at age 43 I made him Lord of my life. I realized to give up all the pieces and make Him prime precedence. He had completely different plans for me, simply as he had with Moses. God was getting ready Moses and his management whereas he was a shepherd. Finally, God was getting him able to be the chief to guide the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land.

Simply as God commanded Moses to choose again up his workers and obey, I knew God was calling me to obey Him as effectively. He was calling me from teaching basketball to start out teaching the coaches. I’m nonetheless teaching, however now it’s now not basketball, however folks. He was calling me to disciple, mentor and serve; to nonetheless coach however in a approach I by no means knew attainable. Dr. Billy Graham shares, “A coach will influence extra folks in a 12 months than the typical individual does in a lifetime. So, who’s teaching the coaches?”

God needs us to obey even once we don’t perceive, and particularly when it doesn’t make sense.

I now have the privilege of serving with Nations of Coaches and training folks, particularly faculty basketball coaches and gamers. I’m reminded of this quote: “We’re greatest certified to assist and serve the folks we was once.”

For me, sporting a whistle grew to become who I used to be. I slowly began worshiping the calling relatively than the Caller. There was energy within the whistle. Subconsciously I beloved that energy; I craved the id of being a coach. It grew to become my consolation, and when God broke me on Feb. 16, 2018, He was in the end asking me, “Jim, what’s in your fingers? Throw it on the bottom.” Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for the brokenness and the chance He has given me to throw my whistle on the bottom.

I now ask you: What’s God asking you to throw on the bottom?

— Jim Good

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