You Have a Choice

Exodus 4:8-17 NLT “The Lord said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign. And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.” But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord ? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”

The life of Moses shows us the blessing and the curse of believing or not believing in our own calling. Moses hindered himself and angered God when he magnified his issues greater than the perception of the god who called him into ministry. He believed that his stuttering had enough power to keep him from fulfilling God’s will for his life. Yet despite his weaknesses and his self-doubt, God continued to encourage and even rebuke Moses to help him fulfill his calling.

Please understand this: there is a reason why God chose you and He chose you on purpose. Your shortcomings don’t disqualify you from serving God or His people. Don’t anger God as Moses did by continually telling Him how unworthy or unequipped you are. God understood your weaknesses, your past failings, your tendencies, and all your proclivities before He chose you. God purposefully chooses people with noticeable flaws because His power is shown best when it has less vanity and pride to compete with. Our issues don’t exclude us from ministry; they actually prepare us for ministry.

John 8:28-32 NIV “So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as he spoke, many believed in him. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

When a person commits a crime, is found guilty, and pays a consequence or is acquitted of any wrongdoing, it is illegal to try that person again on the same crime. If charges are brought against the person for the same offense, the defending lawyer can assert the clause of double jeopardy as a method of defense. This law is a constitutional right that guarantees a person cannot be charged for the same crime twice. The person cannot be tried again on the same charges even if new evidence is discovered.