Whether it is in our businesses, our homes, our churches, or our communities, one of the most common desires is to be effective. No one wants to wander aimlessly through life without a goal or target in view. Each day you want to do whatever it is with all of your might, and on purpose.
Whatever your assignments happen to be, at the end of the day you want to have run your race and finished your course with joy. Though most share the common desire to be effective, many struggle in reservation of their own capability and have a lack of courage. Thankfully, God looked beyond our deficiency and saw destiny; He’s NOTORIOUS for using imperfect people to bring about His perfect plan.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is a book of winners and what I like to call God’s Hall of Fame. It contains stories and statements about ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things. They were like many of us are today, flawed people, who failed, made bad choices, yet God managed to use them in spite of it all. Moses is one of the many that God managed to use in miraculous ways.
Moses began his life with an identity crisis, yet he is one of the greatest men in the Old Testament…
Moses was born a Jew, but was raised as an Egyptian prince, who later murdered an Egyptian slave master for striking a Hebrew slave. And after fleeing everything he once knew as familiar, comfortable, and accustomed, he asked himself, “Who am I?” In spite of all of that, God’s answer to Moses determined the rest of the course of his miraculous life. God used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of captivity, write the Ten Commandments; he wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and the list of miracles go on and on. You see, Moses uncovered the secrets that allowed him to be effectively used by God, despite how his life began.
Peace rather than possessions
Just think about it for a moment. Moses began his life as an Egyptian Prince. He could have enjoyed a life of ease in the palace, but Moses was a man of character and integrity. Once he knew the truth, he refused to live a lie. He was not able to sit back and watch his people suffer and be mistreated as slaves. Instead, he chose to become the man God intended for him to be.
Today people have a lot to live on, but very little to live for. Through greed, selfish ambitions, and little regard for others, many have settled into their own comfortable lifestyles suited to their taste. But through character, choices, values and vision God is moving His people into another level of effectiveness, with meaningful fulfillment and gratification. Verses 23 through 27 in Hebrews 11, give us five powerful keys to unlock Moses’ secrets of an effective life: he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; he chose to take the harder road; he regarded people more important than possessions; he saw God; and he endured the waiting process. I’m forever grateful for the sacrifice Moses made to be greatly used by God.
God wants to do greater things through you!
God has a specific plan for your life, and nobody can play your part but you. So if you don’t live your life according to His plan, the world will be robbed of your contribution. Where would we be today without Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bishop T.D. Jakes, or Bill Gates, all of whom lived life according to God’s plan? Will you make a difference, or will the world be robbed of your contribution? I certainly hope not. You have a unique contribution that is vital to the life of someone else. Run after the purpose of God and prepare to be all He has called you to be.
