ICS Daily Devotions
Uniting as a Team
Exodus 17: 2 (NKJV) Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”
Instead of a journey on foot that should have lasted 11 days from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites ended up walking forty years in the wilderness. They did not get to enter the Promised Land because of their attitude towards God and their leader. There is a parallel drawn between how the Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land and us leaving a lifestyle of sin and entering into the abundant life. Egypt was a place of slavery just like we were slaves to sin. The Promised Land was a place where milk and honey flowed, just like the abundant life enables us to have love, joy and peace in our homes. God wants us to enjoy the abundant life. However, if we continue to be contentious in all relationships then there will be no love, joy and peace to enjoy. If we refuse to deal with the flesh, then we will not be able to enjoy the difference offered to us in the Christian life.
Pride and a sense of entitlement will cause us to be humbled by the Lord in order to educate us. It is easier to teach and educate someone when they are being humbled and brought to a dead end through a difficult situation, trial or affliction.
Don’t be known as a contentious person who brings about disunity to the family, the church or the community. Instead, observe what God is doing in the midst of the crisis and have a reverential fear of God. Nobody is perfect including ourselves. It is easy to criticize and be contentious but it is much better if we are submissive and supportive as a team player or a family member.
Exodus 17:9-10 (NKJV) And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
The Israelites had to work as a team in order to destroy the Amalekites with the help of God. It was good that God took time to deal with some of their issues that they had prior to this confrontation with the Amalekites. Likewise, members of a family, team players in a department, and members of a church have to be united in order to strive towards achieving the goal together. A leader will not be able to achieve much on his/her own without the help of the team regardless whether they are family members, colleagues or church members.
We can be a blessing to the team by humbling ourselves to do whatever is necessary as we work towards the mandate that God has given us. It is when everyone does their part or share, then it causes growth in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:16). There are no insignificant roles in the eyes of God because every person is playing a critical role for that moment.
Sermon Series: Life Lessons
