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A Righteous Hold-up

WEDNESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2018

Exodus 17:8-16

While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. (Exodus 17:8-13)

Reflect

The Amalekites descended from Amalek, a grandson of Esau. They were a fierce nomadic tribe that lived in the desert region near the Dead Sea. They made part of their livelihood by raiding other settlements and carrying off plunder. They killed for pleasure. One of the greatest insults in Israelite culture was to call someone “a friend of Amalek.”

When the Israelites entered the region, the Amalekites saw a perfect opportunity for both pleasure and profit. But this hostile tribe attacked the wrong group—a people led by God. For the Israelite slaves to defeat such a warlike nation was more than enough proof that God was with them as he had promised to be.

Aaron and Hur stood by Moses’ side and held up his arms to ensure victory against Amalek. Similarly, we need to “hold up the hands” of our spiritual leaders as well. Shouldering some responsibility, lending a word of encouragement, or offering a prayer are ways of refreshing spiritual leaders in their work.

Respond

Pray for your spiritual leaders by name, “holding up their hands” as they minister.

STAY BLESSED

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The Source of Light

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14 (NIV)
Every light derives its source from somewhere. This source could be a hydro dam, wind or electrical or thermal generator or the sun. What is the source of the light that Christ declared us to be?
From Scripture, we know that the source of a Christian’s light is Christ Himself. Witnesses testified of this, and He said so Himself. Here are the accounts:
“There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the Light.  The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.” – John 1:6-10 (NIV)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 (NIV)

“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” – John 9:5 (NIV)
“I have come into the world as a Light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” – John 12:46 (NIV)
History bears record that Jesus, the Sun of righteousness – Malachi 4:2 is a reliable Source of light. His power is not affected by the weather or hindered by a lack of electricity supply. He powers our light unfailingly and unendingly. Getting connected to Him is far more reliable and renewing than all that the inverters, batteries, circuits, and other power sources of the world combined together can provide. Hence, if we want to shine brightly, Christ is the Source that we can safely trust to make it so.

Source: SALM’s article in the Spectator newspaper.
STAY BLESSED