Mount Horeb

Each day I watch our society spin further and further out of control. Riots, disease, violence of all kinds and a general rage has started to permeate our lives. Each day we are driven farther and farther away from the Christ centered values the nation was based on and further towards an agenda that is pushed by one portion of our society.

As the world pushes back against our values as Christ followers, even to the point where we are not allowed to voice them, I’ve really started to worry about the future of our country and what we leave for our children and grand children. It seems that all great and kind societies start out well, but finish poorly…such are the lessons of history.

I find I spend more time hidden away in my Father’s arms as I work through all that is happening around us. As I ponder these things, I’m reminded that the early church dealt with much worse conditions. They were hunted and killed for their beliefs, at least we haven’t come to that.

My relationship with our Lord is the only thing that sustains me these days. It keeps me from despondency. I encourage all of my fellow believers to continue to fight the good fight. Not through loud speakers or protests, but as the example that brought us to the forefront as a people…love. That is what turned Roman society to Christ in 300 AD and would help bring the message of love, hope and salvation of Jesus to all who would listen across the globe.

As Paul charged Timothy to keep the faith, so should we charge each other. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Be strong and endure, God is with us.

Blessings

Mount Horeb
by Os Hillman

“So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:8

Elijah and Moses were men of great zeal. They were passionate about their causes. Moses sought to free the Hebrews from the tyranny of slavery by killing an Egyptian with his own hand. Elijah, after calling down fire on the evil prophets of Baal, found himself spent physically and emotionally to the point he asked God to take his life.

Immediately after these two events, 500 years apart from one another, both men were led to the same Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. In Hebrew, Horeb means “desolation.” This barren environment mirrored the condition of Moses and Elijah. For Moses, it was 40 years of barrenness. For Elijah, it was 40 days without food. Elijah became tired of standing alone for God.

As workplace believers we often become so focused on the goal we forget to meet God at our own Mount Horeb. This was the place God met both Moses and Elijah. It was a place of renewal, a place of new beginnings, a place of personal encounter with the living God.

Perhaps Elijah’s greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, we shall see that twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been “very zealous” for the Lord. But zeal, unattended eventually becomes its own God; it compels us toward expectations, which are unrealistic, and outside the timing and anointing of God. To remain balanced, zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters with the living God. We otherwise become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection. Many of us become so consumed with our battles that we are no longer aware of the presence of Jesus. We have been traveling in our own strength. [Francis Frangipane, Place of Immunity (Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Arrow Publications, 1994), 5.]

Pray that Jesus will teach us that intimacy with Him is the greatest measure of success. Lord, guide us to the mountain of Your presence.