Posted By: Krista Derouin
We woke up extra early as usual by Jonathan’s lovely singing voice and after breakfast and a short devotional, we split up into our small groups and headed out to our first day of work projects. My group along with two others headed out to PATH where we cleaned bathrooms and got ready to paint.
After work we finally got our fantastic showers and headed over to Sony Picture Studios for a tour where we got to see behind the scenes of several famous movies. After all the excitement of the day, we had an awesome loud worship where we felt God in our killer dance moves and loud singing voices. It was a busy and super fun day.
Prayers: For continued health for our leaders and students. For rest (or, at least, more of it). For our impact at the individual work sites to make a lasting impression on our hearts and lives...
Today’s Devotional:
See God's Love
Before you start into God’s Word, take some time in prayer to prepare your heart for God’s Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to invade your life so that you might clearly see God’s love surrounding you..
Read Exodus 16:1-5.
A brief recap: the Israelites had been enslaved by the Egyptians. God called Moses to lead them to the Promised Land and, after sending plagues and consuming the Egyptian army with the Red Sea, God saved the Israelites. This reading has them in the wilderness, apparently forgetting this recent history. What was the complaint of the people?
How did God respond to His people?
Why do you think God responded so quickly to their complaints?
Read Exodus 16:11-18,31.
What did God provide for the people?
The people had already been saved by God in a very obvious way. Try to put yourself in the position of the Israelites. What emotions might you be experiencing that would cause you to accuse God of abandoning you?
Think back to yesterday’s devotional. How were the actions of God’s people going against the biblical definition of love?
Read 1 John 2:3-6, 15-17.
There are some strong and unsettling words used in these verses. Try to rewrite verse 15 below using your own words.
How does verse 15 work if God has told us over and over to love one another? Take some time with this one, it shouldn’t be an easy or quick answer…
God’s people in Exodus easily forgot God’s presence in their lives and, instead, complained and demanded more from Him.
Think of a time you looked to God for guidance. Did He answer you quickly? Did you ever receive an answer at all? How did that make you feel towards your relationship with God?
On the next page, write down things that could be classified as “manna” in your life. What do you consider to be “from God” in your life?
Now look back at them. Are these possessions? Relationships? Feelings? Does this tell you anything about the credit that you give God?
Think of the last time you or someone else complained about something. What was the problem? Who else was involved? What was the outcome? What did their face show? What did they do with their arms and legs?
What have you ever complained to God about? Did it help? How do you think God reacts to our complaints?
How might this fail in showing our honest love for God?
Today is your day to see God’s love in your life. Is He in the face of some in your van? In your small group? Maybe in the face of the person eating by themselves? Is it in your face for others? God uses us to be His love for those we encounter. Reflect on the truth that God loves you so much that He sees the power you have to show His face to others through love. What do you need to do (or not do) to let that happen? What are you holding on to so tightly that it won’t allow you to see and be God’s “manna”...?
Share your thoughts and questions with someone on this trip so that might be able to be a support for others...
Want More? Check these out…
Numbers 11:4-17
Isaiah 64:3-4
Ephesians 3:16-19
1 Peter 1:22-23
