Tripp Atkinson

Pastor, Speaker, Consultant

Devotional

Excusing Yourself From God’s Blessing

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Is it possible that you are excusing yourself from God’s blessings? Let me explain…

In Exodus 3, we see that Moses found himself in a really awkward situation one day.  It was one of those awkward situations where things just got weirder and weirder.

1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”  “Here I am!” Moses replied.  – Exodus 3:1-4

Talk about a turn of events!  Moses is tending sheep in the wilderness (probably not the most exciting thing in the world) when he sees a bush that is on fire, but not burning up.  As he is checking it out, the bush begin to talk to him.  Not only is the bush talking, but God is speaking to him through the bush and calls him by name!!  Now in the midst of probably freaking out just a little, Moses responds in a way that has the potential to change his entire life and future.  He enthusiastically says “Here I am!”

As God calls Moses’ name, Moses enthusiastically and expectantly gives God his undivided attention.  When God has his attention, God tells Moses that he has chosen him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.  This plan would involve Moses going to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and demanding that he release the Israelites from captivity.

So God says, “Moses I’ve got a plan and it involves you.  You be willing to give and watch what I do.”

Moses immediately begins to do what we sometimes do when God asks something of us.  Moses immediately begins to give excuses as to why God could not use Him… reasons why he could not give to God.

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” – Exodus 4:10

Apparently Moses had a speech impediment, which made this ask from God completely illogical to Moses.  Moses says, “God, you’ve got the wrong guy.  You are asking too much!”  It becomes clear that God really hates excuses.  God had enough of Moses’ excuses and said to him…

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?”
– Exodus 4:11

Of course God has a great comeback for Moses’ excuses.  God says, “Oh, I can’t use your mouth?  Well, who made your mouth?  If I want to use your mouth, I can do whatever I want with it.”

“Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” – Exodus 4:12-13

Moses is destined for greatness, yet he is trying as hard as he can to sabotage his own future by making excuses.

DON’T SABOTAGE TOMORROW’S GREATNESS WITH TODAY’S EXCUSES.

 

Even as Moses is still making excuses, look at what God does…

14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”

God says, “You give.  Let me use and provide.”  It may not always make sense to give.  We might think “What can God do with this?”  I think of the little boy in the Bible who gave his couple of small fish and five small loaves of bread to Jesus and watched in amazement as Jesus feed over 5,000 people with them and then had 12 baskets full of leftovers.  I think of the widow who gave her only coin and how her legacy of sacrifice has made a difference to this day.  There is story after story from Scripture and also my own life where God has proven faithful to take little and use it much.

Even when it doesn’t make sense, you give, God will use, and God will provide.  God takes what we can do, does what only he can do, and the result is beyond what we could think or imagine on our own.  As God asks of us, he always gives more.

God doesn’t ask you to give without him giving more.

As we give, consider what God promises…

As we give, God promises:   

    – His presence. (God said, “I will be with you.”)
    – His power. (Exodus 4:1-9, “Trust me, everyone will know I’m behind this”)
    – His provision. (Exodus 4:14, “Look Aaron is already on the way.”)

As we give to God, he is always faithful!  And through faithful obedience, we can experience God’s absolute best for our lives. 

Consider when Moses experienced God’s best…

Moses experienced God’s best when:

    – He gave God his attention.
Is it possible you may not be hearing God calling because He doesn’t have your attention?
    – He moved beyond excuses.
What excuses are robbing you of experiencing God’s best?
    – He trusted God’s plan.
In what areas do you need to trust God today?

Today, would you give God your full attention and ask, “God, what do you want me to give?  How do you want to use me?”  Whatever God is asking you to give, would you trust him enough to move beyond excuses and trust his plan.  As you do, I’m confident you will experience his presence, his power, and his provision in your life.  

Stop “excusing” yourself from God’s blessings and walk in the fullness of all he has for you today!

*For a podcast of this devotional, click here.

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An Adopted Child of God

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Who Am I?  An Adopted Child of God

 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
– Romans 8:14-17

Adoption can indeed be a very tough and costly process for prospective parents as they navigate the necessary channels to acquire the child they so desperately long for.  This was certainly true for God as well, as He gave His very Son to the cross, so that we could have the opportunity to be called His children.   How amazing it is that God would give so much to choose us!  And all we have to do to receive this adoption is choose Him back.  That is what being “led by the Spirit” is all about…daily choosing to allow God’s Spirit to lead your life.

Not only does this passage remind Christ-followers that we are children of God, but also heirs of God.   An heir is one who has a right of inheritance.  Because of what Christ did on the cross, God has given all Christians the inheritance of eternal life.  (Titus 3:7, John 3:16)  As if that’s not enough, Scripture tells us that one day all Believers will also inherit all things in God’s new creation. (Revelation 21:7)

No matter what your earthly family is like, know that as a child of God you are a part of the family of God.  You can come before God boldly, knowing that you have full access to your Heavenly Father who has adopted you.  You can have confidence that no sin, mistake, or anything in all creation can separate you from His love. (Romans 8:38-39)  Even if you do sin, His discipline is further proof of His Fatherly love.  Revelation 3:19 says, “I correct and discipline everyone I love.” (NLT)

Challenge…

As you pray today, do so with confidence as you come before your Father.  Use terms of endearment (“Abba, Father”) as you spend time with the One who has given His all so that He can call you His child.  Embrace your significance as a child of The King!

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  For more devotions and encouragement, click here. 

The Delight of God

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Who Am I? I am the Delight of God.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

– Zephaniah 3: 17 

Have you ever paused to really consider that God rejoices over you?  The NIV states, “He will take great delight in you.”  Think about that.  God.  Delights.  In.  You.  As sinful as you may be, you are God’s prized creation (Genesis 1:26-27) and He delights in you.

So many lose sight of this life-changing realization.  Instead of humbly celebrating the fact that they are the delight of God, many find themselves exhaustedly running on a hamster wheel of religion in an attempt to gain God’s favor.  This wheel may partially be created by well-intentioned Youth Pastors and Sunday School teachers who give student leaders “checklists” of Spiritual Disciplines and Bible Studies that will help them draw closer to God.  Although such resources can be extremely helpful, it is important not to confuse a list of “do’s” with enjoying a relationship with God.  This can quickly lead one to feel like a spiritual failure, which is exactly what God does not want.

What God does want is for us to delight in Him.  Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 70:4 says, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’” God delights in us as we delight in Him.  Just as an earthly father, God desires for His children to desire and take joy in Him.

Do not forget today the great price that God paid to have this love relationship.  While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. (Romans 5:8)  Christ’s death and resurrection not only offers freedom from sin and death, but it also offers freedom from an exhausting form of religion that seeks acceptance.  Accept the fact that you are loved by God with an infinite amount of love.  May your acts of service and devotion today be an overflow of your delight in the Lord; not to be checked off a list, but to be given as a spiritual act of worship.

Challenge…

As you pray today, take time just to delight in the Lord.  And pray that you will enjoy His company as much as He enjoys yours.

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  And for more devotions, click here. 

An Invaluable Part of the Body

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Who Am I? I am an Invaluable Part of the Body of Christ.

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”  – Romans 12:4-5 

 

Leaders naturally desire more influence. In fact, there are many leaders who begin each day praying a prayer like that of Jabez when he asked God to “enlarge my territory.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)  Leaders certainly should be driven to increase their influence for the sake of reaching more with the Gospel. But if we are not careful, that desire for more influence can evolve into something unhealthy.  It can become a desire for someone else’s ministry and giftedness. This can lead to a form of “spiritual jealousy” that seems admirable, but can render us ineffective as Christian leaders.

It is easy to see the ministry of someone like Billy Graham and desire that for yourself. But don’t forget the reality that if God wanted you to be Billy Graham, he would have made you Billy Graham. God doesn’t want you to be anyone other than you. In fact, “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” (1 Corinthians 12:18) And all of these members purposely do not have the same function.

No matter how insignificant or humble you may think your gifts are, the rest of the body depends on them. Consider this….If you remove your gifts from the body, the whole body of Christ suffers. God has uniquely gifted you to contribute to the body of Christ in ways that Billy Graham never could. There are people you can reach with the Gospel that your Pastor never could. God has given you a ministry that is markedly original.

Look at Romans 12:4-6 through the Message, “So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Go ahead and be what you were made to be today.

 

As you pray today, confess any “spiritual jealousy.”  Thank God that He has uniquely gifted you to do what no one else in the body can. Ask God to help you increasingly embrace your significance as an invaluable part of the body of Christ.

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  For more thoughts on your unique ministry, click HERE.

An Ambassador of Christ

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Who Am I?  I am an Ambassador of Christ.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:20  

This verse has some incredibly good news, and also some incredibly bad news.  The good news is that we are ambassadors for Christ.  Imagine the significance of that reality.  As followers of Christ, we not only receive forgiveness of our sins, have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, and enjoy eternal life that begins at the moment of Salvation; but we also have the privilege of representing Christ to this world.  What an honor!  This isn’t about representing your class, school, or even country, but about representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  How amazing that we have such a high commission.

The bad news is that WE are ambassadors for Christ.   This same overwhelmingly prestigious honor of being emissaries for Christ becomes soberingly bad news when we consider that most who call themselves Christians don’t take this responsibility seriously.  Think of all the times that “we” Christians grossly misrepresent our Lord.   The very word Christian means “little Christ”, but how well are we imitating Christ?  In fact, instead of drawing this world to Christ, many who claim His name do just the opposite.

Consider Paul’s description of his role as an ambassador of Christ;  “as though God were pleading through us… be reconciled to God.”  To whom in your life does God want to plead through you?

Do you feel overwhelmed and under-qualified to be an ambassador for Christ to this person?  The good news is that you do not have to do it on your own strength.  (In fact, you can’t.)  The Holy Spirit will empower you to produce Christ-like ”fruit” in your life, will give you the words to say, and will fill you with boldness as you yield to His work in your life.  Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left his followers with these words, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

 

So pray and ask God to help you fully embrace your significance as an ambassador of Christ.  Thank Him that you have the power available to you today to be a person of influence for His Kingdom.  Pray for boldness as you allow God to work through you to point others to Him. 

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.

Sleeping with Frogs (How today’s stubbornness leads to tomorrow’s hot mess!)

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One of my favorite Old Testament stories is found in Exodus chapter 8. In this story, we see that God has called Moses to approach Pharaoh and instruct him to release the Israelites from slavery and captivity so that they may be free and may worship God.  As Pharaoh hardens his heart toward God, God sends a plague of frogs to get his attention.

In Exodus 8:1, we see this incredible scene begin to unfold…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’” – Exodus 8:1-4

To paraphrase what God said to Pharaoh through Moses, “Let go of what is mine and if you refuse to let it go, it will not be for your good. If fact, if you don’t respond in obedience, things will get a little crazy.”

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused to let go of what was God’s. And as he responded in disobedience, things certainly got crazy. Now picture this scene with me. Frogs came up out of every river, canal, and pond in Egypt and there were so many of them, they covered the entire land! Can you imagine walking across a ground completely covered in frogs… wearing sandals?? The frogs went into Pharaoh’s palace, and into his bedroom, and even into his bed!

Think about this. You get in bed at night, get all tucked in, start to fall asleep, and then you feel it…something crawling under the sheets. And as you are kicking and screaming like a Middle School boy (they squeal much higher than girls) you realize that you are sleeping with a bed full of frogs! Not only are you freaking out about now, the frogs have also entered the houses of “your people” and (as NIV says) are “ON your people.”

So not only is YOUR life being affected by your disobedience, the lives of everyone around is being affected as well. When you think it can’t get any worse, it actually does. We are told that the frogs “jumped into their ovens” (imagine putting in a pan of biscuits and pulling out crispy critters) and into their kneading bowls. Now this is the worst. Imagine kneading some dough to make those biscuits and you feel a lump in the dough. So you squeeze that lump really hard… We are talking about a HOT MESS!!

And the root of this hot mess?? Disobedience. So we see in verse 8,

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.” 9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

So Pharaoh said “Pray to God and ask him to take the frogs away” and Moses replied “You say when.” Pharaoh’s answer is astounding.

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

What!? Tomorrow!? This guy’s life is literally being ruined by the consequences of his disobedience and he says “tomorrow?”

Why in the world would he say this? Pharaoh’s heart was so hard, so selfish that even though he was feeling the pain of his disobedience, he wanted to have his way just one more day. He would rather sleep with frogs one more night, than respond in immediate obedience to God.

As crazy as this seems, consider how we sometimes do the same thing. Now we may not be sleeping with frogs, but whenever God calls us to obedience and we delay, there are no doubt real consequences that affect not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us. Imagine today how you may be missing God’s best for you life by telling Him, “OK, but tomorrow.” We may have the best intentions but we forget, delayed obedience is disobedience. 

 

“Delayed obedience is disobedience.”

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  • What is it God has called you to give today?
  • What step of obedience have you been delaying?

 

Whatever it is, have confidence that as you respond in obedience TODAY that God can take your frogs and give you His very best! What a deal! Be assured today, just as Moses told Pharaoh, as you open your hands and hearts to God, “Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God.”

So walk in God’s best for you today and stop sleeping with frogs!!!

 

*For a podcast version of this post, click here.