Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Exodus 13-16
A grandfather and his grandson were on a walk. As they walked along the trail, the grandfather pointed to a small plant and told the young boy to uproot the small plant. The boy did so easily. They came to a slightly larger plant, and the grandfather told the boy to do the same to the larger plant. After some effort and a little more time, the boy was able to complete the task. The grandfather then pointed to a large plant and told his grandson to uproot this one. The boy’s eyes widened as he examined the task before him but, in obedience to his grandfather, went to work. He struggled for some time but was unable to get the plant to budge. The grandfather stepped to the boy’s side and helped him pull. Both of them were finally able to ease the plant from the ground. Along with the plant came a system of roots almost as long as the plant itself.
As the grandfather and the grandson continued their walk, the grandfather told the boy that the largest plant was the most difficult to pull out because of its roots; they had grown too long. He explained to the boy that our habits are much the same. If we catch them early, we can pull them ourselves. If we wait too long, we are powerless against their roots unless someone else comes into our lives and helps us to pry them loose.
The people of Israel had been in captivity for hundreds of years. Their habits of dependency and lack of faith had deep roots. Ten plagues may have broken up a little of the soil in these habits, but ahead of the Israelites were some major acts of prying and pulling to bring them to the point of being ready for the promised land. In chapter 14 comes the first huge plant…the Red Sea.
How are you doing with your habits? Do you have a Red Sea you need to cross? Do you have bad habits that need pulling up by the roots? Can you get the roots or do you need the help of some accountability? May God help to grow our faith today.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to be honest about the habits of my life and specifically of my heart.
- Lord, please help me to uproot my poor habits and replace them with helpful and proper habits.
- Lord, please help me to let the circumstances of life build my faith in an unchanging and faithful God.
Political
- Representative Bill Sowerby – District 031 – Clinton Twp.
- US Senator Debbie Stabenow – District S01 – Lansing
- Senator Jim Stamas – District 036 – Midland