WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?
Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied.
Text – Exodus 4:1-5
MOSES WAS A SHEPHERD, AND IN HIS HAND WAS A STAFF
With that staff the Nile River turned to blood (Exodus 7:20) - He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood.
With that staff, the sea parted (Exodus 14:16) - Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.
With that staff, water came from the rock (Exodus 17:5-6) – “Take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink."
With that staff, an enemy was defeated in battle (Exodus 17:9) - Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
1. GOD CAN WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND.
It is a mistake to believe you cannot serve God until he puts something different in your hand. That is, unless what you have in your hand is something that should not be there.
For whatever you have in your hand, there is a reason to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18) - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
It might seem too small to make a difference. On one of the most stressful days in Jesus’ ministry, something seemingly small caught Jesus’ attention (Luke 21:1-4) - Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
It might seem absolutely pointless – how does what I have in my hand have anything to do with the spiritual? (Luke 5:2-5) - He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
2. REFLECT ON WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND. USE IT FOR GOD.
Consider what is unseen
Each born-again person receives a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10) - Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others
Spiritual gifts were given to build up the church (Ephesians 4:12) - …to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. If you are not active in the local body of Christ, you are wasting the gift God gave you.
Consider what is seen - What is in your hand? What is it you control?
Your time, all of it.
Your resources, all of them.
3. REFLECT ON WHAT GOD HAS IN HIS HANDS.
YOU (Isaiah 49:15-16) - "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Look at the hands of the Savior and see how you are engraved there.
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES (Romans 8:28) - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. It’s conditional. This is for those who have heard the call.
YOUR FUTURE (Revelation 5:5,7, 6:1) – "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."… He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne… I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Our Lord is unrolling the future. It is under his control.