What is That in Your Hand?

I want to draw your attention to Exodus 4:2 So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Romans 12:6 gives us a great application in our own lives: "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..."

It was just about a year ago when a homeless man with an incredible voice was discovered by a TV reporter in Ohio - many embraced Ted Williams, who had made some bad choices and had a string of bad circumstances, but people were so enamored with his voice that they embraced him, and helped him.  They offered him voiceover jobs and helped him get into rehab.   Now, one year later, after even a rocky road to being drug-free, he's doing voice work, was offered a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team, and at least appears to have a bit of stability in his life - and he has a house for a home, rather than a box.


Ted has made mistakes, but he has a gift, and if you've heard his voice, you'll agree.  And, I believe that God has given to each of us a gift, and from a Kingdom perspective, we have a purpose to be used for His glory.  And, the pages of the Scriptures show us scores of characters that are not perfect, but were used by Him anyway.   Moses was given a rod that would become a snake, and he was given a companion who would speak, because he just didn't think God could use his voice.   So, the application for us, is "What is that in your hand?"  In other words, what unique talent or ability has God given to you?   Thank Him for it and seeking His face regarding how you can use it for your glory.  Then, be obedient as God opens doors.   


And, I do believe that the Lord has given to each of us a voice - not necessarily in the physical sense, like our friend Ted, but we are called to affirm, to encourage, to do good works that speak volumes - sharing the love of Christ to others.   There will be divine appointments for us to share with others what God has done in our lives, to speak the good news that Christ has come to save, and to perhaps even reach out to people in our neighborhood, church, or workplace, who are in need, or to minister the love of Christ to those who are the most vulnerable among us.   Maybe there's a Ted Williams that you will encounter, who needs to be pointed in the right direction, to be affirmed in his or her worth before God, and maybe to come to a saving knowledge of Christ.   The President talked about income disparity last night, and I thought about those in poverty, and what a wonderful opportunity we have as Christians, as churches, individuals, and families, to address the needs of the poor - maybe even ministering to their physical needs temporarily, but teaching and reinforcing them in life skill and providing an avenue for them to exercise responsibility to become independent of government, but dependent on Christ.   The church can be a strong voice in our culture to address physical - and spiritual - poverty.