"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush was burning with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." Exodus 3:1-6
As Moses approached the burning bush in Midian's wilderness, he was stopped in his tracks by God's words. The presence of God caused the ground on which he stood to be holy ground. The presence of God will do that every time! Today we approach not a burning bush, but a burning issue ~ the sanctity of human life, ground that belongs to God as the Lord of both life and death! To snuff out lives is to trespass on holy ground! The command that God gave to Moses applies to us as well ~ Off with those sandals! At God's command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our friend, but He is also our Soverign Lord. A suitable attitude is necessary for approaching a Holy God!
Application:
How we personally approach this burning issue of our days is and important matter. It is helpful to remember again the value placed on every human life of God, the price established by the Creator Himself when He did not spare His own Son, Jesus Christ, but delivered Him up for all of us. God values human life so highly that He gave His beloved Son to fedeem every single person. That is the reason for us not only to take our sandals off, but to take a firm stand as we face this burning issue.
May God bless you as you remember to be grateful for your life and respect the lives of others, in the name of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood purchased salvation for every person placed upon His Holy ground.
Love in Christ,
Sandy |
