THE MORE....THE MORE

Today is Thursday.  Last night, I started a new series on "The Names of God".  I'm excited about that and know that God will use it in a special way to not only instruct us, but to show us the many ways in which God introduces Himself to us so that we might get a fuller picture of who He is and how much He loves us.  God is too big for one name to describe Him.  So the more we learn, the more precious He is to us!  Wow!  Bring it on.

Today, I'm in Exodus and here is one thought for today:

THE MORE.... THE MORE- In Exodus 1:12 it reads:  "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew."  We look at afflictions and trials and suffering always in a negative light, because .... frankly.... we don't want them!   But, God uses such awful things for our good.  The more the Israelites were afflicted by the Egyptians, the more they grew!  I know they would rather have grown without the afflictions, but in the whole scheme of God's wonderful work for our lives.... it doesn't work that way.  We grow by challenges.  Afflictions cause us to cry out to God.... crying out to God gets His attention.... His attention brings His intervention..... His intervention brings His blessings..... His blessings cause us to rejoice in Him.... Our rejoicing fades away.... Our blessings are taken for granted... When we take them for granted God withdrawals them... When God withdrawals our blessings, we suffer.... when we suffer we turn back to God; and the whole cycle of spiritual life begins anew.  OH that men would praise the LORD for His wonderful works to the children of men!  (The Psalmist says that over and over in one chapter.)  So dear friend:  When you are going through trials, remember that God is trying to do something MORE in your life!!  Now... Praise Him!

Pastor Mike Mutchler