Exodus 23:20-33

In this week’s passage, God promises to bring His people successfully to the Promised Land. He lays out what He Himself will do, what the angel He appoints will do, and what He expects the Israelites to do.

The Lord says He will drive out the inhabitants of the land before the Israelites, but not in a year’s time. Rather, He will drive them out little by little while He multiplies and equips Israel. When you and I take a request to God, don’t we often think, “And God, do it now!” even if we don’t dare say it? What are you waiting for God to accomplish in your life or the life of someone you love that seems to be taking a long time? It’s easy to become discouraged or impatient. Like the ancient Israelites, we need to realize that God’s work often takes the form of a process over time. Before Him, submit to His way of working and acknowledge that He has his good reasons, even if we don’t see what they are.

God does the “heavy lifting” in the lives of His people, in ancient times and now. He is, after all, the powerful One. But we have a role to play; He has expectations of us. An excellent prayer every morning is: Lord, by faith, I acknowledge that You are working in my life. What do you want me to do today as part of that work? Tell me, show me, and I will obey.

The Lord commanded the Israelites not to bow down to the little-g gods they would encounter as they journeyed into the Promised Land. In fact, He told them to obliterate the sacred stones or pillars used in pagan worship. In our daily lives, we don’t come across worship of Baal or Asherah, but modern America is awash with gods like wealth, fame, self-reliance, popularity, comfort, entertainment. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you – and all of us – of the ways we are bowing down and serving these false gods even as we profess allegiance to the one true God. Purpose to smash the sacred stones of those secular gods in our lives.

Calvary Family

Women’s Ministries is hosting a “Fresh Start” event on Saturday morning. Pray for renewed relationships and good fellowship among Calvary women. Some will use this event to reach out to an unchurched friend or neighbor. Pray that these guests will feel welcome and will experience God’s love through His people.

Lift up the Parenting Teens Seminar led by Dave and Carrie Tebay on April 23. Pray that parents of teens will make attending this seminar a priority in their busy lives. Ask the Lord to give the Tebays wisdom as they prepare to offer godly guidance for this challenging stage of parenting.

Our nursery and Sunday school classes are back in action. Continue to pray for Diana Aksel, director of Children’s Ministries, as she works to fully staff all the classes and looks ahead to Vacation Bible School in late June.

Have you noticed that the old sanctuary is now the Chinese worship center? Members of our Chinese congregation gathered for in-person worship on Easter Sunday for the first time in over a year. They had been live-streaming only during that time. Lift up our Chinese brothers and sisters and their pastor, Lihao Shan.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea

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