Exodus 18:13-27

Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, wisely advised Moses to share the burden of judging the people, lest he wear himself out, and succinctly summarized qualifications for leadership assistants. We may not all become leaders, but we can all aspire to the qualifications of a leader. Lord, help us to fear You over all the lesser things we fear, such as unpopularity, embarrassment, or failure. Help us to be trustworthy in everything. Teach us to hate bribes, even subtle, informal bribes such as flattering someone in a position to grant us favors.

Moses accepted Jethro’s advice, and presumably so did the people of Israel. All of us understand on a theoretical level that our pastors have limited time and energy, but when I am the one who needs counsel or help, do I expect the senior pastor to provide it? Do I feel gypped, as Pastor Dave expressed it, if he doesn’t? Lord, help us gladly accept boundaries that protect our pastors from burnout.

Dave emphatically stated that Calvary does not function according to the “Moses Model” of running a church: God speaks to the senior pastor only (“Moses”), and everyone else in the church does whatever the senior pastor says. Rather, we desire a plurality of people to be listening to and heeding God’s voice. Dave didn’t specifically mention Calvary’s small group structure, but I found myself thinking about that as I listened. Pray for our pastors and elders, but also for our small group leaders, who are our “chiefs of tens.” Ask God to help them faithfully set an example of listening to Him and then walking in obedience. If you are not in a small group this year, ask God if He would have you join one next fall to be a part of this important structure of shepherding.

Calvary Family

Pastor Dave noted that Sunday was Sanctity of Life Sunday. Life is sacred because only God can give it. Doctors can cure many diseases, and computer scientists can construct artificial intelligence, but no human being is able to create life, even given a soup of organic compounds as a starting point. Take a few minutes to praise the Giver of life and ask Him what you can do to attest to the sanctity of human life in word and deed. The issue is broad – protecting the pre-born, serving children neglected or abused by their parents, valuing the disabled, ministering to society’s outcasts, caring for the frail elderly with dignity.

My small group is studying the first half of Isaiah this year, the so-called Book of Judgment. One of our big take-aways so far is that God is at war with human pride. Pride takes many forms besides bald-faced boasting, such as moral self-righteousness, an unteachable spirit, or a refusal to apologize. A worthy, but painful, prayer is to ask the Lord to reveal pride in your life so that you may repent of it.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea