September 11 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

When God finally visited his people, Moses fearlessly spoke the Word of the sovereign God to Pharaoh, the oppressor of God's people: "Thus says the Lord, 'Let my people go!' " (Ex. 5:1, RSV).

Hearing this, Pharaoh issued his own command. His servants spoke to Israel: "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I will not give you straw ... but your work will not be lessened in the least' " (v. 10, RSV). They had to produce the same quota of work, and they also had to gather their own supplies.

When God's messenger had spoken his "Thus says the Lord," the countermeasure was announced with the same solemnity: "Thus says Pharaoh" (vv. 1, 10).

The Word of God liberates. However, as soon as it is proclaimed with boldness, the problems multiply. And since the result of Word-proclamation is trouble, people will always be inclined to say to their preachers, "Take it easy. You are going to cause problems. Don't rock the boat."

When God's people as a whole, to whom God has entrusted his message of deliverance, begin to speak that Word with boldness, the enemy will be aroused and the burdens will become heavier. If all of us show the courage to speak the Word and live according to that Word at all times and in all places, we must not immediately expect an influx of new members into the church. We must be prepared, first of all, to face consequences without fear of others or what they can do to us.

This message is exactly the fire Christ came to cast on the earth. "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three" (Luke 12:51-52).

The proclamation of God's Word puts the pressure on. But "when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28).

REFLECTIONS

About what should the church today say, "Thus says the Lord"? To whom?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.