Sermons from Moorpark Presbyterian Church

Trusting the Lord With Our Today

by Janet Laughry

Exodus16:9-18 / John 6:22-33, 48-50

August 13, 2000

You remember Paul? He was the one with a past; a past which included dragging off men and women and committing them to prison – why – because of their belief in Jesus Christ. After his conversion – Paul spent many of his Todays in prison – why? - because of his belief in and preaching about Jesus. At first Paul was in a Roman prison. Later he lived in his own rooms, but chained to different Roman soldiers, whose assignment to Paul was on a rotating basis. This house-arrest was while he awaited trial under the corrupt, and very unstable emperor Nero.

Paul did not know when his last day would be. Nonetheless, he lived each day learning more about Jesus and growing in that relationship, as he shared the love and message of Jesus Christ. Each day he wrote letters to fledgling churches, met with friends and other callers, or talked with those who were chained to him. He lived each day for Christ.

TODAY is all we have. Yesterday is past and we do not know if we will ever see tomorrow. Pretty harsh words. How many times have you heard or said something like "just simply live one day at a time."

Easier said than done – right?! Many of us may still be struggling with the past – and continuing to wrap it in the many thick layers of prayers; and trying to trust God with it. We know not to dwell on the past; we know we cannot change the past. However, we can learn to accept it, learn from IT and from God and prayerfully and trustfully, press forward.

When you woke this morning TODAY is all you were given. Tomorrow’s meeting and next week’s deadline are of little importance compared to what God wants you doing, and being today. All those "I’ll spend more time with the family next weekend" and "what ifs" and "should dos" you worry about on behalf of tomorrow are useless. All of that is useless except in prohibiting you from living TODAY. As the late author, Paul Little said: It is only what you and I put into Today that will determine the quality and content of our total Christian life.

Even during this current transition time there is probably a degree or two of anxiety. Some questions that are frequently asked during an interim period include: What’s going to happen NOW? Will we find the right person for the installed position? Why does it take so long to get an associate? These and many other questions are often asked – and felt – with some degree of anxiety.

And… As you live in your TODAY – what are you personally facing? Are you facing temptation? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the particular stresses that have presented themselves? Is the anxiety you carry with you Today holding you so far down you are not able to see and feel joy around you? Are you thinking: Why is God allowing this happen? Get me out of this situation, Lord."

What are you putting into the situation? Did you walk right through the door to temptation; are you the one who continues to put yourself in stressful situations and to be around stress producing people? What other kinds of grumblings are you making? God does hear you in your personal grumblings and in those concerns during this transition.

Even in their Wilderness grumblings, God was responsive to the Israelites’ needs – even in the midst of their grumbling and complaining, and pleadings to have God "get them out." As one commentator states: Obedience is a way of exhibiting trust in the God who speaks the word. So heeding God’s instructions became a means whereby God "could be sure" that Israel walked according to the word of God. (– p177-178-Interpretation)

On their journey through the wilderness, the Israelites needed food. Makes sense – we all require sustenance. They had sheep and goats with them as part of that which they took from Egypt. Therefore, they had the ability to have cheese, milk, and meat. Even the desert -- I am told -- has some natural offerings of plant life from which they could have taken, and eaten.

Then the people muttered, moaned and grumbled. More than this, they, were looking back – actually wanting and wishing they were back in Egypt – back in slavery to the Pharoah . All because they had no bread. That’s right…they had no bread. In the Israelite’s eye this was reason to grumble and complain. And grumble and complain is exactly what they did.

However, in their grumbling at Moses and Aaron – their grumbling was really against God. And what a loving and accepting and powerful God…He did not chastise them or lecture them or tell them to get along nowto the Promised Land. But God did hear!!!

I don’t know about you, but when someone (even my precious grandchildren) moans and grumbles at me, I sure do not feel like turning around and giving them what they are grumbling about PLUS something far better. Call me human! But that is exactly what God did. He heard all their grumblings and then turned around and give them a two-fold promise: 1) that they would have their fill of bread, AND 2) that they would know that He was the Lord their God –vs12. Wow, what great promises! God provided much more than what they thought they needed.

However, God did expect the Israelites to be responsible and to obey His instruction. God’s instruction was to gather the manna fresh each day ---one day at a time. If they gathered too much it spoiled or was eaten by the ants and got worms, if they did not gather enough, they went hungry that day. Even Moses and Aaron were to go out and gather their own bread. What great modeling of leadership– they also, they needed their own sustenance.

God wanted the Israelites obey His instruction, AND TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM. They were to DO THIS – yes because they grumbled – but more so. Because God had heard them; AND God wanted them to obey. So they not only got their meat to eat but also their bread. God gave them what they thought they wanted and needed. God provided their daily meat and bread for their 40 year journey. They did eat. And as we heard in the reading from the Gospel of John, the Israelites still died. Their need was a physical need.

TODAY, on our journey through life, we need a fresh supply of spiritual food each day. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). God rained Jesus on US from heaven one day. He expects us to obey and to draw our spiritual sustenance from Him. Jesus is the living Word who gave us lessons through His life, actions and words, for us to learn each day.

We are to "obey God’s instruction and know He is God" through prayer and Bible reading (and sharing Christ with others.) In this way God will know that We, along with Israel, walk according to the Word of God. We are to gather this spiritual food on a daily basis. And we are to each gather our own. None of us can rely on someone else’s reading and studying God’s Word – and not do our own collecting. That means all ages too. Dave and I need to collect our own spiritual manna also, just as you do.

I was reminded of this when I was being interviewed by the members of the Committee on Ministry a few months ago in Goleta. Ken Working, the Executive Presbyter of our Santa Barbara Presbytery asked me how my spiritual life was. After I gave him a thumb nail sketch of my beleagured time with God, Ken stated that he has seen too many pastors fall to the wrong side because of one temptation or another; or to become so burned out they leave the ministry altogether. He owed this to quickie times with God or no time with God. He lovingly cautioned and encouraged me to continue and to go deeper in my time with God. I know that you know it is not just pastors that fall by the wayside, who become stressed out and overwhelmed with daily life.

To help you on your journey – and to have guidance even in the midst of your wanderings in your own wilderness, each have been given instructions to obey. Each of you can begin to gather your spiritual manna wherever you are on your journey.

In order to have your daily manna be more filling and stick to your ribs, ask questions as you gather: Who wrote this? Who are the characters involved? What are they doing, and why? What is the reaction of the observers in this passage? What does it say? What does it say to me, my family, my society, my country? How can I apply this bread to my life – how can I digest it, use it-Today?

If the manna gathered by the Israelites was not consumed in the same day it was gathered, it went stale and would grow worms and, as one version states: "IT STANKETH!" We need to let God’s word dwell within us, to digest it. However, we are not to rely only on that which we gathered, heard and learned some 30 years ago. We are to gather it fresh daily.

Some of you younger people here this morning, might be thinking, "Oh all that Bible reading stuff is for my parents and grandparents and their friends. I’ve got plenty of time to get all that down." Well this passage tells us the Israelites were to gather the manna early. This could be taken to mean for all of us to actually get up early in the day to read our Bibles and pray. However, it more than likely means that you are to begin to establish a habit of collecting the manna - your spiritual food - IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH – and then chew on it so your body can really use it – THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. Then you will continue to remember your Creator and His Word and rely on His promises as you grow and experience life.

Trust the Lord for today – live today, be happy today, love God and others today. "This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps118:24). We have been given TODAY. We don’t have tomorrow yet. As you live your life TODAY - That you HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO TRUST GOD – are you grumbling – even just to yourself, where only God hears –about those many anxieties, hopes, temptations, fears, and questions during each of your many personal transitions? In your Today - just as the Israelites’ Today, God provides for your every need…even those you don’t know that you have. God cares about that especially confusing, hurtful or troublesome period you are going through today. God has a plan and purpose even if you don’t see how everything is to fit. Ask God to show you what He is doing. Perhaps there is something you overlooked and can’t see clearly – yet.

Realize that in God’s light of the Word He is working in your present circumstance – even when it sure doesn’t feel like it. Are you rejoicing in this day. Are you putting in quality time with family, friends and self? Are you gathering your spiritual manna fresh each day? God is at work in each of these areas, too.

The Israelites thought they needed physical food to supplement that which they already had. God knew they needed spiritual food for their life’s journey. And God wanted them to see and know Him. In the Apostle Paul’s present circumstance in prison or under house arrest, God was working. A jailor and his wife were converted, and many of the Roman guards were converted, we have many of the letters he wrote that are now in our Bible. Be aware that in your friendships, other relationships, circumstances of pain, hurt, love, kindness, support, and difficult growth times – God is at work in your daily life.

God has a plan and purpose for each of us. The only day that you and I have to live out the larger plan. The big purpose is – Today. God’s plan for you Today is to partake in the Living Bread of Life that God rained on you through Jesus Christ – and through this you will not die but have eternal life. In obeying God’s instruction daily, you are trusting in the God who hears you.