Exodus 23:29-30 “I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.”
Pastor Kyle continued with the third reminder from Exodus 23 about how God does great things through ordinary people is that as long as we keep working hard in a determined way because God’s never done and something good is always coming little by little. God could have whipped out the pagan nations occupying the Promised Land for the Israelites, but that was not the plan. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God gives the nations and people an opportunity to know Him, repent and be saved into the kingdom of Heaven.
We all want God to move quickly through the hardships, trials and tribulations in our lives, but when it comes to personal sin issues there that God says should not be there, we are often much slower to work on it. We say, “God do this and do that for me, bless this and bless that for me, then get upset when things don’t move that quickly for us. Many times, God has given us the tools to use and have victory in our life. Things may not look good today, but God can help you take some steps today so that the picture looks better tomorrow. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God is not done with you; we are works in progress. Little by little, something good is coming down the pike and just around the bend on the road of life. Change happens incrementally for us all. It’s is little by little that the Promised Lands of life get taken as we are maturing to be going in the right direction, to be the people that care for the things that we are responsible to God for.
Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The ancient lamps could only produce enough light to illuminates a few steps in front of a person walking. The principle that God was using is that when we open and read the Word of God, He is not going to show you the whole picture, but reveals the next few steps that you need to take that day. God’s answers to our prayers are either (1) yes, (2) I have something better in mind for you, or (3) you are not quite ready for that yet; let’s let it play out for a while. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.”
One final question: What little steps do you and I need to start taking today? Start taking small and consistent steps and you’ll be amazed what God can do over the next few years. Then rest in knowing that God is going to do what He has planned to do in your life. We do what we can do, then release everything to God to do what only God can do.
Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” When we delight ourselves in the Lord, His desires become our desires. And so, what really happens is that our desires change to align with God desires. Slowly but surely, God will give us the desires of our heart because our desires are His desires. Rest when you delight in the Lord. Matthew 6:25, 31-34 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Concurrently, Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Remain faithful to want God has called us to do and do not give up; something good is coming just around the corner, little by little.
In Christ, Brian
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