Becoming Like Jesus: What Difference Do I Make?Sample

Your Redeemer has called you to worship.

Yesterday, we started looking at the Hebrew word abad to help us better understand the difference we’ve been created to make. Today, we are going to continue by looking at the story of the Exodus—God the Redeemer, delivering His people from slavery in Egypt, so they could become a nation devoted to worshiping Him.

Let’s begin in Exodus 3.

“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:5-6 NLT

Finding your calling begins with knowing the Caller. Here, God is calling Moses to be His partner in His plan to rescue His people from Egypt. Notice how God starts though. He starts with telling Moses who He is.

Next, God tells Moses what He wants to do, and the part Moses gets to play.

Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:7-10 NLT

God has heard the cries of His people and He has come to rescue them from slavery. And God wants Moses to be a part of His plan.

Pause for a second. How amazing is it that the God of Heaven and Earth makes space for ordinary people to be a part of what He is doing? Okay, back to the text.

Here’s how Moses responds to this calling from God:

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 NLT

Moses, hearing the massive task God has asked Him to do, protests to God! He asks the question so many of us ask when faced with something monumental, “Who am I? Do I have what it takes? Surely, somebody else would be a better choice!”

God answered, “I will be with you…” Exodus 3:12 NLT

Do you feel that? God doesn’t get angry at Moses. He doesn’t express disappointment or start looking for someone else. Instead, He reassures Moses that He will be with him. This is what grace, the unearned favor of God, looks like. It looks like having our imperfections and insecurities covered by the power and presence of our loving God. Because, as uncomfortable as it can be to admit, we are all sinners. But we have been saved by grace. Not because of how great or awesome we are, but because of how good and loving God is. That is really good news.

“I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship (abad) God at this very mountain.” Exodus 3:12 NLT

There’s that word: abad. A single word that carries three different meanings: work, worship, and serve.

God, our Redeemer, is going to rescue His people from slavery so they can worship Him in the wilderness.

That word, worship, gets thrown around a lot in Christian groups, but what does it really mean?

Worship is showing honor, respect, and devotion to someone or something. And the only one worthy of our worship is God.

This is why Jesus said, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:29-30 NLT

What difference do you make?

Keep in mind, worship is so much more than just the songs we sing. That’s a part of it. But worship is so much bigger than that. Worshiping God is about giving Him our very best in every part of our lives. It’s choosing to do whatever you do with all of your heart, because you’re doing it for Him. (Colossians 3:23)

So yes, worship God with your voice. And worship God with your life. Because that is your true and proper worship.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Pray:God, thank you for your mercy and grace. I know I’m a sinner and I’m so grateful that you saved me. I want my entire life to be worship to you. Whether it’s the songs I sing, the words I say, the work I do, or the way I love, let it all be for your glory. In Jesus name, amen.