Exodus 4:2-4

Ex 4:2-4 (NLT) The Lord asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" "A shepherd's staff," Moses replied. "Throw it down on the ground," the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. Then the Lord told him, "Reach out and grab its tail." So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd's staff in his hand.”

Moses’ staff was nothing but a common shepherd’s rod. Staffs as well as other personal belongings were used by people back then as items that identified them. In a similar way, today we can be identified by our car, or our house or clothes that other people recognize as ours. It is a funny thing how we become attached to our little things. A cook may have a favorite cutting knife, a physician may have a special stethoscope, a carpenter has a favorite hammer, a mechanic has a special tool box, and maybe you have a special possession like a laptop or a Bible. This story illustrates that whatever possession that we hold dearly in our hand, we have the opportunity to throw it down and give it to God. After Moses threw his rod on the ground – the rod of Moses became the rod of God. With the rod of God back in Moses’ hand Moses preformed supernatural signs and miracles. With the rod of God Moses called down plagues in Egypt, he divided the Red Sea, he struck the rock and water flowed out.

As Christians we are told to “seek first the Kingdom of God.” If we are doing this, then one of our most prized possessions should be the Kingdom of God, a possession we should be most notably identified with. Jesus told his disciples to “go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt 10:6-8 (KJV)

When you are seeking the Kingdom does your relationship with God flow both ways, in as well as out? Too many times we only allow the Kingdom to flow into us and not necessarily out to others. If this is your experience then, throw it down. Give it back to God, who gave it to you, and throw it down! When you give it back to God, the dry dead wood of our spiritual life will become like a living hissing snake, a living hissing relationship with God is a dangerous thing to the world around us. But we can do as Moses did and grab it by the tail and share it with those around us to show them that our relationship with God is real.

Share some things in your life you could throw down and give to God? How do you think God could use them through you once He gives it back to you?

Matthew 18:3

Matt 18:3 (NIV) "Jesus said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything you need for life will be added to you."-Matthew 6:33. The kingdom of God or God’s priorities are not in contrast with our needs. They are in perfect unison, if God is the source of our needs. But if we think our money or our job or our own efforts are our source of our needs then we don’t trust in God to provide our every need. We will end up putting all our strength and energy in acquiring all our needs for ourselves.

But with trust in God we lay aside all our concerns for our daily needs and put all our efforts into seeking first the kingdom of God and God provides us with everything we need, often slower than we would like but He provides. Is it possible to seek God and put all your energy in the Kingdom, to personally grow in the understanding of God and then learn how to share that understanding with others? Easier said than done, because it is against our natural tendencies to not worry about all these things we think we need.

Unless we become like children who don’t worry about if their parent’s have money in the bank account to buy groceries, pay our mortgage, and car payments or not then we cannot see the Kingdom. If they outgrow the clothes we bought for them last month and there is no more money for more new clothes so soon, children don’t worry about it, they know the money will come.

Give some examples of ways you think you would like to become more childlike spiritually? Share some of your experiences, how you have been rewarded by seeking the kingdom of God first rather than your own needs?
*Originally posted as a comment by Dan on Kingdom Quest Blog on July 14, 2009 3:07 PM