Embracing God's Purpose Through Imperfection and Identity

Devotional

Day 1: God Uses Imperfect People

God does not require perfection to use us for His purposes. Moses, despite his flaws and past mistakes, was chosen to lead the Israelites. This teaches us that our imperfections do not disqualify us from God's plans. Instead, they can be the very things that God uses to demonstrate His grace and power. Moses' journey from a murderer to a leader of a nation is a testament to how God can transform and use anyone willing to follow His call.

In our own lives, we may feel unworthy or incapable due to our past mistakes or current struggles. However, God sees beyond our imperfections and calls us to step into His purpose for us. He uses our weaknesses to showcase His strength and grace, turning our messes into messages of hope and redemption.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Think of a past mistake or current struggle that makes you feel unworthy. How can you invite God to use this area of your life for His purpose today? [37:22]

Day 2: Identity as Children of God

Our primary identity should be as children of God. This identity transcends all other labels and roles we may have. It is crucial to instill this understanding in our children, ensuring they know their worth and purpose come from being God's children, not from their achievements or societal status. Moses' story reminds us that knowing who we are in God is foundational to fulfilling our divine purpose.

In a world that often defines us by our successes, failures, or societal roles, it is essential to remember that our true identity is found in being God's children. This identity gives us worth and purpose beyond what the world can offer. As we embrace this truth, we can live confidently and instill the same understanding in the next generation.

1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: Reflect on how you define your identity. Are there any labels or roles you need to let go of to fully embrace your identity as a child of God? [47:31]

Day 3: The Power of Sacrificial Love

Moses' survival as a baby was due to the sacrificial love of his mother, who risked everything to save him. This act of love set the stage for Moses' future role in God's plan. It reminds us that sacrificial love can have far-reaching impacts, often beyond what we can see. The love and sacrifices we make for others can be the catalyst for God's greater plans.

Sacrificial love is a powerful force that can change lives and alter destinies. When we choose to put others' needs above our own, we reflect God's love and create opportunities for His work to unfold. Moses' mother's courageous act of love not only saved his life but also set the course for the deliverance of an entire nation.

John 15:13 (ESV): "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Reflection: Think of a recent act of sacrificial love you have witnessed or experienced. How did it impact you or others involved? How can you show sacrificial love to someone today? [55:15]

Day 4: Restoration and Change of Heart

The story of Levi's descendants and Moses' own transformation in Midian illustrates that God can restore anyone. A change of heart from self-centeredness to selflessness is essential for God to use us effectively. This process of restoration is a testament to God's grace and forgiveness. Moses' time in Midian was a period of preparation and transformation, turning him from a man of anger to a man of service.

God's restoration is a powerful process that can change our hearts and lives. No matter our past, God offers us grace and the opportunity to be transformed. As we allow Him to work in us, we can become vessels of His love and purpose, ready to serve and make a difference in the world.

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you need restoration. How can you invite God to begin the process of changing your heart today? [53:55]

Day 5: God's Plan and Preparation

God's plan for Moses began long before he realized it. From his early life experiences to his time in Midian, God was preparing Moses for his mission. This teaches us that God is always at work in our lives, preparing us for the roles He has for us, even when we do not see it. Every experience, whether good or bad, can be part of God's preparation for our future purpose.

God's preparation often involves seasons of waiting, learning, and growth. During these times, we may not understand His plan, but we can trust that He is at work. As we look back, we can see how God has been shaping us for His purposes, using every experience to equip us for the roles He has in store.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Reflection: Think about a challenging season in your life. How can you see God's hand in preparing you through that experience for your current or future purpose? [58:38]

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound impact that each of us can have when we align ourselves with God's purpose. Drawing inspiration from my father, who has been a mentor and a guiding light in my life, we explored the idea that God calls each of us to make a difference, regardless of our past or imperfections. We delved into the story of Moses, a man with a complicated history, to illustrate how God uses imperfect people to fulfill His divine plans.

Moses' journey began with his miraculous survival as a baby, thanks to the sacrificial love of his mother. Despite being born into a family with a troubled past, Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This narrative underscores two critical lessons: the importance of knowing our identity as children of God and the transformative power of God's grace and forgiveness.

We examined the lineage of Levi, Moses' ancestor, who, despite a history of violence and revenge, experienced a change of heart and became fully devoted followers of God. This transformation highlights that no matter our past, God can restore us and use us for His glory. Moses himself, after committing murder, fled to Midian, where he underwent a period of restoration. His heart changed from one of anger and revenge to one of protection and service, preparing him for his divine mission.

The story of Moses teaches us that our identity as children of God is paramount. It is this identity that should guide our actions and decisions, not our past mistakes or societal labels. As parents and mentors, it is our responsibility to instill this identity in our children, ensuring they understand that their worth and purpose come from being God's children.

In conclusion, no matter what we have done or where we come from, God's love and grace are available to us. He calls us to have a change of heart, to turn away from self-centeredness, and to embrace a life of service and devotion to Him. By doing so, we can make a significant difference in the world, just as Moses did.

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Key Takeaways

1. KfCAzIgR4I&t=2242s'>[37:22]
2. Identity as Children of God: Our primary identity should be as children of God. This identity transcends all other labels and roles we may have. It is crucial to instill this understanding in our children, ensuring they know their worth and purpose come from being God's children, not from their achievements or societal status.

3. The Power of Sacrificial Love: Moses' survival as a baby was due to the sacrificial love of his mother, who risked everything to save him. This act of love set the stage for Moses' future role in God's plan. It reminds us that sacrificial love can have far-reaching impacts, often beyond what we can see.

4. Restoration and Change of Heart: The story of Levi's descendants and Moses' own transformation in Midian illustrates that God can restore anyone. A change of heart from self-centeredness to selflessness is essential for God to use us effectively. This process of restoration is a testament to God's grace and forgiveness.

5. God's Plan and Preparation: God's plan for Moses began long before he realized it. From his early life experiences to his time in Midian, God was preparing Moses for his mission. This teaches us that God is always at work in our lives, preparing us for the roles He has for us, even when we do not see it.

### [37:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:28] - Introduction and Acknowledgements
[37:22] - God Uses Imperfect People
[37:59] - Importance of Taking Notes
[38:28] - Honoring My Father
[38:58] - Knowing Our Identity
[39:45] - Personal Stories and Imperfections
[40:09] - God Can Use Anyone
[40:48] - The Story of Moses Begins
[41:42] - Joseph and the Famine
[42:28] - Israelites in Egypt
[42:58] - Pharaoh's Decree
[43:38] - God's Plan for Moses
[44:15] - Reading from Exodus
[45:25] - Moses' Early Life
[46:11] - Moses' Identity and Actions
[47:31] - Importance of Identity
[48:29] - Levi's Troubled Past
[50:28] - Levi's Change of Heart
[52:26] - Restoration of Levi's Line
[53:55] - Moses' Family Line
[55:15] - Sacrificial Love of Moses' Mother
[58:38] - God's Plan for Moses
[60:10] - Moses' Upbringing
[62:11] - Identity in God
[64:56] - Moses as an Overcomer
[67:31] - God's Forgiveness
[68:45] - Moses' Restoration
[71:51] - God's Love and Grace
[73:17] - Invitation to Relationship with God
[77:12] - Call for Restoration
[78:29] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did Moses' mother take to save him from Pharaoh's decree? ([44:37])
How did Moses react when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew? ([46:11])
What was the significance of Moses' actions at the well in Midian? ([46:48])
What did Jacob say about Simeon and Levi in Genesis 49:5-7, and why? ([51:06])

Interpretation Questions

How does Moses' early life illustrate the theme of sacrificial love? ([55:15])
In what ways did Moses' identity as a child of God influence his actions and decisions? ([47:31])
How does the transformation of Levi's descendants reflect the power of restoration and a change of heart? ([53:55])
What does Proverbs 22:6 suggest about the importance of instilling a godly identity in children? ([01:03:28])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt unqualified or imperfect. How can Moses' story encourage you to trust that God can still use you? ([40:09])
How can you actively remind yourself and others of your identity as a child of God in daily life? ([47:31])
Think of a person in your life who has shown you sacrificial love. How has that impacted you, and how can you show similar love to others? ([55:15])
Have you experienced a significant change of heart or restoration in your life? How did it affect your relationship with God and others? ([53:55])
As a parent or mentor, what practical steps can you take to instill a strong sense of godly identity in the children you influence? ([01:03:28])
How can you identify and address areas of self-centeredness in your life to better align with a life of service and devotion to God? ([01:08:08])
What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate God's grace and forgiveness to someone who may feel unworthy or condemned? ([01:07:31])

Sermon Clips

1. "No matter who you are or what you've done or what type of life that you've lived, God still can use you to make a difference. It may not be to stand on a stage like this. But it can be to be wherever you are. You can be wherever you are as God uses you. So, don't let your past hold you back." [40:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It doesn't matter what bad thing you've done in your life. If you have a change of heart, God can still use you to make a difference. Here's the other thing. If you don't know God personally, everybody else in the world may look at you and condemn you and say terrible things about you and make you feel terrible about who you are. But you're the one, like I'm the one. That God sent someone, his own son, to the world to show us how much he loves us." [01:11:51] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You can't do enough bad things to keep God from loving you. Did you hear that? God loves you. But he wants you to have a change of heart. He wants you to have a heart that shifts from self-centeredness of what I want and what I desire, and I'm going to do in my power to overcome somebody else or hurt somebody else, to be someone who is selfless in nature. He wants us to have a change of heart. But when we do, God forgives us. He forgives us." [01:08:08] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need to lead our children to have a personal relationship with God. And to help that kid understand, the most important thing in your life that you are a child of God. When everything else happens around you, the identity that matters is you're a child of God. How do you identify yourself? I identify myself as a child of God. That's who I am." [01:00:54] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you are someone in sin who's involved in behaviors and things that are not what God would have planned for your life as a child of God, God loves you. And he wants you to have a relationship with him. Because here's the thing. Whatever it is that you're doing, that you're finding your identity in, saying this is what gives me purpose to be this kind of person, to have this in my life or do this with my life, it doesn't love you back. But God does. He's the one who changes everything." [01:14:47] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "God made the line of Levi priests. He made them pastors. Like Ted, and like my dad, and like Caleb, and like me. He took people who were murderers, changed their heart, and used them to influence other people to become fully devoted to God. Because we know what it's like when we aren't fully devoted followers of God, and know it's a whole lot better when we are. We lived it out ourselves." [53:55] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God uses the type of people who know what their identity is. In other words, they know who they are and who they're supposed to be. And he uses people who are imperfect. So, I want to share some living examples with you today. And I'm not going to talk about stories. I just want to tell you their name. Ted Traylor, Jerry Passmore, Caleb Kimbrough, who preached in the early service, and Tim Passmore... ...are perfect examples of how God can use imperfect people." [38:58] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "He was saved because someone loved him. And the person who loved him was his mom. The mom cared about Moses. She saw this beautiful baby. And she didn't want any harm. She didn't want any harm to come from him. She wanted to protect that baby. And see, that's what happens when we want to save people. It all begins with how we feel about them. We care about them. And when we care about them, we want them to be saved. We don't want any harm to come to them. We want to protect them. Because we care about them." [55:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You know, we as Christians, what we tend to do is to make people who don't follow God and do godly things, to judge them and condemn them. And we're judging and condemning the very people who need to know that God loves them. Because we were all just like them. We needed God's grace and his forgiveness." [01:13:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "He would be an example of God's forgiveness. That God would see what he would do, and he would forgive him. As he forgave the people, the Levites, for what they had done, he would forgive Moses for what he had done. And that's great news for every person in this room today, because no matter what, no matter what we've done, God still loves us and wants to forgive us." [01:07:31] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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