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Read Exodus 3:1-12
"Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharoah, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (v. 10).
God must get a person's attention before He can speak to him. God used a very unusual happening to get the attention of Moses. The burning bush is not the only impressive thing; the location is as well, as the Scripture says, "the backside of the desert."
The Lord gave me the privilege several years to visit the Holy Land. While in the desert region of southern Lebanon, a small bush growing there was pointed out as perhaps the kind of bush that Moses witnesses burning but not being consumed. It seemed to be a very unlikely place for such an extraordinary event.
This showed not only the power of God, but also His care to make sure Moses got His message. God also prepared the atmosphere by hallowing the sandy ground upon which Moses was standing. The first response of Moses was, "Here am I."
Moses was rightly humbled that God would call him for such a mission. He wanted to be sure the call was from God. God gave him ample assurance that He would go with him.
It is encouraging to know that if God calls us, He will go with us. (Burl A McClanahan)
What would it take for God to get your attention?
This week's featured devotional is the Monday, February 24, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo Credit: "Desert Bushes" by greeblie used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read John 9:1-8
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (v. 4).
Is your to-do list like mine — always a carry-over from yesterday and seemingly never done? I have often wished for a few extra hours in my day and then need to remind myself that God apportioned the number of hours to a day and it corresponds to the rhythm He has established for us. If twenty-four is the right number, then I must learn to work within that allotment.
It is astonishing to realize that, while on this earth, Jesus was re- stricted to the limitations of time in the same way as we are. He submitted to all the hardships of humanness, including time pressure.
John related that, on leaving the Temple, Jesus encountered this blind man. His followers were sure his affliction was the result of direct sin, but Jesus corrected their thinking. Then Christ went on to say He had many works to complete before night. It seems He was referring to His death — the cessation of work. And like Him, you and I must be focused on completing the tasks the Father has given us while it is day. Let us not be found with an incomplete “to-do list” when He calls. (Valorie Quesenberry)
Work when the day grows brighter;
Work in the glowing sun.
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
— Annie L. Coghill
God has given you twenty-four hours today; fill your to-do list for His glory.
This is the Monday, February 17, 2014 devotional from Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: "tuesday to-do list" by Stacey Spensley used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.

Read Matthew 13:36-43
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one” (v. 38).
A number of years ago I worked for a screen printing company in Kansas City, Missouri, and one of our clients was a large seed company with its home office in Iowa. Usually, each year we would receive an order to print corrugated plastic field signs that would be placed along the highway in the fields where our customer’s “certified” seed was being grown.
As we think about the motive of the seed company, we would note their desire to advertise and express their pride in the quality crop being produced from their seed. In this parable, Jesus noted that there is both good seed and bad seed. The good seed is representative of the children of the kingdom, but the poor seed is the result of Satan’s activity in the lives of lost humanity.
If there were to be a sign posted in your life as to the quality or purity of the seed in your life, would you be a representative of good seed or bad seed? We cannot expect to sow the seed of unrighteousness in our lives and then bring forth a harvest of holiness. As we live in this world today, what signs are being read by those who pass our way? Are we producing a life of purity or that of wicked worldliness? (Marshall Mosley)
There are only two kinds of spiritual seeds — God’s and Satan’s. Which
do you use?
This is the February 11, 2014 devotional from Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: "Billboard by Editor B used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped.