Sunday’s Comin’: “Running on Empty: How God Reaches Murderous Princes (and other spiritual exiles like you)”

Edward Poynter (1836-1919). Wood engraving by the Dalziels. 7 x 6¼ inches. Dalziels’ Bible Gallery, plate 26. Used by permission of Victorian Web.org.

I have the honor of preaching the Word of God this Lord’s Day (the Third Sunday in Easter; Sunday, April 10, 2016) at Church of the Redeemer (PCA) in Monroe, North Carolina. We return to the Biblical series on Exodus and its meaning for our lives today.

This Sunday I am planning on preaching a message I call, “Running on Empty: How God Reaches Murderous Princes and Other Broken Exiles” (Exodus 2:11-15). You are all invited to come.

The Collect (Scripture for meditation) is:

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Pastoral Reflection

As we prepare for worship on this Third Sunday in Easter, we remember how Jesus came to meet with His disciples, to demonstrate His new life and victory over the grave. This Sunday I return to the Book of Exodus in a series called, Journey of a Lifetime. Moses learned that, while he had a burden for the Hebrew people and their mistreatment, his burden had to be handled God’s way. Moses killed a man who was beating a Hebrew. This began his infamous running from his old home, running from the court of his Egyptian family, and, yes, running from the Hebrews who didn’t trust him. When we take things into our own hands apart from God’s revealed way it always leads to sorrow. Yet, the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to His disciples along the way, who demonstrated His rule over life and death, is in the Exodus story. Thank God He still shows up for disciples who take things into their own hands. Thank God He is here today—for you, for me, and for all of those children of His “running of empty.”

Today we will study how God reaches us as we are in this state of exile. May His Spirit speak to you and guide you to the place of peace, the house of healing, and to return to Him, trusting that His ways, though mysterious, always lead home.

[Sunday’s Comin’ is a posting used to prepare for the coming Lord’s Day message from the Bible by Michael A. Milton, Ph.D.]