Daily devotional, December 4, 2023 Push and Pull

"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." 
2 Timothy 2:2

One of the basic lessons Science teachers give to young students the opposing forces of “push” and “pull.” This lesson is easy to demonstrate, and easier understood when the kids are given practical lessons that allow them to experience these movements.

In our Christian life, we constantly meet people that push us towards God. The presence of such persons is constant in our life as we intentionally follow our Lord Jesus Christ, and try our best to obey His commands.

Those that deliberately push us towards God are a bit easier to distinguish given that these people usually work in the church, or volunteer there. Apart from those in the religious vocation whom we personally know, lay people like our bible study leaders, push us closer to God.

Other people in our life who bring us closer to God are our parents or relatives who are in Christ. Friends who try their best to convince us to go to their church, or share the gospel with us, or those who give us biblical advice are other people who push us towards Jesus. These people are usually recipients of God’s mercy and took the Great Commission to heart in the hopes of saving more people who need redemption.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

But do you know that there are people who unconsciously push others towards Jesus? These are people whom we love, and are suffering from their illnesses or present circumstances, that we seek God and plead for help.

Usually though, people who unknowingly push us towards our Savior are people who can be likened to thorns in our life journey. For instance, those who may have inflicted grave emotional pain or trauma to us that led us to seek the Lord’s comfort. These could be difficult people who are placed in our lives to help sanctify us. In these instances, the bible encourages us to continue doing good for God’s glory and also for our own sake:

"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." 
1 Peter 3:9

One of the best Old Testament personalities who blessed those who hurt them is Moses. His own siblings criticized him because of his wife, and even questioned why he acts as God’s spokesman. Instead of taking things personally and exacting vengeance, Moses did nothing to his siblings and just continued doing what God has called him to do. The Lord saw through Moses’ humility as He upheld Moses’ honor when he scolded Moses’ siblings.

"And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed." Numbers 12:6-9

God vindicated Moses by inflicting skin disease on his sister Miriam, as she started the whole trouble. But instead of being happy about what happened to his sister, Moses asked God to heal her. We can take a cue from Moses and pray for those who hurt us with self-motivated criticisms, and hurt us with their actions. Moreover, let us not get distracted from our own mission to lead people towards God:

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Numbers 12:1-16 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are there people in your life who push you to hold on closer to Jesus? How do you deal with them?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being my safe place whenever I experience undue suffering because of others. Hold me closer to you as I press on towards my sanctification, and the goal of bringing more people closer to you. Amen.