Minding My Own Business, Then…

There you are in the middle of an ordinary day doing everyday things, when something unusual appears. It catches your attention and causes you to stop what you’re doing. You’re moved to check it out.

God has a way of getting our attention in the course of our daily routine. In Exodus 3:1-6 Moses is pasturing his father-in-law’s flock when he encounters something unusual—a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire (2). “So Moses said, ‘I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up (3, NASB).’”

Moses makes the decision to respond to this encounter. “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am (4).’” Note that the Lord called to him after he turned away from tending to the flock, away from the task at hand, to take a closer look at the burning bush.

In the middle of your ordinary day, in the course of your busy life full of tasks, do you stop to take note of God showing up in unusual ways? Perhaps it’s a chance encounter with a hurting person, someone you see with a need, or unexpected circumstances. You can feel the Spirit of God burning inside of you with unquenchable fire. Turn aside from the task at hand and check out the marvelous sight. Hear the Lord calling and respond with, “Here I am.”

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” – Exodus 3:5, NASB