*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL* *THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 2020* *YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE* *TEXT:* EXODUS 18:13-27.

*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL*

*THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 2020*

*YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE*

*TEXT:* EXODUS 18:13-27.

_*🔑KEY VERSE* "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee" (EXODUS 18:21,22)._

The most effective people in life are those who recognise that they cannot accomplish so much alone. They need the support and help of other people. They are humble enough to admit that they are not supermen, irrespective of how naturally and richly endowed they may be. Besides, knowing the limits we can go alone is often the hallmark of true leadership and the foundation for great achievements.

Moses was a great leader, on a great mission, which he pursued single-mindedly. For a while, everything worked well until his father-in-law, Jethro, came visiting. What he saw convinced him that Moses needed a change of strategy. Moses would hold court daily from morning to evening with the people queueing, the whole time, to bring their case before him. Jethro emphatically told him he was tiptoeing into disaster; he would wear out himself fast, as the duty was too heavy for him alone. The people too would be worn out and disenchanted with the administrative structure that was naturally grinding slowly.

Jethro said what Moses needed was to build a four-tier structure headed by "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness." They would deal with small matters while Moses would handle only big issues. This would create time for him to attend to other necessary matters. Recognising this as a divinely inspired counsel, Moses promptly set up the new functional system.

We must never get to the point where we begin to think that we are the only ones that can do necessary things, either in the kingdom of God or in our daily activities. We must humbly learn to delegate some duties to others. This will relieve us of stress, make us more effective and create a chance for others to grow. It will also make us more profitable to those around us.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* As the old quip says, a tree does not make a forest.

*COVER TO COVER* GENESIS 26-28.

*MEDITATION*

The revival God wants

*1. The features of the revival*
There was a brief moment of revival in Israel.
a. There was willingness to know the word of God v16. "In the day of His power, Thy people shall be willing" v15.
b. They were willing to pay the price of knowledge of God. They stayed from morning till evening for counselling vv13,14. Remember there was no Bible at that time.
c. They were ready to joyfully do the will of God vv15,16.
d. Their eagerness to see Moses was not borne out of the need for miracles or deliverance but just to know the will of God and do it vv15,16.
e. There was obedience, appreciation and respect for the leader and His God-given messages vv15,16.
*Lord*, give us a revival in our Church🙏
*Lord*, visit your Church and let there be thirst for the truth and willing to do the will of God in your Church🙏
*Lord*, visit the body of Christ in my country and send a holiness centred revival🙏
*2. The human agent of revival*
a. Moses was sacrificial, willing, as an old man of 80+, to sit whole days counselling and teaching the word of God to people v13.
b. He was dedicated to the work by waking up very early in the morning to start the work without anybody compelling him to do so vv13,14.
c. He was zealously hardworking. It takes zeal and hardworking to be teaching and counselling from morning to evening on daily basis.
d. He was focused. He did not allow the visit of "august visitors", his wife and father-in-law and children to distract him vv6,13,14.
e. He was a man of great consecration and faith. He did not allow the burden of the wife and children that just visited to distract him.
f. He was a man of the word of God. His preoccupation was not with miracles and signs but teaching Israel the word, way and will of God v16.
f. He was meek and teachable. Even though God was using him greatly, he was not full of himself. He was open to godly advise vv23-26.
*God*, make me an agent of revival in my little corner🙏
*Lord*, reshape and reawaken your servants in this nation to the core of their calling🙏
*Lord*, raise up more God fearing holy, Bible centred and focused ministers in this nation🙏
*God*, let fire of revival of holiness and righteousness burn in this nation🙏

*HYMN* Burn, fire of God!
1

Burn fire of God! my ransomed soul possessing;
Pure fire Thou art, and I would dwell in Thee.
Light of my life, true source of every blessing,
Grant all my days one holy flame to be.

2.

Burn fire of God! Thy grace and glory knowing,
My cleansèd heart shall be all fire within:
Love all constraining, tenderness o'erflowing,
One kindling passion other lives to win.

3.

Burn fire of God! Thy cloven tongue bestowing,
Baptising me with heavenly energy.
Touched with live coals from off Thine altar glowing,
My purgèd lips shall speak alone of Thee.

4.

Burn fire of God! with seven-fold refining,
Till, mirrored from my deeps Thine eyes shall see
In purest gold Thy perfect image shining:
Thy Christ revealed in clear irradiancy.

5.

Burn fire of God! by Thine own love transcending,
Let all I hold be Thine, and Thine alone!
Heart, mind and will a sacrifice ascending,
Consumed by fire from out Thy fiery Throne.