Who's the Boss?

[Susan Adair-Shankle]

Acts7:44

"Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen."

Thoughts for Today:

I spoke recently at the Women's Ministry "Royal Tea." This was a gathering of over a hundred women who were together to worship God and enjoy a fancy tea party. It was a very Un-manly man event.

Here were all the women, dressed in their finery with fancy tea cups and social graces. When I arrived I got the distinct impression everyone was wondering, "What is he doing here?" I was introduced following a short break, and as I took the podium and made my opening comments, the conversational buzz in the room did not end.

I began by telling a story about a dinner my wife, daughter (who is six years old), and I had recently. (The room slowly began to quiet so they could hear me). My wife is the nutritionist in the family, so she is really concerned about balanced meals and sugar consumption. I on the other hand find myself a little more open-minded to desserts. My daughter knows this. So following dinner that night, my daughter Amanda asks me if she can have ice cream for dessert since she finished all of her meal. I think that's a fine idea, so I immediately answer, "Yes!" Amanda stays in her chair, she looks first at her mother, she looks at me, then she looks at her mother again and says, "Daddy's the boss, right Mom?"

Every time I tell that story it brings a smile to my face, "Daddy's the boss, right Mom?" There was a point I had in telling this story at the Women's Tea that I don't have time to explain today, however Amanda's statement and question says a lot about our relationship with God as well. How often do we say, "I want to do your will Lord," then when He gives us direction -- we hesitate.

Moses had learned by experience "who" was the boss. He did what God instructed. We see this illustrated at the end of verse 44, (he built the tabernacle) "according to the pattern he had seen." Moses was fortunate in that God gave him (in this example), very specific and detailed instructions. The one thing Moses didn't do was to question God's direction.

Questions to Ponder:

Do you question God's direction? Do you ask for God's leadership and guidance, and then ask someone else for permission and a second opinion? Have you given or do you give yourself permission to follow God? What thoughts do you need to change so you don't "second guess" God?