Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mike Caton

Exodus 33:23, “Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Isn’t it a wonderful thing that God’s protection is always there? If I had been Moses, standing on that rock, knowing that God’s glory was about to pass by, I’d be looking! No doubt about it. I’m curious like that. But I would also know that if I did see God’s glory straight out, I’d die. But I don’t think I would be able to resist, just a little peek. Even though I know I shouldn’t. Doesn’t that kind of remind you of Paul saying, “The good I want to do I don’t, but the evil I don’t want to do, I do anyway?” Romans 7:19-25.

But God is always there to watch out for us and keep us safe. God is merciful and gracious, forgiving to us, and loving. And God deals with us knowing our weaknesses and failures. This is not to say we can throw all caution to the wind, do whatever we want and God will make it OK. But this is to say God always has our best interest at heart and that he is able to keep us. But this also goes back to our hearts and our commitment to him. Moses was a faithful man, and in spite of his sin he was committed to the Lord and to those Israelites. God loves people like that. David was an adulterer, murderer and so forth. But he was also a man after God’s own heart. In spite of his sin, he repented and turned to the Lord. God can do great things through a man like that. Paul wanted to do good, but evil was right there with him. God used Paul in mighty ways.

And God can do great things through us, if we love the Lord with our all, like those men did. That does not mean we are perfect, none of them were. But those men were faithful, committed and protected by the Lord. And we can be thankful we are as well.

Father, protect me from myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works as a full time AEMT with Hyde County EMS. Follow Mount Olive Church of Christ on Facebook for daily devotions.

READ ABOUT NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!