“May I Have Your Attention Please!”

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Exodus 24:12 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them”

In today’s Fresh Manna verse, Moses is a new leader. Not young in age but young in leading God’s people. I’m sure his mind was often spinning concerning the things God asked him to do. God wanted to give Moses the Ten Commandments and asked him to come up to the mountain. In speaking to Moses, God said, “Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that you may teach them.” Look at those words and you will notice something funny. God said, “Come up to the mountain… and then continues by saying, “and be there…”

Why did the Lord say “Come up… and be there…?” Just go back to the last time you sat down to read and mediate on God’s Word or when you went to spend time in prayer. Did you find your mind drifting to other places? When you were in church, did you find your mind drifting to other places? When you’re talking to other people or better yet when they are talking to you, do you find your mind drifting to other places? That’s probably why the Lord said, “Come up… and be there.”

God doesn’t want us going through religious motions which is exactly what we are doing when we come to Him but aren’t with Him. It’s about the same as when your wife is talking to you but you have your mind on the television or business or the football game or whatever. She knows she doesn’t have your attention and there is no real communion going on. But then the husband wants her full attention and sex later on.

Whether it’s with God or with those we are supposedly with – are we really there? Are we listening and paying attention? Are we there to make the moment work? Let’s learn from God! “Come… and be there!”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt