Timothy Burt

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Last week, I received a really sweet note from a young man that touched my heart. He said, Pastor Burt, we don’t know each other, but you’ve been a mentor to me through Fresh Manna for the past couple of years. My friend and I read and talk about every one of your posts and they have helped us become better men because of it! Even though this is something I hope and always pray for, I can’t begin to tell you how much that sweet note blessed my heart!

Ministers of the gospel, motivational speakers, and countless communicators from different fields all and often communicate an essential truth: Everyone’s life has significance! That is true because we were all ultimately created by God to experience a meaningful and significant life with a destiny to fulfill. I know that the plan for every individual has been tainted by the sin and evil that exists on this earth, but that is what creates an even greater opportunity for us to walk out our significant lives. We are needed and can be salt! Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth…”Matthew 5:13 (NKJV). We can and are called by Jesus Himself to bring flavor to this earth. One of those ways we can be salt is to constantly keep our eyes open and see and catch the good that people do. And when those moments manifest, openly acknowledge and encourage them in the continuation of it. What a paradigm shift that would be knowing we live in a world where people more often catch and comment on the bad people do!

We all desire to be noticed. We all desire to be appreciated for our efforts. We all desire to be encouraged in the job we do. This is true whether we clean toilets, educate children, run heavy machinery, work in healthcare, defend the public, or run a corporation. Those who are best at being the salt of the earth are those who realize they can be used by God to touch someone’s life with His love and encouragement. It’s something my wife and I pray for every day!

Moses was indeed one of the most outstanding leaders of all time. It could be said that discouragement contributed to cutting his destiny short and keeping him from finishing one of his greatest dreams—physically entering the “Promised Land.” Discouragement is as influential in the negative as encouragement is in the positive.

In the first chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses, who was close to the end of his life, began to give his final words to those who would step up and lead the people into the Promised Land that God had promised them. He started by telling them that what should have only been an eleven-day journey ended up taking them over 40 years. Kind of a mind-blowing thought, isn’t it? That’s what happens to grumblers who only see the cup half empty. They miss God’s direction in their life and cast away their faith, giving up on God’s promises, resulting in endlessly wandering through a life of discouragement.

Moses told them that the time was now! It was now time to finally go into the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 1:8 NLT, Moses reminds all the people of the words God spoke to him saying, “I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.” Moses went on to recite the history of the past 40 years of God’s promises and of their failures to obey His direction and instructions. Deuteronomy 1:26-27 says, “But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God and refused to go in. You murmured and complained in your tents…”And then Moses spoke to the next generation commanding them to go into the promised land. There were going to be serious challenges—the greatest being the overcoming of their personal fears and, instead, trusting God in the face of adversity. Moses encouraged them, “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid! The Lord your God is going before you. He will fight for you, just as you saw Him do in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you again and again here in the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.” Deuteronomy. 1:29-31 NLT.

The previous generation didn’t trust God and were always discouraged. What finally happened was that their lack of trust in God and Moses ultimately affected him. Their discouragement eventually jumped on Moses. At one point, Moses failed to trust God and disobeyed Him. The result? Deuteronomy 1:37-38 “And the Lord was also angry with me (Moses) because of you. He said to me, ‘You will never enter the Promised Land! Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land.”

Why am I telling you all this? Because discouragement was like a contagious disease among these people. It jumped from one to another, repeatedly taking the wind out of their sails. It turned an eleven-day journey into a 40-year walk. Discouragement is so powerfully bad that even infected one of history’s greatest leaders.

Moses was a great leader. He did have a short lapse—something great leaders cannot afford because of all the lives they affect. But even so, he returned to his greatness and came back to driving home a message to the people regarding the leader that would take over! He said, “Encourage Joshua.” “Joshua, son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. Encourage him as he prepares to enter it.” (Deuteronomy 1:38). As the story continues, Moses repeatedly encourages Joshua and encourages the people to encourage Joshua!

Encouragement isn’t empty, Ra-ra cheers. No, encouragement is based on a solid foundation of faith in the promises of God. Their job was to be salt to each other! To remind each other of God’s promises and encourage them in it!

Let me tell you something I hope you’ll never forget. There is always a way to encourage people! When you become one that does, those you encourage will never forget it. You will help them, and they will remember it. If not immediately, then eventually! 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” It is a powerful force and one you want to be known for! It’s within you, so ask God to help you develop in it. Be salt! Be an encourager. See the best in people and remind them of who God made them to be. Do so, and you’ll be a standout—the salt of the earth giving flavor to the life of others! By doing so, you will help nudge people to fulfill their significant life and destiny and bring significance to your own.

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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