Fictionalized

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) ⏤ Numbers 12:3

“Let my people go!” My impression of Moses—no doubt shaped by movies and books—is one of boldness and confidence. But this is the same Moses who said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). What Moses accomplished was not done in his own strength. Modern storytellers often fictionalize the story, downplaying or omitting God’s involvement. I want to be more careful: to see God’s work done through the weak things, the foolish things, and the humble things.

Losing All Influence

The American government has been cutting funding in several areas. These are choices that come with both savings and costs. One cost is a loss of influence. Defunded programs that survive will be free of government pressure. It's true of the Church, too. When we cut ourselves off from the world, we lose influence.

Bakers influence dough by adding yeast. It's a choice: hardtack or soft sandwich bread. Significantly, Jesus chose this as an instructive metaphor for how his kingdom spreads. One caveat: God's pressure is love, not mammon.

Pro- / Anti-

What follows these prefixes for you? Try not to use broad, general terms. Choose words or phrases that are precise. Where are the boundaries or limits? What are the red lines? Who is included and who's not? What exceptions apply?

Then, how might Jesus phrase it? This is one good exercise for identifying our Sovereign and tribe.