pilgrim in progress

In this mornings session Welch spoke from two passages from Exodus again asking ‘Who is this God who says do not worry.”

1. Exodus 14 - He is the God of the 11th hour.
He is the God of suspense who will test us. There are times when the Lord will give us the experience of being utterly surrounded. Jesus comes to us and says “you are my friends.” He tells us what will happen and does not surprise us or sneak attack us

2. Exodus 16:4 – He is the God who delivers, and He will give you today’s manna today, tomorrow’s manna tomorrow.
This means we don’t have to worry about tomorrow because we are not equipped to deal with tomorrow.

Worry and fear are a prediction that manna will not be here tomorrow.

Welch mentioned Piper’s ‘Future Grace’ as a resource.

One of the wonderful features of being a follower of Christ is that we can look our fears head on and know that God will speak to them.

Welch related his own personal fear of drowning and asking what manna has to do with this particular fear:

In order to deal with it head on I asked ‘does God promise me that I will not drown ever in my life?’ God gives me all the grace I need for today and I am not drowning. I do not have manna for tomorrow. Does the Scripture promise I will never drown? No. But the Scripture says that if God calls me to death by drowning I can be confident that God will give me grace for that. What will it look like? I don’t know. I don’t need to know, I can trust God. If my worst nightmare comes true tomorrow God will give me the grace I need to face it.

What about adultery. Welch admitted he doesn’t know how to help people dealing with the pain of adultery. He cannot imagine what it is like because he does not have the grace for it. He has seen people receive great grace in the midst of the great pain.

We can look forward to the grace that we will receive! It will be an unprecedented bestowal of grace. That is exciting!

Feast on the manna for today. God knows that our hearts are prone to look forward and fear that He will not provide. He will give us grace.

What will the grace look like? It does not mean ease and comfort but a real and evident sense that God is present.

What are the things I need manna for today?
What are the things I am worrying and fearful about for tomorrow?
Remember a time when God gave you grace when you thought it may not come?

I have a God who will worry about tommorrow so I don’t need too.