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15th April: Man of Power

Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was powerful in speech and action. Acts 7:22 (NIV)

God worked miraculously to allow Moses to survive infancy and to provide him with a superb education. The result was the Moses became a very powerful man. When we were physicians-in-training, we were afforded great opportunities for education and for personal, intellectual growth. Based on our training and on our role as health care providers, we too exercise power through what we say and what we do.

How should we deal with such power? First, like Moses, we must remain humble. We must not think too highly of ourselves. Second, like Moses, we must maintain a proper perspective of life. We must see the real importance of various activities. As we complete each phase of our training, we tend to think that we 'know it all', and that we are invincible. We might compare ourselves with some of our unfortunate patients and come to the conclusion that we are better than they are. It is then easy to believe that we deserve the best of life's comforts. A big house, nice cars and expensive vacations can become the goals of our labours.

Moses faced similar challenges, but he kept a godly perspective on himself. Though the riches of Egypt were within his grasp, he chose to align himself with God's people rather than to enjoy personal, passing pleasures. So, third, we, like Moses, must make a conscious decision to work for God's kingdom. How do we live it out day by day? Again, we can follow Moses' example. We must live by faith. It was not because of priorities of the visible realm that Moses chose to leave Pharaoh's household. Moses, by faith, had extended his vision to the realm of the invisible. By faith, Hebrews 11 tells us, Moses acted 'as seeing him who is invisible'. We, too, must look to God for real power and for guidance as to how properly to implement that power. Some of us will be directed to serve away from the land of our upbringing. Others, with clear vision of the same God and of his priorities, will serve faithfully within our homeland. All of us must, by faith, see God's direction. And each of us must faithfully and obediently live as he leads.

Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.

J H Sammis

Further reading: Acts 7:20-35. Nu 12:3. Rom 12:3. Heb 11:23-29.

PRF