What's in a name?

 Happy Sunday!

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ORDINARY life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an OFFERING. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. READILY recognize what he wants from you, and QUICKLY respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the BEST out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."(Romans 12:1-2 Message).

Do you know who Jochebed was in the Bible?  Not Jehoshaphat, or Jeremiah, or John but Jochebed.  Do you need a moment?  No Googling allowed.  Jochebed was Moses' mother.  Probably not a name you may have remembered.  At least her name was mentioned, so many others did great things in the Bible and remain unnamed.  Think about the widow who gave her last two mites, or the woman with the alabaster box.  They used their everyday ordinary lives to worship and honor God and we are still using them as godly examples.

Jochebed refused to allow her baby boy to be thrown in the river and drowned as the Egyptian Law required(Exodus 1:22). She hid him as long as she could, then she made a little basket boat and sent him floating down the river.  Pharoah's daughter just happened to be at the river bathing that very moment.  She opened the basket, Moses cried, she had compassion on him, and raised him as her own son.

What if Jochebed hadn't recognized what God wanted her to do?  What if she hadn't responded to the instructions quickly?  Thankfully, we don't have to even think about what may have happened.  She was "not conformed to this world"(Romans 12:2 KJV).  The world may never know your name, but you are called to do great things.  Each and every day you have an opportunity to trust and obey.  You have a chance to be a blessing to everyone you come in contact with.  It may be as simple as holding the door for another person, smiling sincerely, treating the Customer Service Representative with respect, allowing another to go before you in line, giving your employer a full days work, or sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(Matthew 5:16 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia