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In the 1996 film Tin Cup, golf prophet Roy McAvoy, A.K.A. Tin Cup explains to his caddy that certain shots in a round serve as a defining moment. “Either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.” As a former golfer who attended the 1995 Canadian PGA Qualifying School on Vancouver Island, the first nine holes defined my brief golfing career. After playing solid golf through the first 4 holes, I missed 2 short birdie putts and one two-foot par putt. Rather than being 2 or 3 under through the easiest stretch of the course, I was even par. My putting woes sealed my fate as this moment defined me as not being good enough to compete at a professional level.

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, ^[a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses], Hebrews 11:1.

Faith is like jumping off a diving board for the first time. You don’t know how it feels until you try. Faith is the initial step that a Christian takes in their lifelong journey, Romans 10:9-10. According to the apostle Paul, this first step of faith begins by verbalizing your faith to Christ to others. Jesus explains this in greater detail while talking with a man healed from demon possession. Mark 5:19 conveys the message that Christians can’t become disciples until you first go home to tell everyone that you know what God has done in your life.

 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go, Hebrews 11:8.

The scary part is that most steps of faith are done blindfolded. This isn’t literally, but it takes most Christians months and years to figure out where to go and what to do. The author of Hebrews refers to Moses as talking a step of faith, but not exactly knowing what direction to follow. When I first pronounced my faith in high school, I didn’t know how to study the Bible or pray, I just did it. Like the classic Michael W. Smith song, life is all about trial and error, Living and Learning along the way. As you mature in your faith, may Christmas serve as steppingstones so that daily challenges don’t define your faith as a failure. Rather, live and learn by growing closer to Jesus daily.

by Jay Mankus

Society is full of individuals who live by the motto, “do as I say, not as I do.” Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is designed to inform the audience that God expects more of Christians, Matthew 5:43-48. Apparently, Moses didn’t get this memo as his wife Zipporah convinced him not to circumcise their son. Based upon the passage below, God’s message to Moses is clear: no one is exempt from obedience, especially leaders.

Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill]. ²⁵ [Now apparently he had ^[b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses’] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! – Exodus 4:24-25.

The apostle Paul touches on this spiritual condition in Galatians 1:10, seeking to please human beings who you can see over God. Perhaps, God expected more from a man who witnessed and spoke to the flame of God inside a desert bush. Then again, if Moses lost his cool by killing an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves, perhaps Zipporah’s response to her husband was due to Moses’ anger management issues.

When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision. ²⁷ The Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mountain of God [Horeb, or Sinai] and kissed him, Exodus 4:26-27.

Whatever the root cause was for Moses’ decision not to obey the Lord, Jesus reveals God’s expectations for Christians in the first century, Matthew 5:43-48. God holds his followers to greater standards. Rather than uphold the expectations of society, Jesus calls believers to perfection. While this is impossible to achieve, Romans 3:9-12, God expects Christians to strive for perfection. Moses’ near fatal illness serves as a reminder that no one is exempt, especially leaders.

by Jay Mankus

Anyone who possesses the gift of conversation, finds talking comes naturally. On the opposite of the spectrum, the shy and stutterers are either afraid to talk or don’t know what to say. Based upon Moses’ own words in the passage below, some sort of speech impediment prevented him from being an effective communicator. Subsequently, Moses initially rejected God’s call to be the voice for the Israelites.

And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue, Exodus 4:10.

To a stutterer, confronting the King of Egypt would scare most to death. This would be equivalent to speaking in front of a packed auditorium. To those who have never been able to verbalize what’s in their heart or on their mind, this seems like an impossible feat. Perhaps, this is what was going through Moses’ mind as he rejects God’s call to become the mouthpiece of Israel. Moses just wasn’t ready to trust an invisible God.

And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall say, Exodus 4:11-12.

The above passage serves as a pep talk from God. After doubting God’s ability to make him the mouthpiece of Israel, God reminds Moses of his Creator abilities and power. Whenever someone asks you to do something that forces you to go outside your comfort zone, this request is meant for you to grow. However, when you’re unwilling to try, you’re either trusting in your own strength or don’t think God can use you to do this. When doubt consumes your soul, trust in the Lord as King Solomon commands in Proverbs 3:5-6.

by Jay Mankus

When I was younger, I made the mistake of assuming that church leaders had everything in their life under control. If you’re a member of the Bible’s Hall of Faith, your body of work over the course of your life would reflect this accomplishment. Yet, in an obscure passage at the end of Exodus 4, Moses’ marital problems comes to the surface. When their son reached the age to be circumcised, Zipporah refused to let this happen. Subsequently, Moses nearly dies due to his disobedience.

[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and ^[f]become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. ²⁶ He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense). ²⁷ [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible, Hebrews 11:24-27.

As a former high school teacher, my students experienced way too many divorces and separations. Just because you claim to be a Christian doesn’t exempt you from marital issues. One of the initial signs of marital problems is heated arguments in public. As roots of bitterness stored up within souls come to the surface, emotional blow ups often follow. This is what happened to Zipporah who was vehemently against the practice of circumcision.

Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill]. ²⁵ [Now apparently he had ^[b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses’] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! ²⁶ When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision, Exodus 4:24-26.

Unfortunately, Moses decided to please his wife rather than the Lord, Galatians 1:10. Apparently, this decision made God jealous and upset. God was so disappointed by Moses’ lack of spiritual leadership that He sought to take Moses’ life. Based upon the subtle hints in the passage above, God appeared to Zipporah with only one option to save Moses’ life. While she eventually went through with this circumcision, Zipporah was afflicted with a deep soul spirit wound. May this passage inspire couples to work on their differences in private so that public scenes are limited in the future.

by Jay Mankus

What if you were given a present for Christmas, but you were told you had to wait until next year before you could open it? Directions allowed you to hold this gift and bring this with you if you traveled, but you couldn’t open this gift under any circumstances. This is essentially what happened to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. You can marry Mary, but you won’t be able to consecrate your marriage until Jesus is born.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly, Matthew 1:18-19.

According to Jewish law, Joseph could have Mary stoned for committing adultery. Rather than ending Mary’s life and making a scene, Joseph decided to move forward with a divorce in private. However, one night while Joseph was asleep, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The lesson that God was trying to teach Joseph is imagine what God can do in your life through one moment of obedience because of this dream.

But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from ^[a]failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. ²² All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, ²³ Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us. ²⁴ Then Joseph, being aroused from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took [her to his side as] his wife. ²⁵ But he had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus, Matthew 1:20-25.

From a human perspective, it’s nearly impossible to fully understand how God can work through one moment of obedience. Thanks to instant gratification, often by using credit cards to get what you want now, waiting for God’s blessings has become a lost art. Yet, when you cling to God’s promise like Joseph in this dream, blessings will come in various forms. In view of Joseph’s act of faith, don’t cut corners this Christmas season. Rather, hold fast to faith by being open to God’s calls for daily obedience in life.

by Jay Mankus