Page 4 - 10 October 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 10 OCTOBER 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have the sea, blown and tossed by
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary the wind. That person
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord.
Hughes devotionals):
Such a person is double-
Exodus 33:7-11: Now Moses minded and unstable in all
used to take a tent and pitch they do.
it outside the camp some 1 Phillipians 2:5-7: In your
distance away, calling it the relationships with one
'tent of meeting'. Anyone We often treat wisdom as a emptied Himself. another, have the same
enquiring of the LORD kind of spiritual asset - a An action to take: Bring one mindset as Christ Jesus:
would go to the tent of thing to acquire, a power to difficult decision to God who, being in very nature
meeting outside the camp. wield. But in James' world, today. Ask not only for God, did not consider
And whenever Moses went wisdom is not so much guidance, but for the equality with God something
out to the tent, all the people accumulated as it is wisdom that comes from to be used to His own
Moses didn't have a spoke with Moses' (v9). This rose and stood at the received. It is not found in abiding in Christ. advantage; rather, He made
the accumulation of clever
theological degree. He is what the Lord longs for entrances to their tents, A prayer to make: Gracious Himself nothing by taking
hadn't taken a 'How to be a you and I, for each of us to watching Moses until he responses or spiritual Lord, quiet the turmoil within the very nature of a servant,
techniques, but in the
leader' course. He didn't make space for Him, so that entered the tent. As Moses orientation of the heart - me. Let my asking be not a being made in human
have any form of 'spiritual we might enjoy a deep, went into the tent, the pillar turned towards God, open to grasping, but a surrender. likeness.
training', but through his personal relationship with of cloud would come down Give me the mind of Christ.
encounter with the Lord he Him that transforms our and stay at the entrance, being reshaped. Amen. Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the
formed a deep and personal lives. while the LORD spoke with To ask God for wisdom is, in LORD with all your heart and
relationship with God, so Just as Moses set up the tent Moses. Whenever the people a sense, to abandon our Memory Verse: 'Blessed is lean not on your own
understanding; in all your
personal that the Bible says, of meeting, we too must saw the pillar of cloud illusions of control. It is to lay the one who perseveres ways submit to Him, and He
'The LORD would speak to choose our personal sacred standing at the entrance to down the claim to self- under trial because, having
Moses face to face, as one space to encounter the Lord, the tent, they all stood and sufficiency, and to enter into stood the test, that person will make your paths
speaks to a friend' (vii). where the Holy Spirit can worshipped, each at the a participatory knowing - a will receive the crown of life straight.
that the Lord has promised
What a beautiful example of descend over the entrance of entrance to their tent. The way of discerning that arises to those who love him.' Colossians 1:9-10: For this
the friendship that the Lord our hearts, meet with us, and LORD would speak to Moses from union. The wise one is (James 1:12) reason, since the day we
longs to have with each of teach us all that we will ever face to face, as one speaks not the one who knows the heard about you, we have
us, if only we weren't so need to fulfil His destiny for to a friend. Then Moses most, but the one who Further study: not stopped praying for you.
distracted by other things. our lives. would return to the camp, shares most deeply in the life James 1:5-8: If any of you We continually ask God to fill
but his young assistant of Christ. you with the knowledge of
Moses took consecration An action to take: A tent of Joshua son of Nun did not lacks wisdom, you should His will through all the
and being fully present meeting doesn't have to be a leave the tent. Yet James offers a warning: ask God, who gives wisdom and understanding
seriously; he understood literal tent, but a sacred wisdom cannot flourish in a generously to all without that the Spirit gives, so that
that these were essential to space where you can meet Jeremiah 4:8: So put on divided soul. The doubter finding fault, and it will be you may live a life worthy of
entering into the fullness of with the Lord. Where is this sackcloth, lament and wail, here is not the questioner, given to you. But when you the Lord and please Him in
the presence of God. place for you? Don't delay, for the fierce anger of the but the one whose heart is ask, you must believe and every way: bearing fruit in
Wherever Moses and the go there today. LORD has not turned away split - between trust in Christ not doubt, because the one every good work, growing in
Israelites camped, Moses A prayer to make: Lord, from us. and self-preservation. who doubts is like a wave of the knowledge of God...
prioritised making a place of lead me in Your presence Luke 5:15-16 Yet the news Participation in Christ for His
meeting with the Lord, that I may know You closely, about Him spread all the wisdom requires a certain
known as the tent of and in Your presence reveal more, so that crowds of whole-heartedness and
meeting. This place was Your promises to me people came to hear Him surrender. It is a single-
away from distractions and through Your words that I and to be healed of their minded turning towards the
required effort to get there. It may live out Your plans and illnesses. But Jesus often God who gives - not
was a holy place for the holy purpose for my life and be a withdrew to lonely places s p a r i n g l y, b u t w i t h
God, set apart for holy reflection of Your salvation to and prayed. abandonment. It is only
encounter. those around me. Amen. when we are all in with God
Philippians 3:15-16: All of
What intimacy awaited Memory Verse: 'The LORD us, then, who are mature that we can receive His
Moses when he prioritised replied: "I will personally go should take such a view of wisdom.
the presence of the Lord? with you, Moses, and I will things. And if on some point To pray for wisdom, then, is
'Moses went into the tent, the give you rest — everything you think differently, that too to consent to be changed. It
pillar of cloud would come will be fine for you." (Exodus God will make clear to you. is to enter into the pattern of
down and stay at the 33:14, NLT) Only let us live up to what we Christ, who did not cling to
entrance, while the LORD Further study: have already attained. His own understanding, but

It is epidemic and a social power and the glory forever.
crisis Amen.
It is connected to crime. What is a father?
Malachi 4:5-6: Behold, I will 1. A father is a protector.
send you Elijah the prophet 2. A father is a role model.
before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of 3. A father is a teacher.
the LORD: and he shall turn (1 Thessalonians 2:11-13
the heart of the fathers to the But even after we had
children, and the heart of suffered before and were
the children to their fathers, spitefully treated at Philippi,
lest I come and smite the as you know, we were bold
earth with a curse. in our God to speak to you
the gospel of God in much
Matt. 6:9-13 In this manner,
conflict.)
therefore, pray: Our Father
4. A father is a life shaper (for
in heaven, Hallowed be
Your name. Your kingdom God)
come. Your will be done On Proverbs 3:12: For whom
earth as it is in heaven. Give the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in
us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As whom he delights.
we forgive our debtors. And 5. A father instills discipline.
do not lead us into 6. A father is meant to be a
temptation, But deliver us leader.
from the evil one. For Yours 7. A good father can change
is the kingdom and the everything.