If you know the story of the Israelites in Exodus, then you understand the fickle nature of their commitment to God. I always read about them going back and forth on worshipping God or worshipping something else, and it makes me wonder if I would be the same way or not. Well, I don’t think that we have to think about it too hard, because there are so many times in life where we meet with God and immediately start making decisions and living life in a way that is as if we are the most important person in the world. This is really what the Israelites were doing. They were worshipping whatever they thought would help them in their time of need. It wasn’t about the worship of another god or idol, but it was about allowing their own selfish desires distract them from keeping their relationship with God as priority.

These chapters in Exodus are about Moses coming down from meeting with God and having to deal with the Israelites and their problems. I wonder if we will finish this Crazy Love study on a type of “mountaintop” and be face with life and its issues. How will we respond? Will we let our emotions take control? Will we stick it out and try to just not do the wrong things? I think it’s important that we realize what Moses’ mountaintop experience was all about. It was him getting alone with God. He retreated away from the people and distractions and met 1-on-1 with God. Notice that when he comes down from the mountain, people see the countenance of God on his face. When you are spending time retreating away from life’s stuff and enjoying being with God in consistent 1-on-1 time, other people will take notice.

I really do pray that God is using this experience of going through Crazy Love with your community group as something that can be a point in your discipleship to look back on. However, your discipleship and God’s plan for your life goes on long after this “mountaintop” experience. Here are some ways that you can continue taking the next steps in your discipleship journey as God continues to change you from the inside out:

• Continue to make getting alone with God and His Word a daily priority
• Make a list of the things that tend to distract you spiritually and pray about them daily
• Put yourself in places where you can be encouraged and challenged by other believers (church, CG, etc.)
• Find someone that you can be accountable to and give them permission to ask you difficult questions about your spiritual life.

⁶They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Acts 16:6–7 (CSB)

Romans tells us that Paul had a desire to preach the gospel in places where it had not yet been preached (Rom 15:20). I'm not sure how he chose what places to go next, but I imagine there was a system. Perhaps they laid out a map and checked off locations until they preached the gospel in each city. I imagine there were logistical issues when planning when and where to go. In this passage, they made plans to go to Asia, but they were prevented by God. The text isn't clear how they were prevented, but I'm sure these roadblocks were frustrating at the moment. It isn't until verse 9 that we realize God slowed them down so they would go to Macedonia.

Paul was called in a dream by a Macedonian man, and while God had stopped them from heading to Asia, God made a way for them to get to Macedonia. And it's a good thing too! On the way to Macedonia, they met an influential businesswoman named Lydia who almost definitely helped launch the churches in Philippi and Thyatira. Then they met an influential Roman official who followed Christ with his family. Interestingly, their actual ministry in Macedonia was underwhelming, but Paul never seemed to regret it. He was in alignment with whatever God wanted... even if it meant modest results.

Sometimes God will speak through our circumstances. Your finances, opportunities, location, talents, etc. may not allow you to do things for God. Sometimes everything lines up, and you have no choice but to follow and take a certain heavenly assignment. Yet, other times God speaks despite our circumstances. Everything may line up perfectly, but God says no. Or God tells you to do something where the circumstances do not make sense, yet he makes a way.

Ok, what's the point? Whatever or wherever God does or doesn't call you is less important than deep communion with him. We don't see Paul fretting over ruined plans or even mediocre ministry. He was so in sync with God's heart that God's presence was his good (Psalm 73:28).

While a clear step-by-step five-year plan for God's will would be so nice, you probably won't receive that in your inbox tomorrow. Yet, God is always with you, and what is the most important thing for you? Be with him. If God sends you to the jungles of Brazil to preach the gospel, do it with him and through his power. If he calls you to work a 9-5, faithfully serve a small local church, and be a witness in your personal mission field, do it with him and through his power. Less important than a step-by-step guide from God is communion and obedience to him.

Congrats! You made it through the final week of Crazy Love!! Now go to community group and share, learn, and enjoy time with your church family.