The Well
The Well |
|
Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Monday
March 10, 2008
Joshua then commanded the leaders of Israel, "Go through the camp and tell
the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the
Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God has given you."
Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of
Manasseh. He told them, "Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded
you: 'the Lord your God is giving you rest and has given you this land.' Your
wives, children, and cattle may remain here on the east side of the Jordan
River, but your warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the
Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them until the Lord gives
rest to them as he has given rest to you, and until they, too, possess the land
the Lord your God is giving them. Only then may you settle here on the east side
of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you."
Joshua 1:10-15
Some forty years earlier, when the Israelites came near the Jordan river, several groups of people asked Moses for permission to not cross the Jordan, to make that land their home (Numbers 32:1-5). He gave them the okay. So, here they are, back at the Jordan, some ready to go on and some wanting to stay behind, and their choice is being honored. However, there were stipulations, they were to help the others get across and get settled, and then they could come back.
Not everyone wants to go on with God by taking the next step and God honors that. He never forces us to go on with Him ¾ obedience is a choice. However, everyone has a role in the Kingdom. Some are helpers ¾ they help others get across to the other side. Which are you?
There is no way any ministry can flourish without the help of those who give. Roger and I are not wealthy — we aren't even financially comfortable. However, God has called people to come along and help us cross our Jordan. They provide the financial means to keep the ministry running. Without their assistance we would be stuck in the wilderness.
Several sayings come to my mind when I think of this. One such saying is, "God doesn't need our ability ¾ He needs our availability." I am definitely available to do whatever He leads me to do. I get frustrated when circumstances hold me back from doing what I know He wants me to do. However, unlike Joshua, I haven't always been willing to go back into the wilderness until everyone else is ready. Oh, I went back to the wilderness, I didn't have a choice, but He had to work on my attitude.
What has God called you to do? Whether it is to help someone else or go across the Jordan yourself it is best to be obedient!
Yes, today is St. Patrick's Day. I confess I've never really understood the big deal. So, this year I decided I was going to check into it. Okay, so I'm 53 years-old and just now learning. Well, that just goes to prove that you're never too old to learn something new – right?
Well, for those of you who might be like me and don't know…A young man by the name of Maewyn was sold into slavery at the age of 16. While in captivity he turned to God and God turned to Him. When he escaped slavery he went to a monastery and became a priest. He returned to Ireland, his home, and proceeded to be a missionary there. He used the pagan rituals and holidays and intertwined them with Christianity to help them adapt and it worked. That is how he eventually became a Patron Saint in the Catholic Church. (At least that's what I read.)
Who do you have a passion to know Christ? How can you adapt something to help them better understand Christianity? I think I need to rethink my plans, they haven't been working so well lately. Maybe we all need to just be praying for each other and use this Easter as relaxing family time, just letting Jesus be Jesus in us!
Father, I thank You for equipping those You call to do Your work. I thank You for using someone like me to be an encouragement to others. I thank You for placing people in our lives to provide the funds necessary to cross the Jordan. Help each person reading this today to know what You have called them to do and then give them the courage to do it.
