I’m an old man… and simply put cannot do all the things I
used to do. I love playing hoops yet, even though the rim still looks to be
attainable, getting there is a different story. If I play games now I am a
defensive liability; and offensively I am only a help when I can get back down
the floor…
I remember back in the day when I was a young man and
still in good shape; and there were still times I couldn’t get back on “D” in
time. I would yell to a teammate, “Pick me up”, and then I would have to
recover to help my team. (I watched yesterday as the USA national team allowed
an inferior team to stay close for 3 quarters of a game; this was largely due
to the fact that the other team was setting picks to get defenders behind their
men and unfortunately the help side defenders were late in “picking up” their
teammates.)
The reality is that no matter where we are in the “game
of life” we all need help at times; we need to have someone “pick us ups”! This
is true as individuals and as the church.
The last couple of weeks our pastor has been encouraging
the church to “engage.” He has been reminding us of the necessity to all play
our part on the “team.” He referred yesterday to a great picture in Scripture
of a “pick me up” moment.
In Exodus 17:8-13 Moses and the Israelites are in a
battle with the Amalekites. Moses is the leader and is relying on strength and
direction from God to carry them through. As the battle plays out it is very
interesting. As long as Moses holds his hands and the “rod of God” up in the
air the Israelites were winning; when he lowered his arms they started losing.
Seems important for Moses, the leader, to keep focused on what God has told him
to do; yet you try holding your arms up in the air for hours on end. The Scripture
records that his “hands became heavy” (vs 12.) So those around him (Aaron and
Hur) got him a rock to sit on and stood beside him supporting his arms until
the battle was won.
The application for you? Your church needs you! Your
church leaders need warriors and those to support them as they hold up their
hands and the “rod of God.” We need to be making a difference in our local
bodies!
Another application is that I need you! (As do many other
missionaries and ministry directors.) It is hard and tiring to stay the course.
For 7 years I have been “holding up my hands and the rod of God” and trying stay
engaged in the battle and follow His calling in my life. Yet I am old and need
someone to “pick me up.” We have some “engaged” in the battle for InBounds
Ministries! (Keep fighting MAD Hoops warriors!)
I will be totally transparent in this week’s devotion. My
“hands are heavy!” I recently posted a newsletter/update on our ministry. It
shares the amazing “victories” we have been witnessing. It gives plans for the
direction God is leading us. It also tells of our needs to stay engaged in the
battle.
The part that is difficult is that I have had little
response to that newsletter. A couple of people “liked” it and “shared” it on
Facebook but that is it. I haven’t heard responses of those willing to “support
my hands” by at least committing to praying for us; yet we also need financial “support.”
We have pressing needs in our ministry! I would much rather be focused on the
people God has called us to reach than on the bank balance! (And I know that is
true of most missionaries and ministry directors.)
This week is a challenge to be engaged! It is a challenge
to hear your teammates (in your church and in missions) yelling, “Pick me up!”
(And maybe for some of you it is me / InBounds you hear yelling…)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6JTbTJzYNY1dzF2SFFTTE9tQWs/edit?usp=sharing
No comments:
Post a Comment