Monday, November 29, 2010

The Promise Land awaits You.

“We can certainly conquer it.” Numbers 13:30

For the last three years the Lord has blessed Garrett and I with the opportunity to teach the college Sunday school class at out church. And I have fallen in love with theses precious babies. I love them, I love them! 
They each have impacted my life in more ways than they will ever know. They teach me something new every Sunday.

I love their zest and willingness to grow and become more Christ-like every day. Their perspective on God’s word opens my eyes to just how incredible the Lord is. He teaches and speaks to each of us so differently and I love that. I am thankful that He does it that way.

He shows us this very thing in our study of Scripture this week. Out of the twelve men who went to scout, only two were willing to speak up and share their perspective, heart, and thoughts. I giggle at this thought because my college babies started out the same way, not talking! But now…now laughter and nonstop conversation fills every square inch of our room. I LOVE IT!

They are willing to express their thoughts, their opinions, their hearts, their questions and concerns freely without fear. They debate, they listen, and they teach.

They are beginning to do the very things Caleb and Joshua did. They are growing more confident in Christ and their willingness to speak up for Christ. Which is my prayer and one of my deepest desires for them. I believe that is God’s desire for us, to share the name of Jesus with everyone no matter who agrees, listens or believes. That is what makes this story of the Israelites so superb. It shows us the benefits and reward of speaking up and believing, through the faith of Caleb and Joshua. Because they believed in the power of God and remembered all that God had done for them thus far, they would be the only two that would enter the land God swore to them. (Numbers 14:29-30) The rest of that generation would die in the wilderness.

With that, this brings up my last point. Not only did the Israelites pay for their lack of faith and complaining by having to wonder the wilderness but so did their children.

“But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness. And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness.” Number 14: 32-33

As I look at my college babies even my own babies I pray they will become men and women who are so faithful! I pray they will grow in boldness, wisdom and knowledge of Christ, His power and deliverance. I hope they find the promise land soon and do not have to wonder in the wilderness because of the faithlessness and complaining of their family.

I hope they know that is what makes Jesus so special. It is through a relationship with Him that they are able to receive the inheritance. They can make the decision for themselves and so can you.

Turn to Christ today and let Him lead you to the promise land.

Prayer: Lord bless every college student on every campus all across the world. Lord begin a radical change within them, filling them with more faith than ever before. Lord I pray for those who have grown up or are living in a home where You have and are absent. Lord do what You do and reveal Yourself to them, changing their life and the life of their entire family. Lord may they walk in the confidence of You and may they believe no matter how impossible it seems, You are able to conquer it. Amen