Crossing Jordan

I can only imagine what it must have been like for Joshua. Did he have to drag the Israelites kicking and screaming out of their comfort zone?

There they were, in a land where they had pretty much taken out all their enemies. They had a daily supply of bread from Heaven and swarms of quail for meat. They never needed new shoes and anytime they needed water, Moses would just get it from a rock. Wouldn't God would grant the same miracles for Joshua?

What was on the other side? Hard labor? War and more war? Giants! Oh, yes, their fathers had even told them of how the Almighty had, for their lack of faith, cursed them to wandering in the desert until all the "old folks" died off. Sheesh! Thousands of funerals a day!

Yeah, the west side of the Jordan had grape vines so full that it took two men to carry a bunch, but things were pretty good in the east too. So good that two and a half tribes chose to stay where they were, (even though they did promise to participate in the conquest itself.) Sure enough, they all greatly desired to go to the Promised Land, but everyone hates change. This would be a big change!

We all fight change and prefer the status quo. Remember, inertia can keep you moving or keep you put. We say we want to grow in the Lord personally and in our congregation, but we don't want to move from our spot...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. We, especially, in small churches, have a "spot" where we sit and Heaven help anyone you find in your "spot." After, all you've been sitting in the same place for years...metaphorically, spiritually and literally. We don't want to sing any different songs. We sing the same ones Sunday after Sunday. Sure, thousands of lovely, Spirit-filled hymns have been written, but, then, we'd have to go through the trouble of learning them. Besides, our songs are the songs Mom & Dad sang. "That's how Daddy did it." are some of the saddest words that a Christian can say.

Daddy was great, but I ain't Daddy. He lived in his world in his way, but I have to live in mine. Moreover, I have to live in the world of others who don't see things my way. Yes, being different just for the sake of being different is no good either, but always remember what the great philosopher said: "A rut is just a ditch with the ends knocked out."We have our regular Sunday services, even though half of the people we know work nights and/or on Sundays. If they can't be there, too bad, too sad, I suppose. Not to mention, that Wednesday "Prayer" Service. Incidentally, have you noticed during "prayer" service that you meet for an hour, but pray for maybe five minutes.

We suffer through the same liturgy Sunday after Sunday and, sadly, many of us don't even notice the rut that we are in. Yes, my Baptist brothers, it is a liturgy when one service is a duplicate of the previous. How do you think visitors feel? The interest they may have in your otherwise loving congregation will wane when faced with stagnation that the rest of the congregation doesn't even notice. Different is not always better, but doing the same thing week after week, month after month and year after year definitely is deplorable.

It's enough to bore the good Lord Himself. Sometimes, I can almost hear him say, "Come on! Are you going to sing that song again?"The Pharisees didn't like the way the Lord made changes. They too wanted things to stay the same and yet we look down our noses at them and judge them for our very own sins. I'm like you. I want to be comfortable and not be annoyed by being forced to move...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. Still, the Lord is moving and if we want to keep up, we need to go with Him.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13

Change is a comin'! Come along or get left behind.