Am I Faithful?
written at Tuesday, January 5, 2010Hebrews 11:29-40
"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Here is the sad part of the western definition of success. In the west, Moses will be an absolute failure. I can sort of see why, I don't think many of us, including myself would want the ministry that Moses had. Wandering around in the desert for 40 years with wining and complaining Israelites and then die right before it gets good. God didn't open up the clouds for him, revealed the promise land and went, "There it is Moses!" With Moses exclaiming, "Yes! Milk and honey!" No way, Moses died on the mountain, he never got to lead the people into promised land!
The Lord told Moses that he should not lead the people into the promised land. He could only see it with his eyes; that he will die on Mount Nebo, a mountain in the land of Moab. So Moses died on the mountain, Joshua took over and eventually lead the Israelites to the promise land, the people were ready to follow him.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
Here is the sad part of the western definition of success. In the west, Moses will be an absolute failure. I can sort of see why, I don't think many of us, including myself would want the ministry that Moses had. Wandering around in the desert for 40 years with wining and complaining Israelites and then die right before it gets good. God didn't open up the clouds for him, revealed the promise land and went, "There it is Moses!" With Moses exclaiming, "Yes! Milk and honey!" No way, Moses died on the mountain, he never got to lead the people into promised land!
The Lord told Moses that he should not lead the people into the promised land. He could only see it with his eyes; that he will die on Mount Nebo, a mountain in the land of Moab. So Moses died on the mountain, Joshua took over and eventually lead the Israelites to the promise land, the people were ready to follow him.
I think very few people who knows the situation that Moses was in would go, "Man, I want to be a modern day Moses." We all want to be Joshua. But the thing is, without Moses, there is no Joshua.
This ties back to the whole thing about ministry, about leadership, about the roles that we take in the church. "Oh yes I want to be that great worship leader who will lead everyone into a great time of song to the Lord.", I am going to be honest, that was on my mind at times. This is what happens when we love ministry more than Jesus himself, the questions that pop up will be, "Do I really love Jesus?", "Do I have such a deep affection for Him, above anything else?", "Am I willing to be faithful even if it calls me to take up a role which doesn't seem as "Front-line" or "Glamorous" or "Desirable"?"or even "Am I faithful enough to share scripture and teach it faithfully to others so much to a point where people who love to have their ears tickled just left and went to another church that would tickle their ears?"
These questions will be slapping my face and challenging me for the many days and weeks to come. The verse I shared with you guys above tells us about the great examples of faith, mentioned in the stories of the men and women throughout the Bible. Often times, these men and women of faith will be devoured by lions, or receive death by the sword. Not a very glamorous thing.
I pray to be faithful to Jesus, more than looking glamorous.
