God’s Provision for a Life of Purpose - HIS CHURCH!
Hebrews11: 8-10 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV)
I am so sorry that December wrapped me up in such a way that hindered a timely submission to my blog. But timing being what it is – I thought this last submission of 2011 would be fitting on this subject of His “Church” being our source of provision! Words could never do justice to what bubbles up in my spirit when I consider the role the church has played in my life. Her role in my life from new convert to budding servant; from deacon to lead pastor and so on, has been monumental. In this Christmas season where the real “hustle and bustle” of life takes on new meaning, my prayer is that we would all take real stock in this message—The Church, is God’s vehicle to provide a life of purpose for us!! In my last submission I offered this take on overstressed schedules:
“Church participation and engagement usually gets the boot when the schedule is bulging with activity that is simply not clear focus as Jesus intended. After all – the church is HIS body. What better terminology exists in the scripture to highlight the connection Christ intended with His people? When the Church connection takes center stage – the rest of the priorities take on greater meaning and life actually becomes manageable!”
If we could just take some cues from Abraham’s “faithful” engagement with the land of promise and his Lord, I believe we can get the most of a great start to 2012! We understood that “he made his home in the promised land,” leaving him no room to turn back to some other pre-existing condition for supply or even some fantasy of a better “place!” Instead he logged in his hours, his thoughts, and yes—his faith to structure his life to God’s provision. Here are some other interesting thoughts to apply:
“Like A Stranger…Lived in Tents”
He walked out, what in essence is to be our prophetic understanding of what it means to live in this world and yet not be of it! Does that sound familiar? “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” (John 1:10 NASB)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT)
Even though Abraham was taking possession of the provided territory – he still saw the bigger picture! It allowed him to flow easily between the world of conflict he was currently in and the connection to an eternity of promise he was in full possession of! The “land” was the continual reminder of the greater relational connection to God’s Presence in his life. And so it should be with us. The western mindset of the church being a place to attend and vacate repeatedly – leaves no room for the faith that accompanies TRULY BELONGING! We don’t “go to church,” – we are the church, the Body of Christ, fully connected to His Presence at all times! The church life and community is the constant reminder of God’s abiding Presence and His promise toward full union in the future. So many believers are sensing great loneliness and abandonment because they have misdirected passions and limited application of the life of God. We can change or reverse course by simply taking advantage of the “life” He provides and not just the “services!”
The tents represent an amazing picture of the temporary nature of our journey “in the world.” Tents speak to movement and the absence of permanence. Our root systems are not in this world. When we trade our newfound relationship with the Lord for the temporary nature of this world’s devices – we trade away our “movement” towards His purpose and our chances at obedience! When we sow our life into this “land of promise” called the church and allow ourselves to connect with a temporary mindset toward the world we are in – our chances at engaging a continuous flow of God’s provision are increased. This entitlement—generational culture that exists today has left a handful to truly live the life while most are attempting to enjoy the provisions at someone else’s expense. That’s why so many in our churches have abbreviated, need-associated connections to the church rather than a vibrant, life-giving experience—because they never trade their allegiance to one provider while attempting to secure a new one! Can you imagine what life would be like if those who had children had to spend up to 80% of their parenting time just reminding their kids that they had to EAT FOOD EVERYDAY? L What a colossal waste of time – since the natural hunger cues our body gives us does most of that work!! Well, that is what the average church spends time doing these days—simply reminding the members that they should eat and when they should eat, over and over, and over! Yikes, no wonder the world is not clamoring to get in! And finally, here is the ultimate lesson Abraham leaves us…
“As Did Isaac and Jacob, Who were Heirs…”
It appears that Abraham translated much of the purpose and design for living to his son and grandson! For use this speaks directly to the prophetic continuity of the “community” and the provision associated with it. Let’s face it; the Bible is clear on the fact that the inheritance is ONLY accessible through continual obedience to the culture of God’s Purpose! We do a disservice to our children and our children’s children after them—when we relegate our worship to religious activity as opposed to purposeful connection to our identity and provision for continued existence! Belonging to the Church is not just a benefit or a cultural ingredient that we can add and dismiss periodically based on feelings of the moment. On the contrary, it is the single greatest gift we can give our succeeding generations because we provide for an identity that no despot, governmental shift, cultural malaise, or worldwide tragedy CAN EVER WIPE OUT! Isaac and Jacob fully understood that the land was merely the reminder of the greater connection to the Father. That the “land” would provide because they recognized the connection between obedience and covenantal promise. This territory they had was still on the earth but relational interaction with the Lord was the full promise. The church is more than an oasis in a world of conflict – it is the vehicle of God’s provision for our life, a life that was meant to be lived on purpose and in purpose! Will you consider living life with a greater degree of “buy-in” to God’s plan in the coming year? I pray that this understanding helps you on your way!
