Get out of the boat...

Last Wednesday I volunteered at the T-Rex sprint distance triathlon sponsored by Running Fit. My job was to help the athletes check in, get their race packet and then find their way to the transition area (the place where they keep all their equipment and make the transition from the swim, to the bike and then to the run). When that job was finished I went over and helped guide the swimmers, then I went over and helped those who finished the race turn in their timing chip. It was fun and I had a great time. It was almost as thrilling as being in the race myself – almost.

Stop and think about this for a while; you’ll never experience the fullness of God unless you take a huge risk and get “out of the boat”…

Do you really believe it?

Read the following:

Joshua 1:1-11…

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.' "

Joshua had been second in command most of his life because it was the “call” of Moses to lead the people of Israel into the promise land, or so he thought. Moses up and died and God then asked Joshua to “get out of the boat” and lead a nation into the fulfillment of a promise that had been around for thousands of years. It was time for Joshua to stop helping and start leading; time for him to actually “run in the race himself”; time for him to get out of the boat and into the water (how’s that for a truck-load of metaphors?). When he did he experienced the power and grace of God in ways he never dreamt possible.

Dr. Henry Cloud suggests that courage is what we need to face the demands of reality – a reality that reveals to us the plan of God to spread the message of hope, justice, restoration, healing and peace with God in Christ.

What is that plan? You…

Need help getting “out of the boat” and into the water of kingdom service? Let me know and I’ll point you on the right direction.

Does this scare you? Me too, so welcome to the club...


Ron

Compassion Rules! Live your Life...