September 26, 2008
Determination
The
yellow jackets were swarming mad. Someone had blocked the entrance to their nest
and they were determined to dig the hole back out. It was amazing to watch them
pull the sand out from the blocked hole one grain at a time. It took them a
while but they were very determined. They did eventually open up a new entrance.
Nothing
was going to stop those wasps from getting the nest back open. I had to admire
their sheer grit.
There
is a lot we can learn from the everyday yellow jacket. Sometimes as Christians,
we see the sheer magnitude of the task ahead of us and we grow faint. We are
called to evangelize a dark and hurting world. It is a place that is full of
every imaginable problem and degenerate thing (and many we cannot even imagine).
Where
do we start? How do we do it? How can we possibly accomplish such a task?
Well
the truth is that we cannot do it. At least not on our own. Under His help we
can accomplish anything because nothing is impossible for God.
There
is a verse that sometimes encourages us, but also causes us to stumble a bit.
Matthew
11:22-23 NIV
"Have
faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says
to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him
We
pray for the obstacles to be removed but when the mountain still stands there we
grow weary. The thing we don't recognize is that while God sometimes moves
entire mountains intact He often causes them to move stone by stone.
Just
as the yellow jackets removed the sand grain by grain, we often remove the
barriers one piece at a time. We help one person in one situation. That may not
solve all the world's problems but it makes a difference. We share the gospel
(in word and deed) one seed at a time and wait for the harvest.
As
we stay faithful, we soon start to see the mountain shrink or the crops
beginning to sprout. If we give up before then we miss the blessing of watching
it all happen and seeing God's mighty power at work.
Do
not grow weary. Hold fast. Pray and move the stones as God leads one at a time
(or even a mountain range at a time when He wills it). The task is huge but with
God behind us it is not only possible, it will be done because God said it
would.
There
are people needing the stone rolled away in their life.
There
are family members we pray for and others we are in intercession for and
sometimes we just have to step up and do something.
Who
is it you know that you can help today?
A
kind word, a smile, a meal, or some clothes the list goes on and on?
Perhaps
that person is you?
Turn
to God and let Him help you!
He
also has more than words to offer if you will let Him?
Will
you?
Blessings
to you!
Darrel Mason