Tuesday, 3/17/2015

“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi

DEUTERONOMY 31

Moses passes the torch to Joshua...

7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

MARK 16

Jesus conquers death...

4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” 

JOURNAL

Go...there is a time in our lives when it is no longer about knowing but rather it is about doing.  The torch is passed to Joshua, the tomb is empty...this does not signify the end but it signals the beginning. It is the green light and the signal that now is the time to begin.  

I can say that I have struggled with this part most of my adult life.  What does the going mean, what am I supposed to do?  It first of all is not a call to justify my life, it's not a yoke of obligation...it is the prison door opening, the shackles being removed, the freedom of love given without hindrance.  It is the Father running down the road to embrace the wayward son.  It is Jesus forgiving Peter and sending him into the world a changed man.  It is Saul changed forever from a self-righteous murderer to a martyr for the gospel.  It is Joshua taking claim of the promised land in confidence and with the blessing of God.

In essence it is not a have to...it is a get to.

7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7)