An 85-Year-Old Man's Dream
Imagine an 85-year-old man who has outlived nearly all of his peers. You would think that such a person might feel like if he has any unfulfilled dreams, it is time to let them go.
But if you think that, you don't know Caleb very well.
Four decades ago, Caleb and 11 other men had been sent out by Moses to scout out the Promised Land.
Ten of the other eleven had decided that while the land was spectacular, the risks and obstacles were too great. So they voted to set their sites on something else. But not Caleb.
For 40 years, Caleb dreamed of the day he and his family would inherit the land God had promised them.
40 years. 40 years ago this e-mail and the internet were barely a dream.
40 years ago Ronald Reagan would have had a better chance being recognized as an actor than as a two-term president.
40 years ago I wasn't even born yet. (This is the LAST year I can say that!)
And for 40 years, Caleb nurtured a dream and held onto a promise. Now here he is, still expecting that dream to be fulfilled and that promise to be kept.
"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God. I was forty years old when Moses...sent me...to explore the land...(M)y brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'"
Wholeheartedly he scouted out the land. And wholeheartedly he followed for 40 years.
Are you willing to follow, full-throttle, all-out, wholeheartedly for as long as you need to until you see God's promises fulfilled in your life? Sometimes wholeheartedly seems more like plodding. But no matter. Are you willing to do it, patiently, consistently, for as long as it takes?
Have you had an encounter with God that leaves you that determined? My prayer for you today is that you will have such an encounter if you haven't yet.
Grace & peace
But if you think that, you don't know Caleb very well.
Four decades ago, Caleb and 11 other men had been sent out by Moses to scout out the Promised Land.
Ten of the other eleven had decided that while the land was spectacular, the risks and obstacles were too great. So they voted to set their sites on something else. But not Caleb.
For 40 years, Caleb dreamed of the day he and his family would inherit the land God had promised them.
40 years. 40 years ago this e-mail and the internet were barely a dream.
40 years ago Ronald Reagan would have had a better chance being recognized as an actor than as a two-term president.
40 years ago I wasn't even born yet. (This is the LAST year I can say that!)
And for 40 years, Caleb nurtured a dream and held onto a promise. Now here he is, still expecting that dream to be fulfilled and that promise to be kept.
"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God. I was forty years old when Moses...sent me...to explore the land...(M)y brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'"
Wholeheartedly he scouted out the land. And wholeheartedly he followed for 40 years.
Are you willing to follow, full-throttle, all-out, wholeheartedly for as long as you need to until you see God's promises fulfilled in your life? Sometimes wholeheartedly seems more like plodding. But no matter. Are you willing to do it, patiently, consistently, for as long as it takes?
Have you had an encounter with God that leaves you that determined? My prayer for you today is that you will have such an encounter if you haven't yet.
Grace & peace
posted by Pastor Jeff at 5:07 AM
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