Step Into The Water

 "So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho." - Joshua 3:14-16

Martie and I were called to missions in 2004 -  we didn't see it coming. Oh we new that we would be involved in ministry to some level - and had been - but we never imagined we would be asked to "lay our nets down" and follow Jesus.

"And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him." - Matthew 4:18-22

When you are called to lay your nets down, whatever those nets are, you must be willing to abandon the path that you are on and follow Jesus on the path that He is walking. So - we found ourselves going places that we never imagined. But like the old commercials on TV selling Ronco kitchen knives - "Wait there is more!"

After about 6 months leading a disaster relief effort in Mississippi, we sensed that we were to start to ministry - a non-profit - to continue the work we were doing in disaster relief into the future. We had already laid our nets down - left secular work - and had no desire to pick them back up again. We had already done what most people were only willing to do for a week or two. But God was taking us deeper and further than we had ever imagined.

My mom had great spiritual wisdom so we called her to talk about what we believed the Lord was telling us. She asked us a few questions and then said, "The River Jordan didn't back up until they stepped into the water." That was a reference to Joshua chapter 3. We knew exactly what she was telling us. First - she was affirming that she believed it was God directing us. Second - she was telling us that we needed to step out in faith in response to God's direction even if we could not see the promise before we did. Just like the nation of Israel crossing the River Jordan at flood stage. So we did and now this is 20 years later. 

In the study, Experiencing God, Dr. Blackaby said that when God speaks it always results in a crisis of belief which requires major adjustments in our lives and our obedience to walk by faith and not by sight in the context of those adjustments. 

There is a whole spectrum of possibilities with respect to God's call to each of us. We are not all called to do the same things in the Body of Christ. But we are all called to do something.

"For I know the plans that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

Don't think that God does not want to use you in His eternal plan - that you have nothing to offer - He does and you do. When - where - and how is up to God not us. The only question that remains is - what will your answer be?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone