“Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “What are these stones?” then you shall inform your children, saying, “Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.” For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”

We learn from the monuments of past generations and we have a responsibility to leave monuments for future generations.

There were generations of Christians who have gone before me. These men and women have experienced trials, difficulties, temptations, triumphs that are very similar to what I will experience. If I do not take the time to learn from them then I am wasting my time and their legacy.

At the same time I need to keep on eye on the future and make it easy for those who come after to me to learn from what I have experienced.

I need to visit the monuments of the past and establish monuments for the future; not because the monument is important, but because the life experience it represents is important.

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”

Rahab saw what God had done and believed. When we reveal Christ to the world around us it makes it easier for others to believe.

John 20:29: “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

“Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”

This is my favorite law in all of Leviticus. The landowners and the wealthy were to leave odds and ends behind in their fields so that the poor and downtrodden could find food.

This is an amazing form of welfare. The well-off are required to sacrifice for the good of the community. At the same time, those in need are not given a handout, but must work to earn their sustenance.

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.”

Strange fire is an offering that was probably intended for good, but was out of line with God’s expectations for us.

I’ve seen “strange fire” place before the Lord. Strange fire is when words of hate are preached under the guise of holiness. It’s when offerings are given with the ulterior motive of gaining favor or power. Strange fire is when a musician’s heart is focused on the show and not on worship. It’s when we meet the needs of people, but fail to show them Jesus. It’s also when we show people Jesus, but fail to meet their needs

How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. The LORD will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.

We are called to love and reach out to the helpless amongst us. We need to open our eyes and recognize that we pass suffering people everyday. We have two duties to the world around us; to reveal Jesus Christ, and to meet the needs of others.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders.

The purpose of being pure is to be a trustworthy witness for God. If we are living lives filled with wrong actions, thoughts, or words then we are not capable of being a witness to the glory of God. We are called to walk in truth, lovingkindness, innocence, and far from evil doers so that when we sing praises to God we can be seen as reliable witnesses.

There is a careful balance that must be maintained in our lives: we are to live with the goal of being perfect while recognizing that we will never achieve our goal and not being discouraged by our failure. When we get out of balance we get in trouble.

O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, and in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.

For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head. He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him. For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

God may not have made you a king, but he has blessed you. Take time to praise God for his blessing. Write down your praises. Speak them verbally to God. Share your praises with your community. Inspire those around you to recognize the amazing ways God is moving in your life.

I praise God for my wife and family. For a job I love. For the opportunity to study more of God’s Word every day. I praise God for being with us and guiding us through the challenges of life. For using the obstacles we experience to make us more faithful followers of Christ. I praise God for the opportunity to lead others to Jesus at home, at church, and at work. I praise God for the talents I have been blessed with and the opportunity to use those talents to further God’s kingdom.

It’s been a quiet week, but here’s some stuff I came across…

Have a great weekend!

• Reliance on the Holy Spirit

We may have the best plans, intentions, or people in the world, but only God can grow his church. Before any action we must spend time waiting on the leading of the Lord.

• Enablement of ministry

Every person has a ministry which God is calling them to engage in. The role of a pastor is to enable each person to find this ministry and be successful in pursuing this ministry.

• Pastors are raised and not imported

It should be the goal of any congregation to raise up its own future leadership.

• Ministry requires training

Any ministry will require some training; one of the marks of being ready to lead is being willing to be trained. To this end a church should commit to offering the best training available for each ministry.

• Reproduction

The ultimate goal of any church is to be able to successfully plant churches which can bring people in the community and beyond to Christ.

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a pastor

Daily enter into a time of individual prayer and Bible reading.

Weekly engage in periods of physical exercise.

Be involved with a small group in a non-leadership capacity.

Explore a Christian discipline each quarter. (i.e. prayer, fasting, service, etc.)

Foster a spiritual friendship.