When our growing church needed to expand, we looked at several possibilities. We realized that our facility was limiting our growth and ultimately we had to relocate. Our seven weekend services were too much strain on everyone, including the facilities. Our elders finally decided to purchase several acres of land on the edge of town. Our goal was to build in phases so as to accommodate the needs of our growing congregation without over taxing our resources.
Wise thinking. But God had different plans for us. We had already started to plateau in growth. People would drive onto our lot, not be able to find a parking place and drive off never to return. We really couldn't wait on a ten year plan. It was then God gave us the unique opportunity to purchase an old Wal-Mart building. 60,000 square feet on 7 and a half acres, complete with concrete parking lot, right at the center of the statistical hub of our city. God even sliced the asking price in half for us. After the sale of our properties, the purchase of the Wal-Mart facility cost us only about $125,000.
It's amazing how God works. What seemed impossible odds were relatively nothing for God. As were going through the whole process of relocation, fund raising and transition, I kept coming back to these stories of God at work in Exodus. God did some amazing things for children of Israel when things looked hopeless or impossible. They even heard the voice of God speaking to them. Now that would get your attention.
God struck a covenant with the Children of Israel. He told them he would provide for them and protect them and choose them for His own people if they simply would honor Him and obey His instruction. So God gave them 10 basic commands by which to live. That's it 10. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Well, let's just say they couldn't make it a month.
The Ten Commandments still remain the basis of our relationship with God. It's true that those of us in Christ are under a new covenant that centers on God's grace through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, Lord and friend. However, Jesus said that not one aspect of the law would diminish, that He came to fulfill the law not do away with it. He also said that the law is summed in two basic commands, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
An interesting thing happened after we purchased that old Wal-Mart building. People used to joke about us being the Wal-Mart Church. You can imagine some of the comments. Some wondered if all our greeters were going to wear blue smocks with yellow smiley face buttons. Some asked if we were going to adopt slogans like, "always low requirements." We got accused of being the "Lite Church." We thought about offering a discount tithe of 8%. We kicked around the idea having only 8 commandments, you get to choose your 8. But then we realized that people were already doing that and less.
Jesus abbreviated the 10 commandments to two simple commandments and yet what I've found is that people can't even keep those two let alone the ten. We have witnessed the incredible power of God's love and grace. We watch His hand continually go forth in our behalf and we can't do the simplest thing of obeying God. It blows my mind, because I'm just as guilty as the next person. I'm just thankful that God is a patient God and that His grace is bigger than my disgrace.
God, you truly are amazing. Words can't describe you. Your power and might are infinite. There is nothing impossible for you. Why do I doubt? Why do I whine? Why do I ignore you? Why do I disobey your truth and wisdom? Forgive me, Father. Fill me again with your wonderment.
No comments:
Post a Comment