Reflections on the Promises From An Older "Moses"!

This morning as I move further into Deuteronomy during my annual read, the text, as always, brings thoughts not before considered.

That's why some call it the "Living Word."

Of course the letters have not changed, nor the Spirit, but with time, we have.

Listen, no one's spiritual life should be static, stuck in the muck of human stuff.

Yet, "stuff" does happen and to all of us.

It kept Moses from the Promise land, though already God was preparing Joshua (Yeshua), in order to carry forward the generational benefits which Moses might have otherwise participated in. Then later David as well, knowing that one day their offspring would wrongly desire a King.

It's happens to all of us, even among the most well-intended of leaders. We are vulnerable, yet God is faithful.

Perhaps that's why generations are required to fulfill the things promised to the people of God.

As I read this morning, I found myself reflecting on the lives of critical players, "city changers" with whom I have served. Men and women that I was convinced would afford opportunity to see more than mere systems change or large congregations sustained, but cities truly transformed!

All that stemmed from a Moses-like promise made to me back in 1978: "Wherever I send you, seek that city, If not this city the next, I'll give you a city!"

Now like Moses, at age 78, I have days where I'm not sure I'll see that promise fulfilled! Not because of my personal failures alone, which an all-knowing God would have been aware of when that promise was made!

I now look back on decades of fervent service in five different sectors, and know full well how vulnerable we humans, even the best of leaders, can be.

I could have saved myself a lot of pain, had I realized that, yet likely had that been the case, I would have become less insistent upon myself and others as "change agents". That's no easy calling.

Now, as I reflect upon the maturation process of my personal calling, I see both privilege and pitfalls!

If I served with you, you can relax as I will not call names!

Whether volunteer leadership during a community wide move of God, construction and funding of multiple facilities, a statewide denominational headquarters, executive staffing in a flagship campus, multiple nonprofit successes across multiple cities, more than a decade in municipal leadership, I know what I'm talking about.

True calling, deep ego, risk hesitancy and even moral failure can do injury to the work of the Kingdom.

Still yet, the promise is sustained, it's the timing and the talent that we misjudge. It's really not about us, nor was it about Moses, David, Isaiah, even Mary's son, Jesus!

It is "Christ in us" that is the hope of glory, and that's coming. Though human leadership may fail, sacred systems disappoint, the promises are sure.

One day, I will likely stand with scores of well-meaning others, "balcony people"!

Dad's there now, gazing with an even more deepened wonder as the Fulfillment proceeds.

Eons of time have passed and billions of humans have now joined that "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrew 12:3.

Lighten up America, as it will have been worth the investment, even the disappointments!