I woke up early this morning thinking about the church. What are we doing right? What areas do we need to improve? Where have we come from? Where are we headed? What are the things that hinder our growth? What changes could we make that would have the greatest impact on our church? What is the church's greatest need? I am thankful for our church but never satisfied with our progress.During my devotions I read of Solomon's encounter with God at Gibeon. What an amazing passage of scripture!
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 1 Kings 3:5
I wondered what I would ask for if God were to make this amazing offer to me. Solomon, of course, made the right decision. He asked for wisdom and as a result he was blessed with so much more than just wisdom. I could definitely use more wisdom. All of the questions about the church that run through my mind so often could be answered with the kind of wisdom God granted Solomon.
If God were to ask me this question about the church, how would I answer Him? If He were to offer to me anything for the church, what would I ask for? Would it be better finances? Better Attendance? Better Facilities? If He would grant me one request for the church what would it be?
This morning, I'm leaning towards asking God for men. We have some really good men at Harvest. The problem is that word 'some'. We need more men who will stand up and be men of God. Men who love God with everything! We need men who are faithful to God, to their families, and to their church. Men who study their Bibles and pray. Men who share their faith with others. We need men who are willing to work in the church. Tough men who don't run from challenges. We need men who are victorious over the enemy.
We need men like Enoch, who walked with God (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5). Men like Abraham who followed God by faith (Hebrews 11:8-10). We need men like Moses who chose to suffer with God's people rather than take it easy in Pharaoh's home (Hebrews 11:24-28). We need men like Aaron and Hur who held Moses' arms up when he was weary (Exodus 17:8-13). Men like Joshua who led his family to serve God regardless of what others did (Joshua 24:15). We need men like Daniel who purposed in his heart to stay pure (Daniel 1:8). We need men like Peter, Andrew, James, and John who realized there was a greater calling (Matthew 4:18-22). If I could ask God for one thing these days it would be men who are willing to become men of God.
Again, we have some really great men at Harvest! We need more. We have lots of good men, what we need is for those good men to follow Jesus and become great men.
Later!
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