Jonathan Moore
Hebrews 2:10-11
God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
Halloween is a celebration of a perversion of truth. The name itself refers to the night preceding the honoring of those who have died in faith - All Hallows (or All Saints). Don't get stuck celebrating the perversion and miss celebrating the conversion that leads to the revelation of our true purpose, which is to be where Jesus now is - in Glory!
BEGINNING AND ENDING
Genesis 30:36
“And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.”
King James
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” and neither has a perfect horse ever made an exceptional rider.
For one, there are no perfect horses.
The closest thing you’ll find to one is perhaps the kind that go up and down, around and around, and cost $1 per ride.
Unfortunately, it costs a lot more than that to become an accomplished rider.
My sweet little Hazel developed a deeper understanding of that a few days ago when she bought her first real estate from horseback.
After a lovely time of making some great childhood memories, riding through the pastures collecting fall leaves and picnicking in the shade, we pointed our mounts toward the barn. With their minds now set on getting back to their buddies, the donkeys really took them off guard as they came running out of the woods in the adjacent pasture and charged the fence we were riding alongside. Journey was being ponied from my own horse, but that didn’t stop her from leaping sideways in reaction to the high-headed, big-eared critters running her way!
Hazel’s comment later was, “All of a sudden, I was looking at Journey’s hooves!”
A momma never gets used to seeing her child tumble to the ground from 15 hands high regardless of how necessary this rite of passage is.
But this is life.
For Hazel to become a great rider, she has to experience for herself all of the frightening, challenging situations that are inevitable when you’re atop a 1,000 pound animal with a mind of its own. Reading or hearing about other people’s experiences will never provide the wisdom and knowledge that is acquired when you live through an experience yourself… whether it’s becoming a great horseman or a faithful follower of our God.
Hebrews chapter 11 highlights some of the most recognizable people of faith in Scripture. We find there Noah building a massive ark, Abraham journeying without a known destination, and the parents of Moses placing their baby in a crocodile-infested river! Many are listed in the Bible’s “Hall of Faith” that endured great conflict in the building of their faith. Reading their stories is crucial to learning the trustworthy nature of God, but for the development and growth of our own faith, we’ve got to do more than just read about their’s. We’ve got to walk through the fire ourselves.
Any volunteers?