Yes We Can!

How's this for a Bob the Builder moment...

Numbers 13 gives the account of Moses sending in the spies to check out the "promised land" for the first time.These spies spent 40-days checking everything out pretty thoroughly. Then they came back to give their report.

"We went to the land to which you sent us and, oh! It does flow with milk and honey! Just look at this fruit! The only thing is that the people who live there are fierce, their cities are huge and well fortified. Worse yet, we saw descendants of the giant Anak. Amalekites are spread out in the Negev; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites hold the hill country; and the Canaanites are established on the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan."

One of the spies, Caleb, sensed that the discussion was going in the wrong direction!

"Hey!", he shouted. "Shut up for a second!"

Ok, that is me paraphrasing a little bit,

"Let's go take the land -- now. We can do it!"

That, by the way, was the 'Bob the Builder' moment. Didn't you hear it? "Can we do it? Yes we can!"

Ok, I've seen way to many children's TV shows, but that is the visual image that appears in my mind when I read this account. Sorry!

God had promised them this land and here are their colleagues starting to spread fear among the people. They are stronger...bigger...well fortified...they have these really big grapes!

Joshua and Caleb were flabergasted at how easy it was for the people of Israel to chicken out on taking what God had promised them. Unbelieveable! 

It kind of reminds me of a song that Ayiesha Woods sings called "Big Enough"

I don't want to box you in. You've been doing big things since the world began. Sometimes I just don't understand that you're big enough.

Here's the thing. We started Refuge Ministries because we felt God calling for a fresh approach to 'church' in the Mexico, MO community -- to reach students, singles, and young families who would not otherwise walk into a church building (that's why we meet in a Pizza Parlor!). We felt God was calling us to throw out the 'church rule book.' (not the Bible!).

We have no pastor, no facility, no transportation, no budget, no staff. We don't do sermons, pass the collection plate, or have business meetings. We DO worship, fellowship, study scripture, and share Christ. Beyond that, we pretty much wing it.

We will face obstacles! There will soon come a time, I'm certain, when we will be faced with that "meeting of the spies" moment where our faith will be put to the test. 

And at that moment, I can't wait to hear somebody stand up and say, "Hey, can we do this? Yes, by the grace of God we can!"

Posted: 2009-01-31

Leave A Comment