Very Practical Body Building Practice

I just read this passage to my girls, and it struck me in such a wonderful way. It is the story of Abraham's servant whom he sent to find a wife for his son Isaac. Now, we will consider two people in this story. The servant and Rebekah. You may be in the place of either one right now, or a bit of both.

First consider the servant, who has been tasked with traveling to a nearby town and procuring a wife for his master's son. Now it seems on the surface a simple job, but this is a task fraught with traps. Just imagine, grabbing any old fair maiden, who turns out to be a terrible match. The servants life would be effectively hell ever after. Or finding a perfect princess, yet she refuses to go. Potential failure lurks at every corner.

Do you have something similar? I do, for instance in the raising of my daughters. Sometimes I cringe at every decision, thinking "Will this screw them up forever?" Perhaps you are facing choices, about a new job, what to study in school, or more import matters even. The most important choices we make in our lives involve our part in the ministry of Christ. Acting without faith, or in indecision and confusion, can have very detrimental consequences. There are no excuses like, "We are all human." and "Nobodies perfect..." You either act in faith, and Christ moves, life flows from you, or you fall flat.

Fortunately, we have the Grace of God to cover us, and many, many times I have needed it in large measure. But the danger is always there. You are dealing with life itself, eternal salvation. Mistakes are forever. This is where we need to be molded, shaped in such away that we are usefull to God. And the example of Abraham's servant is perfect.

Think of it, his task is to build the family. This will be the lineage of Christ. This is the lineage of Kings. There is no more important choice on Earth at that moment than finding Rebekah. He may not feel that epoch changing pressure, but certainly there is pressure enough. Anxiety, doubt, all these things gnawing at the edges. That is the state of the servant.

We should experience some of that state, some of that wavering, presure, anxiety. Think of it, building the Body of Christ now has even greater consequence. The servant was building the physical picture, God's map and plan of what he would do in the future. We are tasked with the construction of the spiritual reality! We should be pushed beyond our comfort zones and completely consumed with finding God's guidance in that task.

If you don't feel any presure, if you have no lingering aprehension, it likely you are outside of God's plan. Dig deeper till you find the fear of the Lord. He wants us to seek more of Him, to not be satisfied with where we are. We need to be hungry for more, and when you have that hunger, it leads to new experiences.

The sense I get when I read about the servant is that he completely yielded. He gave his anxiety up, gave up his worry, and simply asked God for confirmation. And it was active faith! He didn't say "OK God, I am here, speak to me what you will do." He laid out a reasonable scenario that God could use to show him which of the women coming to the well would be God's choice. And then he went to the well! There is the bigest key, he went to the well to find the answer. Near the source of physical life, the picture of God's supply, he found the answer. We need to do the same! It is so simple, tell God what will convince you, and then go to the well!

This doesn't mean you are testing God. It is active faith, the waling out of what you believe. And the answer comes when we get near the source of life. Hanging out at the well, looking for life. Looking for a brother or sister to give us a drink, to give us an answer. That is God's practical plan for getting the work done. It is so simple, yet He used this model, this picture, for one of the most important choices of the age!

Now, what about Rebekah? Well, for me, she is that place where you do not know what God intends for your life. You know you can't do amazing things with your own strength, with your own choices. Have you ever tried to build up the body of Christ with some plan or another? You can't make it happen. You can't organize enough, fill the pews, hold rallies, pass out fliers, the list goes on with these activities. Now, when led of the Spirit, any activity will be fruitful. But applying your own energy, leads to frustration and burnout, with no spiritual construction.

That is fine. Do what Rebekah did. What path is that you ask? Well, she went to the well faithfully, for her family. You can do that! Get a little bit of Christ each day, and share it with your brothers and sisters. What else did Rebekah practice that was crucial? She willingly provided life plus a little extra (for the camels) to a stranger in need. It was automatic for her. She did this as a matter of daily practice, just getting a little bit of life, and if she saw a need, getting a little more life to meet that need.

She had no path of great ministry, did not hear a exceptional word about being the mother of kingdoms. We are in the same place sometimes, not knowing what to do specifically. Not having recognized the gifts in us. Confused and wondering whether God will use us. But know this, He is faithful! If you don't know your path in the building of the eternal body, if you feel useless, here is your answer. Get to the well! It may seem trivial, it may seem silly. But if you make as your number one goal in your Christian walk the providing of life to others, God will groom you, and use you mightily one day.

That doesn't mean anything complicated. Just find a little bit of life every day, each hour, sometimes constantly, and put it in your vessel. Then take it home, or to work, or to a friends house, and give out a sip or two. I am not talking about hammering people with bible verses right and left. Not talking about buying everybody dinner Wednesday night. Those things are fine, and if you are led by the Spirit to do it, by all means. What I mean is get with God a little bit in the morning. Pray a bit, ask for a measure of life. Then seek God in the simple things as you go about your day. Maybe worship Him for a few minutes at lunch, and seek a bit more life.

Go on like this, and make it your routine. Give out that life when you see the need. Comfort someone. Listen to a friend's problem. Be ready to give a ride, make a meal, stop an argument. Simple things we all face during the day, yet bring your supply of life to those things. No need for holier than thou condemnation or long counseling discourses. Just being there with a supply of life and being willing to step out in faith in the simple things is the path of Rebekah. It is very easy to do, yet hard to do consistently. That is the challenge. And it is one you can work at. We need to drink ourselves anyhow, so when you sense you are a bit dry, and have not turned to God for a while, know that you have not been on this path. After a few months of recognizing this simple, yet challenging walk, you will become sensitive to the life you are carrying, and automatically go to the well when you run dry.

Can you see your life with Christ in these two examples? I can in so many areas. Oh how strongly I want to speak the Living Word! Yet often I open my mouth and I have to stop, I know it is off somehow. I feel like Abrahams servant in that. When I get a drink of life at the well from my brother or sister, all the sudden it seems like the word flows from my lips. I am in awe of God's faithfulness and Glory!

Other times I feel so restrained, like I'm going to shrivel up if I can't do something to build the body, to be useful. That is when the daily path to the well is so important. We can't be looking for the big opportunities only, the dramatic moving of the Spirit, and not find the simple daily life supply. With out the daily working of life within us, we will not see the majestic events of our day, and not be prepared for the blinding light when massive spiritual events happen. The overwhelming transformation that occurs when God moves mightily requires stable, believing hearts, otherwise you will not be able to accept it.

In the story, both were amazed at the Glory of the Eternal. The servant fell down and worshiped God more than once. And Rebekah responded to God's new challenge for her within one day (perhaps instantly!), and went off to a place in God's eternal plan. How incredible is that? Two simple situations that we find ourselves, times in our lives, decisions to be made. And the core answer to each is to get to the well. Get to the source of life. Find that river of life that flows from the throne. Amazing, I am in awe at the majesty of our King!