Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. (Exodus 1:8 NLT)
Contemplate this statement for a moment. After all Joseph went through and all he accomplished, a new ruler came into power that knew nothing about Joseph. This struck me to my core. It is the deep truth all of us have to face. No matter what we do, how much time and energy we sacrifice or what we think is the most important thing we must accomplish...there will be a day no one will remember or worse...care.
What is important?
A pastor friend of mine said, "Our character determines our destiny." Let that soak in for a moment. All those Gladiator moments and intersections of holy things with mundane things make sense in the spiritual realm. They all count for something. Our character development matters as we develop to become more like Jesus and less like the person we used to be. If we are truly working on becoming more like Jesus, humility becomes the spiritual capital we invest in ourselves and others. Prayer becomes the essential nature of our being. We wouldn't do anything without checking in with the Father or first inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives to lead, guide and direct everything we do, say or think.
I think it took Joseph a very long time to develop the humility to allow God to work through him. I believe Joseph eventually embraced his humility through his experiences. I would even argue that Joseph was kept safely tucked away in prison until the time for his role in the fulfillment of God's plan arrived. His entire journey is captured in Genesis 37-Exodus 1. The experiences Joseph endured and even flourished in had deep significance in the unfolding drama of the vision God gave to Abram. "The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Legacy: what do we want to be known for?
Joseph was the second most powerful man in the world for a time. His name was splashed in every newspaper for decades. Joseph was a guest on every talk show for years. Imagine his Instagram or Twitter account. His story is one of influence and salvation. But, all of his epic accomplishments and story would not have any impact on the future generations of the Egyptians. However, Joseph would have an enormous impact in the lives of the future Israel and Joseph played a significant role in fulfilling God's vision. Isn't that the most important part--most influential in the Kingdom of God?
Let's make this personal. Imagine one hundred years from now, would the people who will worship at Wheatland Salem Church be grateful we thought about them in 2020? How would the members of WSC 3020 be influenced if they knew we prayed for God to ignite our passion now for what they would be like and how our church could not only supply our needs in 2020, but also be vital in the lives of those yet to come?
How does this impact me?
We have significant decisions that we have to make as a church. We need a God-sized vision for Wheatland Salem Church. I would like to challenge us to take the 2020 Lenten season extremely personal. Prayer and fasting is a primary conduit of spiritual development with our relationship with God. Prayer and fasting allows us to clear a pathway for God to speak to us and in an uncluttered, unpolluted environment. We will focus on the Lord's Prayer for our Sunday morning messages throughout the Lenten season. Lent begins Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Both campuses will host services at 7pm.
Prayer and Fasting.
Practice prayer and fasting through Lent on Monday and Tuesday each week, beginning March 2 and ending March 31. Put this into your phone calendar, write in on your home calendar and tell someone about what you are doing and why. Pray and ask God what He wants you to 'fast from.' It could be social media, television, food, alcoholic beverages, sugar, chocolate, meat or whatever He says. Fast on Monday and Tuesday, sunrise to sunset. Begin your fast Monday morning and end it Tuesday at sunset. During that time, focus on prayer, scripture and you may want to write in a journal what comes to mind. Notice what God is working on in your personal life. I will too. Pray specifically for God's greater vision for Wheatland and our role to play. Don't judge what comes to mind. Give yourself permission to feel pain, hunger and even agony. Boldly ask God to allow you to go through whatever experiences are necessary so that you will hear Him and allow Him to develop His character within you.
Make your commitment public. Tell your spouse, family, friends and co-workers. Invite someone to keep you accountable. Let's see what God will do in us and through us. I want to be remembered, not for the accomplishments I was able to achieve but for the efforts I championed here and now that will affect those yet to come. Remember Genesis 12--God will bless you, you will be a blessing.
Pastor Jen