Oh My Stars...Where is the land that God has given you?

Oh My Stars...Where is the land that God has given you??

Bro. Ron Sanders was talking about reading his chronological Bible last Sunday and it got me to thinking about mine, so I pulled it out and opened it to March 25 daily reading which was Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:2, but I didn’t make it that far because the first two verses grabbed hold of me tightly. 

Deuteronomy 26 (New International Version)

 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, ² take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name

When reading Matthew Henry’s Commentary about these scriptures he tells us this chapter is about Moses concluding the particular statutes which he thought fit to give Israel in charge at his parting with them.

BUT, for me at this time in my life and the season we have been facing at church and still are facing, these scriptures mean so much more, to me personally. 

“When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance...” the land that God has given me and you, is our church, not the building but the family the people.  Our church family has been picked for us by God, it doesn’t mean we will not be moved to another church family at a later date, but they are and will always be our family given to us by God.  I know this to be true because I no longer go to church with Lisa and Robert White, Cathy and Keith Manning, Ron and Gail Benson, Gina and Steve Carpenter, Lou and Randy Rogers, Dallas and Vicki Gunn, Ginny and Kenny Burns, Debbie and Steve Faries and many others, but they are and will always be my family that God has given to me, they are part of my inheritance.  We may not be blood kin but we are family by Jesus’ blood, when we all get to heaven they will be there with me, my family, my inheritance.

The verse goes on to say, “and have taken possession of it and settled in it...”.  As you can tell I have taken possession of them, I claim them, I love them and I have settled in it because I know they are part of my family, they are my family.  Along the way, we have had some disagreements, we have gotten our feelings hurt by each other, but isn’t that the way it is in a family?  Did we avoid the talks?  Did we pout and not talk to each other, for a bit maybe, but in the end we cried out to the LORD, hugged each other and thanked God for each other.  I love them all now and forever.

So, right now, right where you are, where is your land?  What condition is it in?  Would God give you something in your life that is worthless, not worth fighting for, if your blood family, your mom, dad, sister, or brother were confused, hurting, making wrong decisions would you write them off, turn your back and walk away?  NO!  Sometimes I wonder what in the world God is thinking when He places me where He places me, but I know in my heart of hearts He does know best.  Romans 8:28 ^“ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”  I believe His Word.

So do I want the inheritance that God is offering me right now?  You bet I do!  If God is offering to give me something, it will be the best gift I will ever receive from anyone.  The next question is am I going to take possession of the gift and settle into it?  Yes!  YES! YES!!  Will it be easy?  Without being uncomfortable?  Hey, He didn’t say that but I believe that my gift will be awesome. 

The other part of the scripture says, “Take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket.” For me, my firstfruits in the land that the LORD my God has given me is the children’s program.  I give them to Him, they are another part of my inheritance, He has trusted me to love them, to teach them and to lift them up in prayer.  They are the future of our church, of the land that God has given to us, they watch us, they will emulate us, they will justify their actions by ours.  OH MY STARS!!!!!!! What are my actions teaching them?  Those children do not live with me, they are not my physical children, but they are my children and if you go to church anywhere, they are your children too!  They are watching.

So now the question is, “Where is your land that the LORD your God has given you as an inheritance?  Have you taken possession of it?  Have you settled there?  What will be your firstfruits?

Dear Father above, thank you for loving us, thank you for giving us gifts, even when we don't know what to do with them right now, help us to love and care for each and every person You have placed in our land, in our inheritance, and please accept our firstfruits as an offering of Thanksgiving.  Help us see past the state our land is in now and see the gift that You desire for us. Amen.