Last time I wrote about hope, about leaning on Jesus and his promises.
Reflecting a bit on my words, I wondered if I sounded a little selfish. After all, my relationship with Jesus is a covenant, a two-way relationship with commitments on both sides.
Of course, I lean on Jesus and his promises. But in a covenant, I have responsibilities as well.
The simplest and earliest form of the covenant is found in Genesis 12, when God chose Abram and promised to bless him, so that through him the entire world might be blessed.
Blessed… To Be A Blessing.
It’s a common theme repeated throughout the Bible. Even though humans never manage to follow through on our side, the responsibility is still there. We’re blessed so we can be a blessing to others.
Three years ago, when we completed our 10th Freedom Tour, a good friend suggested it might be time to stop. After all, I wasn’t getting any younger, and perhaps it was time to back off and take it easy.
Gotta admit, the prospect sounded good at the time. But as I thought about it, I couldn’t find any indication of an expiration date on the principle that I’m blessed to be a blessing.
Nothing I have belongs to me. It’s all a gift with a purpose – to be shared. I believe I’m asked to do my best with what I have, for as long as possible – and trust Jesus for the outcome.
The kids at the Home of Hope still need shelter, nutrition, education, and counseling. The need continues, whether I’m a year older or not. Whether it gets a little harder or not.
I’m beyond grateful that Becky and I are surrounded by a remarkable, dedicated team who help us more and more each year. And I’m excited to see what God has planned for this crazy project in the years ahead.