Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
‘Tour-bus Christians’ drive comfortably through life as they gaze out the window at others who are elbow-deep in the daily adventure of serving God and working among spiritually needy people.
Tour-bus Christians are insulated from the real-world activity and excitement of God’s work. They may avoid some of the pain that’s involved, and they may protect themselves from the difficulties and struggles, but there’s no real adventure on a tour bus.
They miss out on the excitement of living at the edge of expectation. They don’t experience the tremendous counter-cultural truth that the more the Christian pours himself out serving others in God’s name, the more God will fill him to overflowing. The adventure comes when you tell the tour bus to stop, and you jump off and say:
‘Lord I want to get into the fray. I want to play a role in the biggest adventure story of all time. Use me to make a difference. Use me to impact a young person for You. Use me to solve someone’s problem. Use me to soothe someone’s pain. Use me to answer someone’s prayer. Use me to feed someone who’s hungry. Use me to rescue a child. Use me to bring someone to You. Use me to ease someone’s loneliness. Use me to raise a godly family.
Use me to deepen someone’s faith. Use me to cheer someone on. Use me to help a broken person understand that he’s precious in Your sight. Use me to touch lives in Your name.
I don’t want to just observe cathedrals through my bus window; I want to roll up my sleeves and build one! Lord, use me to build a living cathedral dedicated to Your glory.”
‘Tour-bus Christians’ in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 390-391.
This is a powerful word picture. When we read it in light of the command of the Lord to Joshua we discover that that call to step out of our comfort zone and into the unknown comes with a gift. Yet another reflection of the generosity of God. We get the gift of His presence with us, always.
The same promise comes in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). As we go forth making disciples and teaching people to obey everything Jesus commanded us, we have the promise of His presence with us. In this light, our generosity comes into view as building disciples or living cathedrals.
Make it so Lord Jesus. And thanks for your continued prayers as Jenni and I continue to recover from Covid and regain our strength. Also join us in praying for others who suffer around the world. May we minister to them with encouragement and whatever else they need, in Jesus name.