Meditations

One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 2 Kings 4:8-10

“Elisha passed to Shunem–now Sulam, in the plain of Esdraelon, at the southwestern base of Little Hermon. The prophet, in his journey, was often entertained here by one of its pious and opulent inhabitants.

Let us make a little chamber–not build, but prepare it. She meant a room in the porch, or gateway), attached to the front of the house, leading into the court and inner apartments.

The front of the house, excepting the door, is a dead wall, and hence this room is called a chamber in the wall. It is usually appropriated to the use of strangers, or lodgers for a night, and, from its seclusion, convenient for study.”

Robert Jamison in The Second Book of Kings (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).

If you are reading this and you rank among the pious rich then take note today. We see the wealthy woman makes a chamber for the man of God.

In this dedicated space he could sleep or study. When couple with the generous nourishment of food, it would restore him for another season of service.

How might you make a little chamber for a servant of God?

One of my many mistakes during Covid was working from home. Then a kind pious rich person supplied me office space. It’s been especially good for zooms at odd hours.

The lesson for the wealthy man or woman today is to inquire of the needs of prophets today, that is, those who travel a lot and proclaim God’s truth in an itinerant manner.

Use what you have, fashion it to serve them.

Though I just returned from an overseas trip, I am up in the Rocky Mountains today with Simon Rattray of Project 114. He’s an Epaphras to me, a helper, in global ministry.

He’s visiting from Australia so we did a mini-retreat in the mountains for a couple nights to refresh him for his next season of service. We had no idea we’d be covered with a blanket of snow (pictured above).

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:1-7

“Little is much when God is in it. Most of her neighbors would have unused empty vessels sitting around, so she wasn’t robbing anybody by borrowing them, and once she had sold the oil, she could return the vessels…

The amount of oil she received was limited by the number of vessels she had, and that was controlled by her faith. When she sold the oil, she had enough money to pay off the debt and maintain herself and her two sons. The Lord doesn’t always perform miracles of this kind to help us pay our debts, but He does meet our needs if we trust and obey.

If we give everything to Him, He can make a little go a long way. This miracle also reminds us of the greatest miracle of all, the gracious forgiveness of our debts to the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Warren W. Wiersbe in Be Distinct (2 Kings & 2 Chronicles): Standing Firmly Against the World’s Tides (The BE Series Commentary; Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2010) 41.

“Tell me, what do you have?”

This is a powerful question from the prophet. God often works miracles when we are willing to assess what we have and make it available to God. “A jar of oil,” she answered.

Next, notice in this scene, Elisha, instructed her to go borrow as many empty vessels as possible. “Do not just gather a few.” Imagine the work and the faith it required.

She could have easily assessed the situation in human terms and the labor expected of her. But no, she complied. She filled the room with vessels and God filled them with oil.

This is a powerful demonstration of what God can do for each of us.

Many reason, “I will start giving once I get out of debt.” Other say, “I need to look after myself with the little I have.” Don’t be guided by such thinking.

If you are in a hard place with unexpected challenges, here’s what I am learning in real-time: Give God what you have and go get empty vessels.

Give Him your time, your seemingly limited resources, or whatever you have. And get vessels, or in plain terms, get in a position to receive from Him what you need.

It may be the most faith-stretching work you have ever done, but you can do it. You’ve got this. God’s got you.

When this posts, I am still on my way back to Denver from Cape Town. If you want a copy of the South Africa trip report and the discerning direction documents we built, reply to this email. I will share them.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17

“The Arameans have surrounded the city with horses and chariots but to the vision of the trusting eye, the hill on which the city stands is filled with horses and chariots of fire. The sense requires that the divine contingent is serving as a protective cordon around the city of Dothan. The mighty army of the Arameans surrounding the city is no match for one man of God surrounded by the chariots of Yahweh’s army.”

August H. Konkel in 1 and 2 Kings (NIVAC; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 449.

As I wrap up my time in Cape Town and head back to Johannesburg with Chris Maphosa today, I do so with a purpose that’s bigger than a long layover. I want to help Chris, as one of 12 GTP regional facilitators serving globally, to have a trusting eye.

Yesterday the prophet Elisha did a divine summons and today he senses the divine contingent. They key here is to focus not on that which is seen but that which is unseen. But how do we do this, practically speaking?

The first step in times of crisis is to remind yourself the words of the prophet: Don’t be afraid. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. The second is to pray. This gives you a trusting eye to see the divine contingent greater than the foes.

Pray for safe travel home, for God to grow in Chris and the other regional facilitators with hearts filled with courage (rather than fear), and for a trusting eye to discern the presence and power of the divine contingent that surrounds each of us in Christ.

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.” And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7

“Their number increased so that they wanted room…When one of them, accidentally fetching too fierce a stroke (as those that work seldom are apt to be violent), threw off his axe-head into the water, he did not say, “It was a mischance, and who can help it? It was the fault of the helve, and the owner deserved to stand to the loss.” No, he cries out with deep concern, Alas, master! For it was borrowed.

Had the axe been his own, it would only have troubled him that he could not be further serviceable to his brethren; but now, besides that, it troubles him that he cannot be just to the owner, to whom he ought to be not only just but grateful.

Note: We ought to be as careful of that which is borrowed as of that which is our own, that it receives no damage, because we must love our neighbour as ourselves and do as we would be done by. It is likely this prophet was poor, and had not wherewithal to pay for the axe, which made the loss of it so much the greater trouble. To those that have an honest mind the sorest grievance of poverty is not so much their own want or disgrace as their being by it rendered unable to pay their just debts.

Concerning the father of the prophets, Elisha.

1. That he was a man of great condescension and compassion; he went with the sons of the prophets to the woods, when they desired his company, let no man, especially no minister, think himself to great to stoop to do good, but be tender to all.

2. That he was a man of great power; he could make iron to swim, contrary to its nature, for the God of nature is not tied up to its laws. He did not throw the helve after the hatchet, but cut down a new stick, and cast it into the river. We need not double the miracle by supposing that the stick sunk to fetch up the iron, it was enough that it was a signal of the divine summons to the iron to rise. God’s grace can thus raise the stony iron heart which has sunk into the mud of this world, and raise up affections naturally earthly, to things above.”

Matthew Henry (1843-1916) in his commentary on 2 Kings 6:1-7.

Sitting in Cape Town on my last day of meetings, God led me to read the miracle narratives of Elisha. These stories encourage me to remember to trust and depend on God’s power to do the impossible.

God often does not work unless we take a step or faith or do an action that demonstrates dependence on Him and trust that He will work in power. It’s a divine summons. That’s what Elisha did in tossing in the stick.

I feel we must do the same today. In Cape Town, we have mapped plans for GTP work in the EPSA region over the next year as well as plans for rolling out trainings across Africa. Each set of plans is a divine summons.

It’s seeing the challenges in countries crying out for help from places like Tanzania to Ethiopia and throwing a new stick in the water as a divine summons. We are seeing God work in response to acts of bold faith.

Reply if you want to read copies of our discerning direction documents (3D) and click here to give to support the work of training and empowering God’s servants to move from dependency to discipleship.

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

“The man who will share his purse with you in the days of misfortune and distress, and like the good Samaritan, be surety for your support to the landlord, you may admit to your confidence, incorporate into the very core of your heart, and call him friend. Misfortunes cannot shake him from you; a prison will not conceal you from his sight.”

Joseph Bartlett (1763-1827) in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 308.

When we share mercifully, that is, showing sensitivity to the needs of those around us from our purse, we exhibit rich generosity and love, like the good Samaritan. We also build confidence and trust in our relationships. This makes friends who weather the storms of misfortune.

This support comes into view not as a handout but as a hand up that builds a strong bond. It also shows the one in need how to aid others with the same unmerited kindness. It’s love in action. Can you recall a time when someone lifted you up? How did that make you feel? What if you go and do likewise today for someone in need? 

The meetings in Cape Town are going well. Keep praying for us as we have discussions and do activities to build confidence in our work with each other. I’m also pausing to give thanks for my daughter, Sophie, whose generous sharing has made her an unshakeable and merciful friend to many. Today’s her birthday. Happy Birthday, Sophie.

And [Jesus] told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

“In The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook uses parameters like healthcare, options, living space per person, and mobility to conclude that we who live middle-class lives in North America or Europe are living a lifestyle that is, materially speaking, “better than 99 percent of all the people who have ever lived in human history.”

He goes on to show the great paradox of our material wealth. As our lives have grown more comfortable, more affluent, and fielled with more possessions, “depression in the Western nations has increased ten times.” Why? Easterbrook cites Martin Seligman, past president of the American Psychological Association, who identifies rampant individualism (viewing everything through the “I,” which inevitably leads to loneliness) and runaway consumerism (thinking that owning more will make us happy and then being disappointed when it fails to deliver).

Like the rich farmer in Luke’s parable, excessive individualism and rampant consumerism distracts us from the care of our souls. We enlarge on the outside and shrivel on the inside, and we find ourselves spiritually bankrupt.

If any characteristic of North American society might disqualify us from effective involvement in mission in our globalized world, it is the relentless pursuit of the so-called American dream. (I think it affects Canadians too.) The belief that each successive generation will do better economically than the preceding one leads to exaggerated expectations of life and feelings of entitlement. If my worldview dictates that a happy and successful life is my right, I will run away from the sacrifices needed to be a genuine participant in the global mission of God.”

Paul Borthwick in Western Christians in Global Mission: What’s the Role of the North American Church? (Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 145-146.

The GTP meetings are going well in Cape Town. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Whilst I’ve been traveling, I’ve corresponded with a number of Americans who want to engage with the work GTP is doing abroad. That led me to read a chapter in Borthwick’s book.

As inflation rises, the stock market sinks, and people ask what God desires of them, I offer one word: sacrifice.

This requires each of us to identify the cultural trappings and turn from excessive individualism and rampant consumerism and instead to choose intentional community and generous stewardship.

Sadly, however, for most like the rich fool, their God is comfort rather than Christ.

Need help to get perspective? My wife, Jenni, who serves as a spiritual director, recommends an app which I started using: Lectio 365. Check it out to attune to God rather than the noise in our culture.

Beyond that, ask the Holy Spirit what it might look like for you to sacrifice and engage in global mission.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17:20-21

“Cross-cultural partnerships are on the rise. They have become a primary method in which churches and organizations engage in global missions. Partners from different cultures and contexts start working together with the hope of accomplishing great things for the kingdom of God. Yet despite their noble dreams and aspirations, working through cultural differences that surround money can become overwhelming at times. Over the years I have witnessed often that these cultural differences about how funds are utilized and accounted for cause cross-cultural partnerships to become unglued. When this happens, many relationships are ruptured and the witness of Christ is hindered.”

Mary T. Lederleitner in Cross-Cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission (Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 21.

Lederleitner is a respected colleague. I am exploring ideas in her book as part of a growing effort to understand cross-cultural partnerships as it relates to global generosity. Let me explain. If GTP connects the generosity of Christians with big challenges in countries, we must make sure partners use the funds in a way that exhibits consistency and transparency so that faithful stewardship fosters local generous giving and sustainability.

For example, our Palmful of Maize project is spreading across Malawi. It’s making the national news as community and tribal leaders is 6 of 28 districts (think 6 of 28 states) have embraced it.

Someone asked me this question recently. How much does it cost to spread it to another district? The answer is about $1,500. That pays for the gas to send team members to a district, covers printing, meals, lodging, and related expenses. When team members do this hard work, Sunday school teachers get trained and children respond in obedience. It has the potential to shape a society like Handful of Rice did in Northeast India.

So what’s my point today? It’s really a message to church and ministry workers. There is something bigger than rolling out this vision of rallying generosity in every Sunday school class in Malawi.

The bigger item is discipling the national workers to give an account for their stewardship and showing them that faithfulness with small levels of resources results in more coming in so that they participate in spreading the vision with GTP and not so much in reliance on GTP.  We get to do it together! Sure, we still need $17,000 to finish by 30 June 2022 to finish the Phase 1 rollout. But the cool part is, they will assist us in Phase two.

Here’s how that relates to the meetings in Cape Town. The new Regional Trainer for Africa will work with Country Representatives to spread trainings to help national workers move from dependency (relying on our support to get anything accomplished) to discipleship (doing the work with us as God supplies linked to their faithful participation with us with what they have).

This is a bold vision. If you want to support it, click to make a gift to GTP here. We are praying for 100 new givers and need 85 more before 30 June 2022 to inspire a major foundation to give us a capacity building grant.

And pray for us as our meetings have a spiritual aspect to attune to God, a social component to build strong bonds with each other, a strategic element to discern our faithful work, and a solitude element to sort our thoughts alone with God in our rooms. We are finding that discussing faithful work to be done with mutual respeect, feedback and accountability, helps us avoid allowing cultural differences to derail efforts.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

“If we are engaged in God’s work, ruling as His image-bearers, we should imitate the character He displays as He works. Divine compassion, beauty, holiness, and justice should be mirrored in the labors of God’s people. We imitate His knowledge, even if our knowledge is not of the same sort as His. The preaching and teaching of God’s work should lead to this imitation of God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, generosity, and righteousness. We do not imitate perfectly, and however impressive our work is by human standards, it is always a pale imitation of God’s magnificence. Our best deeds and desires are tainted by sin. Many of the characteristics possessed perfectly by God and appearing in His people are merely imperfect shadows–but they are God shaped shadows.”

Jason B. Hood in Imitating God in Christ: Recapturing a Biblical Pattern (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2013) 40.

Adding a new staff member to the GTP team led me to read excerpts of this book when I woke up early today.

I have traveled to Cape Town, South Africa (pictured above), to facilitate a discernment retreat and orientation activities this week with Ereny Monir and Chris Maphosa to activate Gabrielle Fortunato to serve as GTP Regional Trainer for Africa.

This is both spiritual and strategic work. We want Gabrielle to imitate Christ while pursuing the mission of GTP.

In this kind of work, Hood reminds us that our focus should be imitating the “faithfulness, forgiveness, generosity, and righteousness” of God while realizing our efforts, which are tainted by sin, come into view as imperfect shadows, though they are God shaped ones.

I am realizing this must be reflected in my life first as President & CEO so the team follows my example.

Related to Africa, Gabrielle will facilitate trainings that aim to multiply faithful stewards to be God shaped shadows. They won’t be perfect, but they will aim to reflect the “faithfulness, forgiveness, generosity, and righteousness” of God to the watching world.

May God shape each of us into image-bearers who exhibit His compassion, beauty, holiness, and justice!

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9

“Starvation cannot be argued with; the gaunt spectre cannot be laid by speeches and resolutions. We must share our abundance of bread with the hungry. We are a great brotherhood, children of Him who our ancestors called the All-Father, and it is not for us to ask the old question of Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

John Greenleaf Whittier in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 892.

Starvation and sharing are on my mind as I flew over some desolate parts of Africa to get to Johannesburg where I overnighted, en route to Cape Town, South Africa.

These topics are also on my mind as the Palmful of Maize vision in Malawi continues to unfold.
The recent report from GTP project manager, Matthew Gadsden, and STUM (Sunday School Teachers United Movement) project coordinator, John Msowoya, brings hope for impact:

– Malawi is divided into 28 districts (like states in USA). Teachers and trainers have been trained by STUM in 6 districts so far.
– 17 traditional and cultural authorities have been reached from the 6 districts. All traditional and cultural authorities in 6 districts are very excited about the project and promised to be supportive of it.
– 72 zones (like counties within states in USA) have been engaged within the 6 districts.
– 432 Sunday school teachers and volunteers have been equipped.
– 60 pastors have been empowered. Pastors’ committees in all districts welcomed the project and STUM was encouraged that it is possible.

The main challenge this year for POM is that some parts of the country had a lot of rain and as well as other challenges linked to the roll out across the country. This challenge will present opportunities for generous sharing to help those whose crops did not do well.

In short, the church in the Malawi needs revival and the lost (whether they come from a Muslim or secular unchurched background) need Jesus. Many will be hungry soon. Believers will have the opportunity to share their maize and serve as their brother’s keeper.

GTP and STUM believe the effort will not only teach generosity to the children. It will serve as a powerful force of evangelism as those whose crops do well will share with the church. The church will dispense 80% of the collected maize to the poor within each district.

The other 20% will be split in half, 10% for administrative expenses, and 10% for missions, that is, spreading Palmful of Maize to other countries, like Zambia and Zimbabwe, for starters. If you want to join this nationwide effort, click here to make a gift to GTP.

To roll out this vision for growing generosity across Malawi, GTP invested $67,000. We got a gift of $10,000 and we have word that an African foundation will contribute $40,000. Please pray with us for God to supply the remaining $17,000. Thanks.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

“If thou hide thy treasure upon earth, how canst thou expect to find it in heaven? Canst thou hope to be a sharer where thou hast reposed no stock? What thou givest to God’s glory, and thy soul’s health, is laid up in heaven, and is only thine; that alone which thou exchangest or hidest upon earth is lost.”

Francis Quarles (1592-1664) in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 938.

Quarles helps us understand a profound idea. Giving contributes to the health of the soul. Think about it. God does not need our money, we need to give it. The more we give, the more we take hold of life.

I get as far as Johannesburg, South Africa, today en route to Cape Town to welcome Gabrielle Fortunato, the new GTP Regional Trainer for Africa. Part of her role is to facilitate generosity trainings.

Imagine the joy of helping remind people what what they hide here they lose and what they share richly will be found in heaven. Pray for fruitful meetings over the next 5 days. Thanks.