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Ten-Hut!

Writer's picture: LoriLori
The church in formation

The evening my son graduated from National Guard AIT, the families were sent to a parking lot to wait in the dark. I really didn’t know why we were there, but suddenly there came a sound like none other: the sound of hundreds of boots marching in rhythm.


As they marched, the sergeant would call out something unintelligible to me, but the soldiers knew just what he was saying, and they answered in unison. Their voices sounded as one. As they rounded the corner, they weren’t looking at us or each other but only at their leader.


By the time they stood before us, my husband and I could hardly speak. I’m crying now as I remember it. It was breathtaking, powerful: a troop of men and women in formation, eyes straight ahead, ready to move at the command of their leader. We were spellbound.


Way back in the wilderness, Moses told his troops their time was coming.

See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ (Deuteronomy 4:5–6, NIV)


Moses was addressing the battle-weary standing before him, but he was speaking to a thousand generations. That generation in the wilderness missed their invitation. As did the next, and the next, and the next, until those God first chose to be His image-bearers had to be set aside.


But God has called out another band of image-bearers. Right now, He’s setting His troops in formation: a strange group of people called the Church — a rag-tag bunch of amateurs that God can, really and truly, shape into an army that can march to the rhythm of His love. He’s drawn their attention; their eyes are fixed on Him. They’ve learned the sound of His voice, and He’s teaching them to walk in His ways. They will follow Him, answer His call, and they will, He promises, move as one.


And as they grow in wisdom and understanding, God’s Spirit calls to the nations.


Can we receive this: that while our eyes are fixed on Him, the nations have their eyes fixed on us? If the nations are ever to say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,” His people must call out, “Come…let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Because by His invitation and under His command, we are here to display His glory as He calls the nations to Himself.


Lord, help us.

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