For the Long Haul

I‘ve had no Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). My husband has, so I picked up some of a trucker’s lingo. Some get ‘dedicated’ routes going to and from the same destination. Others drive ‘local’ such as UPS or FedEx. The majority of big-rig drivers go ‘cross country; they’re in it for the long haul.

The Lord is looking for dedicated followers to serve in their local churches; to be willing to serve cross country or around the world. First and foremost they must make a commitment to follow Him for the long haul. Many of us start out with enthusiasm and dedication but quickly lose steam.

Anything from a committee assignment to building a solid marriage requires persistence and hard work. Encouraging leaders will be at our side reminding us to rekindle the flame of faithful commitment. Plans for rebuilding the house of God in Jerusalem were under way…

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2-3 ESV).”

For the long haul…

“They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king (Ezra 6:14b-15 ESV).”