Post by Jeanne Damoff, Secretary for The Lulu Tree Board
He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly. Psalm 147:5
What do you picture when you read those words? I imagine a long-distance runner carrying an important message — sent by a king and with the king’s authority — making his way through rugged terrain where there are all sorts of dangers and hindrances. But the command has been sent, and the runner runs as fast as he can, ignoring his exhaustion, fearing not for his own safety, desiring only to fulfill the pleasure and purpose of his king.
I also imagine this runner having unseen protection. When he passes by, a sleepiness falls on the giants and dragons who would destroy him if they had the chance. The king who sent him is a good and powerful king, and he can blind his enemies and hide his servants behind an invisible shield. The journey is difficult, but even the difficulty has the love of the king behind it. The runner was made for this, and the king wants him to become all he was created to be.
Taking the gospel to remote villages in Liberia
It sounds a little like a fairy tale. But this is the realest real, and we are the runners. We are sent into the world by the King of all kings with the most important message of all time: the gospel. And our King promises that, when He sends it, His word runs swiftly.
This Lenten season the Lulu Tree board is praying God’s word would run swiftly in the places He has sent us and in places we may yet still go. Our desire is only to fulfill the pleasure and purpose of our King. We know we are part of a grand and glorious relay race that has spanned the centuries, and we are humbled and encouraged when we hear stories of His hidden runners who have gone before us, carrying the gospel into rough and rugged places where God has given it wings.
Harvestime Bible School being taught in the refugee camps in South Sudan
We recently learned about a missionary who founded more than 400 churches between Colombia and Venezuela, and now another man of God is taking the Harvestime curriculum to these churches to equip them with teaching and training they haven’t had access to in the past. These heroes are unseen and unknown in the world. You’ve never heard their names. But they are known and honored in the courts of the King, where all the saints who’ve finished their race and received their reward are cheering us on.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-3
Baptisms in Guinea
Friends, it’s our turn to take the baton of God’s word from those who’ve carried it before us, and to run, keeping our eyes on Jesus as we lay aside all the things that distract and hinder us. Let’s pray to our King who strengthens weak hands and makes feeble knees firm. By His Spirit, He will scrape the mud of selfish ambition, pride, and foolish pursuits off our shoes and send us into the only marathon that matters.
Though we have certainly stumbled at times, this ministry has always sought to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God sends forth His command to the earth, and we pray to have ears to hear His word behind us, “This is the way, walk in it,” when we turn to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21). In many ways it would be easier to just put our heads together, come up with a plan, and then apply our own energy and creativity to bring it to pass the best we can. But we know our time is short. We are like a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14). We don’t want to spend our lives on plans of our own when the King has a race for us to run.
Working with the Dalit people in South Asia
Would you pray with us? As Paul asked the church in Thessalonica, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.” Pray our feet would be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and we would run with joy and endurance wherever He sends us. We will pray the same for you. And when we grow weary, let’s remember. We were made for this, and the King wants us to become all we were created to be.
May the Lord establish our steps, fill our mouths with good news, and make our feet beautiful as we run for Him.