Signs of Hope (ADVENT-URE 12: The Twelve Stones)

Gifts can be powerful reminders of how we feel about someone.  And, God has sent His Son as the
greatest gift we could ever experience. James 1 says:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

A gift can communicate a message, it can open a heart.  Our giving can show someone that we care about them, and what we receive can bring emotion to us.  Recently, I experienced firsthand and saw repeatedly how a simple shoebox gift through Operation Christmas Child can impact the hearts of children and demonstrate the activity of selfless giving.  The symbol of a shoebox becomes a testimony of the giving nature of our God.  And, as we participate in giving and receiving gifts in this amazing season, we can be careful to turn the focus to our Heavenly Father - He is an incredible giver!

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Welcome into another week of special Advent devotionals, spanning the 25 days leading up to and including Christmas Day.  And, on each weekday during that period, I share a Front Room commentary relative to a symbol or image remind us of the coming of Christ and its significance.

So, today on our Advent-ure, we look at 2 more signs.  The 11th one involves a woman named Rahab, who hid two spies from Israel who had come into Jericho.  When the king of the land sent his men out, she diverted them and sent the men of Israel on their way in secrecy and safety.  She asked that
the armies of Israel would protect her family, and in Joshua chapter 2, we read:
17 So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,
18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home.

Rahab is part of the genealogy of Jesus.  Her life was spared and her faithfulness was rewarded.  The scarlet cord reminds us of the salvation from destruction that Christ has come to give us.  In Joshua 6, we read:
25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

There are reminders of God's faithfulness all around us.  And, He blesses our obedience.   As Joshua and his people journeyed into the Promised Land, they build an altar to the Lord in the midst of the Jordan River, which they crossed to enter the Land.  In Joshua chapter 4, we can read this:
2 "Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
3 and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.' "

We read in verse 6 that these stones are to be a sign...
(6) ...when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

Today, we reflect on the security we have in Christ our protector, the true and faithful Lord, in whom we place our trust.  He has brought us out of darkness into His light and He has brought us out of hopelessness into a precious hope in Christ.

For the next few days, I am going to take you to the streets of the nation of Colombia, where God is moving, where the streets are full of people who need to experience the hope of Jesus Christ.  I want to set the stage for you about my coverage of a Media Vision Trip with Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse.  I want you to journey with me to the city of Bosa, which is a suburb of the sprawling capital of Bogota.

Imagine, the streets filled with rows of buildings, where people live and where shopkeepers sell their wares.  The neighborhoods are full of people walking about, but the streets are not especially well-kept - graffiti covers the roll-top doors of so many of the individual buildings, which are all joined together in city block after city block, a reminder of the violence that permeates the area.   

And, there are children, who have hope and joy, even in the midst of the drugs, violence, and brokenness of their communities.   Where there is physical and spiritual poverty, God is making His presence known.  Into this setting, local pastors with a heart for their neighborhoods have partnered with Samaritan's Purse in distributing shoebox gifts to the children, a sign of God's love to not only the children, but their families.

I observed children who came to the outreach events who were joyful and attentive.  I observed kids singing and dancing, who heard a gospel presentation, and who remained engaged for perhaps an hour or more.  I saw joy on their faces and gratitude in their expression.  In addition to the shoeboxes, the children receive a booklet called, The Greatest Gift, and are invited to participate in a 12-week discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.   Our team attended and even participated in a graduation ceremony for a large group of children in one particular church - a special, impactful ceremony where the kids wear caps and gowns and received a certificate and a New Testament for completing the program.   

I have been trying to formulate a phrase for several days, and I'm going to give it a try now.  In this area of Bogota where we observed ministry happening, I believe the people, especially the children, realize that Jesus is all they need because He is all they have.  In the absence of worldly possessions, a simple shoebox gift makes a dramatic impact, and a basis, a tool, through which God can work in their hearts.   The gift reminds them of the Gift, the Greatest Gift, and that is made very plain.  

God reminds us of His love and He is preserving for Himself a people called by His name - that's the incredible story of the Bosa team...they give of themselves so that Christ could be exalted.  Rahab gave of herself and the scarlet cord reminds us that she was rewarded for her faithfulness.  The children of Israel placed 12 stones in the Jordan as a reminder of His deliverance.  The challenge for each of us is to take the presence of Christ with us, to be obedient to Him, and to celebrate what He does when we see Him do it.  

The passion of the leadership team for Operation Christmas Child in that area of Colombia is contagious.  We had the opportunity to pray with the leaders there and hear their stories.  Even though we speak a different language, the common bond of the Spirit is apparent.   

Country-wide, since 2002, over 1.6 million children in Colombia have received shoebox gifts and a gospel presentation.  During the most recent season, over 350 thousand children will have received gifts, with over 170,000 expected to participate in the discipleship program.  God is raising up a children's ministry that far exceeds just the distribution of shoeboxes.  The shoebox is a tool, a powerful one at that, but it opens the door for children to experience God's love, to give their lives to Christ, and to grow in Him.  We can look for ways in our own experience to use the resources that the Lord has made available, in order to that the truth may be shared.