Let the Redeemed of the LORD Tell Their Story
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” Psalm 107:1-3
As a congregation, we have become very familiar with these verses in the past three years—a vision embedded into our pastor’s heart by the Lord…a promise, if you will, of things to come and of things that have already happened. The Lord has brought people to our congregation from the east and the west, the north and the south, a clear fulfillment of these verses.
Take a look at the next verses in the psalm: “Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
It clearly outlines what the testimony of some will be as they come to us. I cannot help but get excited as I consider verse seven especially, “He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.” It specifically says that GOD is leading them here…to a city where they can settle…to a church they can call home, if you will. HE is doing this HIMSELF! And God has entrusted us with a very particular and significant eternal task in all of this.
We have the privilege of being the hands and feet of Christ as we receive those the Lord is sending. According to the psalm, it is very possible that the Lord is using us and will use us as conduits of His unfailing love and His wonderful and miraculous deeds, and it is very possible that He is using us and will use us to help satisfy the spiritual, or even the physical, thirst and hunger of those who settle here. That’s exciting! But it is also sobering.
Are we ready…?
Today, let’s make sure. Let’s allow the Spirit to do some “housekeeping” inside of us. Let’s make room for Him so that He can flow freely through our hearts and minds, and let’s be ready to step out in word or action with courage and boldness as the Spirit leads so the Lord can use us to meet the needs of those He is sending.
Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member