What an amazing Journey we are about to begin...Wait...didn't we just finish a 40-Day Journey Toward a Life of Active Compassion? Okay...there is a sense in which our journey has always been and always will be. Part of what makes this experience such a God-Journey is that we cannot nail down a specific beginning, and we certainly do not know exactly where God will take us next.
But from now on, there are some differences in how this journey will proceed and continue. Our resolve and generosity will be tested. Our faith and perseverance will come under fire. But our opportunities to follow-up with people we’ve met and projects we’ve started will be very exciting! We will see a harvest of compassion as we build on the relationships we’ve started and strengthened so far. I am so thankful to be at this stage in our journey.
I would like to challenge us to think of this next phase of our life of active compassion as The New Normal. Today, and every day from here on is a "Day 41." This is a metaphor for the next day, and every day, after our 40-Day Journey Toward a Life of Active Compassion.
As I prepared for this day, I reflected on many scriptures, and I was impressed by an interesting parallel. Joseph struggled in an Egyptian prison for 13 years. He was living in faith that God would fulfill the promises Joseph received in his dreams as a young man. But 13 years is a long time...especially when falsely accused.
But then it finally happened. In God’s perfect timing, Joseph was brought before the Pharaoh of Egypt and given the opportunity to help him in a time of great distress. Like us, Joseph was passing on the gift God had given him, but he did it in such a way that the Pharaoh could see God in and through Joseph. This exchange confirmed to Pharaoh that Joseph could be trusted and he committed the future of the nation to his care!
The statement of this exchange is Genesis 41:41--
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."Genesis 41:41 reveals the New Normal for Joseph. This became his Day 41. From then on Joseph was no longer the dreamer...instead he was living the dream. He was no longer the prisoner longing for freedom...he was free. He was no longer the boy with potential...he was the man taking care of business. This is the essence of all the Day 41's in the history of God’s people"
- Noah’s Day 41 came on the heels of 40 days and nights of rain.
- The Ten Commandments and the Covenant of God became the Day 41 for Moses and the people of Israel after he had been on the mountain of God for 40 days.
- Life in the Promised Land was the Day 41 for the people of Israel after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
- David liberated the army of God when he defeated Goliath--after 40 days of Goliath’s intimidating rant against God and his people.
- The anointing of Elisha and the new Kings of Israel and Aram became the Day 41 for the ministry of Elijah after 40 Days in the wilderness.
- The people of Nineveh experienced the mercy of God on their Day 41 after 40 days of preaching by Jonah.
- Jesus started his ministry on Day 41 following 40 days of testing and temptation in the wilderness.
- And the amazing power of the resurrection was unleashed in the testimony of those who saw Jesus in the 40 days between his triumph over death and his return to heaven.
- There is a sense in which the entire world is living in Day 41, awaiting the final coming of Jesus, just as he promised.
Active compassion is our New Normal. This is our Day 41!
- Don McLaughlin
