Passing the Rod ...

Deuteronomy 31: 1-6 (New Living Translation) When Moses had finished giving these instructions to all the people of Israel, he said, "I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has told me, 'You will not cross the Jordan River.' But the LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the LORD promised....So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

Heading into new uncharted territory is scary enough, but when there's a leader change, the experience becomes even more frightening. June is the time of year that The United Methodist Church experiences leader changes. For those experiencing change in leadership, this change is probably bittersweet. Saying goodbye is never easy, and even though we do it often, it doesn't get any easier. Saying hello is frightening and exciting. We are excited to get to know another person and clergy family, and we are apprehensive at the same time about what lies ahead in the unknown future as ministry happens in different ways with different pastors.

Hear the words of the Lord: "Be strong and courageous!" Israel had traveled with the same leader for some 40 years, and it was time to pass the rod of leadership on to another person, a younger person who would lead Israel into their next phase of life - the Kingdom years. Appropriately, in The United Methodist Church, the new conference year begins at the beginning of Kingdomtide - the time of the Christian year when we celebrate the teachings of Christ and the beginning of the first century Church as the Gospel spread to all the world. As we enter into the newness of what lies ahead, hear these comforting words: "Be strong and courageous!" Don't be afraid to go forward with new leadership. Although things will be different because leadership styles and personalities are different, God will speak through the new leader to encourage, teach, and challenge. Also remember the words that Moses spoke: The Lord your God goes before you! You are never going into an area where God has not already gone. It may be new territory for you, but God is already there waiting for you to follow with enthusiasm and integrity.

Israel had a choice to make. Moses had challenged them in the closing verses of Chapter 30: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days..." They could choose life - choose to follow God into new territory (spiritually and physically), or they could choose death - quitting right there and just giving up.

Sometimes we may not get exactly what we want in leaders or in positions, but we have to make a choice as well. With the leadership that we are given right now, will we choose life and move on into new areas of Christian growth and ministry, or will we choose death - bitterness and defeat? With the congregations to which we are being sent, will we choose life and trust God to do something amazing in us and in the church? Some of us are being called to accept new leadership roles. Some of us are being called into new areas of ministry. Some of us are being sent to completely new places to minister and grow with a new community.

Moses encourages Israel to choose life - to trust God and move forward. "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

God has an exciting future ahead for all of us. Embrace it, and trust God to move us all forward in new and challenging ways as we continue this Christian journey.

How is God calling you to move forward? How are you going to respond?