The Gospel of Isaiah: Ch. 54:2-3, Enlarge Your Tent! Stretch Yourself!
The Gospel of Isaiah: Ch. 54:2-3, Enlarge Your Tent! Stretch Yourself!
WANTED: An imaginative scribe who can write exquisite poetry. A faithful, articulate believer in Yahweh who can switch from one extreme to another at the Lord’s command… from a sublime vision of God’s glory, to a ridiculous demonstration of shameful nakedness; from confronting the people over their sinfulness, to comforting people with hopefulness; from being an outspoken messenger one minute, to a living object lesson the next; from having one foot in the immediate surroundings one minute, to one foot in the future messianic realm the next. Must be adaptable, thick-skinned, and extraordinarily brave. Person who answers, “Here I am. Send me!” will be especially considered. (from The Jerusalem Post, 740 BC).
“Enlarge your tent and add many extensions to your dwelling! Think big! Hold nothing back, spare no expense! Make the tent ropes longer and the peg stronger. You will increase and spread out in every direction. Your sons and daughters will occupy other nations and will resettle the ruined cities. (54:2-3).
Spiritual Gut Check: Ten Private Questions to Ask Oneself:
(1.) Am I underestimating what God can do in my life, in the life of others around me, in my nation, in the world? Am I thinking that God’s hands are somehow tied, that He’s in some kind of straitjacket and unable to do great things? Am I minimizing God’s mighty power instead of expecting big things from him? Am I allowing my mustard seed faith to stay small so I won’t be disappointed?
(2.) Am I praying earnestly enough for a wave of the Holy Spirit, a revival that would dramatically enlarge the family of believers? Is my vision for the size of the Christian Church big enough to include those unexpected persons who seem unlikely candidates to be spiritual siblings, perhaps even unworthy to be in the same tent as me?
(3.) Much like the early Jewish Christians had to expand their view to include the Gentiles, am I making enough room for the “new Gentiles” to climb into my nice comfortable church, those who offer their own special gifts because of a different race, worship style, denomination, religion, socioeconomic level, nationality, ethnic group, and maybe even a different theology?
(4.) Am I operating in a generous spirit of hospitality as the Church expands… like Father Abraham, who was exalted by the rabbinic authorities as someone who “always kept all four of his tent flaps open“? Am I cooperating with God’s expansion plans like Abraham in this ancient Jewish Passover prayer: “May the All-Merciful One bless this table at which we have eaten. May it be like the table of Abraham our father; All who are hungry may eat from it, and all who are thirsty may drink from it.”
(5.) Am I content with an expectation of spiritual scarcity instead of thinking the best of God and anticipating spiritual abundance? Am I content with just getting by in my spiritual life, or do I ask God to shower me and my loved ones with His spiritual blessings? Am I treating the good Lord as if He really is good and desires what’s best in my walk with Him?
(6.) Is my denominational theology too rigid, perhaps even holding me back from learning more about the vast expanse of God? Am I open to expanding any views I might have about the God who is actually beyond human understanding? Why am I afraid of discovering something new about God? Why am I uncomfortable with the idea of exploring God as the Final Frontier? Am I guilty of that fateful spiritual disease called “hardening of the categories“? Am I willing to consider different translations of the Bible, or perhaps differing understandings of Scripture passages?
(7.) Am I willing to expand my capacity for growth in my faith? Why am I tempted to limit my spiritual potential to mature and develop as a Christian? Am I willing to grow past whatever may be holding me back spiritually? Am I willing to stretch myself spiritually in a Christ-centered way and expand His spiritual territory within me?
(8.) Have I carefully thought about any petty or insignificant “religious” routines that don’t move me forward in the faith? Am I willing to let go of those things that might be considered stale bread so I can digest some fresh bread from God?
(9.) Am I creating enough room in my life, in my mind and heart, to embrace God’s generosity when He wants to open the windows of heaven and pour down His blessings? Are my arms open wide enough for God to be generous with His spiritual gifts? Or have I become cynical about God’s generosity? Am I learning to confidently expect God’s compassionate care?
(10.) Am I faithfully driving the tent pegs of my faith deep enough in the ground to offer stability during the inevitable windstorms in life? Are my spiritual tent stakes driven deep enough to remain rooted in Jesus Christ? Do I make sure I continue to hammer those pegs into the ground until it reaches the bedrock of truth in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?