From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “You CAN’T Slow DOWN!”
Today around 6:30 a.m. I pulled up to a local high school to jog around the
circumference of the property a total of five times which allows me to complete a 5-mile
cardio daily workout. About fifteen minutes into the exercise regiment I noticed a man and
a woman walking around the property in tandem, side by side. I was circling the property
in a counter-clock route and they were walking clockwise. We waved pleasantly and
shared cordial greetings as we passed each other for the first time. I assumed that as long
as we all kept moving forward in our respective directions, that eventually we’d meet up
again and exchange more warm salutations. I thought that to be the case, however, when I
saw them next, the woman was a great deal ahead of the man and he was asking her (to
no avail) to wait.
She looked back at him and just shook her head from left to right and we both
understood what that meant…she was not waiting. It’s quite possible that this man was her
husband, her brother, her cousin, or at least a dear friend. He had to be close and special
to her because initially they started on the journey together and moved in sync as one, but
that did not last long. I began to see the deep and profound spiritual message that this
moment presented to me. Regardless of their relationship it got to a point that she was not
willing to wait on him and move at his pace just because they started out together.
Sometimes we allow close relationships to hinder the pace that we move in the
things of God. There are those in the body of Christ who purposefully resist the role of
leadership because they don’t want to be out front and ahead of others. I can’t tell you
how many times I’ve heard people say that they don’t like being out front and they are
more comfortable in the back. That doesn’t work, however, when God has purposed your
life to be an example and testament for others to follow. Even though Joseph’s brothers
hated him for the way his father loved him and the dreams God gave him, he still had to
acknowledge and accept the plan for his life. He was destined to be a leader and his
family had to eventually just deal with it.
God knew clearly the plans He had for you and if you really think about it, He’s
done so much to ensure your survival through more storms and trials then you can
remember. He did that because you are meant to set a pace that others don’t match, but
follow. You have been given an amazing level of energy and vision that others can’t see
and if you reduce what you have down to satisfy others, you’ll end up frustrated and
unproductive.
The woman was not going to drive away from the school and leave her husband,
brother, cousin, or friend there alone, but rather, she was going to walk at her pace and
wait for him in the car when he finally arrived. Some may not think this is fair, but it’s not
about being fair to man, it’s about being obedient to God. Bottom line… “You CAN’T Slow
DOWN!” You must advance the kingdom of God in the manner and force that He’s given
you. Let God bring those behind to the finishing line in their predetermined time.
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT! NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly, or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)