Letter To Our Children
by Pastor Joe | July 10, 2024 | Letters To Our Children

July 10, 2024
Listen closely to me!
Deliver me quickly;
be a rock that protects me;
be a strong fortress that saves me!
You are definitely my rock and my fortress.
Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!
Psalm 31:2-3 (CEB)
I want to run to you
Won't you hold me in your arms;
And keep me safe from harm
I want to run to you.
Whitney Houston—Run to You

A photo of Mount Rainer—taken by my son Jared over the July 4th weekend.
Hello friends.
Part of my morning readings now includes the Children’s book God You Are by William R. Osborne. The book takes a good long look at all that makes God—God. It has been a great help to me.
Chapter four of the book is the title, God You Are My Rock. There are two big things I learned while reading.
Two Things
First, mountains are so big no one has the strength to make the mountain move. The mountain is too big. Osbourne points out that in Bible times, people didn't climb mountains for fun but would run to them when hiding from enemies.
Second, the Bible says God is like a rock. He is safe to run too. He protects us. When we are afraid, we run to Him.
One More Thing
There was a rock in the Bible that was much more than protection and safety. It was the life-giving rock at Horeb.
I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.
Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.
God's people were exhausted. They had been on a long track with no water in sight. They were walking by faith (God had told them to), hoping to find water soon.
Then, when all their strength was completely spent, unable to go any further, God said stop. They stopped. God said to Moses, strike the rock. Moses did. At that moment, a full-flowing stream of refreshing water burst out of the rock. God saved His people! God did this in the middle of nowhere!
That is who God is—Savior! A saving rock that not only protects our life but also gives us life. Rock means my Savior. My refresher. My restorer. My deliverer.
Rock, in a way, is the Old Testament name for Jesus. Remember, the New Testament Apostles teach us how to interpret the Old Testament. For example, The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:4.
…and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Jesus has a ton of titles—Bread of Life, Light of the World, Profit, Priest, King, Judge of the World, Redeemer, Justifier, Sanctifier, Wisdom from God, etc. Now we know we can add The Rock to the list. (Not the actor but the Savior!)
That is who Jesus is. He is life-giving, life-protecting, and life-preserving. Think of it like this.
What is your problem? The Rock says Give it to Me.
What is your need? The Rock says I will meet it.
What is your worry? The Rock says I will never abandon you. I made you!
Are you afraid? The Rock says Run to Me!
In this world, Jesus said, we will have trouble. No surprise there. Be that as it may, He also said to be happy and run to Him. He has overcome the world.
May God bless you. I sure hope you are having a lovely summer.
Pastor Joe