DO YOUR OWN PART!

[Pastor Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,

DO YOUR OWN PART!

"So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered.... As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up... so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword" (Exodus 17:10-13 NIV).

One of the favourite songs of the Baptist Women Missionary Union of Nigeria goes thus: "If we work together, Together, together; If we work together, the happier we'll be. Your work and my work, our work for the Lord; If we work together, the happier we'll be." An incident that happened to the people of Israel as they were going from Egypt, their land of slavery, to Canaan, their promised land corroborates this. On their way, the Amalekites decided to waylay them. There was no reason given for this attack. Moses, however, rose to the task by sending Joshua and some men to go and fight the Amalekites. He also decided to do his own part in the battle by going up to a mountain to intercede for them.

Joshua led the fighting men to battle against the Amalekites. Moses also led two other people, Aaron and Hur, to a mountain where he interceded for the fighting men. As long as he raised his hands up, the Israelites were winning, but the Amalekites would be winning whenever he lowered his hands. It came to a point that he was tied. Aaron and Hur then did their own part in finding a seat for Moses and helping him to raise his hands up, ensuring that the Israelites eventually had total victory.

Five different kinds of people did their own parts to give the Israelites success: 1) Joshua that heeded to the order of Moses in choosing and leading the fighting men; 2) the choosing men that did the fighting; 3) Moses that went to intercede for them; 4) Aaron and Hur that held Moses' hands when he was tired; and 5) God that gave the victory. The role of none of these people cannot be underestimated.

Likewise, the motto of the union referred to above is relevant here: "For we are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV).

God has extended the invitation to work with Him to us. Have you responded to the invitation? It may be in your local church, in a ministry like this one, or in any other place. Are you doing your own part? No matter how small or insignificant your part may be, do your own part, and do it faithfully.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).