Can you hear it? It was faint at first, but as we have been travelling the country over the past year, making new connections, and asking what God is doing, it seems to be getting louder. God’s breathing new life into His people, raising a vast army, but called to march to a new drumbeat. There’s a new rhythm if we can hear it!
It’s slower
Like so many around the world, I was captivated and moved by the Queens funeral. I’m biased, but I do think we are the best in the world at ‘pomp and ceremony’. There were over 10,000 personnel serving that day from across the armed forces and the commonwealth. I was especially impressed by the BBC coverage. As viewers we never missed a beat as we watched 4,000 soldiers march to the sound of 7 different marching bands across London. It was a remarkable spectacle carried off with such precision and apparent ease that our attention was never drawn to how technically difficult it really was. It was incredibly challenging because they had to slow down. For weeks, those marching were told to listen to metronomes so they could get accustomed to the new beat. The usual speed for a march is around 120 bpm, but now they had to march at 75 bpm. Slower, more controlled, and intentional with every step. This is the new beat for God’s army, slower to create space to listen and align ourselves with the heartbeat of God again. I have discovered how much easier it is to hear God when I slow down. Each day, I’m learning again to lay down my agenda, to surrender to the will of God and intentionally learn to stay connected and available. I’m amazed at how many opportunities this has presented to simply love, listen and be good news to people.
It’s in sync
Not only is it slower, but they marched in sync with each other. In the book of Joel, I read about a mighty army drawn up for battle, a mighty army that obeys the commands of the Lord who thundered at the head of His army. The sight of this army causes the enemy to turn pale as they charge like warriors. For me, I think the sheer scale of the Queen’s funeral was one of the reasons it was so impressive. It wasn’t about the individual. We don’t know any of the names of the marching soldiers. Each one, although impeccably dressed, didn’t draw attention to themselves. There was no room for artistic license, no-one wore their bearskin at a jaunty angle. No-one decided to add a syncopated skip for personal expression or wave to the camera so they could be seen by all their friends. Each was committed to playing their part, losing their identity to achieve something they could never achieve alone. This is the army God is raising up. A nameless and faceless army, committed to achieving more than we can alone. This was the army described by Joel: ‘They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead’ (Joel 2:7-8). Perhaps it’s time we stopped looking at how we can stand out and see if we can disappear as we learn to march in sync.
It’s for the honour of One
When Queen Elizabeth was born in 1926, the population of the world was thought to be around 2 Billion. According to many media sources it was expected that double that amount was going to watch her funeral live, that would have been half of the now 8 Billion world population. How did she command such an audience? The Queen became more and more open about her faith in Jesus and the strength and wisdom He had given her throughout her reign. She was one of the very few leaders that ended well, working, and fulfilling her duties until a couple of days before she died. Everything that was done from that moment culminating in her spectacular funeral, was done to honour her and only her. Politics went silent, disputes were laid aside, communities came together to commemorate and show their respect for one. The one who had faithfully given her life to serve. Once again, God is raising an army to draw attention to only one. The One, who has given His life that we may have abundant life. An army that lays down differences and personal preference to unite for the glory of One. No longer needing to be right or demanding personal expression or craving the approval of others. Instead preferring others above themselves. Choosing anonymity over fame to elevate the only One who is truly worthy of all the honour.
God is raising His army. Like the army described in Ezekiel, God is breathing new life into dry bones to build a vast army. An army that will surrender fully to the Lord of the army and march to a new drumbeat, can you hear it?
"Live to Serve" 