Establish You
You know those words that you feel comfortable using in a sentence because you understand the meaning but you cannot exactly give someone a dictionary definition? The other day I overheard my sister talking to my six-year-old daughter. She used the word establish and Charlotte asked, “What does establish mean?” My sister hesitated then conveniently began fussing at the puppy. I knew she was trying to avoid answering the question. She soon ventured into the kitchen where I met her with a smirk, "Nice try Monty,” I said loud enough for Charlotte to hear in the other room. “Tell us, what does establish mean.” She laughed out loud. “I don't actually know,” she said “and I can't find my phone to Google it.” Never one to miss out on the action, Charlotte started riding through the kitchen on her scooter shouting, “I will establish you! I will establish you!” We began laughing hysterically. We never did tell her what the word means. I figured she had the right idea, that was definitely the right way to use it.
Establish means “to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis” (Miriam Webster). I thought about my daughter chanting, “I will establish you!” and chuckled but I could not shake the idea that I had heard that somewhere before. I realized that it is scripture. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
“Seven full weeks!” Charlotte shouted. We were Counting the Omer, something we have done since she was about a year old. I was praying the Omer prayer and I always let her fill in that part. The Counting of the Omer lasts for seven weeks or fifty days. It is the Jewish practice of counting up to Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks and, while we are not Jewish, Counting the Omer is just as significant to Christians. Jewish people count up to fifty days to commemorate Shavuot, which is when the Mosaic Covenant was established. Shavuot marks the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was established in the lives of believers so Christians count up to observe the time when the Holy Spirit was first given to disciples of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Counting is not mandatory for Christians but it is a great way to show our gratitude and acknowledge all that God has done.
Why is any of this important? Ultimately, what is God's goal? What is His plan? Good questions. The importance, God’s goal, His plan, is to be in relationship with man like He always intended. It is to walk with Him as Adam and Eve did in the Garden before sin. It is to be best friends, God, and man together again. But how do we get there? Jesus Christ, God's rescue plan, that is how we get there.
God established the Israelites and made them His people so that His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, could be born into the world. Everything God did for and through the Jewish people was for the purpose of bringing the Savior of the world, into the world so that man could receive the free gift of salvation. When His earthly mission was complete, Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, but not before promising to send His disciples a Helper. Indeed, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. God established the disciples as true followers of Christ by giving them the Holy Spirit. As modern-day disciples, the Holy Spirit is here to be our Helper and our guide while we spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether Jew or Gentile, God establishes us for His purpose.
We live in a world full of lost people wondering about their purpose. But we all have the same purpose, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that all can be saved (Matthew 28:16-20, 2 Peter 3:9). That is why God chose a special people, that is why Jesus Christ came, that is why He sent the Holy Spirit and that is why He has established you in whatever way He has established you.
God's purpose will be achieved differently in each individual. Use your position and influence to draw others to Christ so that we can all be saved as God intended. Time is running out so be steadfast and trust God, “especially if you have suffered for a while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
