Time to Stretch

After a long drive or a long night's sleep, it feels good to stretch your arms and legs. Coaches and physical therapists recommend taking time to stretch before you engage in strenuous exercise. It's unhealthy for any body to remain in the same position too long. That's even true for the body of Christ, the church.

A little boy walked into school on his first day of kindergarten. His teacher showed him all the little chairs and tables. She pointed out how the closets had easy-to-reach handles, and all the toys were small. "See," the teacher smiled, "everything is just your size."

But it was obvious the little guy wasn't pleased. Frowning, he said, "I don't like it here, because there's nothing to grow up to!"

We all need something to grow up to—challenge and stretch us. When I was a boy, I wanted to be tall like my dad and my older brothers. I'd stretch myself up to my full height—looking my dad right in the belly button—and he'd say proudly, "Why, look how you're stretching up, Dave!"

When my own children celebrated a birthday, I would go down into the basement and bring up our Birthday Board—a long piece of white baseboard molding. Each year, the kids would stand beside that board and stretch themselves up to their full height while I took a pen and marked the board as a record of their growth.

When our heavenly Father looks down on us from glory, wouldn't it please him to see that we're stretching and growing? When is the last time you prayed, "Stretch me, Lord"? "Stretch my faith. Stretch my commitment level. Stretch my vision for what your church can do. Pull me out of my ruts. Let me step out and tackle some big challenges with the help of your Holy Spirit!"

Isaiah wrote, "Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left . . ." (54:2, 3). These verses, which appear immediately after the magnificent Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53, foretell the glorious expansion of the kingdom of Christ.

The Jews would readily identify with the imagery of "enlarging the tent." Abraham's family lived in tents while looking forward to their permanent home with the Lord (Hebrews 11:8–10). In those days, tents were made of leather, wool, or camel's hair. The tent corners were fastened down with ropes and pegs. A large, family-sized tent usually was divided into two parts. The back section was reserved for the immediate family, with a curtain separating it from the front. The front part of the tent was left open during the day. Passersby, even strangers, could stop in for a drink of water and a few moments of rest in the shade.

But notice Isaiah's exhortation: "Enlarge the tent!" In other words, "Don't just hide inside where your family feels safe and secure. Reach out! Stretch your tent curtains wide."

The apostle Paul must have loved Isaiah's prophecy. Can't you picture him discussing these words with Priscilla and Aquila as they worked together in their tentmaking shop (Acts 18:1–3)? Their main goal in life was expanding the "tent" of God's kingdom.

Every person you encounter this week—from a new neighbor to a familiar friend—needs to be part of God's family. So as Isaiah says, let's "strengthen our stakes" (and make sure we're firmly grounded in the Word of God); then let's enlarge the tent. It's time to stretch!