I Shall Not Be Moved

     There is a song in old Baptist hymnals (and most of them are) "I Shall Not Be Moved".  It is a wonderful thing to be immovable in the Lord's cause, but most of us prefer to be immovable in our own plans and preferences.  In two churches in which I have been a member there were pastors who decided they would stay at that church until they retired.  From the fruitfulness of their latter ministry, I would guess this was regardless of God's plan for them.  These pastors considered the reason only a few aging die hards remained at the church evidence of the members' worldliness rather than the pastors' selfishness.  If it is foolish for  Christians to make plans without being flexible to the Lord's leading, it is dangerous for pastors. Biblically they have greater accountability.
     Sometimes the flock is not following faithfully because the pastor is not leading anywhere.  There is a move in Zumba in which the outer foot makes a circle around the body while the inner pivots in place; if the pastor has anchored one foot to his retirement plan, he can only lead in a circle.  I love to study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, but this method can sometimes become self-propelled rather than Spirit filled and the pastor is spared the trouble of needing leading.   There is a saying, "Give an alcoholic a rut and he'll move in furniture."  A spiritual version might be "Give a Christian a comfort zone and he'll nail his cross to the floor."  It is our nature to lay down roots rather than take up our cross. 
     I love my town, my home, my work and my life, but I hope I love God more.  The older I become, the harder it is to be flexible, not just physically, but in every area.  After Israel's sin with the golden calf, God told Moses He would send an angel to lead them instead of Himself since He might feel compelled to destroy them. (Ex. 33:5)  Moses refused to go anywhere unless God went with them.  That is the kind of immovability I want to have.  God's leading should be the only place from which I shall not be moved.