The Words We're Waiting To Hear

Last night, I let Maggie and Mamie out the back door one more time before we went to bed. Mamie was surprisingly efficient, and was back inside in no time. 

Maggie, however, was another story. The rumble of the train as it passed through our town was audible in the distance. Maggie doesn't like the deep rumbling sound, and she barked her hardest to make it stop, like she always does.

When I grew tired of the barking, I stepped outside and walked toward Maggie. Her little barking did nothing at all to stop the big train, but I said what she waited to hear.

"Good job, Maggie. You can come in now."

I don't know why she waits for those words, but she always does. She stopped barking and ran inside.

It's a Shih Tzu's job to be territorial around their owner. When she barks at the train, she's doing what she was born to do, and waiting for the affirmation that she's been faithful.

Last night, as she ran in the door, I wondered if all my works are a little like barking at the train. Good effort but no effect. 

One day, I'll step into eternity and listen expectantly for the words I most want to hear, too. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Those words then depend upon the choices I make now, upon the actions I take. 

As believers, our salvation from hell is faith-based. Our commendations in eternity are works-based, and utterly dependent upon what we do with what we've been given. Did we take five talents and turn them into ten? Did we take one talent and turn it into two?

Let ask ourselves a serious question with eternal consequences. Will my actions today concerning that entrusted to me by God earn me a "well done" in eternity or not?

If not, make a change. We can one day hear "well done" from our Heavenly Father, but only if we do well now.

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." Matthew   25:23 nasb

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This ministry of prayer and outreach (digital and in-person) is only possible because of the generosity of your support. Literally, I don't get a salary until there are enough donations to cover it. If you'd like to help, here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841

In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Pauses that Refresh 
#Jesus #faithful

The Activity Bowl

Ryan was coming home for several days, and I could hardly wait. I was busy for a week with cooking, cleaning, and landscaping. The list of things to do and meals to cook when he was home was so long, it was impossible to accomplish.

I couldn't decide what fun things we should do or when we should do them. Finally, I hit upon a solution for my 23-year old son that was so silly, it was bound to work. 

I took strips of colored paper and wrote one activity on each of the blue pieces of paper, one breakfast menu on each of the white slips, and one lunch on each of the red slips. I put them all in the bowl and shuffled them. Every evening, Ryan would pull one from each color to decide what we'd do the next day.

When I showed Ryan his "choices bowl", he laughed and shook his head, but played along. The first slip he pulled was "paddleboat ride". He grinned. "This was a good idea, after all."

Those silly slips gave Ryan a tiny surprise every day, and gave me a sense of order about the meal preparation. We had a grand time. Not only did we have fun activities, but we also had opportunities for Ryan to learn new skills. Bake bread. Make salsa. Take soil samples from the garden. Go fishing. Hike the Tanglefoot Trail.

A "to do" list might have made some of the activities seem like drudgery, but the slips made it all fun.

In a way, God has a "to do" list for us, too. He has plans for us that are good, but He's not the plan-police. God provides daily opportunities for service, for learning, for worship. It's up to us to accept them.

Every day, we have a fresh opportunity to continue along the path God has for our lives. Every day, we have a fresh opportunity to approach life with zeal and passion, to live in obedience to His ways.

This is almost unbelievable, but the success or failure of God's plan is up to us. Will we choose to follow it, or will we choose our own way? 

Today, let's choose God's ways, God's plans. Let's follow where He leaves. Love whomever He brings our way. Worship Him with more than words. Let's worship Him with our acts of obedience, as well.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 esv
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Fathers: Heavenly and Earthly

#Mondaymeditation #goodworks #disciple

Confessing Jesus Before Men: Light of the World

"And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9 NASB)

We started a new mini-series a few days ago to help us better understand the meaning of confessing Jesus before men. The phrase does not mean we post a meme on social media saying "I love Jesus". In the original language, it means that we say the same things about Jesus (with our lives and our words) that He says about Himself. Yesterday, we looked at "I AM the bread of life."

We turn today to Jesus' words in John 8:12 and a companion verse found in Matthew. 

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12 NASB)

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)

Most towns of any size in the U.S. have street lights that shine at night, illuminating our way. It's hard for us to find a place that's completely void of external light. Because I live in "the country", however, my nights are illuminated by the moon and stars. When the sky is overcast, the nights can be very dark. Walking in that dark, without the aid of artificial light, can be a challenge, especially when the terrain is not level.

Jesus walked this earth at a time when there were no electric lights. Illumination was provided by firelight, candles, and oil lamps. They understood the importance of light because, when the lights were extinguished, darkness was all that remained.

Jesus explained that He is the Light of the world. In the darkness of sin, He is the bright light that brings illumination, clears away our sin, reveals what was hidden, and shines light on the path we should take. 

Light helps us to see things as they are, and the Light of Jesus does that for us, as well. He helps us to see ourselves and others as He sees us (and them). 

During the ice storm of 1994, I was without electricity for more than two weeks. I had candles and oil lamps, but the light was dim. When power was restored and lights blazed in my house again, it revealed more than I wanted to know. The dust that had accumulated was astounding. 

Light reveals. Just as I had an enormous housekeeping job to be done, so the Light of Christ can reveal the dust and grime of sin that accumulates in our lives. That knowledge can change us, if we allow it.

The amazing thing about the Light of Christ is that sometimes His Light reveals my sin to me and sometimes it helps me see His amazing love for me.

There's another fact about the Light of Christ that is mind-blowing. When I follow Him, His Light can shine in me. Through the Holy Spirit, He can fill my life with His Light. I reveal that light by the way I live my life and the "good works" I do. 

When I love my enemy, I allow the light of Christ to shine on him/her. When I visit those who are sick, feed the hungry, encourage the downhearted, rescue the perishing, I allow the light of Christ to shine through.  

I don't have the light of Christ because of my good works. I do good works because of the light of Christ in me. 

How do I obtain this Light? Jesus made it very simple. "He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life." 

Following Jesus. Not only does it take us out of darkness and allow us to "walk in light", but it's also the only way to be filled with His light.

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Heavenly Father, Help me to follow Jesus and His ways. Fill me with His light and help me to be a light in the darkness, shining so brightly that all can see Jesus in me. In His name, Amen.