ππ‘πππ¬π¨ππ―ππ« ππ‘π² π‘ππ§π ππ’π§ππππ‘ ππ¨ ππ¨, β¦
This morning, I read two devotionals with seemingly conflicting perspectives about striving for higher goals. One (from Lutheran Church Charities) encourages the notion of reaching higher: "When God's blessing stops flowing through you, it stops flowing to you." The other (from Forgotten Voices International) warned against worldly endeavors that distract from spiritual growth: "Usually when we aim higher in life, we end up hitting low in the spiritual life."
Both devotionals quoted multiple passages of scripture. The base one in the LCC devotional was Nehemiah 3:5 βThe next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.β FVI quoted Matthew 5:6 βBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.β
To me, the key idea in both of these, is keeping your life God-centered. Whatever may be your daily occupation, keep your eyes on the Lord. Donβt forget that your blessings are Godβs, that your gains are seeds to further His kingdom. Two verses come to mind for me: βWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy mightβ Ecclesiastes 9:10a KJV and βWhatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.β Colossians 3:23 NIV
Iβve been feeling a bit dry lately. I love to write. I love writing for SonBeams. I love being Godβs tool to encourage discussion and keeping His word fresh on the minds of all my friends. Iβve felt blank lately, though, and sub-par. Dry or not, we have a mission field as SonBeams, and I should have been trying harder. I should have been giving it my might, all my heart. I should have put my shoulders to the work, out of a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Where have you been giving God less than your all lately? Is He whispering (or yelling) to you about an area you need to improve? I challenge you to tackle it today β even if you arenβt perfect and even if youβre not feeling inspired. This may not be the most eloquent piece Iβve ever composed but, with Godβs perfect plan, it may reach just one hungry SonBeam soul today. And it will have been worth it.
I leave you with one parting thought. Itβs a quote I have carried with me for fifteen years but I have no clue where it came from and so I canβt cite it for you: βThe Lord reminds us that He does not call the able but enables the called.β Donβt wait to feel able. Act on His call and trust in His ability.
(π°π³πͺπ¨πͺπ―π’πππΊ π±π°π΄π΅π¦π₯ πͺπ― 2013)