A Seat at the Master's Table

On one of my daily walks I noticed a nail lying in the street as I crossed.  Reaching down to pick it up, I thought about the choice I was making, and why I was making it. 

I reasoned that there are three kinds of people who could have come across that nail in the street.  The first group are the ones who would walk over the nail and say, "It's not my problem."  The second group would pick up the nail to keep it from puncturing their own tire. The third type of person would remove the nail  to prevent anyone from being its victim.

The same three groups exist among Christians living in this world of lost and hurting people.  Some Christians belong to the group that would ignore the hurting in their agony, or dismiss them to a possible eternity without Christ.  "I'm so glad Jesus lifted me," is their motto, but helping to rescue others does not as much as cross their minds.

The second group, and by far the largest, are the self-serving Christians.  How many times has it been said, "But for the grace of God go I," as if God does not extend His grace to everyone.  Too many Christians perform good works with selfish motives.  Though others are assisted by their efforts, these people are motivated by rewards -- "what's in it for me" -- such as recognition, gratitude, admiration, relief from a sense of guilt, or even bragging rights.

"If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom"  (James 3:13). The type of Christian work that pleases God is without regard for who we help.  Age, race, social, financial, or educational status make no difference when our helping others is motivated by the love of God.

Like picking up the nail from the street, our works of love should reflect our desire to rescue others from the dangers of their sin, and to relieve their suffering.  We must remember not to be self-centered, ignoring the needs around us.  We should check our motives, that the good we do is not driven by selfishness.  All our work should be to glorify God and benefit others.  God will see and reward us.

 

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."     (2 Corinthians 12:9).

As I was taking my morning walk around my neighborhood I saw ahead of me a pile of what looked like sand covering part of the sidewalk.  I approached it and recognized thousands of dead seedling cones that had fallen from the pine branches that draped across my path from above.

Looking down I predicted that the tree had lost all its cones and would bear no seeds this year.  But as I peered up I saw many times more cones growing on the tree as had been discarded.

This scene reminded me of the grace of God.  Though much had been destroyed by winds, rains, and storms, many more were growing and healthy.  In our lives we suffer loss, injury, death, and disappointments.  But no matter how much we lose, grace will nurture and grow that which remains.

Let's shift our focus from what we have lost in our lives to what remains, and allow God to increase it for our good and for His glory.  Thank Him for His grace -- keeping us, comforting us, and helping us to grow.