We have a greater burden as God's people than anyone else on earth. We must always lift up a higher standard of living and loving.
In one of Garfield's cartoons he is shown resting droopy-eyed in his bed thinking to himself: "One of my pet peeves," he says to himself, "is people who never finish what they start." As he cracks a knowing smile, he says, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last frame shows him under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, 'Never start anything.'"
"Never start anything" cannot be our philosophy as God's people. You see, we must care about our world because God cares. We must care about people because God cares. We must care about those in need because God cares. God cared enough about us to send a savior Jesus Christ. God cared enough to send the Holy Spirit.
We must care too. We must care enough to make our church and community stronger. What is God calling you to do? Are you being called to help tutor a child struggling in with his or her education? Are you being called to be a Sunday School teacher? Are you being called to share your talents with the church, the community or the world? If you and I don't do it, who will?
We have a greater burden as God's people than anyone else on earth. We must always lift up a higher standard of living and loving.
God is counting on you and me. Why? Because we can count on God to give us the resources we need to accomplish God's will.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Devotion for the Sixth Week of Easter
During the Masters Golf Tournament a few weeks ago, I heard a great story about the golfer Gary Player. Player is 73 years old, and was out on the course for the first round of the Masters. He has won 9 major tournaments and 24 PGA Tour events. He has finished in the top 10 at 44 major tournaments. Gary Player is also a man of faith.
Even today, when Player is competing in a tournament, people constantly come up to him and made the same remark: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you."
One particularly tough day, tired and frustrated, Player once again heard the old refrain: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you." Player's usual politeness failed him as he replied to the spectator, "No, you wouldn't. You'd give anything to hit a golf ball like me if it was easy. Do you know what you've got to do to hit a golf ball like me? You've got to get up at five o'clock in the morning, go out on the course, and hit one thousand golf balls. Your hand starts bleeding, and you walk up to the clubhouse, wash the blood off your hand, slap a bandage on it, and go out and hit another one thousand golf balls. That's what it takes to hit a golf ball like me." In his own way Player was asking, "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?"
Greatness has its price. "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?" Jesus asked his ambitious disciples. I am amazed how many people adopt the Christian faith as their own with the thought that it really will note cost them anything. Friends, the cup Jesus drank was the cup of the cross. The sacrifice he made was ultimate, complete, and final. If we think that we can achieve greatness in the Kingdom of God with a token commitment, we are sadly mistaken.
In Medieval Europe it was common for devout Christians to pray for the marks of Jesus to appear on their hands and feet. This was seen as a sign of deep spirituality. One night a monk, while praying for those marks, had a vision of Christ with another mark on his body--a bruise on his shoulder. That bruise came from carrying His cross. The monk suddenly realized that this was the mark that really counted. How many of us have bruises from carrying the weight of Christ's cross on our shoulders? It is acceptable, even admirable to aspire to greatness, but greatness has its price.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? Matthew 20:22
Even today, when Player is competing in a tournament, people constantly come up to him and made the same remark: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you."
One particularly tough day, tired and frustrated, Player once again heard the old refrain: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you." Player's usual politeness failed him as he replied to the spectator, "No, you wouldn't. You'd give anything to hit a golf ball like me if it was easy. Do you know what you've got to do to hit a golf ball like me? You've got to get up at five o'clock in the morning, go out on the course, and hit one thousand golf balls. Your hand starts bleeding, and you walk up to the clubhouse, wash the blood off your hand, slap a bandage on it, and go out and hit another one thousand golf balls. That's what it takes to hit a golf ball like me." In his own way Player was asking, "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?"
Greatness has its price. "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?" Jesus asked his ambitious disciples. I am amazed how many people adopt the Christian faith as their own with the thought that it really will note cost them anything. Friends, the cup Jesus drank was the cup of the cross. The sacrifice he made was ultimate, complete, and final. If we think that we can achieve greatness in the Kingdom of God with a token commitment, we are sadly mistaken.
In Medieval Europe it was common for devout Christians to pray for the marks of Jesus to appear on their hands and feet. This was seen as a sign of deep spirituality. One night a monk, while praying for those marks, had a vision of Christ with another mark on his body--a bruise on his shoulder. That bruise came from carrying His cross. The monk suddenly realized that this was the mark that really counted. How many of us have bruises from carrying the weight of Christ's cross on our shoulders? It is acceptable, even admirable to aspire to greatness, but greatness has its price.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? Matthew 20:22
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